Cost guide
How much does a man and van cost in 2026?
Two people and a van cost £50 to £80 an hour outside London and £60 to £100 in London and the South East, on Fantastic Services' September 2026 guide, and most firms set a two-hour minimum. A studio move typically costs £150 to £320 and a 1 to 2 bed flat £300 to £550, before stairs, mileage, weekend rates or road charges.
How much is a man and van per hour?
A two-person crew with a van costs £50 to £80 an hour outside London, including VAT, on Fantastic Services' guide (September 2026). Compare the Man and Van says most moves fall between £30 and £70 an hour (October 2025).
One person and a van averages £36 to £57 an hour across the UK on AnyVan's March 2026 figures, drawn from more than 518,000 bookings. For three people, Checkatrade gives £68 to £120 an hour, averaging £94, and MyBuilder £55 to £90 (both August 2026). The cost calculator on this site uses MyBuilder's band.
The gaps between guides come from what each one counts: some quote driver-only work, some include VAT, and some average whole jobs rather than hours.
Is a man and van dearer in London?
Yes. Fantastic Services puts two people and a van at £60 to £100 an hour in London and the South East, against £50 to £80 elsewhere (September 2026). Its half-day price of about four hours is £240 to £400 in London and £180 to £320 elsewhere, and a full day of about eight hours is £450 to £750 against £320 to £550.
AnyVan's March 2026 regional figures, worked back to an hourly rate, give about £40 an hour in inner London, £36 to £37 in outer London, £31 in Tees Valley and Durham and £32 in North Yorkshire. Northern Ireland came out highest at £57.
Compare the Man and Van's London guide (10 March 2026) gives £35 an hour for a small van where you load, £46 for a medium van with the driver helping, £52 for a large van and £82 for a Luton with a driver and one helper.
What is the minimum charge for a man and van?
Most firms charge a minimum of two hours. AnyVan, Compare the Man and Van and Getamover all describe a two-hour minimum as standard, and Fantastic Services says two to three hours, so an hourly job for a single item starts at roughly £100 to £160 with two people, though fixed single-item prices are often lower.
After the minimum, time is charged by the hour or the half hour, depending on the firm (Compare the Man and Van FAQ). Fantastic Services says fuel is usually included within a set radius, with a per-mile charge beyond it, and that a cross-city run adds driving time you pay for. Ask for any per-mile charge in writing.
How much does a man and van cost by home size?
Fantastic Services' September 2026 guide, for areas outside London, gives £150 to £320 for a studio (2 to 4 hours), £300 to £550 for a 1 to 2 bed flat (4 to 6 hours) and £500 to £800 or more for a 2 to 3 bed home (6 to 8 hours). A single item taking 1 to 2 hours costs £60 to £150.
AnyVan publishes starting prices of £99 for a studio, £195 for a 1 bed, £315 for a 2 bed and £450 for a 3 bed. These are "from" prices for the lowest-cost jobs, so most quotes land above them.
For a 3 bed house AnyVan suggests more than one 3.5 tonne van (May 2026), so the price can depend on whether the firm sends a second van or makes two runs.
How much does it cost to move a single item?
A sofa, wardrobe or fridge freezer moved locally costs £27 to £49 on AnyVan's June 2026 figures, and £51 to £184 for the same items moved across the country. AnyVan gives an average range of £52 to £209 for furniture delivery.
Fantastic Services quotes £40 to £70 for a small item such as a chair, £50 to £90 for an armchair or wardrobe, £70 to £120 for a sofa or double bed and £90 to £180 for two or three items (September 2026). In London and the South East its single-item range is £55 to £120, against £40 to £90 plus mileage elsewhere.
Marketplace and store collections are priced the same way. Compare the Man and Van says you can save up to 40% on an IKEA collection by loading the van yourself.
What adds to the cost of a man and van?
Stairs, long carries, weekend dates, mileage, road charges and parking all add to the bill. Compare the Man and Van suggests allowing 30 to 60 extra minutes for stairs or a long carry, and Konnect You (formerly Compare My Move) says stairs, narrow doorways and parking restrictions can add from £70 to several hundred pounds (September 2026).
Fantastic Services names weekends, month-ends and the summer peak as the busiest and dearest slots. In London a van that misses the emissions standard pays the ULEZ at £12.50 a day, and any van in the central zone during charging hours pays the Congestion Charge of £18 a day in 2026 (TfL).
Parking can cost more than an hour of labour. Lambeth charges £57.55 per space per day plus a £98.83 administration fee to suspend a bay in 2026/27. Ask each firm whether road charges, parking and packing materials are in the quote or added afterwards.
Common questions
How much is a man and van for 2 hours?
With a two-hour minimum and two people at £50 to £80 an hour, a short job costs roughly £100 to £160 outside London on Fantastic Services' September 2026 figures. In London the hourly range is £60 to £100.
Is a man and van cheaper than a removal company?
Usually, for small moves. Fantastic Services gives £150 to £320 for a studio by man and van outside London, against £300 to £700 for a studio or 1 bed with a removal company (September 2026).
Do man and van firms charge for travel time?
Many do once a job goes beyond a set radius. Fantastic Services says fuel is usually included locally, with a per-mile charge beyond that, and driving time on a cross-city move is paid time.
How much is a man and van in London per hour?
Fantastic Services gives £60 to £100 an hour for two people and a van in London and the South East (September 2026). Compare the Man and Van's March 2026 London guide runs from £35 for a small van you load yourself to £82 for a Luton with two people.