Man and van hire in Ireland typically costs €50 to €700+, with smaller collections around €50 to €150 and one or two-bedroom moves around €150 to €450.

As per Bark's 2026 data, the average job in this category is €158, based on more than 31,260 requests fulfilled by a network of 1,400+ removal professionals across Ireland.

Compare man and van professionals through Bark and get free quotes for the move you need.

A sofa collection across town and a two-bedroom house move can both fall under man and van services. What separates the prices is the amount being moved, how long the job takes and whether access slows the crew down.

By the end of this guide, you'll have a clearer idea of the crew, time and budget your move is likely to need.

How much does a man and van cost in Ireland on average?

Bark's data puts the average man and van job in Ireland at €158 in 2026. Regional figures differ because journey lengths and the mix of jobs are not the same everywhere.

Bark's average man and van cost by region (2026, EUR, VAT may be extra)

Dublin and Leinster average lower partly because many bookings are short, single-item collections instead of full home moves. Munster's higher figure reflects a heavier mix of multi-room moves and longer journeys between towns.

Use these as regional benchmarks. The amount you're moving and the time involved will still have more influence on an individual quote.

What do man and van services charge per hour?

Most man and van operators in Ireland charge by the hour. A minimum booking of around 1.5 to 2 hours commonly applies to cover travel, loading and unloading.

Man and van hourly rates in Ireland (2026, EUR, VAT may be extra)

A short 30-minute collection can still cost close to the minimum booking amount. At €60 an hour with a 1.5-hour minimum, the starting bill is €90.

The hourly rate also needs to be judged alongside the time required.

• A one-hour job at €80 costs €80.
• Two hours at €50 an hour costs €100, so the lower hourly rate doesn't always produce the cheaper job.

Wages are only one part of what the customer pays.

Ireland's National Minimum Wage is €14.15 an hour from 1 January 2026, according to the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.

A commercial van service also has to cover fuel, insurance, vehicle costs, equipment and travel between bookings.

How much does it cost to move a single item or a few boxes?

Moving one bulky item or a handful of boxes is usually the cheapest type of man and van job.

Single-item and small-load moving costs (2026, EUR, VAT may be extra)

Prices move towards the upper end when two people are needed to carry an item or stairs make access slower.

A longer journey also adds to the total. This category can cover anything from collecting a sofa to clearing furniture from a rental property. The items change, but the pricing logic remains similar.

How much does a home move cost by size?

Once you're moving most of a home's contents, room count and furniture volume become much more important.

Man and van cost by home size in Ireland (2026, EUR, VAT may be extra)

A one-bedroom move with lift access and a short journey will usually sit towards the lower end. No lift, poor parking or several large pieces of furniture can push the cost higher. Furniture dismantling and additional van trips also add time.

For a three-bedroom home, paying for two movers can make sense if they finish the job much faster. A large move may eventually become better suited to a full removal service.

Compare removal companies as well if you're moving several rooms and want to check an hourly quote against a fixed price.

Is it cheaper to hire one mover or two?

A second mover typically adds €20 to €40 an hour. That doesn't automatically make the final bill higher.

Imagine a two-bedroom move that takes one person five hours but two people only three.

• One mover at €60 an hour would cost €300.
• Two movers at €90 an hour would cost €270.

For a single item or light collection, one mover is usually enough. Once there's a substantial amount of furniture, a larger crew can save enough time to offset the higher hourly rate.

What makes a man and van quote go up on the day?

The advertised hourly rate is only one part of the final price. Access, delays and extra handling can all increase the number of hours charged.

Common man and van extras (2026, EUR, VAT may be extra)

Stairs and parking usually raise the bill by adding time.

A third-floor flat without a lift takes longer to clear than a ground-floor property. The same applies if the van has to park well away from the entrance.

Waiting time can become expensive too. At €80 an hour, an extra 30 minutes adds €40.

If beds or wardrobes need rebuilding afterwards, compare handyman professionals separately and keep that work outside the moving crew's hourly booking.

Do you pay VAT on a man and van service?

Removal and haulage services within Ireland are subject to the standard 23% VAT rate when the operator is VAT registered. However, not every provider will charge VAT, as businesses supplying services only need to register once annual turnover exceeds €42,500.

This means a smaller operator below the threshold may quote without VAT, while a VAT-registered business will normally add it to the price unless it is already included. Qualifying transport linked to goods leaving the EU can also be zero-rated under Revenue's transport and haulage rules.

How much does packing help cost?

Some man and van operators also offer packing support, usually as a separate service from the move itself.

Packing labour typically costs around €25 to €40+ per person per hour, with boxes and other materials charged separately in some cases. A small apartment may only need an hour or two of help, while packing a full home can take considerably longer.

If you want help before moving day, ask for a separate packing estimate so you can see exactly how much it adds to the total.

Is a man and van cheaper than hiring a full removal company?

For a single item, small move or one-bedroom flat, a man and van will usually cost less than a full removal company.

That difference can narrow on larger moves. Once you add packing, dismantling, a bigger crew and several hours of work, an hourly man and van service can come close to a removal company’s fixed-price quote.

The way you pay also matters. A man and van service usually charges for the time used, so delays can increase the final bill. A removal company will often assess the whole move first and quote for the complete job.

For a larger house move, compare the full cost of both options instead of looking at the hourly rate alone.

If the new home needs work before the furniture arrives, painters and decorators can also be booked around your moving date.

When is the cheapest time to book a man and van in Ireland?

Weekdays outside the final week of the month are often the cheapest times to book. Evenings, weekends and month-end dates can cost around 10% to 30% more when demand is higher.

Smaller collections may only need a few days' notice, but a full house move on a weekend or at the end of the month is better booked several weeks ahead if you want more choice.

If you're moving out of a rental, you may also need to arrange cleaning once the property is empty. Talk to local cleaners if you need a deeper handover clean after the furniture has gone.

Final thoughts

Man and van hire in Ireland can start at around €50 for a small collection and rise to €700+ for a larger home move, while Bark's national average is €158.

The final price depends more on the number of movers, how long the job takes, access at each property and the distance travelled. One mover may be enough for a light collection, while two can be more efficient for heavier furniture or a larger load.

For a full house move, compare an hourly man and van quote with a fixed-price removal quote before deciding which offers better value for the job.

Get free man and van quotes through Bark for your move size, locations and date so you can compare the full cost before booking.