Packing Service Cost

Key Points

A full packing service for a 3-bed house costs approximately £350–£700 (labour only, excluding materials)
Packing materials (boxes, bubble wrap, tape, tissue paper) typically add £100–£300 for a 3-bed house
A fragile-only / china and glass packing service costs £80–£200 for a standard house
Packing by a professional crew takes 1–2 days for a typical 3–4 bed house before moving day
If the removal firm packs your items, they are liable for packing-related damage — meaning their insurance covers breakages
Professional packing is strongly recommended for international moves where items spend weeks in transit

Packing Service Costs by Property Size

Property Size	Full Pack (labour)	Materials	Fragile Only	Total (full)
Studio / 1-bed flat	£100–£200	£40–£80	£50–£100	£140–£280
2-bed flat/house	£200–£380	£70–£150	£80–£150	£270–£530
3-bed house	£350–£700	£100–£250	£100–£200	£450–£950
4-bed house	£500–£950	£150–£320	£150–£280	£650–£1,270
5+ bed house	£700–£1,400	£200–£450	£200–£400	£900–£1,850

Labour costs are for professional packers only — your move quote is in addition to this. Prices vary by region and firm.

Types of Packing Service

Full Packing Service

The removal crew packs everything in your home — every room, every drawer, every shelf. They bring all boxes and materials. This is done on the day before moving day, or sometimes on the morning of the move for smaller homes. Ideal for busy households, elderly movers, or anyone short on time.

Fragile / China & Glass Packing

Packers wrap and box only the breakable items — crockery, glassware, ornaments, artwork, mirrors. You pack everything else yourself. This is the most popular "middle ground" option and can significantly reduce the cost while protecting your most vulnerable items.

Partial Packing

You specify which rooms or areas you want professionally packed — for example, the kitchen only, or the loft. You handle the rest yourself. Useful if you have one room that's particularly complex (e.g. a kitchen with a large crockery collection) but can manage the others.

Specialist Item Packing

Individual items requiring expert packing — pianos, antiques, large artwork, sculptures, wine collections, or IT equipment. These are quoted separately and handled by specialist packers with custom crating materials.

Self-Packing with Supplied Materials

You do all the packing yourself, but the removal firm provides (and charges for) boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and tissue paper. This is the cheapest option but if items are damaged during the move, the firm may not cover them under their insurance if they weren't packed by their crew.

Packing Materials Cost Breakdown

Material	Unit Cost (from removal firm)	DIY / Supermarket Cost
Small box (1.5 cu ft)	£2.50–£4.50 each	Free from supermarkets
Medium box (3 cu ft)	£3.50–£5.50 each	£1–£2.50 from DIY stores
Large box (5 cu ft)	£5–£8 each	£2–£4 from DIY stores
Wardrobe box (with rail)	£12–£20 each	£8–£15 online
Bubble wrap (25m roll)	£8–£15	£5–£10 from Amazon/DIY
Packing tape	£2–£4 per roll	£1–£2 per roll

Buying your own packing materials saves money but be careful — inferior boxes can collapse under weight. Use double-walled boxes for heavy items. A 3-bed house typically needs 50–80 boxes of various sizes.

Is a Packing Service Worth It?

✅ Worth it if…

You have a large collection of fragile items
You're moving internationally (long transit times)
You're short on time before moving day
You're elderly, injured, or physically unable to pack
You want the firm's insurance to cover breakages
You find packing stressful

❌ Not worth it if…

You're on a tight budget and can pack yourself
You own very little fragile or specialist items
You have several weeks to pack gradually at home
You want to control how your belongings are organised
It's a short, local move with minimal transit risk

Tips for Saving on Packing Costs

Opt for fragile-only packing — let the professionals handle the breakables and pack everything else yourself
Collect free boxes — supermarkets, off-licences, and bookshops often have sturdy boxes available free
Use your own linens, towels and clothing as wrapping material instead of bubble wrap
Buy materials from a DIY store or Amazon rather than through your removal firm, which typically marks up materials by 30–50%
Start packing 4–6 weeks before your move — packing one room per weekend removes the last-minute panic that forces people to use a full packing service
Ask for returned boxes — some removal firms offer a buy-back scheme for unused boxes

Frequently Asked Questions

If the removal firm packs my items and something breaks, who is responsible?

If the firm packs the items, they are responsible for packing-related damage under their goods in transit insurance. If you packed items yourself, the firm's liability is usually limited — they will argue the packing was inadequate. This is the main reason many people opt for at least fragile-only packing by the removal crew.

How many boxes does a 3-bed house need?

A typical 3-bedroom house requires 50–80 boxes of mixed sizes. This varies enormously with the number of books, kitchen items, ornaments, and clothing. Decluttering before packing is the single best way to reduce the number of boxes needed.

When do the packers come before moving day?

For a standard 3-bed house, a professional packing team typically arrives the day before moving day and packs everything in one day. For a large 4–5 bed home, packers may start 2 days before. The removal lorry then arrives on moving day to load the pre-packed boxes.

Do removal firms unpack at the other end?

Some do — an unpacking service involves the crew placing items in the agreed rooms and either taking away the boxes or leaving them for you to sort. Unpacking is typically charged at a similar rate to packing — ask for this to be included in your quote if you want it.

Key Points