What Sets the Price of Your Move
| Factor | What we ask | Why it moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Load | The big items, or a room count | Decides the van size, the crew and how many trips |
| Access | Floors, lifts, parking, back entries | A third-floor walk-up or a long carry takes longer than a driveway |
| Distance | Both postcodes | Driving time and fuel between the two addresses |
| Extras | Dismantling, wrapping, rubbish to take away | Each adds time, and waste adds disposal costs |
Send those details and the figure we reply with is the price for the job. It changes only if the job changes, and we tell you before anything is loaded.
UK Man and Van Rates in 2026
We do not publish a St Helens price list, because two moves of the same size can differ a lot on access alone. These are the national ranges from Compare The Man And Van's guide, updated 31 March 2026.
| Crew and van | Per hour |
|---|---|
| Driver only, small van | £30 to £50 |
| Driver and one helper, medium van | £50 to £80 |
| Driver and one helper, large van | £60 to £100 |
| Driver and two helpers, 3.5 tonne Luton | £90 to £200 |
The same guide puts day rates at £240 to £400 for a small van and £300 to £550 for a medium van, with most hourly bookings carrying a minimum of about two hours. For Manchester, the nearest city it lists, it gives £35 to £55 an hour and £280 to £440 a day.
Typical Prices by Job Size
Fantastic Services publishes 2026 job prices for the UK outside London, including VAT. They are a useful check on any quote you get.
| Job | Typical time | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Sofa or single item | 1 to 2 hours | £60 to £150 |
| Studio flat | 2 to 4 hours | £150 to £320 |
| 1 to 2 bed flat | 4 to 6 hours | £300 to £550 |
| 2 to 3 bed home | 6 to 8 hours | £500 to £800 or more |
The same source puts a whole house clearance at about £250 to £450 for a one-bed flat and £600 to £1,200 for a three-bed home.
Hourly Rate or Fixed Price
An hourly rate looks cheaper on paper, but the bill depends on how the day goes: traffic on the East Lancs Road, a lift that is out of order, or a wardrobe that will not come apart. With a fixed price, that risk sits with us.
- House moves, flat moves, single items and clearances are quoted as one fixed price.
- Open-ended jobs, such as shuttling between two addresses for a morning, can be booked as man and van hire by the hour, agreed before we start.
- Either way, you know how the cost works before you book.
Council Bulky Collection or a Man and Van
For a few large items, compare us with St Helens Council's bulky rubbish collection. Its published charges, updated October 2026, are below, and the bulky collection rules decide whether it suits your items.
| Council collection | Charge |
|---|---|
| Up to 3 standard items | £27.00 |
| One extra standard item | £8.30 |
| Fridge, freezer or electrical item (max 2) | £18.50 each |
| Sofa or upholstered seat | £18.50 each |
The council collects from the kerb only. Its crews do not enter the home, items must be no bigger than 6ft by 4ft, and you lose the fee if you cancel with less than two working days of notice. If your items are already downstairs and there are four or fewer, the council is usually cheaper. If they are upstairs, there are more of them, or you need them gone today, rubbish removal by a man and van is the better fit.
Why the Cheapest Rubbish Quote Can Cost More
If you pay someone to take your waste and it is later fly-tipped, the council can hold you responsible. Under the household waste duty of care, councils can issue a fixed penalty of up to £600 to a householder who did not take reasonable steps to check the carrier, and the fly-tipping fine itself rose to as much as £5,000 in September 2026. Asking for a waste carrier registration number and checking it before you pay is the simplest protection.
How to Get an Accurate Quote
- Both postcodes, and the floor each home is on.
- Whether there is a lift, and where a van can stop.
- A list of the big items, or a few photos of each room.
- Anything that needs taking apart or taking away.
- Your date, and whether it can move by a day or two.
Put those on the quote form and we reply within the hour, 7am to 9pm, with one fixed figure.