How Much Does it Cost to Use a Moving Company in South Africa?

Your moving day is fast approaching, and you’ve probably asked yourself, ‘What are the true costs of hiring a trustworthy moving company?’ Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about furniture removal costs in South Africa.

Moving company prices can vary quite a bit depending on various factors. However, it’s important to remember that moving quotes are based on more than just money. There is often a direct correlation between moving quotes and the quality of service provided.

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Factors That Can Affect Your Furniture Moving Quote:

  1. Inventory volume of all the furniture and personal belongings

Most moving companies across South Africa calculate their moving prices based on the amount of furniture and personal belongings that need to be moved. This is probably one of the most important factors to consider when using a moving company. To get an accurate furniture removal quote, your trusted furniture mover will send you a detailed inventory list to complete and send back.

By using a detailed inventory list, along with the measurements of your home, moving companies can create an accurate quote based on the truck sizes they will need to use to move all of your belongings. An inventory list will also give a good indication to the moving company as to how much time it will take to load all of the belongings, to move and drop the belongings off, and as to how much staff will be needed to load and unpack everything.

  1. Physically packing your belongings and the packing material required

Moving furniture and personal belongings can be stressful, and ensuring they are packed securely is a top priority. Moving companies understand this need and invest time and effort to pack your items professionally to prevent damage.

Your moving price will depend on the level of packing assistance required and the materials used. Moving companies train their staff members to ensure that all of your belongings are packed neatly and efficiently. The more items the movers need to pack with safety wraps, boxes, and other materials, the higher the furniture removal costs will be. Investing in professional packing services ensures your belongings are transported safely, which can be worth the additional expense.

  1. Accessibility of your current home and ease of access

A small detail, or actually quite a big detail, that is overlooked is the accessibility of one’s home. Is your apartment on the fourth floor? Is there a lift accessible to move the furniture with? Do you live on a farm with a bad dirt road leading up to the home? All of this can determine how much your removal quote will be.

Easy access, such as a ground-floor home, means faster loading and unloading, keeping the quote lower. More difficult access requires extra time and potentially a smaller vehicle (a shuttle), which increases your furniture removal prices due to added effort and time.

  1. The time, day and season of the big move

Moving company prices tend to rise during peak seasons when demand is high. This includes months like May, June, and the end of the year (November and December). These are usually the times when family members take off from work and school to move everything and everybody to their new home. Weekends also see higher prices due to increased demand. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly move, consider scheduling during off-peak times, when moving companies have fewer bookings and may offer better rates.

  1. Distance of moving your furniture

The distance of your move plays a major role in your moving quote. Local furniture moves typically cost less since there’s less travel time and fuel involved. However, long-distance moves, such as from Cape Town to Johannesburg, will incur higher costs due to the additional travel time and fuel. Keep in mind that the further you move, the higher your moving company prices will be.

  1. Dismantling and reassembling furniture

A huge factor many people forget is that some belongings and furniture will need to be dismantled in order to load them safely into the moving truck. This takes time and effort from the moving staff to ensure your belongings are dismantled and packed away safely before being transported to the new location.

Once at your new home, the movers will need additional time to reassemble the furniture. These tasks add complexity to the move, which in turn increases your quote. However, this is well worth the money. Moving companies train their staff to move your furniture as safely as possible, and this extra effort will ensure that your furniture is moved safely in their current conditions.

  1. Special conditions can also affect your overall moving quote

Special requests, such as moving a piano or large furniture, can influence your moving quote. These items often require specialized handling, additional staff, or equipment, which leads to an increase in relocation costs. Make sure to communicate any special requirements upfront when requesting your quote to avoid surprises later. These special conditions will increase the overall price of your move, but it will ensure that your furniture is moved as efficiently and safely as possible.

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General Moving Price Ranges by Province:

If you are looking at general pricing for moving between homes, then moving within the same neighborhood or city will be your lowest price range. Moving to a new home close to your old one means moving companies will spend less time on the road, which will decrease your overall furniture removal costs. Many moving companies have a minimum rate at around R850 per hour.

If you are planning on moving within your current city, here is a good indication on how much a move will cost per hour:

  • An average 2 bedroom apartment that’s around 60 square meters or larger will cost between R1500 – R2950.
  • An average 3 bedroom house that’s around 300 square meters or larger will cost between R2800 – R4600.
  • An average 4 bedroom house that’s around 500 square meters or larger will cost between R7500 – R12 000.

However, moving between provinces will be more expensive due to longer distances. All moving companies follow the same major routes expanding from Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, all the way through to Bloemfontein, Johannesburg and Pretoria. A move from Cape Town to Johannesburg, based on using one truck for the average 2 bedroom flat will cost you anywhere between R3500 to R6000. Again, the prices will differ based on distance and the amount of furniture you are moving. So, make sure to compare different moving company prices when using any moving company. Please see Biggles Furniture Removal prices by region:

Average Long Distance Prices from Moving Companies in SA

See below a rough estimate of what moving companies charge to and from Cape Town and Johannesburg to get an idea of what you might pay on off peak times.

To Cape Town Average Removals Cost
Moving to Cape Town from Johannesburg R6995 to R15 995
Moving From Port Elizabeth to Cape Town R8995 to R13 995
Moving From Pretoria to Cape Town R6995 to R15 995
Moving From Durban to Cape Town R5995 to R11 995
To Johannesburg Average Removals Cost
Moving From Cape Town to Johannesburg R4995 to R19 995
Moving From Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg R3995 to R17 995
Moving from Nelspruit to Johannesburg R4995 to R19 995
Moving from Durban to Johannesburg R7995 to R19 995

Tips to Lower Your Moving Company Quote on a Budget:

  1. Source Your Own Packaging Materials

A good way to collect some packaging material is to go to various stores in your local area and ask if they have any extra packaging supplies sitting around. Many companies will either give you the supplies for free or sell them at a reduced price. Having these supplies on hand means that the moving company will have everything they’ll need to pack your furniture as safely as possible without having to obtain these extra supplies at an extra cost.

  1. Declutter Your Belongings

Moving with a lot of furniture and personal belongings means that your moving quote will increase in pricing. A good way to decrease your overall quote is to declutter some of your items to ensure less items are being moved to your new home.

Take the time to go through all of your belongings and see what can be left behind or sold. If you’ve been thinking about selling your old couch and replacing it, now is the ideal time to do so. Try to minimize the amount of furniture being moved and only replace certain items when you are already moved in.

  1. Compare Different Moving Company Prices

A good way to get the best for your buck, is to compare different quotes from different moving companies. Sometimes, a fully assisted move just isn’t possible. Taking the time to go through the different options each moving company offers, at their different prices, will ensure that you still get a personalized move that fits your budget.

  1. Check in with Your Insurance

Many people forget to contact their insurance providers, to see whether they will assist with the costs of moving between homes. If your home is covered, check in with your insurance company to see if they will cover any or all of the costs of moving to a new location. The same goes for work-related moving. If you need to move because of work-related requirements, speak with your supervisors to see if any moving costs will be covered by the company.

  1. Consider Moving During Off-Peak Times

Off seasons can be your new best friend when it comes to saving some money on your moving expenses. During off seasons, moving companies are not as busy as they usually would be, which means you’ll be saving some money along the way. Try and move either during the week or in between school holidays to ensure your move will be booked at a reduced rate.

We hope these tips have been helpful and wish you the best with your next move!