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Man and van

Flat and small house moves

Moving a studio flat by man and van costs £150 to £320 outside London, and a 1 to 2 bed flat £300 to £550, according to Fantastic Services (September 2026). Most of the price is time, and time depends on three things: how much you own, the stairs or lift at each end, and how close the van can park.

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Illustration: stacked moving boxes

What it costs and what it covers

Prices by home size and region are in the cost guide.

Typical jobs

  • Moving a studio's bed, desk, boxes and TV to a new let two miles away
  • Carrying a 1-bed flat's furniture down four flights with no lift and loading a Luton
  • Booking the service lift in a block for a 2-bed move and padding its walls with blankets
  • Taking apart a double bed and a wardrobe so they clear a tight landing turn
  • Moving a couple from a 2-bed flat into a small terraced house with a narrow front door

What is involved

Fantastic Services allows 2 to 4 hours for a studio and 4 to 6 hours for a 1 to 2 bed flat (September 2026). Compare the Man and Van's price guide puts the loading alone at about an hour for a studio or 1-bed and 1 to 2 hours for a 2-bed, and works through a 2-bed flat moved 15 miles at roughly 5 hours from start to finish (checked October 2026).

Crew and van by home size. A studio with no large wardrobe can suit one person and an MWB van of about 5 to 7 cubic metres, with you carrying too. A 1-bed usually needs two people and an LWB of 11 to 15 cubic metres, which Compare the Man and Van's size guide rates for 1 to 2 bed flats. A full 2-bed, or a 1-bed with a lot of furniture, needs a 3.5 tonne Luton of 17 to 20 cubic metres; Compare the Man and Van gives 18 to 20 (checked October 2026). Checkatrade recommends two movers for 1 or 2 bedroom moves and jobs with stairs, and three for several flights (August 2026).

Stairs and lifts are where flat moves overrun. Compare the Man and Van adds 30 to 60 minutes for stairs, and its London figures show loading from upper floors taking nearly 2 hours against 1 hour 38 minutes from the ground floor (March 2026). A lift helps, but many blocks need it booked, limit moves to set hours, or have a car too small for a sofa or wardrobe, which then goes down the stairs anyway. Ask the managing agent about lift bookings, wall and floor protection and any loading bay rules.

Three bedrooms or more is the point where a removal company may suit better, with a survey, a fixed price and a bigger crew. Checkatrade's April 2026 average for a 3-bed with a removal company is £900, or £1,300 with packing, and MyJobQuote gives £800 to £950 for a 3-bed within 50 miles (September 2026).

Choosing a firm

Give each firm the same list: rooms, the large items (beds, wardrobes, sofa, fridge freezer, washing machine), roughly how many boxes, the floor at both addresses and whether either has a lift. Mention the stairs even if the firm does not ask, because they change the time. Photos or a video call work well for a 1 or 2 bed flat, since a home survey is unusual at this size.

Ask whether beds and wardrobes will be taken apart and rebuilt, and whether that time is in the hourly rate or extra; reallymoving's average for dismantling on a removal is about £125 (HomeOwners Alliance, August 2026). If you rent, check the tenancy end date and the key release time at the new flat so the crew is not left waiting, since waiting time is usually charged. Parking, ULEZ and insurance are covered on the man and van page.

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Common questions

How much does it cost to move a 1 bed flat?

By man and van, Fantastic Services gives £300 to £550 for a 1 to 2 bed flat outside London (September 2026). A removal company costs about £330 for a 1-bed on reallymoving's figures (HomeOwners Alliance, August 2026), £320 to £420 within 50 miles on MyJobQuote's (September 2026) and £450 on Checkatrade's (April 2026).

How long does it take to move a 1 bed flat?

Usually 3 to 6 hours in total. Checkatrade puts a small flat move at 3 to 5 hours (August 2026), and Fantastic Services allows 4 to 6 hours for a 1 to 2 bed flat. Stairs with no lift can add 30 to 60 minutes.

What size van do I need for a 2 bed flat?

An LWB van of 11 to 15 cubic metres takes many 1 to 2 bed flats, but a 2-bed with a sofa, double wardrobe and 25 or more boxes often needs a 3.5 tonne Luton of 18 to 20 cubic metres (Compare the Man and Van size guide, checked October 2026). One larger van is normally cheaper than two trips in a smaller one.

How many movers do I need for a flat move?

Two for most 1 and 2 bed flats, particularly with stairs or heavy furniture, according to Checkatrade (August 2026). Two people average £78 an hour against £64 for one, and often finish sooner. A third, at about £94 an hour, helps where there are several flights.

Firms offering flat moves

2,112 firms on the site offer it. The busiest towns:

A few to start with

A spread of firms from the biggest towns, one from each.