What does a removal company cost in 2026?
Moving house with a removal company costs an average of € 750 to € 1,300 for a complete home in 2026. Removal company costs depend mainly on your type of property, the volume of your belongings and where you live. In a village or small town you pay an average of € 750 to € 1,000, while in larger cities such as Utrecht, Rotterdam and The Hague that rises to between € 850 and € 1,300. Amsterdam is the most expensive: expect € 1,000 to € 1,500 there, although a studio flat can start from as little as € 700.
In this article we set out all the costs clearly. Per property type, per hour and per additional service. That way you know exactly where you stand in advance and can compare quotes more precisely.
Removal company costs per property type
The type of property is the biggest factor in the price. More rooms mean more contents, more lifting and more hours. The guide prices below apply to a private house move with two movers and a removal van.
Where you live pushes these amounts up or down. The same terraced house costs € 750 to € 1,000 in a village, and € 800 to € 1,100 in medium-sized towns such as Zeist or the Amersfoort area. In larger cities you also have to factor in tight parking, narrow stairwells and often a furniture hoist. That is why you pay € 850 to € 1,300 in Utrecht, Rotterdam or The Hague, and € 1,000 to € 1,500 in Amsterdam.
Not sure which category your home falls into? A mover works roughly on the basis of how many cubic metres of contents you have. An average terraced house holds around 30 to 40 m³. If you have a loft full of boxes or a shed packed with garden equipment, allow for the upper end of the price range.
Removal company costs: hourly rate or fixed price?
A mover’s hourly rate in 2026 is between € 35 and € 55 per hour per person. With two movers and a removal van, you quickly reach € 90 to € 130 per hour. That makes the sum simple: a six-hour job with two people costs you somewhere between € 550 and € 800.
Even so, most people choose a fixed price, and that is usually the sensible option. With an hourly rate, you carry the cost of any setbacks. A traffic jam on the A2 motorway, a lift that is occupied, a sofa that will not fit through the stairwell: every delay costs you money. With a fixed price, that risk sits with the removal company.
An hourly rate is worth considering for small, straightforward jobs. Think of a ground-floor studio where everything is already boxed up. In that case you are finished in three hours and pay no premium for certainty you do not need.
When comparing quotes, check what is included in the price. Some companies charge call-out fees, a fuel surcharge or a charge per floor separately. A good quote states one total amount including the van, the movers and the materials. Ask about this explicitly before you sign.
Which factors determine the cost of your move?
Four factors together account for most of your removal price: the volume of your contents, the floor you live on, the distance and the services you choose. Below you can see what each factor means in practice.
Volume of your contents
Volume is the basis of every quote. A mover estimates how many cubic metres need to be moved and how many trips or which vehicle that requires. Every extra 10 m³ means roughly one to two hours more loading and unloading. Getting rid of belongings before the move is therefore the most direct way to bring the price down.
Floor and furniture hoist
If you live on the second floor or higher, a furniture hoist is often needed. Including the operator, that quickly adds € 75 to € 150 per hour. It sounds steep, but it is usually cheaper than two extra movers spending hours on the stairs. And your furniture comes down without damage.
Distance between old and new address
Within the same city or region, distance makes little difference. If you move from Utrecht to Groningen, you pay for the extra driving time and fuel, often € 100 to € 250 on top of the basic rate. We drive through central and western Netherlands every day, so within that area the travel surcharge stays limited. Take a look at our page on a removal company in Utrecht for local rates.
Packing service and dismantling
If you also have the removal company pack for you, you pay the same hourly rate of € 35 to € 55 per extra packer. For a complete terraced house, that quickly adds half a day. The same applies to dismantling and reassembling furniture. Packing yourself saves hundreds of euros; having only fragile items packed for you is a sensible middle ground.
Special costs: piano, storage, urgent moves and business relocations
Some moves call for specialist work, and that shows up in the price. These are the most common special costs:
Moving a piano or grand piano costs € 150 to € 450, depending on the weight, the floor and the distance. A piano weighs 200 to 350 kilos and calls for special straps, a piano trolley and movers who know what they are doing. Read more about moving a piano and what it involves.
Temporary storage is useful when your new home becomes available later than your old one has to be cleared. The cost depends on the volume and the duration; expect anything from a few tens of euros to well over € 100 a month. Look at the options for storage of goods or read how a complete move with storage works.
An urgent move is possible with us within 24 to 48 hours. You pay a surcharge for this, because we have to rearrange our planning and staff. Even so, that surcharge is often modest compared with the penalty or double rent it helps you avoid. You can read more about this on our urgent removals page.
Business relocations are calculated differently from private moves. An office often moves outside working hours, with more manpower and in less time. The price depends on the number of workstations and the volume of archives and equipment. The business relocation page explains how such a quote is built up. Worth knowing: business removal costs are usually deductible as business expenses.
A move for older people is often cheaper than an average move. The contents are usually smaller and frequently go to a flat or care home. We also take the clearing of the old home off your hands. Read more about a move for older people.
How do you save on the cost of a move?
A few smart choices easily take € 200 to € 500 off your removal price. These are the tips that deliver the most in practice:
- Move on a weekday. Friday and Saturday are the busiest moving days and therefore the most expensive. A Tuesday or Wednesday often saves 10 to 15 per cent.
- Avoid the turn of the month. Around the first of the month everyone wants to move, because tenancy agreements start then. In the middle of the month there is more room in the schedule and therefore more room to negotiate on price.
- Get rid of belongings before the quote. Every cubic metre that does not have to come along is a cubic metre you do not pay for. Sell, give away or take items to the recycling centre before the mover comes to have a look. Half a loft less can already save € 100 to € 200.
- Pack yourself. Packing your own boxes saves a full half-day of labour. Start two to three weeks ahead and label each box with the room it is going to. That also speeds up unloading, and you see that back in the hours.
- Dismantle furniture in advance. A wardrobe or bed that is already taken apart goes straight into the van. An hour of unscrewing on a Saturday evening saves an hour of movers’ time on the day.
- Arrange a parking space by the door. If the removal van has to park 50 metres away, the team walks extra distance on every trip and everything takes longer. Move your own cars into the right spot the evening before, or apply to the council for a temporary parking exemption. That costs € 20 to € 50 and pays for itself.
- Ask for one clear quote with a fixed price. Then you know exactly what you will pay in advance and can compare like for like.
Want to know what your move will cost?
The guide prices in this article give a good picture, but every move is different. A narrow staircase, a piano or a loft full of boxes makes the difference between the bottom and the top of the price range. A fixed price based on your home and your wishes prevents surprises afterwards.
