The Short Answer
The cheapest way to move house in London is to book a small man and van on a midweek day, declutter before packing, get at least three quotes from a local removal company, and pack your belongings in your own boxes. Most people save 20% to 40% on a typical house move when they combine these steps with a bit of planning.
Below is the full list of cheap ways to move house in London, plus the average prices, the hidden fees to watch for, and the answers to the questions people ask us most.
Affordable Ways to Move House in London at a Glance
Here are the 12 tips in one quick list:
- Match the van size to the number of rooms
- Move midweek and mid-month
- Get free quotes from three removal companies
- Read the small print and avoid hidden fees
- Declutter, donate, sell or skip what you do not need
- Pack your belongings yourself
- Use free boxes and packing materials
- Disassemble furniture before moving day
- Try DIY van hire for small moves
- Use storage only when you really need to
- Check goods in transit insurance
- Book through a trusted comparison platform
We cover each one in detail below.
1. Know What You Need Before You Book a Man and Van
The first cheap way to move house in London is to match the service to the job. A studio flat does not need a 7.5 tonne lorry. A small Luton van and one helper will cover most one-bed moves in zone 2 or 3 for well under £200.
Before you ask for a quote, work out:
- The number of rooms you are moving (studio, 1-bed, 2-bed, 3+ bed)
- Big furniture items: sofa, bed, wardrobe, fridge, washing machine
- Whether you have stairs, a lift, or narrow access
- Whether you want help loading or just transport
Sharing this up front lets the removal company give you a clear price, and it cuts the risk of a last minute up charge on the day.
Let’s take a look at some practical ways to save money on man and van services when you move house in London.
2. Pick the Right Day and Time to Move
Timing is one of the most overlooked cheap ways to move house in London. Weekends, bank holidays and the last Friday of the month are peak moving days, and prices can jump 25% to 40% compared to a midweek slot.
Aim for:
- A weekday between Tuesday and Thursday
- A start time between 9am and 11am
- The middle of the month rather than the end
- Autumn or winter rather than the summer school holidays
If your work and tenancy let you flex the date, this single change can save you more than any other tip on this list.
3. Get Free Quotes from Local Removal Companies
Always compare a free quote from at least three removal companies. Prices in London vary by postcode, and a local removal company near your home will often beat a national brand on a short move.
When you ask for a quote, give every company the same brief:
- Total volume or a rough number of boxes
- A list of large furniture items
- Pickup and drop-off postcodes
- Date, time and floor numbers
- Whether you need a packing service or transport only
A clear brief makes the process easier, makes the prices comparable, and stops any "we did not know about that" charges later.
4. Watch Out for Hidden Fees
A cheap headline price is not always cheap once the add-ons land. The most common hidden charges on a London house move are:
- Fuel and mileage on longer routes
- Parking permits or suspension bays
- ULEZ and Congestion Charge fees
- Extra labour for stairs or long carries
- Waiting time if access is delayed
- Excess on goods in transit insurance
Ask every removal company to confirm all charges in writing. A reputable man and van provider will show every fee on the quote, with no surprises on the day.
5. Declutter Before You Pack
The less you move, the less you pay. Decluttering is one of the simplest cheap ways to move house in London, because it cuts the volume in the van and the time on the clock.
Go through every room with three piles:
- Keep: pack and label by room
- Donate or sell: charity shops, eBay, Vinted, Facebook Marketplace
- Skip: book a small skip or a man and van clearance run
A good rule of thumb is that if you have not used it in a year, and it is not seasonal, it can go. People who declutter properly often drop a full van size, and that alone can save you £100 or more. Check out our 99 moving hacks to make your move even cheaper
6. Pack Your Belongings YourselfA full packing service is convenient but it is rarely cheap. If you have the time and a few helpful people around, packing your own boxes can save £120 to £300 on a typical London house move.
A few tips for fast, safe packing:
- Use small boxes for books and heavy items, large boxes for bedding
- Wrap fragile items in towels, jumpers or bubble wrap
- Label every box with the room and a number
- Pack a "first night" box: kettle, mugs, toiletries, charger, bedding
The number on every box gives you and your movers an easy way to track everything off the van and into the right room at the new home.
7. Use Free Packing Materials
You do not have to buy boxes. Free packing materials are everywhere in London if you know where to look:
- Supermarkets often give away clean fruit and vegetable boxes
- Office buildings throw out strong document boxes
- Facebook Marketplace, Olio and local groups list free moving boxes daily
- Old newspapers and clean tea towels work well as wrap for fragile items
For genuinely fragile items like glassware, mirrors and electronics, it is worth buying a small number of double-walled boxes and proper bubble wrap. Everything else can be packed for free.
8. Disassemble Furniture Before Moving Day
Most man and van services charge by the hour, so anything you can do in advance pays for itself. Disassembling furniture is the easiest place to start.
Before the van arrives:
- Take beds, wardrobes and tables apart
- Tape screws and brackets to the matching piece
- Wrap mattresses in covers
- Empty drawers, even when they look light
A flat-pack wardrobe that takes you 20 minutes can take a removal company 45 minutes at hourly rates. The savings add up across a full house move.
9. Consider Doing It Yourself with a Hire Van
If your move is small and you hold a clean driving licence, hiring a van for the day can be the cheapest option of all. A small Luton van in London runs from around £60 to £100 a day, plus fuel.
DIY makes sense when:
- You are moving a studio or one-bed flat
- You have a friend or two to help with heavy items
- You can park easily at both ends
- The route avoids the worst of the Congestion Charge hours
Check the hire firm's insurance carefully. Standard goods in transit cover is often missing from a daily van hire, so add it if your belongings are valuable.
10. Use Storage Only When You Really Need To
Storage can quietly double the cost of a house move if you are not careful. If your new home is not ready and you need short-term cover, pick the cheapest storage option that still keeps your items safe and dry.
To keep storage costs down:
- Measure your belongings and pick the smallest unit that fits
- Choose a self storage facility near one end of the move, not in zone 1
- Pick monthly rolling terms over long contracts
- Combine van and storage with the same provider for a discount
- Stack and label so the items you need first are easy to access
A clear inventory list of what is in storage stops you paying for a larger room than you need.
11. Check Insurance and Goods in Transit Cover
Cheap is not the same as uninsured. Every reputable London removal company should carry goods in transit insurance and public liability insurance as standard.
Before you book, ask:
- What is the goods in transit limit per van?
- Is there an excess if a fragile item is damaged?
- Are items covered when you packed the box yourself?
- Is the company a member of a trade body such as the BAR?
This protects you if something goes wrong and keeps the claims process simple.
12. Book Through a Trusted Comparison Platform
A comparison platform does the price checking for you. You enter the details of your house move once, and several vetted local movers send back quotes, often within the hour.
URemovals connects you with trusted man and van providers in London, shows real reviews from real customers, and lets you book in minutes. There are no hidden fees, no aggregator markup, and 1% of every booking goes to Stripe Climate to support carbon removal.
If you want to see prices for your postcode in seconds, you can compare man and van quotes here.
How Much Does It Cost to Move House in London?
Here is a rough guide based on recent bookings on our platform:
- Studio or single room move: £80 to £200
- 1-bed flat: £150 to £250
- 2-bed home: £300 to £350
- 3-bed home: £350 to £550
- 4+ bed home: £900 and up
The price depends on the number of items, the distance, the access at both ends, the day of the week, and whether you want a packing service. A free quote is the only way to know the real cost of your move. Check the actual man and van costs in London
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to move house in London?
The affordable way to move house in London is to book a small man and van on a midweek day, pack your own boxes, declutter before moving day, and use a comparison platform to get free quotes from at least three local removal companies.
How much does a man and van cost in London?
A man and van in London costs around £48 to £91 per hour for a small van and one helper. Most 1-bed flat moves land between £150 and £250 in total. Larger homes and longer journeys cost more. Check our London man and van page to get instant prices.
When is the cheapest time to move house in London?
The cheapest time to move house in London is midweek, mid-month, and outside the summer school holidays. Tuesday to Thursday mornings are the lowest priced slots in most postcodes.
Is it cheaper to hire a removal company or do it yourself?
For a studio or one-bed flat, DIY van hire is often the cheapest option. For a two-bed home and up, a removal company usually works out cheaper once you add fuel, insurance, parking, your time, and the number of trips you would need.
Do man with a van services include packing?
Some do, some do not. Most removal companies offer packing as an optional add-on. If you want to save money, pack your own boxes and book transport only.
Move House in London for Less with URemovals
Moving made easy is what we do. URemovals matches you with vetted local movers across London, gives you instant quotes from real removal companies, and lets you compare prices in one place. No hidden fees, real reviews, and friendly support whenever you need it.
Ready to move? Get your free quote and book your man and van today.
