The easier way to book quality trades

Download app

Moving house, collecting furniture, clearing rubbish or transporting bulky items can quickly turn into a bigger job than you first expected.

That’s where a man and van service can help.

For smaller moves and local jobs, hiring a man with a van is often more flexible (and usually more affordable) than booking a full removals company.

Whether you’re moving out of a flat, transporting a bulky furniture purchase, clearing renovation waste or helping a family member downsize, it can be a practical way to get things moved without hiring a van yourself.

This guide explains typical man and van prices in the UK, including hourly rates, what affects the cost, additional charges to budget for and when it’s worth hiring extra help.

Man with a van prices in 2026

As a guide, man and van prices typically start from around £35 per hour for 1 mover with a van.

If you need extra help carrying furniture, navigating stairs or loading heavier items, prices increase depending on how many movers you hire.

Most man and van services charge by the hour, although some may offer a fixed price for straightforward jobs.

Short local moves are often cheaper, while larger jobs involving multiple trips, long-distance travel or bulky items usually cost more.

Get man and van quotes near you

Whether you’re moving house, collecting furniture or clearing rubbish, it’s worth getting a few quotes before you book.

The quote should outline the labour costs and number of movers included, van size, mileage/fuel charges, waiting time charges, disposal fees (if applicable), and whether VAT is included.

Find checked man and van services working in your area and compare quotes for your move.

Man and van costs at a glance

• 1 man with a van: Around £64 per hour

• 2 movers with 1 van: Around £78 per hour

• 3 movers with 1 van: Around £94 per hour

• Small local jobs are usually cheaper than long-distance moves

• Larger vans and extra movers increase costs

• Waste disposal may cost extra

Typical man and van costs

The cost of hiring a man and van depends largely on how much help you need and the size of your move. For smaller jobs, such as collecting furniture, moving a few items into storage, or transporting belongings from a flat, one mover and a van is often enough.

Cost of hiring 1 man with a van

Hiring 1 man with a van typically costs around £64 per hour, with prices ranging from £35–£93 per hour. This option is often suitable for:

• Furniture collections

• Small flat moves

• Student moves

• Storage unit collections

• Garden waste removal

If you're able to help with loading and unloading, this is usually the most cost-effective option.

Cost of hiring 2 men with a van

Hiring 2 movers with 1 van costs around £78 per hour on average, with prices ranging from £50–£105 per hour.

This is often the preferred choice for:

• One or two-bedroom property moves

• Heavy furniture

• Appliances and white goods

• Jobs involving stairs

• Larger furniture collections

Having an extra pair of hands can often get the job done much faster, which can help balance out the higher hourly rate.

Cost of hiring 3 men with a van

Hiring 3 movers with 1 van costs around £94 per hour on average, with prices ranging from £68–£120 per hour. You might choose this option if:

• You're moving a larger volume of belongings

• Access is difficult

• There are multiple flights of stairs

• Heavy or bulky furniture needs moving

• You want the move completed as quickly as possible

For larger moves, paying slightly more per hour can sometimes reduce the overall moving time.

How much is a man with a van likely to cost overall?

The final cost of hiring a man with a van will depend on how long the job takes, the distance travelled and whether any additional charges apply. For example, a straightforward local furniture collection may only take an hour or two, whereas a larger house move could take most of the day. That's why it's always worth asking whether the quote is based on an hourly rate or a fixed price before booking.

What does a man and van service do?

Put simply, a man and van service helps transport items from one location to another.

That could mean:

• Moving house

• Collecting furniture

• Delivering bulky items

• Clearing rubbish

• Moving items into storage

• Helping with student moves

• Transporting garden waste

• Moving office equipment

Many man and van services also help load and unload items, which can be especially useful if you’re moving heavier furniture or awkward appliances.

Some jobs only take an hour or two. Others may involve multiple trips, stair access or longer-distance travel.

Man and van vs removals company

A man and van service is usually smaller, more flexible and more affordable than a full removals company.

That’s why a man with a van setup is often popular for:

• Smaller moves

• Local jobs

• Last-minute bookings

• Furniture collections

• Partial house moves

A removals company may be better suited to:

• Large family home moves

• Full packing services

• Long-distance relocations

• Specialist moving requirements

In reality, it often comes down to the size of the move and how much help you think you'll need.

On Checkatrade, you'll only find trades who meet our high standards and pass up to 12 checks.

What affects man and van prices?

Man and van prices can vary quite a bit depending on the job.

You’ll normally find the biggest factors affecting cost are:

• Distance travelled: Longer journeys usually cost more because of fuel, travel time and mileage

• Number of movers: Extra movers increase labour costs but can make larger jobs much quicker

• Van size: Larger vans typically cost more to run and hire

• Access and stairs: Top-floor flats, awkward hallways and homes without lifts can increase labour time significantly

• Parking: Limited parking or long walks from the van to the property can slow jobs down

• What you’re moving: Bulky, fragile or unusually heavy items may require extra care or specialist handling

• Time of booking: Weekend, evening or short-notice bookings may cost more

• Location: Prices are often higher in London and parts of the South East

Additional costs to budget for

The hourly rate for man with a van hire doesn’t always cover every part of the job.

You may also need to budget for a few extras, including:

• Disposal charges

• Fuel or mileage costs

• Congestion or parking charges

• Waiting time

• Additional movers

• Furniture dismantling and reassembly

• Stair carries

• Evening or weekend surcharges

• Multiple trips

• Specialist lifting equipment

To ensure you know what you're paying for, ask about these possible extras before you book. And if you’re arranging waste removal, always check whether disposal fees are included in the quote.

Waste removal and waste carrier licences

If you’re hiring a man and van service to remove rubbish, make sure they’re registered as an upper-tier waste carrier.

If waste is fly-tipped illegally, homeowners can sometimes still be held responsible, which is why checking for a valid waste carrier licence matters.

You can check a waste carrier licence online before agreeing to any rubbish removal work.

We check the reviews on Checkatrade are from real people, and that trades meet our high standards.

What’s usually included in a man and van quote?

A clear quote should explain exactly what’s included before the job starts.

Check whether your quote includes:

• Labour

• Van hire

• Fuel or mileage

• Loading and unloading

• Moving equipment

• Insurance cover

• Disposal costs, if relevant

• VAT, if applicable

How long does a man and van job take?

The time needed depends on the size of your move, access and travel distance.

As a rough guide:

• Single furniture collection: around 1–2 hours

• Small flat move: around 3–5 hours

• Larger local move: around 1 day

Jobs often take longer when:

• Parking is difficult

• Furniture needs dismantling

• Multiple trips are required

• Access involves several flights of stairs

• Traffic is heavy

An experienced man and van service should be able to give you a realistic estimate before work begins.

Man and van cost calculator

Our man and van cost calculator can help you estimate likely costs before requesting quotes.

Job Estimate Calculator

Get Started

Step 0/3

This calculator provides a guide price only, not a quote. For an accurate cost, ask a selection of checked local services to provide an itemised written quote for your job.

Can you move items yourself?

On paper, hiring a van yourself can look like the cheaper option. But once you factor in fuel, parking, lifting heavy furniture and making multiple trips, the savings aren't always as large as they first seem.

It’s worth weighing up:

• If there's heavy lifting involved

• Fuel costs, parking, and how many loads you'll need to do

• If you're confident driving a larger vehicle

• Insurance coverage

• Whether you can load and transport bulky furniture safely

For many people, hiring a man and van service simply removes a lot of the hassle, especially when time is short, or stairs or heavy furniture are involved.

How to save money on man and van prices

There are a few ways to help keep costs down when hiring a man with a van service:

• Pack everything before the movers arrive

• Disassemble furniture in advance where possible

• Move smaller items downstairs yourself

• Reserve parking nearby if possible

• Avoid peak weekend moving times

• Be clear about what needs moving upfront

Man with a van cost checklist

• Decide how much help you need

• Estimate the van size required

• Check parking arrangements

• Ask whether fuel or mileage is included

• Confirm disposal fees if relevant

• Compare itemised quotes

• Check insurance and waste carrier licences

• Get everything in writing

When should you hire a man and van service?

A man and van service can work well when you want practical moving help but you don't need a full removals company.

They’re often ideal for last minute jobs, small house moves or moving between student flats, transporting furniture or bulky items, waste removal, or taking items to a storage unit.

For many people, it’s a simpler, lower-stress way to move awkward or heavy items without trying to manage everything yourself.

Every Checkatrade job is backed by our £1,000 guarantee

Up to £1000. Eligibility criteria and T&C’s apply.

Find a man and van service near you

Comparing quotes from local tradespeople is one of the best ways to understand what a fair price looks like for your job.

A good service should clearly outline what’s included, how pricing works, whether extra charges may apply, and how long the job is likely to take.

FAQs

What is the difference between removals and man with a van?

A man and van service is usually smaller, more flexible and better suited to local or smaller jobs. A removals company is often better for larger house moves or full packing services.

How much do man and van charge per mile?

Some man and van services charge mileage separately, especially for longer-distance jobs. Others include mileage within their hourly or fixed-price quote.

What does man and van mean?

A man and van service typically involves one or more movers using a van to transport items from one location to another. This might be for a small house move, collecting a second-hand furniture purchase, or getting rid of waste.

What are the benefits of using a man and van?

Man and van services are often more affordable, flexible and quicker to book than larger removals companies, especially for smaller jobs.

What insurance does a man and van need?

Most professional movers should have public liability insurance and goods-in-transit insurance to help protect your belongings during transport.

How much is a man with a van?

The average cost for 1 man with a van is around £64 per hour, although prices can range from around £35–£93 depending on the size of the van, location and type of job.

How much does a man with a van cost per hour?

Most man and van services charge hourly rates averaging around £64 per hour for smaller local jobs.

Is it cheaper to hire a van or a man with a van?

It depends on the job. Hiring a van yourself may work out cheaper for very small moves, but many people prefer the convenience and help that comes with hiring a man and van service.

Can I travel with a man and van?

Some man and van services allow passengers to travel in the van, while others don’t. It’s always best to check beforehand.

Checkatrade

Follow us

More Man And A Van Articles

House clearance cost guide 2026

House removal costs in the UK (2026 price guide)

Hazardous waste disposal cost guide

View all