A rental van with your own helpers is cheaper when you have few belongings, friends to carry and a short distance. A van costs about €45–90 a day in the Helsinki area (rental company prices in October 2026). Movers start to make more sense from a two-room flat upwards, in buildings without a lift and when the load includes heavy furniture. Moving a two-room flat typically costs €270–450 with us, including a 20–30 m³ truck, two movers, fuel, kilometres, moving blankets and transport insurance. Here is the calculation line by line.
A two-room flat move, two ways
The example is an ordinary two-room flat (kaksio) in the Helsinki area: a sofa, a bed, a dining table with chairs, a washing machine, a fridge and 20–35 boxes. That is roughly 20–25 cubic metres of belongings.
| Rental van and friends | Movers | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | €45–90 / day | included |
| Load space | about 10–12 m³, a two-room flat usually takes two loads | 20–30 m³, a two-room flat in one load |
| Fuel and kilometres | your own cost, extra kilometres per the rental price list | included |
| Carriers | friends, food and drinks | 2 movers |
| Blankets, dolly, straps | buy or borrow | included |
| Damage | your own risk, plus the rental's insurance excess | transport insurance, we cover damage caused by our negligence |
| Time | usually the whole day | typically 3–5 hours |
| Price | about €100–200 plus your day | €270–450 |
So the van is cheaper in money, but the gap narrows once you add the second load, blankets and dolly, your friends' food and your own day. The gap is widest when your friends are ready to go, there is a lift at both ends and you only have a studio's worth of things.
What a rental van really costs
01Rent and kilometres
A small van for a few hours costs about €40 in the Helsinki area, a large van for a day €45–90. Check how many kilometres are included and what extra kilometres cost. A move adds up more kilometres than you think: the pickup, two loads and the return.
02Insurance excess
Rental insurance often comes with an excess that can be several hundred euros unless you pay to reduce it. Reversing in a tight courtyard or a low entrance is the classic place for a dent. Photograph the van from every side before you set off.
03Equipment
Without moving blankets the sofa rubs against the wall of the load space and table corners get dented. You will need to borrow or rent a dolly, straps and blankets. Ours travel in every truck.
04Carriers
A two-room flat needs at least two strong carriers for the whole day. Friends are not paid, but food and returning the favour are part of the deal. And if a friend hurts their back under the fridge, nobody covers it.
When a rental van makes sense
- You are moving out of a studio or a shared flat, with less than 10 cubic metres of belongings.
- There is a lift or a ground-floor entrance at both ends.
- There is little large furniture, and no washing machine or fridge.
- Two friends are definitely available and the schedule is flexible.
- The addresses are close to each other and you are comfortable driving a van.
With a standard category B driving licence you may drive a vehicle with a maximum permitted weight of up to 3,500 kg. Most rental vans are within this limit, but check with the rental company if you hire a large box van.
When movers make sense
- You are moving from a two-room flat or larger, and everything won't fit in a van at once.
- The building has no lift, or the carry from the truck to the door is long.
- The load includes heavy items: a sofa, washing machine, fridge, chest of drawers or piano.
- Your tenancy ends on a fixed date and the schedule has no slack.
- You want someone other than you to be responsible for damage.
Count your own time too. If moving day goes on collecting the van, driving two loads and returning it, a 3–5 hour move with professionals frees the rest of the day for unpacking.
The middle way: pack yourself, book the truck and movers
Most moving hours go on unpacked belongings and furniture that needs dismantling. When the boxes are packed and labelled, the bed taken apart and the lift booked, the same move finishes faster with us and the bill is smaller. We don't hire out movers without a truck, because equipment and insurance are always part of the price, but even a small job runs at the same €90/h rate. Students get a 10% discount.
If your schedule is flexible, say so in your request. A small load can often be combined with another job going the same way.
If you choose a van: 6 tips
01Book the van early
At the turn of the month rental vans run out at the same time as leases end. Book two weeks ahead.
02Check the load height and tail lift
A fridge travels upright, so the load space must be tall enough. A tail lift saves your back. Read our guide to moving a fridge if it has to lie down.
03Heavy items first, against the cab
The washing machine, fridge and book boxes go in first against the front wall, light and fragile items on top and at the back.
04Strap the load
Use load straps on the anchor points after every layer. A loose load shifts at the first roundabout.
05Parking at both ends
Loading is allowed in many places but not everywhere. In central Helsinki a temporary no-parking zone can be ordered from the city for moving day.
06Photos at pickup and return
Photograph the van from every side and the fuel gauge when you collect and return it. The photos settle whose scratch is whose.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rent a van for moving?
In the Helsinki area a large van costs about €45–90 a day at rental companies in October 2026, and a small van for a few hours about €40. On top come fuel, any extra kilometres and the insurance excess.
How many trips does a two-room flat take with a rental van?
The belongings of a two-room flat take up about 20–25 cubic metres, and a typical rental van holds about 10–12. A two-room flat usually needs two loads. It fits in a moving company's 20–30 m³ truck in one go.
Which is cheaper, a rental van or movers?
In money, the van, if you have your own carriers: a two-room flat done yourself costs about €100–200, with us typically €270–450. The gap narrows once you count the second load, equipment, your friends' food, your own day and the risk of damage.
Can I hire movers without a truck?
Our movers always come with a truck, because equipment, fuel and transport insurance are included in the price. Even a small job runs at the same rate, €90/h for two movers and a truck.
Can I drive a moving van with a category B licence?
Yes, when the vehicle's maximum permitted weight is 3,500 kg or less. Most rental vans are within this limit, but check with the rental company for larger box vans.
Compare with your own numbers
Send us the details of your move. You'll get an estimate with the truck, two movers, fuel and kilometres already included.