What Is The Average Cost To Move House In The UK?
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The average cost of moving house in the UK is now around £13,018 when buying and selling a property worth around £292,000. That figure includes everything from Stamp Duty and conveyancing fees to surveys, estate agent fees and removals.
The good news? While you can't avoid every moving expense, there are plenty of ways to keep costs under control, especially when it comes to moving your stuff.
At The Box Co., our professional house moving service starts from just £199, including packing materials, expert packing, collection and delivery, making moving day simpler and far more affordable.
Get in touch for your free quote today!
What Is The Average Cost To Move House In The UK?
The average cost to move house in the UK is around £13,018, although the exact amount depends on your property value and whether you're buying, selling or both.
Many people assume hiring a removal company is the biggest expense, but it's actually one of the smaller parts of the overall cost. Legal fees, Stamp Duty and estate agent commissions usually account for the largest share of your moving budget.
Here's a breakdown of the average costs involved.
| Moving expense | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Stamp Duty* | £4,600 |
| Estate agent fees | £4,150 |
| Conveyancing | £1,750 |
| Mortgage fees | £1,150 |
| Property survey | £650 |
| Removal company | £550 |
| Mail redirection | £39.50 |
| Average total | £13,018 |
(Source: Homeowner's Alliance)
*Stamp Duty varies depending on the value of the property and your individual circumstances.
Although the overall figure looks daunting, it's worth remembering that most of these costs are linked to buying and selling property rather than the physical move itself.
What Costs Are Included When Moving House?
Moving house involves a lot more than just transporting your furniture from one property to another. There are other costs to factor into your budget before moving day arrives.
Some of these include:
Stamp Duty
If you're buying a property, Stamp Duty Land Tax is often the biggest additional cost.
The amount of Stamp Duty you pay depends on the purchase price of your property and whether you're eligible for any relief. You can calculate the exact amount using HMRC's Stamp Duty calculator.
Conveyancing
Every property transaction needs a solicitor or conveyancer to handle the legal work involved in transferring ownership. Costs generally range from £800 to £2,000 depending on how complicated the transaction is according to ReallyMoving.
Estate agent fees
If you're selling your current home, estate agent commission is another expense you need to take into account. Fees vary between agents but normally sit at around 1-2% of the final sale price.
Surveys and mortgage costs
Many buyers choose to have a survey carried out before buying the next property, while mortgage arrangement and valuation fees can also add to the overall bill.
Removal costs
Hiring professional movers makes the whole process a lot easier, especially if you're moving a big family home. Prices vary depending on how much you own, how far you're moving and whether you need packing included.
At The Box Co. we offer professional moves from £199.
Get in touch with the team for a free quote!
Packing materials
Strong boxes, tape, bubble wrap and protective paper all cost money, especially if you're packing an entire house yourself.
One advantage of choosing The Box Co. is that we include professional packing materials and expert packing as part of our moving service, helping you avoid buying everything separately.
Temporary storage
Not every move runs perfectly to schedule. If your completion dates don't quite line up or you're renovating before moving in, temporary storage can bridge the gap.
Rather than paying for an entire storage unit you don't fully use, The Box Co.'s storage by-the-box service lets you pay only for the items you're actually storing, making it a more flexible option for many households. And with prices from just £3.56 per box per month, it's an affordable option too!
How Much Does A Removal Company Cost?
Most removal companies charge between £450 and £1,200 for a local move, according to Compare My Move, depending on the size of your property, but at The Box Co. our moves start at £199.
The final price depends on a number of things, including how much stuff you're moving, the distance between properties and whether you want professionals to do the packing for you.
Here's what you can expect to pay.
| Property size | Average removal cost | Packing service |
| 1 bedroom | £450 | +£250 |
| 2 bedrooms | £600 | +£325 |
| 3 bedrooms | £900 | +£400 |
| 4 bedrooms | £1,200 | +£600 |
If you're moving further afield, costs are likely to be higher to reflect the extra travel time and fuel needed.
That's one reason many customers choose The Box Co. Our moving service starts from just £199, including professional packing, collection and delivery, giving you one simple price with no hidden surprises.
Get in touch for your free quote today!
What Affects The Cost Of Moving House?
No two house moves are exactly the same, so the amount you pay can vary a lot. The biggest factor is usually the size of your property. A four-bedroom family house naturally takes longer to pack and move than a one-bedroom flat.
Distance also plays a major role. A move across town is usually much cheaper than moving to another part of the country.
The amount you own can make just as much difference. Two three-bedroom houses might need completely different amounts of work depending on how much furniture, storage and personal belongings need transporting.
Timing matters too. Fridays, weekends and school holidays are traditionally the busiest periods for removal companies, which can sometimes mean higher prices.
Can You Reduce The Cost Of Moving House?
Yes. A little planning before moving day can save you hundreds of pounds.
One of the easiest ways to reduce costs is to declutter before you start packing. Every box you don't need to move saves both time and space on the day.
It's also worth booking your removal company as early as possible. Not only will you have more dates available, but you may also avoid premium prices during busy periods.
If your moving date is flexible, choosing a weekday instead of a Friday can often reduce costs too.
Finally, think carefully about storage. Many people rent an entire storage unit when they only need space for a handful of boxes. Paying only for the storage you actually need can make a significant difference to your overall moving budget.
Do You Need Storage When Moving House?
Not every house move goes exactly to plan, so temporary storage during a house move can be incredibly useful.
Whether your completion dates don't quite line up, you're renovating before moving in or you're just trying to declutter before putting your house on the market, having somewhere safe to keep your stuff can make the whole process much less stressful.
Traditional self-storage works well if you need a big amount of space, but many people end up paying for a unit that's much bigger than they actually need. That's where storage by the box offers a smarter alternative.
Instead of renting an entire storage unit, you only pay for the boxes you're storing. It's a flexible option if you're between properties, downsizing or just need somewhere secure for a few weeks while your move is completed.
Better still, you don't even need to transport everything yourself. At The Box Co., we'll collect your boxes, store them in our secure warehouse and deliver them back whenever you're ready.
Get in touch for your free quote today!
Is It Cheaper To Move House Yourself?
Moving house yourself can be cheaper, but it isn't always the best value.
Hiring a van and asking friends or family to help might save money on paper, especially if you're moving from a small flat. However, it's worth thinking about everything else involved.
You'll still need to buy packing materials, hire equipment, organise transport and spend days packing and lifting heavy furniture. If anything gets damaged along the way, you'll also be responsible for replacing it.
For bigger properties especially, many people find that paying professionals saves both time and stress.
With The Box Co., our moving service starts from just £199, including professional packing, collection and delivery, so you can enjoy the convenience of a professional move without the premium price tag.
Why Choose The Box Co. To Help You Move House?
Moving house doesn't have to be stressful, expensive or time-consuming.
We've designed our moving service to take as much work off your hands as possible.
Rather than just turning up on moving day, we'll professionally pack your stuff using high-quality packing materials before carefully transporting everything to your new home.
Our experienced team handles your boxes with the same care we'd expect for our own, helping make moving day feel far more organised and much less overwhelming.
Whether you're moving around the corner or relocating across the country, we're here to make the process as smooth as possible.
