A move is rarely a bargain — and the gap between hiring professional movers and a DIY move with friends quickly runs into four figures. Anyone moving in Germany in 2026 should price out both options properly and check which share is tax-deductible. The moving cost calculator gives a first solid estimate in 30 seconds.
Movers vs DIY — the cost blocks compared
Both options break down into four to five items with very different weights:
| Item | Movers | DIY |
|---|---|---|
| Base / van | €30–40/m³ × distance factor | ~€120/day |
| Fuel | included in base | €0.45/km (round-trip) |
| Floors without lift | €50–80/floor | sore muscles |
| Packing material | €10–15/m³ | €5–7/m³ (wholesale) |
| Helpers | 2 incl., +€180/person | €50–80 flat + €30 food |
1. Estimate volume — the most important number
The volume in m³ drives both the mover quote and the size of the rental van. Rules of thumb for 2026:
- Studio apartment: 15–20 m³
- 2-room flat: 20–30 m³
- 3-room flat: 35–45 m³
- 4-room flat: 50–65 m³
- Single-family house: 70–100 m³
Reputable movers offer a free on-site survey — booking by phone alone risks surcharges or an undersized van.
2. Distance and the distance factor
Mover prices do not rise linearly with distance. A typical tiered structure is:
- ≤ 50 km (within a city) — factor 1.0
- ≤ 200 km (regional) — factor 1.15
- ≤ 500 km (long-distance) — factor 1.35
- > 500 km (cross-state) — factor 1.6
For DIY, distance hits twice: fuel for both legs (~€0.45/km for a 7.5-tonne van) and from 200 km onward a second day of van rental.
3. The floor surcharge — the underestimated item
Without a lift, every floor adds €50–80 per side (old and new flat). The 4th floor without a lift quickly adds €240–320. Booking a moving day with access to a furniture hoist can cut this surcharge substantially — and the distance allowance calculator helps quantify the commute saved if the move was triggered by a new job.
4. Packing and extras
Boxes, tape, padding and special wraps for art, lamps and electronics cost €10–15/m³ at the mover; buying them yourself is roughly half but costs time. Typical extras:
- Furniture assembly: €200–350 — worth it for large IKEA wardrobes or fitted units.
- Bulk waste disposal: €250–500 — cheaper than a separate trip to the recycling centre.
- No-parking zone permit: €70–150 per location — almost mandatory in inner cities.
- Piano transport: €250–400 flat per instrument.
5. The honest DIY math
A DIY move rarely lands below €500 once you add everything up. Example: 30 km city move, 40 m³, three helpers:
| Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 7.5 t van | 1 day × €120 | €120 |
| Fuel | 30 km × 2 × €0.45 | €27 |
| Helper flat fee | 3 × €70 | €210 |
| Food | 3 × €30 | €90 |
| Packing (wholesale) | 40 m³ × €6 | €240 |
| Total DIY | ~€687 |
By comparison, movers for the same job land around €1,400 — a ~€700 saving. At 500 km the picture flips: two days of van rental (€240), €450 of fuel and a longer helper window erode the saving.
6. What the German tax office gives back
Job-related moves: fully deductible
A move is job-related if at least one of these conditions is met:
- Job change or transfer — relocation was a job requirement.
- Daily commute shortened by ≥ 1 hour (round-trip combined).
- First job after university or vocational training.
In those cases all moving costs are fully deductible as income-related expenses — movers, van rental, double rent during the transition, broker fees for the new flat, redecoration of the old flat. Without receipts you can claim the statutory moving allowance under § 10 BUKG (2026: €964 for the eligible person, ~€643 per additional family member). If the move triggers a second household for work, the double-household calculator kicks in alongside.
Private moves: § 35a EStG
For private moves — larger flat, new family, separation — a smaller bonus remains: 20 % of the labour share of a mover invoice is a direct tax credit (max €4,000/year). Requirements:
- Invoice splits labour and material costs separately.
- Payment by bank transfer — cash is excluded.
- Service performed at your own household.
For a €1,800 mover bill with ~60 % labour share (€1,080), that is roughly a €216 direct tax credit. The same rules cover other household-related services.
7. Worked example: Berlin → Munich, job-related
3-room flat (40 m³), 600 km, new job in Munich, lift on both sides:
| Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Movers base price | 40 m³ × €35 × 1.6 | €2,240 |
| Packing material | 40 m³ × €12 | €480 |
| Furniture assembly | flat | €250 |
| Mover cost | €2,970 | |
| Tax deduction (income-related) | 100 % deductible | €2,970 |
At a personal marginal tax rate of 35 %, around €1,040 flow back via the tax return — net cost drops to roughly €1,930.
Typical mistakes
Booking movers by phone only
Booking without an on-site survey invites surcharges or an undersized van. Get at least three written quotes.
Not keeping receipts
Van rental, fuel, food — everything is deductible, but only with proof. A glove-compartment envelope is enough; the tax office spot-checks.
Cash payment on a private move
The § 35a credit only works if the mover invoice was paid by bank transfer. Pay in cash and you lose the bonus.
Forgetting the old flat
Redecoration, damages for late return, double rent until handover — for job-related moves these all count as income-related expenses.
Bottom line
A city move almost always favours DIY; a long-distance move over 500 km often tilts back to movers — especially once unpaid time off enters the math. Job-related movers should keep every receipt and let their tax advisor pick between flat allowance and actual costs. Private movers must not forget § 35a: 20 % of the labour share of the mover bill is a real bonus. The moving cost calculator gives the first overview; for tax depth see the income-related expenses calculator or, for a work-driven second household, the double-household calculator.