Moving Costs in Singapore: DIY vs Hiring Professionals – Quick Answer
If you are moving within Singapore, a typical DIY move for a 3-room HDB using a rental van and your own packing can cost roughly S$150–S$400, while hiring professional movers usually ranges from S$400–S$800 for a 3–4 room HDB and up to S$1,500+ for larger homes, depending on volume, access, and services included.[1][5] DIY can be cheaper in dollars, but professional movers are usually safer, faster, and more predictable, especially if you have bulky furniture, tight timelines, or young kids.
This article is a focused cluster in Homejourney’s broader guide to Moving Costs in Singapore: DIY Tips vs Hiring Professionals, and complements the full 2025 price breakdown here: Moving Costs in Singapore 2025: Complete Price Breakdown with Homejourney and Moving Costs in Singapore 2025: Homejourney’s Safe, Realistic Price Guide .
Understanding Moving Costs in Singapore (Local Context)
From living in estates like Toa Payoh, Punggol and Queenstown, one thing is clear: moving cost Singapore is driven less by distance and more by volume, access, and labour. Most inner-city moves, like from Bishan to Tanjong Pagar, are under 30 minutes by lorry, so movers focus on how tough it is to carry your items rather than how far they travel.
Based on recent 2025 guides by local movers, a typical movers price for local moves is:[1][5]
- 1–2 room HDB: ~S$200–S$400 (basic loading, transport, unloading)[5]
- 3–4 room HDB: ~S$400–S$800 (standard moving, basic disassembly)[5]
- 5-room / Executive HDB or larger: ~S$800–S$1,500+ (full service, packing help)[1][5]
- Travel distance / trip fee: usually S$50–S$150 per trip for local moves[1]
- Peak period surcharge: 20–30% more on weekends, month-end, and public holidays[1]
For condos and landed homes, prices can go higher due to longer carrying distances from basement carparks, height restrictions for lorries, and management rules on moving hours.[5] These are the realistic baselines you should compare against if you are evaluating a DIY move versus a professional moving quote.
DIY Move in Singapore: When It Works & Realistic Costs
A DIY move in Singapore usually means you pack, you carry, and you rent a vehicle, sometimes with help from friends or part-time labour. It works best if you live in a 1–2 room HDB or a studio/1-bed condo, with mostly loose items and few heavy pieces.
Typical DIY Cost Breakdown (Local Example)
For a young couple moving from a 3-room HDB in Sengkang to a 3-room BTO in Punggol on a weekday, a realistic DIY budget might look like:
- Rental van (3–4 hours): S$60–S$120 (via local van rental platforms or car-sharing)
- Petrol / ERP / parking: S$20–S$40 (depending on route and time)
- Cartons and packing supplies: S$40–S$80 (NTUC / hardware shops / Carousell)
- Bubble wrap for TV / fragile items: S$15–S$30
- Misc (food & drinks for helpers): S$20–S$40
Total: about S$150–S$300 if you do all loading/unloading yourself and have no lift access complications.
Insider Tips for DIY Moving in Singapore
- Reserve your lift early: For HDB and condos, book the lift usage with your Town Council or condo management at least 1–2 weeks ahead. Many estates (like Punggol BTOs and Tiong Bahru Walk-ups) strictly restrict moving hours to weekdays and non-peak periods, with fines if you block the lift without approval.
- Avoid peak heat: In Singapore’s humidity, 11am–3pm is brutal for carrying boxes, especially in non-aircon corridors in older estates like Ang Mo Kio or Bedok. Early morning or late afternoon moves are more realistic and safer.
- Use flat trolleys: For long corridors (common in HDB blocks in Yishun, Jurong West), a flat trolley saves your back and speeds things up significantly.
- Protect flooring: Many condos in areas like River Valley or East Coast require you to lay floor protection sheets; otherwise you may lose your deposit. Check your condo MCST rules beforehand.
DIY moves are cheaper in out-of-pocket cash, but you must factor in physical risk, time off work, and potential damage to items or common property.
Hiring Professional Movers: Costs, Safety, and When It’s Worth It
If you have multiple wardrobes, a king bed, or you live in high-rise condos like in Downtown Core, Newton, or Pasir Ris with strict management rules, professional movers often provide better value overall despite higher upfront relocation fee.
What You Typically Get with Professional Movers
- Site survey and binding moving quote: A staff member visits or does a video call to estimate volume and access, then gives a detailed moving quote (usually free in Singapore).[1]
- Disassembly / assembly: Beds, wardrobes (especially IKEA PAX), dining tables; very useful in small lifts like older HDBs in Queenstown.
- Packing service: Some packages include carton provision and full packing; others charge per carton.
- Insurance options: Coverage for accidental damage, particularly for TVs, marble tables, and pianos.[1]
- Permits and building coordination: Experienced movers are used to dealing with condo management, arranging lift padding and time slots.
Realistic Professional Price Ranges in Singapore
Drawing from current 2025 price guides:[1][5]
- Small 1–2 room HDB / studio: ~S$250–S$450 (one lorry load, no full packing)[1][5]
- 3–4 room HDB: ~S$400–S$800 (1–2 lorry loads, basic disassembly/assembly)[5]
- 5-room HDB with special items (e.g. piano): ~S$1,000–S$1,500+ (special equipment, more labour)[1][5]
- 1–2 bed condo (central area): ~S$500–S$1,200 depending on access and packing included[5]
For most Singapore families, about 70% of local moves fall between S$300–S$800.[1] International moves can easily run from S$2,000–S$10,000+, but that is beyond this local DIY vs pro guide.[1][9]
DIY vs Professional: Decision Framework for Singapore Movers
To decide between DIY and professional movers in Singapore, Homejourney recommends a simple 3-step evaluation framework focused on safety, cost, and complexity.
1. Assess Your Volume and Access
- Volume: If your belongings fit into one lorry load (roughly 15–20 standard cartons plus a few small furniture pieces), DIY is more realistic. Anything above 2 loads usually justifies a professional crew.[1][5]
- Access constraints: No-lift walk-up apartments (for example, older units in Tiong Bahru or Joo Chiat), long corridors, or basement carparks with low clearance strongly favour professional movers who have proper equipment.
- Management rules: Condos in Orchard, CBD, and East Coast often limit moving to weekdays 9am–5pm and require deposit and lift padding. A delay from DIY can jeopardise your deposit and relationship with the MCST.
