Property services
Removal companies in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Local and long-distance removals, packing and storage.
Removals price on volume, distance, access and the amount of packing you want done. A full-service move includes packing materials, dismantling, transport, reassembly and unpacking; a man-and-van move includes none of it.
In Scotland the date of entry is fixed in the missives, so removal dates are more predictable than in England — but on a Friday at the end of the month, the good firms are booked weeks ahead.
When Edinburgh owners call removal companies
- You have a date of entry and need transport and labour booked.
- Items will not fit through the stair and need a hoist or dismantling.
- You are moving out before you can move in and need a night or two of storage.
- You want packing done professionally so fragile items are covered by the firm's liability.
Local context: Edinburgh and the Lothians
Access is the local variable that dominates cost: a top-floor tenement flat with a narrow turn on the stair, controlled parking outside, and a fragile common close. Any firm quoting without asking about floor level and parking has not priced your move.
Parking suspensions on Edinburgh's controlled streets are arranged through the City of Edinburgh Council and need lead time. Ask who applies and whether the fee is inside the quote.
What this work typically costs
Published ranges are market context gathered from local jobs, not a quotation. We do not price work, arrange it or take a cut of it — always get your own written quotes.
| Job | Typical range | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Man and van, local, per hour | £45-£90 | Two-person crews cost more but halve tenement stair time. |
| Two-bedroom flat, local move | £450-£900 | Floor level and parking dominate. |
| Three-bedroom house within Scotland | £900-£1,800 | Distance, crew size and packing. |
| Full packing service | £250-£700 | Materials plus labour; often required for full liability cover. |
| Overnight storage in transit | £100-£300 per night | Useful where entry dates do not align. |
Tenements and common repairs
Moving in or out of a tenement makes you responsible for the common stair while your crew is using it. Protect the walls, keep the door secure rather than wedged open all day, and clear the close afterwards.
Tell the neighbours the date. A stair full of boxes for six hours is tolerable when it has been mentioned and irritating when it has not — and you may want their goodwill for the common repair conversation later.
What to check before you instruct
- Goods in transit and liability cover
- BAR membership where claimed
- Access survey for tenement flats
- Goods in transit and liability cover
- Ask the cover limit per item, not just the total. Self-packed boxes are often excluded from cover.
- BAR membership where claimed
- British Association of Removers membership can be verified on the BAR website and brings a dispute resolution route.
- Pre-move survey
- For anything beyond a small flat, insist on a video or in-person survey so the quote is real.
- Written terms on delay
- Settlements slip. Ask what happens, and what it costs, if the date of entry moves at short notice.
We publish factual detail supplied by each business. We do not rate, rank, endorse or guarantee anyone listed, and no business pays for placement. Checking registration, insurance and references is always your decision.
Questions to ask before you instruct
- What is your liability limit per item and are self-packed boxes covered?
- Do you arrange the parking suspension and is the fee included?
- How many crew and how many hours are in the price?
- What happens if settlement is delayed on the day?
- Will you dismantle and reassemble beds and wardrobes?
- Can you store the load overnight if entry is delayed?
Businesses listed
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Lothian Property is a property information and professional-introduction service operated by Maybury Scotland Limited. Lothian Property is not an estate agency. Where requested, we may connect homeowners with independent estate agents and other property professionals. How we work.
Read our guide on removal companies
Removal companies: common questions
- Why do removal firms survey tenement flats before quoting?
- Stair width, turning circles on half landings, parking distance and any need for a suspended parking bay all change the crew size and time. An unsurveyed quote for a top-floor Edinburgh flat is usually revised upwards on the day.
- How do I get a parking suspension for moving day in Edinburgh?
- Apply to City of Edinburgh Council for a temporary parking bay suspension in a controlled zone, allowing several working days' notice. Some removal firms apply on your behalf.
- What does goods in transit cover actually protect?
- Damage or loss while your belongings are in the mover's care, usually to a stated per-item and total limit. Owner-packed boxes are frequently excluded, so check the limit and the exclusions.