Removals toZurich
Scheduled departures from the UK to Zurich. Switzerland sits outside the EU, so the customs entry is real work rather than a formality, and we do it as part of the job.
A high-value move where the paperwork is the hard part
Zurich pulls UK movers into banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals and an increasingly large technology sector. Salaries are high, contracts are often long, and people tend to bring a full household rather than travel light. It is also, consistently, one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in, which makes the cost of getting your own furniture there far easier to justify than replacing it.
The thing that catches people out is not the drive. It is that Switzerland is not in the EU, so a move here is a customs import in a way a move to France or Germany is not. Done properly it is straightforward and duty-free. Done badly it stops at the border.
UK to Zurich, step by step
After a quick survey — in person or over video — you get a fixed, itemised quote. Then it runs like this.
We survey and fix the price
Video walkthrough or an in-person visit. One itemised number covering collection, the crossing, the Swiss customs declaration and delivery, including the furniture lift and parking permit where your building needs them.
We collect, pack and clear customs
Our crew loads at your door. Switzerland is outside the EU, so this is a full customs entry, not a formality: we prepare Form 18.44 for duty-free removal goods and the itemised inventory it requires, and we time arrival for border office hours.
We deliver into your home
Not to the pavement. We arrange the parking permit, bring a Moebellift where the stairwell will not take your furniture, and work inside the building's permitted moving hours.
What moving into a Zurich apartment actually involves
Swiss buildings run to rules, and they are enforced. Most blocks have a Hausordnung setting the hours a move may happen in, and moving on a Sunday or a public holiday is generally not permitted at all. Lifts are frequently small and must be protected before use, and in the old lanes of the Altstadt and up the hillside districts the streets are narrow and steep enough that a full-size lorry cannot get close, so we shuttle in with a smaller vehicle or bring a Moebellift and take furniture in through the window.
The other Swiss peculiarity is the moving calendar. A great many Swiss leases end and begin on the same quarter days, and those dates absorb almost every removal firm, lift and parking permit in the canton at once. If your date falls on or near the end of March, June, September or December, book as far ahead as you can. We also apply to the city for the parking permit that reserves kerb space for the lorry, which needs notice of its own.
Everything for your move to Zurich
Full serviceFull house removals
Whole-home moves with a dedicated lorry and crew, packed and delivered door to door.
Part loads & shared vans
Cost-effective for smaller moves - you share transport on a weekly departure.
Packing & materials
Professional packing with quality materials, or supplies delivered if you would rather pack yourself.
Storage, UK & abroad
Flexible short or long-term storage either side of the Channel while your dates line up.
Customs & ToR paperwork
We prepare your Transfer of Residence relief and inventory so nothing stalls at the border.
Office & business moves
Relocating a business, planned around minimal downtime for your team.
How much does a removal to Zurich from the UK cost?
A removal from the UK to Zurich typically costs between £800 and £5,200 depending on the volume you are moving, and takes 4-8 days door to door. A shared part-load is the cheapest way to move a smaller home; a dedicated vehicle is faster and suits a full household.
| Move size | Volume | Typical cost | Door-to-door |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part load | 5-10 m³ | £800 - £1,350 | 4-8 days |
| Studio / 1-bed | 15-20 m³ | £1,200 - £1,800 | 4-8 days |
| 2-bed home | 25-30 m³ | £1,900 - £2,800 | 3-6 days |
| 3-bed home | 35-45 m³ | £2,700 - £3,800 | 3-6 days |
| 4-bed home or larger | 50-65 m³ | £3,600 - £5,200 | 3-6 days |
- Every figure includes loading, the crossing, fuel, tolls and delivery into the room.
- Access affects the price: a parking permit, a lift booking or an external furniture lift are priced at survey, not added on the day.
- Swiss customs: duty-free import of household goods needs Form 18.44 and an itemised inventory, which we prepare with you.
The table above is a guide. Your exact price comes from a free survey.
The cost of a move to Zurich varies with more than the number of rooms. What shapes your price:
- The size of your home — a studio, a two-bed flat and a four-bed house are very different volumes to move.
- Access at both ends — stairs, lifts, narrow streets or a long carry all affect the job.
- Packing — full professional packing, fragile items only, or you pack yourself.
- Dedicated lorry or shared part-load — the space and timing your move needs.
- Storage & specialist items — pianos, artwork, or storage either side of the Channel.
Tell us a little about your move and we will come back with a clear, itemised quote.
Questions people ask us about this route
How much does a removal from the UK to Zurich cost?
Do I pay duty moving my belongings to Switzerland?
How long does a removal from the UK to Zurich take?
Why does my moving date matter so much in Switzerland?
Can you deliver into an old town apartment?
Are there restrictions on when we can move in?
Get your Zurich quote
Tell us what is moving and where. We will come back with a fixed, itemised price — collection, packing, customs and delivery in one number.
Get a quick quote
Three minutes now, a firm price back by tomorrow.
We reply within one working day. Your details are used only to prepare your quote.