"What does it cost to get my sofa from A to B?" — the most common question before any furniture transport, and the honest answer is: it depends. But on what, exactly, can be stated clearly. Knowing the five price factors lets you judge offers properly and avoid overpaying.
The five price factors
1. The route. Within a city you mainly pay for time (loading, driving, unloading); over long distances you pay for kilometres. A trip across Cologne therefore costs far less than Cologne–Munich — even for the same sofa.
2. The vehicle. An armchair fits in an estate car; a full bedroom set needs a van. The bigger the vehicle, the higher the price — so pick the size that fits instead of defaulting to "the big one".
3. Floors and carrying distances. Ground floor with parking at the door is the ideal case. Fourth floor without a lift, a narrow stairwell, 100 metres of footpath — all of it costs time and therefore money. Include these details in every request, or expect discussions later.
4. Carrying help. Does the driver carry alone, with a second person, or do you help? A second pair of hands costs extra but is often unavoidable for heavy items (washing machine, wardrobe) — and cheaper than a slipped disc.
5. Timing. A fixed slot and short-notice pickup cost more than flexible windows. Consolidated shipping saves money — but can mean waiting days.
Market ballpark figures
As rough orientation for Germany: small transports within a city typically land in the mid-double-digit to low-triple-digit euro range depending on effort. On long distances, kilometres drive the price; full moves follow their own rules and aren't comparable to a single furniture transport.
More important than any ballpark: get a binding price before booking. Reputable providers calculate transparently; open-ended hourly rates are unnecessary for a plannable furniture transport.
How to get the best price
- State dimensions and weight honestly — surcharges for "it was bigger than expected" are avoidable.
- Choose the right vehicle size instead of oversizing on suspicion.
- Stay flexible on the time window when the date isn't critical.
- Mention floors, lift, and parking right in the request.
- Use instant pricing: With Maxmove you enter origin, destination, and vehicle and see the binding price immediately — book a small transport online, with carrying help as an add-on and live tracking included.
For how a booking works step by step, see Private furniture transport, easy booking.
Bottom line
A furniture transport doesn't have to be a cost mystery. State route, vehicle, carrying distances, help, and timing cleanly, and you'll get a fair fixed price — with no surprises on the invoice. For individual items, check our transport item pages — from the sofa and the fridge to a complete mini move. Planning the whole move? Tick off our moving checklist PDF.
