Costs of moving companies: how much a moving company costs in Switzerland
Using a moving company saves time and stress. Comparis gives you a rough idea of your moving costs, as well as tips on choosing the right removal firm for you.
20.04.2023
iStock / Martin Prescott
1. Costs of moving companies: how much does a move cost?
The price for moving depends on various factors such as the size of the apartment or the distance between the old and new address. The moving costs therefore vary considerably. You can find an initial overview of the possible costs in the table:
| Number of rooms | Moving costs in francs |
|---|---|
| 1.5 | 340–670 |
| 2.5 | 540–890 |
| 3.5 | 700–1,120 |
| 4.5 | 1,760–2,220 |
| 5.5 | 2,050–2,510 |
Source: Comparis moving cost calculator
2. How do I find a moving company?
You can find moving companies online or through recommendations from friends and colleagues. Request quotes from multiple companies in good time, as they get booked up very quickly around the standard moving dates (these depend on the canton, but are usually the end of March, end of June and end of September).
Get one quote on an hourly basis, and one as a flat rate with a guaranteed cost ceiling. The reason: an hourly rate will not necessarily end up costing less. With a flat rate, there will be no additional costs for you if the moving company has miscalculated. You can request up to five quotes via our moving partner topmovers.
How do people in Switzerland move home?
The majority of the Swiss population moves home without professional support. Only around a third hired a moving company for their last move. This is shown by a representative survey by Comparis. People take care of cleaning on their own even more than they do moving boxes. About 70% of the respondents cleaned their old apartment themselves when they last moved.
3. What factors affect the price charged by a moving company?
Various factors influence the costs of using a moving company. These include:
It’s not just the number of rooms that counts. The amount of home contents also plays a role – i.e. how many items you own. Don’t forget the cellar and the attic.
The time spent travelling between the old and new apartments is charged as working hours. You should also note the size of van the company uses, as a small van may mean several trips. This will increase the cost.
The further away your apartment is from the loading/unloading area, the longer it will take your moving team to move your possessions. Most moving companies therefore take care of arranging a reserved parking space.
Moving will take longer without a lift. If the stairs are narrow, you will generally need a furniture lift, which will cost an additional 200 to 300 francs.
If necessary, moving companies will also take care of packing your belongings, taking furniture apart or assembling it, and disposing of old items. The more you do yourself, the lower the costs.
Heavy furniture weighing 80 kilograms or more – like a piano or a safe – will cost extra.
Cleaning your old apartment yourself is cheaper, but time-consuming and hard work. Moving companies often also offer cleaning services. Compare different quotes from cleaning companies. However, you should always insist on a handover guarantee.
4. Who pays for any damage during the move?
Unlike handling the move yourself, if you use a professional moving company your belongings are insured against damage during the move. The insurance premium is generally included in the quoted price. It’s worth reading the fine print, however, and under no circumstances should you agree to pay the coinsurance.
You should nonetheless be aware: if you pack your belongings yourself, you will be liable. The contents of the moving boxes or banana crates you pack yourself are not covered in the event of damage. Do you own expensive furniture or works of art? It may be worth taking out additional transit insurance through your moving company.
This article was first published on 21.08.2020
