Packing services for house and flat moves
Last updated: October 2026
It's the service most people discover two days too late, when the boxes are winning. Packing services for moving house run from a full pack — they do everything — to fragile-only, with materials included and the day scheduled so the van arrives to a finished job. Compare free quotes in about two minutes.
Three tiers
What does a packing service include?
Full packing service: a crew packs everything, usually day-before packing so the van arrives to sealed boxes — a 3-bed home takes a two-person team most of a day. Fragile packing only: china, glasses, art and lamps done professionally; you handle books and clothes.Owner-packed with materials: boxes, paper and tape delivered a week or two ahead, and the packing is yours.
In every tier the materials arrive ahead of time, and most companies collect the empty boxes after the move if you ask.
Packers and movers: one firm or two?
"Packers and movers" just means a removal firm that packs as well as moves. Booking packing and removal with the same company gives you one quote, one date and one firm to answer for the boxes it packed — check its insurance terms.
For a 3-bed, a full pack typically adds £400–£500 on top of the removal; a fragile-only pack costs less, and firms price it on what you own. Ask packing and removal companies to show packing as its own line, so you can compare like for like.
Prices
How much does a packing service cost?
A full packing service for a 3-bed house typically costs £400–£500, on top of the removal itself. Smaller homes cost less and bigger ones more, and materials supplied by the firm add roughly £50–£200 depending on size.
| Property | Full packing service |
|---|---|
| 1-bed home | £150–£300 |
| 2-bed home | £250–£400 |
| 3-bed house | £400–£500 |
| 4-bed house | £500–£800 |
Source: published 2026 packing price guides (HomeOwners Alliance, Sirelo, Fantastic Services) (Sep–Oct 2026) — labour only; materials usually extra
Crews usually pack a day or two before moving day, so the van loads quickly on the day itself. For the whole move, our removal costs calculator adds packing to the estimate.
The real question
Is a packing service worth it?
For a full house, usually yes: a 3-bed full pack typically costs £400–£500 and saves the 30–40 hours DIY packing actually takes. For a small flat with time to spare, DIY wins on cost. The tipping points are time, fragiles and insurance — crews' cover often protects only what they packed.
Do the arithmetic honestly. DIY packing a 3-bed is 30–40 hours of evenings and weekends plus a box pack you can price up in the moving guides. A full pack takes one day of someone else's time, and carries the insurance angle most people miss: a crew's liability generally covers what they packed, not what you packed. Box your own china and a breakage claim gets much harder.
If you're time-rich and moving a 1-bed flat, keep your money — pack it yourself and spend the saving on the removal crew. If you're working full-time and moving a family home, the day you buy back is usually worth more than the fee. Wider pricing context lives in the removal costs guide.
The craft
How professional packers work
Watch a pro for ten minutes and you'll stop feeling bad about your bubble wrap technique. Glasses go in dish packs — double-walled boxes with cell dividers so nothing touches. Hanging clothes travel hanging, in wardrobe boxes with a rail. Pictures and mirrors get corner protectors and ride on edge, never flat. Lamps are dismantled, shades boxed separately.
Every box is labelled by room and contents, and that running list doubles as your inventory if you ever need to make an insurance claim. It isn't magic — it's practice and the right materials.
Boxes and beyond
Packing materials
With any packing tier, the company supplies the lot: boxes, paper, bubble wrap, tape, mattress bags. Sourcing your own packing boxes for moving is its own rabbit hole — sizes, single or double wall, where to get them free — and our moving guides will cover it properly.
Two special cases: going into storage, ask for warehouse-standard packing — it earns its keep over months. Moving abroad, export wrapping is a different standard again; see international removals.
The other end
Unpacking services
Yes, it exists — an unpacking service means the crew unpacks boxes onto surfaces (not into cupboards), flattens the cardboard and takes it away the same day. Most popular with families who need the kitchen working by bedtime, and anyone starting a new job on the Monday.
Book it with the pack rather than after — same crew, usually a better combined price.
Where we cover
Packing crews near you
Companies that pack as well as move quote through Removly — start with your city.
Good to know
Packing service FAQs
How much does it cost to have a 3-bed house packed?
Typically £400–£500 for a full pack on top of the removal, including materials. Fragile-only costs less, depending on how much needs wrapping. Exact numbers follow volume and how much china you own — get packing itemised in your removal quotes rather than as a vague add-on.
How long does packing take?
A two-person crew full-packs a 3-bed home in most of a day, usually the day before the move. DIY, the same job is 30–40 hours spread over weeks. Fragile-only is a morning.
Do I need to empty drawers?
Often no — sturdy chests of drawers travel full, with the drawers taped or wrapped. Flat-pack furniture is the exception: it isn't built for load-bearing transport, so empty it. The crew will tell you which is which on survey.
Are packed items insured?
It depends on the firm's terms — and this catches people out. Under BAR's standard terms, a remover excludes liability for goods you packed yourself (owner-packed boxes and drawers); goods the crew packs and unpacks are covered. Cover and any insurance option vary by firm, so check your own quote. If a few things really matter, have the crew pack them.
Can I pack some rooms myself?
Yes — mixed packing is normal and priced accordingly. A common split: you do books, clothes and linen; the crew does kitchen, glassware and art. Agree the split in writing so the quote and the insurance both match what actually happened.
Rather not pack a single box?
Two minutes — up to five quotes with packing included. Free, no obligation.