How Much Do Removals Cost in Dublin? A 2026 Price Guide

Moving house is expensive enough without being caught off guard by the removal bill. Knowing what removals typically cost in Dublin gives you a realistic baseline when comparing quotes and helps you put a budget together that actually holds up on the day.

Our Dublin removals team has been pricing up moves since 1982, so we have a clear picture of what different jobs cost — and what makes the numbers move up or down.

What Drives Removal Costs in Dublin?

Several things push a quote higher or lower. Understanding them helps you get a fair price and avoid paying for things you don’t need.

Property size is the biggest factor. A one-bedroom flat in Rathmines that’s lightly furnished takes a two-person crew three hours or so. A four-bedroom family home in Castleknock with a full garage and attic is a full-day job with two vans. It’s nearly all about labour time.

Access at both properties catches people off guard. Georgian buildings without lifts in the city centre, narrow Victorian terraces in Ranelagh, and tight driveways on steep roads in Killiney all add significant time to a job. Parking is another consideration — restricted areas like Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, and the D4 postal district often require a bay suspension permit arranged in advance with Dublin City Council.

Distance matters more for intercity or long-haul moves than for most Dublin-to-Dublin jobs. A move from Cabra to Sandymount takes longer than Blackrock to Dún Laoghaire because of M50 routing and city-centre traffic, but both are manageable in a half-day. Cross-country moves to Cork, Galway, or across the border involve a proper mileage calculation.

Day and month of the year. May through August and Fridays throughout the year are peak times. Prices reflect demand. A Tuesday in January and a Friday in July are not the same job commercially, even if the property and distance are identical.

Packing services are optional. If you want our team to pack the full house, that adds materials and several hours of labour. Most customers pack their own belongings and use us purely for the move itself.

Specialist items — pianos, antiques, large wine collections, fine art — need specific care and sometimes specialist equipment. These are priced individually once we know what’s involved. See our house removals service for a full overview of what we cover.

Typical Dublin Removal Costs by Property Size

The figures below are ballpark estimates for a standard Dublin-to-Dublin move with a two-person crew, good access at both ends, and no specialist items. Every move is priced individually — treat this as a guide, not a quote.

Property size	Estimated cost (exc. packing)
Studio / 1-bed flat	€300 – €550
2-bedroom house or flat	€500 – €850
3-bedroom family home	€800 – €1,400
4-bedroom home	€1,300 – €2,200+

Add professional packing, and you’re typically looking at an extra €150–€400 depending on the volume and how long it takes. Our packing service includes all materials — boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes.

Man and Van Versus Full Removal Service

For a studio flat or a single-room move, a man and van is often the right call. You’re paying for a driver and a van; you handle more of the lifting. It suits students moving out of digs near Trinity or UCD, or someone shifting a spare room’s worth of gear across the city.

For a full household move, a full removal service almost always works out better value in practice. A trained crew loads efficiently, protects furniture properly, and finishes the job in a fraction of the time most people manage themselves. The cost difference between the two shrinks considerably once you factor in how much time you save.

Extra Costs to Factor Into Your Budget

Short-term storage — if there’s a gap between vacating one property and getting the keys to the next, you’ll need somewhere for your belongings. Our storage solutions are flexible from a single week upwards, and booking early means you won’t be scrambling when contracts drag past their expected date.

Parking permits — in central Dublin and many south Dublin suburbs, on-street bay suspensions need to be applied for through Dublin City Council at least five working days in advance. The fee is modest; missing the deadline means the van parks two streets away and every item walks further.

Furniture disassembly and reassembly — beds, large wardrobes, and flatpack pieces sometimes need to come apart to fit through doorways or down stairs. We include this in our quotes; confirm with any other company whether it’s priced separately.

Boxes and packing materials — if you’re sourcing these yourself, allow €80–€150 depending on how much you own. Supermarkets and off-licences are the obvious free source, but purpose-built removal boxes protect better and stack more reliably in a van.

When Is the Cheapest Time to Move in Dublin?

Autumn and winter, plain and simple. October through February is the quietest period, which means more flexibility on scheduling and genuinely more competitive pricing.

End-of-month dates are the ones to avoid if your lease or closing allows any room. Property transactions cluster at month-end, and removal companies fill up fast on those days regardless of the season. A midweek move in the middle of the month during the quieter half of the year is the sweet spot for both availability and price.

If you’re moving between two rented properties, it’s worth asking your landlord whether the lease end date is moveable by a few days. Shifting from the 31st to the 27th can open up real options.

What to Look Out for When Comparing Quotes

Hourly versus flat rate. Some companies quote by the hour; others price the job as a flat rate after a survey. Both are legitimate, but know which you’re getting. An hourly rate can climb if access delays or traffic add time.

VAT. All removal quotes should include VAT. A quote that excludes it looks cheaper than it is. Ask explicitly if the figure isn’t clearly stated.

Goods-in-transit insurance. Any reputable Dublin removal company carries it. Ask for written confirmation of the cover level before you book. Accidents are uncommon, but they happen — you want to know your belongings are covered if they do.

Hidden access charges. Some companies add surcharges for stairs, lifts, or long carries from parking. Ask upfront whether the access conditions at your property are likely to change the final price.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should I book a removal company in Dublin?

Four to six weeks is sensible for a summer move. In quieter months, two to three weeks is usually enough. If your move date is tied to a property closing, book the day you know the date — regardless of how far out it is.

Do removal companies charge by hour or by job?

Both models are used. Smaller moves and man-and-van jobs are often charged hourly. Larger house moves are typically priced as a flat rate after an in-person or video survey. The survey is what gives you a number you can rely on.

Do I need to empty drawers before the move?

For most furniture, yes. Drawers should be emptied to reduce weight and prevent damage to the piece. Solid wood dressers with very shallow drawers can sometimes be left, but if in doubt, empty them. We’ll advise during the survey.

Does the type of property affect price?

It does. New estates on the outskirts of Dublin — around Clonee, Balgriffin, or Portmarnock — often have wide roads and plenty of off-street access. Older city-centre properties and Victorian redbricks frequently have narrower hallways, smaller doorways, and no off-street parking. Both are manageable; they just take different amounts of time.

Is tip included in the quote?

No — tipping is entirely optional and at your discretion. Our crews are paid properly and won’t expect it. If the team has done a great job and you want to show appreciation, it’s always welcome, but never expected.

Get an Accurate Quote for Your Dublin Move

A price guide only gets you so far. The figure that actually matters is the one based on your property, your date, and what you need. We price every job individually after a survey — no assumptions, no surprises.

Call us on +353 85 194 9801 or get in touch via our contact page. We’ll talk through what’s involved and send you a written quote with no hidden extras.