How to quote for removals and house clearance
Removals and house clearance are priced on three things people consistently underestimate: volume, access and disposal. A three-bed move quoted from a phone call is a guess; a clearance quoted without weighing the waste is a loss. This guide covers how to survey, price and protect a job properly.
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How to price a removals or clearance job
Two variables drive almost every removals quote: how much stuff there is, and how hard it is to get it in and out. Clearance adds a third — what it costs to legally dispose of what you take away.
1. Survey the volume, do not guess it
A video survey takes ten minutes and turns a guess into a number. Estimate in cubic metres or standard load sizes: a one-bed flat is roughly 15–20 m³, a three-bed house 35–50 m³, a four-bed with a full garage and loft 55–70 m³. Ask specifically about lofts, garages, sheds and garden furniture — they are where the extra van run comes from.
2. Price crew and vehicle time from depot to depot
Charge from the moment the van leaves your yard to the moment it returns, not just the hours on the customer's driveway. A two-man crew and a Luton is commonly £60–£90 an hour; a four-person team with a 7.5-tonne lorry considerably more. Long-distance moves need fuel, tolls and sometimes an overnight or a two-driver day.
3. Survey the access at both ends
Third-floor flat with no lift, a 40-metre carry from the nearest parking, a narrow lane the lorry cannot enter, or a permit-only bay outside — each adds crew hours or a shuttle van. Ask about stairs, lift dimensions, parking restrictions and suspended-bay permits at both addresses, and put the answers on the quote as assumptions.
4. Price packing, materials and dismantling separately
Full packing service, fragile-only packing, boxes, tape, mattress covers, wardrobe cartons, and dismantling and reassembling beds and flat-pack furniture are all real hours and real materials. Offering them as optional add-ons lets a price-sensitive customer pack themselves and still book you.
5. For clearance, price the disposal, not just the collection
You need a waste carrier licence, and tips charge by weight with higher rates for mattresses, sofas, fridges, WEEE and plasterboard. Estimate the tonnage, price the tip fees at current rates, and deduct realistic resale value for anything genuinely saleable. Give the customer waste transfer documentation — it is a selling point against unlicensed operators.
What to put on a removals and house clearance firm quote
- Both addresses, with floor level, lift and parking details
- Estimated volume in cubic metres or van loads
- Crew size, vehicle size and expected hours
- Packing service and materials, if required
- Dismantling and reassembly of furniture
- Access assumptions and what changes the price if they are wrong
- Parking permits, suspended bays and congestion or clean-air charges
- Goods-in-transit and public liability insurance cover levels
- Waste carrier licence number and tip fees for clearance work
- Storage costs if dates do not line up, and cancellation terms
Realistic UK price ranges for removals and house clearance firms
Indicative UK figures for 2026, excluding VAT. London parking, congestion and clean-air charges, plus difficult access, move these ranges upward quickly.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Man and van, per hour (2 people) | £60 – £90 |
| One-bed local move | £300 – £600 |
| Three-bed local move | £650 – £1,400 |
| Full packing service (3-bed) | £250 – £550 |
| House clearance, per van load incl. tip fees | £220 – £450 |
| Long-distance surcharge, per mile | £1.20 – £2.50 |
Run your own numbers in the free quote calculator or check your margin with the markup & margin calculator.
Common quoting mistakes for removals and house clearance firms
- Quoting from a phone call without a video or in-person survey, then finding a loft, a shed and a piano on the day.
- Charging only for the hours on site and absorbing the depot-to-depot travel at both ends.
- Ignoring parking: a suspended bay permit, a congestion charge and a 40-metre carry can add hours and fees to a job priced as simple.
- Underestimating tip weight on clearances — mattresses, sofas and fridges carry premium disposal rates.
- Not stating insurance cover levels, so a damaged item becomes an argument rather than a claim.
- No written access assumptions, which leaves you with no basis to re-price when the lift turns out to be broken.
Pricing FAQs
How much do removals cost in the UK?
A local one-bed move typically runs £300–£600 in 2026 and a three-bed £650–£1,400, before packing and VAT. Distance, access, volume and parking restrictions are what actually move the number, which is why a survey beats a phone estimate.
How do I estimate the volume of a house move?
Use standard benchmarks and confirm with a video survey: roughly 15–20 m³ for a one-bed flat, 35–50 m³ for a three-bed house and 55–70 m³ for a four-bed with a loft and garage. Always ask explicitly about lofts, garages, sheds and garden items.
Do I need a waste carrier licence for house clearance?
Yes — in England and Wales you must be registered with the Environment Agency (or Natural Resources Wales / SEPA) to carry waste commercially, and you should issue waste transfer documentation. Put your licence number on the quote; it is a genuine differentiator against unlicensed operators.
Should I charge hourly or fixed price for a move?
Fixed price once you have surveyed the volume and access — customers prefer certainty and it rewards you for working efficiently. Keep hourly pricing for small man-and-van jobs and for work where the customer will not commit to a survey.
Turn a survey into a clear removals quote — volume, crew, access and disposal — in minutes with QuoteRocket.
Accepted in one tap, invoiced in one click. Free trial, no card needed.
More reading
Want the long-form version with a worked example? How much to charge for a removals job →