A long-distance move from the North East costs about £610 for a typical two-bed going 100 miles with us, and about £1,030 for a typical three-bed going the same distance. Past 175 miles, which takes in London from anywhere in the region, we price the move by hand and ring you with a firm figure.

The first 15 miles are included. Past that you pay for the mileage and the driving time, there and back. That is the honest catch with any long move — you are paying for the van to come home as well as to get there, because the van and the crew are ours until they are back.

What it costs by distance

These are typical figures for a usual load, with no stairs and no extras:

Miles	1-bed	2-bed	3-bed	4-bed
50	£330	£410	£630	£710
75	£430	£510	£830	£910
100	£530	£610	£1,030	£1,110
120	£610	£690	£1,190	£1,270
150	£730	£810	£1,430	£1,510
175	£830	£910	£1,630	£1,710

For scale, measured town centre to town centre: Middlesbrough to York is about 50 miles, Durham to York about 75, Newcastle to Leeds about 100, Newcastle to Edinburgh about 120, Newcastle to Manchester or Glasgow about 150, and Darlington to Birmingham about 175.

Stairs, a fuller load and extras such as a loft or garage add to these. The quote form measures your own two addresses door to door and works from the same rates, so it gives you your own figure as you answer. Shorter moves are in our guide to house removal costs in the North East.

All of this is one price for the whole job. If you were weighing that against paying by the hour, we compare the two here.

Why the price jumps at three bedrooms

A usual one- or two-bed fits on one load. A usual three- or four-bed takes two.

Close to home, one van can go back for the second load. Past 50 miles, going back would be the whole run again, so we send a second van and crew instead, and each van's run is charged. That is why a three-bed going 100 miles costs around two-thirds more than a two-bed.

The one thing in your favour: everything arrives together, and going in one trip costs nothing extra on a move this long.

It also tells you where the biggest saving is. A lighter load beats any discount. A three-bed with not much in it can fit on one load, and that takes a whole van's run off the price. If you have been meaning to clear the loft or the garage, do it before the move rather than after. Anything you were going to throw away at the other end is not worth paying to carry 150 miles.

London, and anything past 175 miles

We move people anywhere in mainland Britain, with no distance limit. Past 175 miles, though, the form will not book the move on its own, because a move that long needs a person to plan it. Leave your details and we work it out by hand, then ring you back with a firm figure.

Anywhere in the North East to central London is about 250 to 285 miles. For larger homes and long-distance moves we may arrange an in-person survey, and we will tell you if that is the case.

We do not currently take moves involving ferries or overseas destinations.

How the day runs

We allow about 50 miles an hour for a loaded van, so the drive takes longer than it would in your car. Newcastle to Leeds is about two hours each way, Newcastle to Manchester or Glasgow about three, and the North East to London five to six.

Two or three hours on the road fits inside a normal moving day. Five or six leaves much less room for the loading, the unloading and anything that runs late, which is one reason we go through a move that long with you on the call. An early start helps, and it costs nothing extra.

The hard case is selling and buying on the same day. Keys are released when the money comes through, and nobody can tell you exactly when that will be. A delay at the far end does not move the van back up the A1. Ask your solicitor what time to expect the keys, tell us, and ring us the moment that changes. On a booking with one price for the job there is no waiting charge, and the fallback if the delay runs long is set out in what happens when a completion slips.

A timeline that works

As soon as you have a rough date: get a figure, and tell us everything that is coming, especially the loft, the shed and the garage. A second run for something forgotten is the whole distance again.
At least two weeks before: that is our preferred minimum for any move. Further out is better for a Saturday — we charge the same whatever day you move, so Saturdays book up first.
Once the date is firm: sort the parking at the far end. You may not know the street, so ask the new council about any permit or bay suspension, and ask the agent where a van can actually stop. Our parking and access guide has the list.
The week before: put together what goes in your own car. Cash, jewellery, passports and documents sit outside removals insurance, so those travel with you. Add bedding, the kettle and your chargers, because you may well reach the new house before the van does.
On the day: we photograph items, access routes and both properties before, during and after. Keep your phone charged, and make sure somebody is at the far end with the keys when the van arrives.

The miles are the part you cannot change. What goes on the van is the part you can, so start with the loft.