Moving to Berlin
Household moves to Berlin from anywhere in Germany and from abroad. We apply for the no-parking zone in your street, plan around Altbau stairs and courtyards, and deliver at a fixed price agreed in advance.
ISO certifiedHow much does it cost to move to Berlin?
Moving a studio to Berlin starts at €950 from Hamburg and €1,250 from Munich or Frankfurt, including VAT. A 1-bed flat starts at €1,400 from Hamburg and €1,850 from Munich, a 2-bed flat at €1,650 and €2,200. Your fixed price follows from your inventory, access at both addresses and the services you book.
| From | Studio5–10 m³ | 1-bed flat10–15 m³ | 2-bed flat15–25 m³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamburg | €950 | €1,400 | €1,650 |
| Frankfurt | €1,250 | €1,800 | €2,150 |
| Cologne | €1,350 | €1,700 | €2,000 |
| Munich | €1,250 | €1,850 | €2,200 |
Starting prices for the transport of a typical household of this size, without extra services. Open the calculator →
The price depends on the work more than the distance. In Berlin that often means stairs: a fourth-floor Altbau flat without a lift, or a flat in the rear building across a courtyard, takes longer to load and unload than a new build with a lift.
No-parking zones, packing and furniture assembly are added to your offer only if you book them.
Example: a 1-bed flat from Munich to Berlin
A couple moves a 1-bed flat of about 12 m³ from Munich to a third-floor Altbau flat in Berlin without a lift. This is a worked example based on our starting prices, not a completed customer move.
What changes the price: the stairs in Berlin add carrying time, and a no-parking zone at each address is priced in the offer if the street has no loading space. Packing or furniture assembly are added as separate items if booked.
| Distance | about 590 km |
|---|---|
| Home size | 1-bed flat, about 12 m³ |
| Starting price | €1,850 incl. VAT |
| No-parking zones | priced in the offer if needed |
| Time on the road | usually one day |
Your price depends on your own inventory, access and services.
Moving to Berlin at a glance
Most moves to Berlin from elsewhere in Germany take one or two days. What needs planning is space for the truck in your street.
- Distance:about 290 km from Hamburg, 550 km from Frankfurt, 580 km from Cologne and 590 km from Munich.
- Collection to delivery:usually one day from Hamburg, one to two days from Munich, Frankfurt or Cologne.
- Low-emission zone:the Umweltzone covers everything inside the S-Bahn ring; every vehicle needs a green sticker, removal trucks included.
- Registration:register your new address at a Bürgeramt within 14 days of moving in.
- Trucks:3.5 t or 7.5 t, chosen for your volume and street access.
- From abroad:we also move households to Berlin from London, Vienna, Paris and other European cities.
No-parking zones, stairs and courtyards in Berlin
In Berlin, access decides as much about moving day as the flat itself. We check both addresses before we confirm the plan.
No-parking zone from the district
Each Berlin district’s traffic authority issues the temporary no-parking zone for a move. Processing takes about four weeks on average, so we apply as soon as your date is fixed and arrange the signs.
Altbau without a lift
Many Berlin Altbau buildings have four or five floors and no lift. Send photos of the staircase so we can plan the crew size and anything that has to be dismantled to fit.
Rear buildings and courtyards
Flats in a rear building (Hinterhaus) or side wing are reached through the front building and courtyard. Tell us if that applies, because carrying distances are longer.
Umweltzone inside the S-Bahn ring
Only vehicles with a green sticker may drive inside the ring. That includes removal trucks, and we plan the vehicle for your address accordingly.
Registering in Berlin and claiming moving costs
Anmeldung within 14 days
Register your new address within 14 days at any Bürgeramt, or online with an eID-enabled ID card. Your landlord confirms the move-in in writing (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung).
Private move: tax relief
Moving services count as a household service under §35a of the Income Tax Act: 20% of the labour costs, up to €4,000 a year, can be deducted. You need an invoice and payment by bank transfer.
Moving for work
If you move for your job, moving costs are income-related expenses. A flat rate for other moving expenses applies on top: €964 for you and €643 for each additional household member (rates since March 2024).
Your invoice
You receive an invoice from Smoover that you can use for reimbursement by your employer or for your tax return.
Tax rules change and depend on your situation; check the details with your tax adviser.
Packing, furniture assembly and practical extras
Pack your own boxes and leave the heavy furniture to the team, or hand over the whole household while you deal with everything else. Each service is agreed and priced in your fixed-price offer.
Packing and unpacking
Full packing, or just the kitchen, books and fragile items. We protect furniture, label boxes by room and can unpack at delivery. Our packing guide helps with what you prepare yourself.
Furniture dismantling and assembly
We dismantle wardrobes, beds and tables before loading and rebuild them in Berlin. New IKEA furniture can be assembled at the new home too.
Large TVs and valuable pieces
Share screen sizes and photos so we can plan suitable protection. Flag paintings and antiques in advance; see our art transport service.
Temporary storage
If your new home in Berlin isn’t ready when you have to leave, we store your belongings and deliver later. Storage period and redelivery are agreed in your offer.
Insurance
Every Smoover move is insured through Allianz. Different levels of cover are available depending on the value of your belongings; we explain them before you book.
Leaving your old flat
We apply for a no-parking zone at your old address too where needed. Where available, add move-out painting and final cleaning for the days after collection.
How your move to Berlin works
- Show us what’s coming with you.Send your old and new addresses, preferred dates and an inventory. For a larger home, a short video is enough and we create the list for you.
- Receive your offer by WhatsApp or email.We review transport, access and services and send a detailed fixed-price offer. Ask your questions, then book online when it works for you.
- Parking and access.We apply for the no-parking zones where needed and confirm stairs, lift and loading point at both addresses before moving day.
- Collection at your old home.The team carries out the agreed packing and dismantling, protects your furniture and loads the vehicle.
- Delivery in Berlin.We unload, place the furniture in the rooms you choose and reassemble what was taken apart. Someone needs to be there to let the team in.
Keep passports, keys, medication and everything for the first night with you, not in the truck.
Questions about moving to Berlin
How much does it cost to move to Berlin?
A studio starts at €950 from Hamburg and €1,250 from Munich or Frankfurt, including VAT. A 1-bed flat starts at €1,400 from Hamburg and €1,850 from Munich. Your fixed price follows from your inventory, access and the services you book.
How long does a move to Berlin take?
From Hamburg usually one day. From Munich, Frankfurt or Cologne, one to two days depending on volume and access. We confirm the delivery window in your offer.
Do I need a no-parking zone for the moving truck in Berlin?
Usually yes, unless there is private loading space. The district traffic authority issues it and takes about four weeks on average, so we apply as soon as your date is fixed.
When do I have to register my new address in Berlin?
Within 14 days of moving in, at any Bürgeramt or online with an eID-enabled ID card. You need your landlord’s written confirmation of the move-in.
Can I deduct my moving costs from tax?
For a private move, 20% of the labour costs can be deducted as a household service, up to €4,000 a year. If you move for work, the costs are income-related expenses. Keep the invoice and pay by bank transfer.
Do you also move to Berlin from abroad?
Yes. We move households to Berlin from London, Vienna, Paris and other European cities. Send us both addresses and we quote the route.
How are my belongings insured?
Every Smoover move is insured through Allianz. Different levels of cover are available depending on the value of your belongings; we explain the options before you book.
Useful next steps
Planning your move to Berlin?
Send both addresses, your dates and an inventory. We put together your fixed-price offer and the parking plan.
Prices and rules checked: 30 September 2026. Images are AI-generated and illustrative, not photographs of customer moves.