You may be wondering: How long does a move actually take? Often, you can’t see the forest for the moving boxes. You want to know how long the entire job will take, so that you can estimate exactly how much time you will spend. In this guide, we, the Moving team, share our insights into how long a move takes and provide practical tips that will make your move smoother. We show you which factors determine the duration of a move and how you can shorten the time it takes. We know from experience that moves can often take longer than you initially expect, especially if you don’t plan well. We also tell you how a professional moving company often makes the process faster and more efficient.
Factors that influence the duration of a move
The time it takes to move depends on several factors. It can take a long time, but that doesn’t always have to be the case. Some people think that only the amount of stuff plays a role, but there is much more to it. For example, the more stuff, the longer it takes and the more time it simply takes to move.
Look at the type of home when you move
The duration of a move varies between a small apartment and a large detached house. If you have an apartment on the fifth floor, you have to take into account stairs or elevators. That will take several days if you carry everything yourself. When you know that you are going to move, it is wise to prepare yourself well.
Distance between the old and new home
A longer distance means longer driving, which can extend the moving time. If you are moving to a new municipality on the other side of the country, you may have to travel between 3 and 6 and 10.5 hours, especially if you go back and forth more than once. This way you ensure that your move goes exactly as you want it to.
Amount of belongings and moving boxes
Ask yourself: how many moving boxes are needed? The contents of an average family can be around 25 to 30 m3, but if you have a large house, your furniture and boxes can go towards 35 to 40 m3. A larger contents means more packing work. So it may be that if you have more stuff, you need several days to pack it.
How long will your move take and help from friends or professional movers
When you get help from family and friends, everything may take a little longer than when you hire a moving company. Professional movers have the right equipment and experience. This means that loading and unloading the moving van often goes without delay. This of course depends on how much time is needed. Simply put, it is important to understand what things are needed and you often have to take into account a considerable investment of time in advance.
How long does a move take and additional tasks
Do you want to do some work in your new home or do you need to clean and maybe even paint your old home? These tasks can take hours or even days. Plan them well and realize that this will increase the time it takes to move. Arriving at your new home and unloading your belongings can take some time. This depends on the distance.
How long your move will take depends on many factors.
We often find that people have to determine how long a move will take depending on the distance and the size of their furniture. You will need many days if you do not pack efficiently or if you are unlucky with the weather. Sometimes it is wise to hire a professional moving company to make your move less stressful.
Average moving time: an overview of different situations
Moving can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to a week. That may sound vague, but every household is different. Below you will find some examples based on our practical experience.
| Type of house | Average contents | Time indication | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio or small apartment | Between 3.5 and 5 m3 | 1 day (loading, moving, unloading) | Ideal if you live alone or have just bought a house together. The move takes between 3.5 and 5 hours. |
| Apartment (2-3 rooms) | 25 and 30 m3 | 2 to 3 days | Depending on how much help you get and whether there is a lift available. The move will take between 4 and 8 hours. |
| Single-family house (3-4 rooms) | 35 and 40 m3 | 3 to 5 days | Often the most time-consuming task is the packing materials and the careful packing. The moving day can take between 5 and 12 hours. |
| Large detached house (5+ rooms) | Above 40 m3 | 5 days to a week (or longer) | Consider considerable planning and possibly multiple trips. Moving day can take anywhere from 5 to 12 hours. |
This table gives you an idea of how long a move takes on average. We always emphasize that the reality depends on the choice you make: do you choose to move yourself or do you go for a full-service move via a professional moving company? This depends on the choice you make. If you have a lot of stuff to unpack, it is wise to hire professionals.
Moving yourself: the time investment and moving day
Many people choose to move themselves because they want to save money or because they have enough help from friends. But beware: this choice to move yourself means that you invest more time and energy in your move. Especially if you have 1 or 2 children, packing and moving can become extra hectic. You also have to rent a moving van yourself, load all the moving boxes and disassemble and reassemble furniture. Placing the furniture in your new home can be quite a heavy task.
Packing while moving
Start packing materials and carefully packing your belongings in time. This will prevent last-minute stress. Make a list of everything you are taking with you. Throw away what you no longer need, so that your new home does not become unnecessarily cluttered. Use strong boxes, because you do not want broken plates or cups during the move. Also think of bubble wrap for fragile items.
We recommend starting at least two weeks in advance if you have an average home, so you don't have to rush in the last few days.
Want to rent a moving van or moving truck?
Choose a van that is spacious enough. Think about the m3 a move takes and how many moving boxes are needed. Are you moving from an apartment or do you have a large inventory from a single-family home? That difference can make between 25 and 30 moving boxes.
Also pay attention to the costs. A larger van costs more money but often ensures that you drive fewer trips. That saves fuel and time. We see that moving yourself with one van trip can be easy if you have little furniture and pack everything well. With a full inventory you sometimes need multiple trips, which means that moving means that you need days or the whole weekend.
Unpacking and organizing furniture
You may think that moving is over as soon as you arrive at your new home. In reality, you are faced with a new challenge: everything has to go to the right room and you want to tidy up afterwards. Unpacking can take between 3 days and a week, especially if you have to work in between.
Know that moving often takes longer if you don’t have a system. Label your boxes so you can quickly see what’s in them. Put kitchenware with kitchenware, and store clothes separately from decorations. You’ll make it easier for yourself if you approach everything in a structured way.
Moving with a professional moving company
Sometimes it is wise to hire a moving company if you have little time or do not feel like doing heavy work. Professional movers will take over the most time-consuming jobs for you. They will disassemble and assemble your furniture and also arrange the furnishing of your new home, if you want.
You need professionals to move
A professional moving company often comes with a complete moving van that offers all the space for your belongings. They load everything and prevent damage by using protective blankets and foil. When the movers arrive, they usually know immediately how to handle everything. As a result, the move takes less time on average. In the meantime, you can focus on other things, such as reporting your change of address or contacting your new municipality.
Faster and more efficient
Example: Suppose you have between 35 and 40 m3 of stuff. If you drive yourself, you might need 6 and 10.5 hours for multiple trips. Professional movers can do this in one go, because they use a large truck. That saves a lot of time.
Request a no-obligation quote from Moving
We understand that you want certainty about how long your move will take. You also want to know what it will cost. That is why you can always request a free quote from Moving. Indicate what type of home you have and how many moving boxes you think you have. Describe the old and new home and tell us how long a move may take according to your planning.
We will then calculate how we can efficiently carry out your move and how many days are needed. We will also look at the possibility of providing a full-service move, where we will take all the work off your hands during the move.
Contact Moving
Do you want extra tips or do you want to plan your move right away? Contact us. You can do this by phone or email. We are happy to take the time to discuss which factors can influence your move and how we can make it faster and more efficient. That way we keep it fun and affordable. Don't hesitate to ask anything you want. We are happy to help you.
How long does a move take and how can you speed up the process?
How long does a move take in total? That depends on the distance between your old and new home, the amount of stuff and whether you hire a moving company. A move can sometimes take between 5 and 12 hours if it is a small apartment and you pack everything quickly. For a larger home, you may need a few days or even a whole week if there is some DIY or a second trip involved. If you are moving soon, we advise you to start with a clear plan. If necessary, use our tips on packing materials and careful packing. You can prevent chaos if you sort things immediately and throw away what you no longer use.
You need Moving to move
If you move yourself, you can expect a considerable workload. You use energy to carry and adjust furniture. But those who choose a professional moving company experience less stress and see that everything goes faster. The time that a move takes therefore varies per situation. Go for overview, speed and safety if you want to benefit from the advantages of Moving. This way your move will go smoothly and you can start the new chapter in your new home with peace of mind.
Moving is happy to help you
We at Moving wish you lots of success and fun during the preparations. Do you have any questions or would you like to know more about our services? Please let us know. We are here for you!
