Packing service: compare quotes and prices

Packing, unpacking or both?

Packing covers suitable protection, filling boxes and labelling them. Unpacking means opening and emptying boxes, with putting items away if agreed. Specify whether you only want boxes emptied or cupboards and shelves organised according to your instructions.

You do not need to hand over the entire household. Partial help can focus on delicate items or time-consuming areas. Furniture assembly, connecting appliances and moving the goods are additional services, not automatically included in packing help.

Contents matter more than room count

Room count provides an initial guide for a whole home. Books, crockery or collections can require more work in a small space than in a larger, sparsely furnished property. For selected areas or an office, describe the actual items and approximate number of boxes.

Distinguish everyday belongings from art, antiques, mirrors and particularly delicate equipment. These may need individual packaging. A visit or photographs during later planning can refine material and labour requirements; a finished inventory is not necessary for the first request.

Agree materials and returns

Ask whether boxes, paper, cushioning, wardrobe boxes and labels are included. Standard cartons cannot replace every specialist package. If you already have materials, the company should check their suitability and condition.

For rented cartons or reusable crates, agree the hire period, return, collection and possible damage charges. Establish who takes away empty packaging after unpacking. Materials delivery, packing and later collection may take place on different days.

How much does a packing service cost?

Quantity, fragility, team size, time and materials determine the cost. Compare fixed prices for the same scope or hourly quotes with clear billing. One hour of a team’s time does not necessarily equal one billed person-hour.

One published indicative rate is CHF 65 per person per hour including VAT and materials. Two people for three billed hours give CHF 390. This does not predict a home’s packing time; minimum hours, travel and applicable terms need confirmation.

Another provider advertises studio packing from CHF 350 including materials and VAT. A starting price is not a ceiling. Both examples were checked in October 2026; unpacking and special items need clarification in the actual quote.

Prepare for the packing day

Sort possessions beforehand and mark anything that stays. Keep personal documents, medicines, keys and first-night essentials separate. Give each destination room a clear name so boxes do not need to be moved repeatedly.

Coordinate packing with the move. Help at both ends generally involves two locations and two time windows. At the destination, cupboards should be accessible and someone should be available to say where items belong.

Check responsibility for owner-packed and professionally packed boxes and the agreed damage cover. Record delicate items before handover and report damage under the agreed terms. Professional packing does not automatically guarantee every item against every kind of damage.