Hiring movers costs an average of 35 to 50 euros per hour per mover, excluding VAT. In practice, you pay 900 to 1,600 euros for a complete move of a single-family home. The rates depend on your belongings, the distance and the number of movers you need. Via Moving.nl you can immediately compare non-binding quotes from moving companies in your area and receive a reliable price indication within two minutes.
TL;DR
The costs of a move depend on three important factors: the total volume of your belongings, the driving distance between your old and new address, and the type of moving service you choose.
A professional mover costs 35 to 50 euros per hour, excluding VAT. Student movers are cheaper: count on 25 to 30 euros per hour. The price difference is mainly in work experience, pace and the ability to disassemble and assemble complex furniture.
Two movers and a moving van together cost 60 to 90 euros per hour. With three movers you pay 80 to 120 euros per hour. What many people do not know is that moving materials such as moving blankets are included as standard in the rates of most moving companies.
In addition to the hourly rate, there are sometimes call-out charges (25 to 50 euros) and a surcharge for stairs if you do not have a lift. Moving on Saturday usually costs 25 percent extra, while Sunday is sometimes 75 percent more expensive than a weekday.
Prices are exclusive of VAT and apply to moves within the same region. For distances over 50 kilometers, transport costs increase considerably. A common mistake is to focus blindly on individual hourly rates. Therefore, always request a no-obligation quote for a realistic, customized price estimate.
Hiring movers - rates, costs and tips (per move)
The most useful rule of thumb: calculate 1 cubic meter of contents per square meter of living space. An average two-room house of 60 m2 therefore has approximately 60 m3 of stuff. Two movers with a moving van are more than sufficient for this.
For a single-family home with 100 m2 or more, you absolutely need a moving team of three movers. If you live on a floor without an elevator, choose an additional mover. In practice, the difference in hourly rate never outweighs the extra hours that two movers need to physically carry all the furniture up the stairs.
Moving yourself seems cheaper on paper, but the actual moving costs are often higher in practice. Renting a decent moving van costs 80 to 150 euros per day. Add professional moving materials (30 to 60 euros), fuel and meals for your helpers. Even a small move can easily cost 200 to 350 euros if you arrange everything yourself.
Professional movers can complete a job in half a day that will take you and your friends a full weekend. Experienced movers lift more safely, work more efficiently and cause significantly less damage. You are also immediately insured in the event of damage to your belongings, something that is rarely properly covered during a do-it-yourself move.
Hiring a mover therefore immediately pays off for a two-room home. The price difference with doing it yourself is often only 200 to 400 euros. To do this, you buy hours of free time, avoid physical strain and enjoy a stress-free day. For larger homes, this relative price difference is even smaller.
When it pays off to do it yourself: in a well-organized studio or student room with hardly any heavy furniture and a very short travel distance. In such situations, the costs of a moving company simply do not outweigh the minimal amount of work.
Not every moving job requires identical support. Moving companies therefore offer various packages, ranging from individual carrying assistance to the option to have you move completely without having to lift a finger yourself.
Full-service move: The moving company literally takes care of everything. This includes the packing service, furniture disassembly, safe transport to your new address, assembly and unpacking. This is logically the most expensive route (1,500 to 3,500 euros for a single-family home), but provides maximum convenience. The movers ensure that your entire household contents arrive at your new address without damage.
Only movers and transport: The movers will professionally load your belongings into the moving van, drive the route and unload everything neatly. You can arrange the packing and dismantling yourself. This is by far the most commonly chosen option for private removals and costs 60 to 90 euros per hour for two movers with a bus.
Carrying help per hour: You hire movers for heavy lifting. Handy if you already own your own van or are just looking for assistance with some massive pieces of furniture. A single porter costs 20 to 35 euros per hour.
Packing service: Various moving companies offer a flexible, individual packing service. The movers will come by the day before the moving day to pack your entire belongings into boxes in a structured manner. You reserve an extra budget of 200 to 400 euros for this.
Evictions: In addition to the well-known removals, many moving companies also provide complete evictions. Consider discreet home clearances after a death, a divorce or when transferring to a healthcare institution. The total price depends directly on the total volume and the condition of the contents.
Selecting a good moving company always starts with critically comparing quotes. It is best to request a quote from at least three local moving companies. Don't be blinded by just the bottom rate, but carefully check exactly what is included in the price.
Fixed price or hourly rate. With a fixed project price you know in advance exactly what your move will cost. If you choose an hourly rate, you will depend on the working speed on your specific moving day. A common mistake is choosing extremely cheap, inexperienced workers where the hourly rate is considerably more expensive due to the slow pace at the bottom line.
Insurance. Proactively ask about the policy conditions used. Good moving insurance covers any damage to your belongings during the move. Recognized movers are compulsorily insured as standard up to a minimum of 50,000 euros per assignment.
Reviews. Read the online reviews from previous customers thoroughly. Filter specifically for comments about punctuality, handling vulnerable contents and general communication. A professional moving company with consistently high ratings simply delivers more reliable workmanship in practice.
Custom quote. A solid, reliable moving company will physically inspect beforehand or conduct a digital video inventory before issuing a firm price. What many people do not know is that parties that blindly quote a price without inspecting your belongings are notorious for their unexpected additional taxes afterwards.
The official Certified Movers quality mark is issued exclusively by the trade association. Certified movers meet strict quality requirements in the field of current professional competence, approved equipment and excellent insurance.
The quality mark is no guarantee that everything will proceed without damage, but it will give you considerably more certainty and a stronger legal position in the event of unexpected problems. Unlicensed movers are not necessarily of poor quality, but with them you do miss out on this safety net of extra protection.
The financial additional cost of certified movers compared to uncertified parties is usually around 10 to 20 percent. With a total move of 1,000 euros, you ultimately pay 100 to 200 euros extra for that absolute peace of mind.
Arranging a smooth move ideally starts four to six weeks in advance. Request quotes in a timely manner, thoroughly compare the rates charged and select a moving company that fits seamlessly with your specific situation and available budget.
Plan the desired moving day preferably during the week and well outside the busy high season to benefit from the best rates. Inquire in advance with the municipality whether you need to arrange a temporary parking permit or exemption if you need a moving lift locally. In preparation, pack everything you can spare and clearly label all moving boxes per room. This way you ensure that the hired moving team can move quickly and professionally on the day itself.
On the actual moving day, you only need to be present to indicate exactly where all the furniture should be placed at your new address. The experienced movers then do the hard work.
Moving successfully and cheaply without immediately sacrificing quality is certainly possible. What many people do not know is that the biggest savings are hidden in the exact planning of your transfer.
Moving during the week is by far the cheapest route. If you choose Saturday, you will immediately pay a surcharge of approximately 25 percent. On a Sunday this surcharge even rises to 75 percent.
The summer months (June to September) are the absolute peak period. If you plan in winter or early spring, moving companies are considerably less busy and often offer much more competitive rates.
Smooth student movers often charge a strict rate of 25 to 30 euros per hour instead of the usual 35 to 50 euros. They are physically fit and usually work very quickly and professionally.
The rates between various moving companies in the Netherlands can sometimes differ by as much as 30 to 50 percent for exactly the same assignment. Therefore, always request a free quote from several regional parties for comparison.
Do you live on the second floor or higher and is it impossible for that large corner sofa to fit safely through the tight stairwell? Then you undoubtedly need a moving lift. Renting a professional moving lift costs an average of 100 to 150 euros per half day.
Most moving companies will arrange the use of a moving lift directly for you as a fixed part of the quotation. You can of course also choose to rent moving lifts separately from specialized, independent rental companies.
Using a moving lift saves you a lot of valuable time and prevents unnecessary damage to expensive furniture and the walls of the stairwell. When moving above the third floor, a moving lift is almost always financially cheaper than the alternative.
Always check in advance with your own municipality whether you need a temporary exemption or parking permit for the installation. In most municipalities you must request this at least a full week in advance.
| Service | From | To | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly mover | €35 | €50 | per hour excl. VAT |
| Student mover per hour | €25 | €30 | per hour excl. VAT |
| 2 movers + moving van | €60 | €90 | per hour |
| 3 movers + moving van | €80 | €120 | per hour |
| Student room / studio | €350 | €750 | total |
| Two-room house | €750 | €1200 | total |
| Single-family home | €900 | €1600 | total |
| Full-service single-family home | €1500 | €3500 | total |
| Moving elevator | €100 | €150 | per half day |
An individual mover costs an average of 35 to 50 euros per hour, excluding VAT. Two movers with a moving van cost 60 to 90 euros per hour. In practice, a complete move of a two-room home costs 750 to 1,200 euros in total.
The basic rate of a professional mover is between 35 and 50 euros excluding VAT. Student movers are cheaper at 25 to 30 euros per hour. Certified movers are often at the top of this price range.
A porter costs 20 to 35 euros per hour. Handlers only help with lifting and carrying, not with packing, disassembly or transport. For a complete move, movers from a moving company are a better choice.
The hourly rate includes labor costs, fuel, insurance, moving materials such as moving blankets and the moving van. VAT and surcharges for weekends or stairs are added on top. A recognized moving company has higher overhead costs due to mandatory insurance and audits.
Book movers at least four to six weeks in advance. In the high season (June to September) and around the first of the month, popular moving companies fill up quickly. You can book last minute, but you often pay a higher rate.
Moving yourself with a rented bus is the cheapest, but requires a lot of time and effort. The cheapest professional option is to hire student movers on a weekday outside the high season. Pack yourself and disassemble furniture in advance.
For a studio or two-room home, two movers are sufficient. For a single-family home you need three. On a floor without an elevator, add an extra mover. Rule of thumb: 1 m3 of contents per m2 of living space.
Recognized movers are legally required to be insured against damage to your belongings. This varies greatly among non-certified movers. Always ask for the policy conditions. Good moving insurance covers damage up to at least 50,000 euros.
Moving expenses are only deductible if you move for work and your travel time decreases by at least one hour. You can then deduct a maximum of 7,750 euros. This scheme only applies to salaried employees.
Renting a moving lift costs 100 to 150 euros per half day. Most moving companies arrange a moving lift as part of the quotation. You can also rent independently, but please apply for a parking permit in time.
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