1,181
Average cost of a like-for-like move
3-bed home, 50 miles
8,951
Average cost when buying and selling
Includes legal fees and stamp duty
500 to 1,000
Typical conveyancing fees
0
Exit fees on a same-day energy switch
Move first, then compare
How much does it cost to move house?
Moving house is a costly experience. With removal companies, fees and general preparation, getting ready for your move can be taxing on both your mind and your bank account. How much you pay depends almost entirely on one thing: whether you are simply relocating, or buying and selling a property at the same time.
According to CompareMyMove, the average cost of moving house is around £1,181 for moving from a 3-bedroom house to a new home 50 miles away. This figure includes:
- Loading and transit for £806;
- Packing for £250;
- Extra services for £125.
If you are selling a house and buying a new one, the costs of moving house go up dramatically because of all the legal fees and taxes you have to pay. In the case of buying and selling, the average total is usually around £8,951.
Need help planning your move? Moving is a big task, and keeping everything organised can be a real hassle. To make things easier, we have created a Moving House Checklist so you can tick off each job one at a time.
Check out our Moving House Checklist.
Moving house cost breakdown: every fee at a glance
The costs of moving house fall into two groups: the moving costs everyone pays (removals, boxes, redirecting your post), and the much larger buying and selling costs (legal work, surveys and tax) that only apply if you are purchasing a property. The table below shows the typical price range for each fee so you can build a realistic budget.
| Cost | When it applies | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Removal company | Every move | £806 to £1,525 |
| Packing service | Optional | £250 to £1,400 |
| Moving boxes and materials | Every move | Free to low cost if sourced second hand |
| Mail redirection | Optional but recommended | Royal Mail charges a set fee by duration |
| Tenancy deposit (renting) | Renters | Usually up to 5 weeks' rent |
| Conveyancing fees | Buying or selling | £500 to £1,000 |
| Search fees | Buying | £200 to £250 |
| Survey fees | Buying | £300 to £500 |
| Mortgage valuation fee | Buying with a mortgage | £125 to £365 |
| Stamp duty | Buying above the threshold | A percentage of the property price |
Ranges reflect typical UK quotes. Source: Compare My Move. Always get your own quotes before budgeting.
What moving costs should I expect?
The main costs of moving house depend on whether you are selling and buying a new home, or simply moving from one rented house to another. The difference between the two is very large, but in both cases you will need to be prepared for the basics.
In general, every move should budget for the following:
- Home removal;
- Moving boxes;
- Additional cover for fragile or valuable items;
- Redirecting your post;
- Updating your utilities and other bills.
With utilities, you will not pay any fee for a simple change of address, but you should watch out for exit fees on your electricity or gas bills if you end a fixed contract early. Moving day is the easiest moment to compare energy deals, because you start fresh at the new address with no exit penalty to worry about.
If you are renting, the biggest upfront cost is usually the tenancy deposit, which in England is capped at five weeks' rent for most tenancies. You will normally get this back at the end of the tenancy, but you need the cash available before you move in. See our guide to renting a property for the full process.
If you are buying and selling a property, you will also need to budget for several larger fees:
- Stamp duty;
- Search fees;
- Conveyancing fees;
- Surveyor fees;
- Valuation fees.
These are the costs of moving house that really start to add up. We break them down in full further down this page.
How much do removals cost?
Removals are the one cost almost every move shares. The total is usually broken down into the services you need when loading the van and transporting your belongings to your new home. Get at least three quotes before you move so you have a clear idea of the price.
What is involved in a removal quote?
Most people with larger properties use a removal company. This often works out cheaper than it looks, because professionals pack a van more efficiently so less gets broken, and they are insured against damage in transit.
A removal quote will typically depend on:
- Volume of your belongings. The more you take, for example from a 4-bedroom house, the higher the quote. This is usually calculated on a basis of cubic feet;
- Location. In a busy, populated area such as a city, costs are higher because access is harder. A more rural address tends to be cheaper on this measure;
- Distance travelled. A longer journey costs more, largely to compensate for fuel and time;
- Additional services. Optional extras such as professional packing or storing furniture safely come at an additional price.
In general, the cost of moving with a removal company rises with both distance and volume. Here is a graph showing the average cost per house size and distance travelled:
Source: Compare My Move.
How can I save on the cost of moving?
Beyond distance and volume, several factors are within your control. It comes down to what you are prepared to do yourself and how you build it into your budget. If you have valuable items you want kept safe, it may be worth spending a little more on a full service.
Packing yourself
Packing yourself tends to work out a lot cheaper. The saving grows with the size of the property: the more bedrooms you have, the more a company packing service costs.
| Packing | 1 Bedroom | 2 Bedroom | 3 Bedroom | 4 Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self packing | £450 | £670 | £900 | £1,150 |
| Company packing | £700 | £920 | £1,150 | £1,400 |
Source: Compare My Move.
Hiring a van
If you only need to move a small amount of belongings, you can hire a man with a van to cut costs. You will usually do the packing yourself, but it is a useful saving for a light move.
Second-hand moving boxes
Moving boxes are often supplied as an extra by removal companies. They are sturdy and keep your belongings safe, but you can find boxes that are just as good elsewhere for much less, or even for free.
It is worth asking around for leftover moving boxes. Try:
- Friends and neighbours;
- Local Facebook groups;
- Your workplace;
- Supermarkets;
- Recycling centres;
- Restaurants and chains;
- Schools.
Other savings
You can also save by booking your move smartly. It is not always possible, but you will usually pay less if you:
- Compare several home removal quotes;
- Move on a Sunday;
- Avoid the busy summer season;
- Book well in advance.
One often-overlooked saving is on your household bills. Switching electricity and gas at the same time as you move means no exit fees and a fresh tariff from day one. See moving house utilities for the steps.
What costs can I expect when buying?
If you are buying and selling as well as moving, there is a lot more to consider than removal quotes. Buying and selling is a notoriously expensive process, and there is no reliable way to avoid these fees, even by putting down a bigger mortgage deposit. It is still worth knowing the average cost of moving house with all the fees involved.
- Stamp duty. You pay stamp duty when you buy a property above the threshold. It is calculated as a percentage of the price, applied in bands, with the highest band charged the most;
- Conveyancing fees. This is the legal work of buying and selling a home. You can do it yourself, but a solicitor is usually best. Conveyancing fees typically range between £500 and £1,000;
- Search fees. Searches are normally done by your solicitor to check for any future developments that could affect your ownership. They usually range from £200 to £250;
- Surveyor fees. A survey checks the property is in good condition before you buy, and can help you negotiate the price down if there is undisclosed damage. Surveys depend on the property value but average between £300 and £500;
- Valuation fees. If you are buying with a mortgage, your lender will want a mortgage valuation, which you pay for. Valuations usually cost between £125 and £365 depending on the price of the home.
Because these fees stack on top of one another, the total cost of moving house when you buy and sell is far higher than a simple relocation. Build them all into your budget from the start to avoid a nasty surprise on completion day.
Cost of moving house - FAQ
Plan and budget for your move
Now you know the full cost of moving house, the next step is to organise it. Work through our checklist so nothing slips, and set up your utilities early so everything is live the day you arrive. Switching energy at the same time is the easiest way to trim your moving budget.
Compare energy deals for your new home
Set up your gas and electricity with no exit fees on moving day