Updated November 2026: every price in this guide includes VAT. Local and long-distance figures are taken from Gentlevan Removals' own quotes and completed moves, so the number you read here is the kind of number you will see on a written quote.
If you're moving a three-bedroom house in the UK, the most useful number to know up front is this: a local 3-bed move with us starts from £1,550 including VAT, and most local 3-bed moves land between £1,550 and £2,200. Move further and the price rises with the distance: to or from London starts from around £2,700, and a move from Oxfordshire to Glasgow or Edinburgh starts from around £4,600, all including VAT.
This guide is written for people who want a real answer, not a vague "it depends". The price does depend on a few things, and the rest of the article walks you through exactly what those things are and how each one changes the final figure.
The Quick Answer: 2026 Prices for a 3-Bedroom Move (Including VAT)
For a typical 3-bedroom house, these are the prices we quote today. Every figure includes VAT:
- Local move (within 15 miles of Banbury): from £1,550, most moves £1,550 to £2,200
- To or from London: from £2,700, most moves £2,700 to £3,850
- South Wales: from £3,000
- Cornwall: from £3,800
- Scotland (Glasgow / Edinburgh): from £4,600, most moves £4,600 to £6,100
- Packing service: priced on top, from the number of boxes and the time it takes
- Storage (chain breaks, completion delays): costed separately, see our storage page
These figures assume a "standard" 3-bedroom house: around 1,300 to 1,600 cubic feet of furniture and boxes (about 37 to 45 cubic metres), reasonable parking at both ends and no piano or safe. A fuller house, tight access or heavy specialist items move the price up, and the sections below explain how and why.
Local Moves: What Gentlevan Charges Around Banbury
For moves within 15 miles of our base near Banbury, covering Bicester, Brackley, Chipping Norton, Buckingham and the villages in between, these are our starting prices by size of home. All include VAT:
| Home |
Local move from (inc VAT) |
| 1 bedroom flat | £750 |
| 2 bedroom flat | £900 |
| 2 bedroom house | £1,300 |
| 3 bedroom house | £1,550 |
| 4 bedroom house | £2,000 |
| 5 bedroom house | £2,600 |
Starting prices for a local move within 15 miles, with good access at both ends. A garage, loft or full shed adds to the volume, and so to the price. Your fixed price comes from a video survey.
Every local price includes:
- A vehicle and crew matched to the size of your move at the survey
- Our own directly employed, DBS-checked crew, the same team from loading to unloading
- Plenty of padded blankets to protect your furniture, with sofa and mattress covers as standard
- A clear, itemised written quote including VAT, with no hidden fees
- One month of free storage if your completion date slips (the move is then re-quoted as a collection into storage and a separate delivery)
From there the price scales with what you need. Packing, dismantling and reassembly, awkward access or a piano are all added at the survey, so you see each one on the quote rather than finding it on the day. For area-specific information see our house removals around Banbury, our county guides for Warwickshire and Buckinghamshire, and town pages for Towcester, Daventry and Moreton-in-Marsh.
Long-Distance Moves: Real Prices to Real Destinations
The further you move, the more of the price is driving time, fuel, overnight stays for the crew and the empty run home. These are the starting prices we currently quote for a 3-bedroom house moving from Oxfordshire, all including VAT:
Starting prices for an average 3-bedroom house with good access, including VAT. We quote the same way for Devon, Manchester and Cambridge. Excludes packing, dismantling and reassembly, and specialist items such as pianos or safes. Get a video survey for a fixed quote.
Why Scotland costs more than the miles suggest
A move to Scotland is not one long day, and it is often not even two. A lorry is limited to around nine hours of driving a day, with compulsory breaks, and a journey that takes six or seven hours by car is more like eight or nine in a lorry. Add a full day to load a large house and the time to unload it, and an Oxfordshire to Glasgow or Edinburgh move is normally two days, while Aberdeen or Inverness is more likely three. Larger homes also need more porters at each end to keep to that timetable, and then the vehicle has to come home. That is why a Scottish move is around three times the local price for the same house, and why we quote the Highlands individually.
Why London costs more than a local move
London moves take longer than the distance suggests. Traffic stretches the day, parking has to be booked in advance in most boroughs, flats often mean stairs or lifts and a longer carry from the vehicle, and the ULEZ and congestion zones add their own costs. Whether you are moving into London or out of it to Oxfordshire, those extra hours are what put a London 3-bed at around £2,700 to £3,850 including VAT.
If your move falls outside these destinations, our long-distance UK removals page explains how we plan and price longer journeys.
What Are You Actually Paying For?
It's easy to assume you're paying for a van and some labour. For a professional removal by an accredited firm, the price covers several distinct things:
- The vehicle and fuel: the right size of vehicle for your volume, run by a licensed operator.
- Crew time: the number of porters depends on the size of your move and the access at both ends, worked out at the survey.
- Equipment: padded blankets, sofa and mattress covers, straps, ramps and dollies, all maintained at our expense.
- Accreditation: Move Assured and AIM membership, which carry annual vetting and costs that legitimate companies build into their prices.
- Survey and admin: a proper video or home survey takes time, as does an itemised written quote.
- VAT: 20% on every UK removal. We show it in every price so you can compare quotes fairly.
If a quote is far below the prices above, one of these is being cut, or VAT has been left off. Always check before you compare.
Six Factors That Move Your Price Up or Down
Within the prices above, your own quote is shaped by six things. Knowing each one helps you predict the cost and see where you can sensibly save.
1. Distance (Mileage and Destination)
The most obvious factor, but destination matters as much as miles. Moving into central London brings congestion and ULEZ charges and parking that has to be booked, which a quiet village does not. A long run to Scotland or Cornwall means overnight stays and a second day.
2. Volume of Belongings
We price by volume, not item count. A typical 3-bedroom house holds around 1,300 to 1,600 cubic feet, but that varies a lot: a downsizer's house may be far less, while a family who has lived in the same home for 20 years can be well above 2,000. Volume decides the vehicle, the crew and the time, so it drives the price more than anything else.
3. Access (At Both Ends)
The factor most people forget until the quote arrives. A long carry from the vehicle to the door, several flights of stairs, a flat with no lift or parking that has to be booked all add crew hours. Tell us about them at the survey and they are in the price, not a surprise on the day.
4. Services Beyond the Move Itself
A standard quote is to load, drive and unload. These are added on request, each shown separately on your quote:
- Packing: full or partial packing, usually done the day before a local move; see our packing service
- Dismantling and reassembly of beds, wardrobes and garden furniture, priced at the survey
- Piano removals and other heavy items: see our piano removals page
5. Time of Year and Day of Week
The last Friday of every month, the end of the school summer holidays and the days around bank holidays are when everyone wants to move, so vehicles and crews get booked up first. That affects availability rather than your price: you get a written quote and we move you at that figure whichever day you pick. Booking early buys you the date you actually want.
6. Extra Protection for Valuable Contents
MoveProtect increased liability cover is available on request, and is worth asking about if you have high-value contents. It is arranged before your move, and full detail of what is covered is set out in our terms.
One Vehicle, Yours for the Day
A UK house move goes on its own vehicle. Your belongings are the only load on it, from your old door to your new one, and the crew stays with the job until it is done. We do not run shared or part loads on UK or local moves, so nothing sits at a depot waiting for another customer to fill the space.
Shared and part loads are a European service. If that is the move you are planning, see our European removals service, part-load removals to Spain or part-load removals to France.
Practical Ways to Reduce Your 3-Bed Removal Cost
Some costs are fixed, you can't shrink the distance to Cornwall. But several things genuinely bring the price down without cutting quality:
- Declutter before the survey, not after. Volume drives the price more than anything else. Charity shops, marketplace sales and the tip all reduce the cubic feet, and on a long run to Scotland or Cornwall a serious clear-out moves the number most.
- Book early. The last Friday of the month and the end of the school holidays fill up first.
- Pack the easy things yourself. Books, linen and clothes are quick to box up. Leave the kitchen, glassware and electronics to us; that is where damage usually happens.
- Get a video survey, not a phone estimate. A proper survey gives you a fixed quote and avoids the "we underestimated the volume" surprise on moving day.
- Compare like for like. Check every quote covers the same volume, the same services and includes VAT. The cheapest quote with hidden extras is usually the most expensive in the end.
What to Watch Out For When Comparing Quotes
The UK removals industry is largely well-run, but there are still rogue operators at the budget end of the market. Three warning signs to take seriously:
- No written quote, just a phone number. A reputable mover will always send a written, itemised quote. If they won't put it in writing, walk away.
- Cash-only deposits or pricing. Legitimate businesses accept card payments and issue VAT receipts.
- No accreditation. Membership of Move Assured, the British Association of Removers or the Association of Independent Movers (AIM) means the company has been vetted. Gentlevan Removals is accredited by both Move Assured and AIM.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to move a 3-bedroom house in the UK in 2026?
With Gentlevan, a local 3-bed move within 15 miles starts from £1,550 including VAT, and most cost £1,550 to £2,200. To or from London starts from £2,700, South Wales from £3,000, Cornwall from £3,800 and Glasgow or Edinburgh from £4,600, all including VAT.
Do your prices include VAT?
Yes. Every price in this guide and on your written quote includes VAT. UK removals carry the standard 20% rate, so if another quote looks much cheaper, check whether VAT has been added before comparing.
How much does it cost to move a 1 bedroom flat?
A local 1-bedroom flat move starts from £750 including VAT. A 2-bedroom flat starts from £900 and a 2-bedroom house from £1,300.
How long does it take to move a 3-bedroom house?
A local 3-bed move, loading, driving and unloading, usually fits in a single day. Long-distance moves usually take two days, loading on day one and unloading on day two with the crew staying overnight. Aberdeen, Inverness and the Highlands are often three days, because a lorry can only drive around nine hours a day.
Should I tip the removal team?
Tipping isn't expected in the UK, but it's appreciated. Cold drinks, tea and a sandwich at lunchtime are just as welcome.
Do I need to pay a deposit?
Yes. We ask for a 30% deposit when you book, to secure your date, and the balance is due 5 working days before your moving day. We take card and bank transfer, and every payment comes with a VAT receipt. Be wary of any company that asks for cash only.
What's included in the quote and what's an extra?
Your quote includes the vehicle, crew, fuel, padded blankets, sofa and mattress covers, and VAT. Packing, dismantling and reassembly, pianos and other specialist items, and storage are added only if you ask for them, and each is shown separately on the written quote.
Is it cheaper to hire a man with a van for a 3-bed move?
For a real 3-bedroom house, rarely. A single small van means several trips, and the extra fuel and hours soon close the gap. It's also worth asking any small operator exactly what happens if something is damaged, before you book.
What if my completion date is delayed?
Chains break and completions slip. We can hold your belongings in our own containerised storage near Banbury, and local house moves include one month of storage free. Going into storage means one collection and a separate delivery, so we re-quote the move on that basis. See our storage page for details.
Ready to Get Your Fixed Price?
Every house is different, and the only way to know the real cost of your move is a proper survey. Both options are free and without obligation:
- Video survey (recommended): film each room on your phone and send the clips to us on WhatsApp at 07861 930529, or book a short video call. You receive a written, fixed quote including VAT.
- Home survey: if you would rather we came to you, request a home survey.
Related reading:
Honest prices including VAT, family-run since 2011. Whether you're moving across Banbury or up to Glasgow, we'll plan your move with the same care we'd give our own family.
