How much does furniture hoisting cost in London?

Hoisting is a custom quote because every building is different. The price depends on the item, the floor, the opening, the street access and how many crew the lift needs. Send photos and measurements and we’ll give you a fixed price before you book.

Is there a weight or size limit for hoisting?

It depends on the item, the building and the anchor point available. Rather than quote a single limit, we assess each job from photos and measurements and confirm whether it’s safe to lift. If it isn’t, we’ll say so and suggest alternatives.

Do you hire out furniture hoists?

We don’t hire out equipment on its own — our hoisting service always comes with a trained crew who plan and carry out the lift. That keeps the lift safe and means our insurance covers the job.

Can you remove a window to get a sofa in?

Where a sash or casement can be removed and refitted without damage, we can plan for it — but it depends on the window. In rented or managed buildings, get permission first. We’ll confirm what’s possible after photos or a survey.

How much does a man and van cost?

Our published rates are small van £50/hr, transit van £55/hr, luton van £65/hr, with a 2-hour minimum. Each helper adds £20/hr. After the first 2 hours, time is billed in 30-minute steps.

Can I get a fixed price instead of hourly?

Yes. Send us the two addresses, the floors and what is moving and we send a fixed quote. A fixed quote in about one working hour, 7am–9pm, seven days a week.

Are my belongings insured?

Yes. Every move is covered by goods in transit insurance and public liability insurance. Tell us about any high-value item before the day so the right cover is in place. Claims should be made in writing, normally within 7 days.

Do you charge for stairs?

Normal stairs are never charged as a fee. Carrying up several floors takes longer, which shows in the hours. Tell us the floors and whether there is a lift when you ask for a quote.

Nothing is charged when you ask. Once we confirm your date, a £40 deposit secures it and comes off the final balance.

Can I cancel or change the date?

Free to move or refund 48+ hours before; one free reschedule at 24–48 hours; under 24 hours the deposit is kept. The full wording is in our terms and conditions.

Specialist & vehicle

Sofa Hoisting & Furniture Hoisting in London

When a sofa, bed or wardrobe won’t go up the stairs, we lift it up the outside of the building and in through a window or over a balcony. Send photos and measurements and we’ll tell you whether a hoist is workable — and give you a clear fixed quote before anything is booked.

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Custom quote All 32 boroughs

4.9 from 148 reviews Fully insured 7am–9pm, 7 days

Sofa & Furniture Hoisting

Quoted on the callA fixed price agreed before the day.

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Boroughs covered

Fixed

Quotes before move day

Insured

Goods + liability

Furniture hoisting across London, done properly

Some sofas simply won’t go up the stairs. A tight turn on a Victorian landing, a low ceiling over the half-landing or a narrow door into a mansion-block flat can stop a delivery dead. Phi Movers’ sofa and furniture hoisting service lifts the piece up the outside of the building and in through a window, balcony or French door instead — so the sofa you chose still ends up in your living room.

Hoisting is planned, not improvised. We start with photos and measurements of the item and the opening, check the route from the street to the window, and confirm whether the lift is workable before we book. On the day the crew sets up rated lifting gear, keeps a clear exclusion zone below the lift, protects the window frame and walls, and guides the item in by hand.

We hoist sofas, corner units, beds, wardrobes, mattresses, dining tables and other bulky furniture into and out of flats and houses across all 32 London boroughs. Combine it with our sofa delivery, furniture delivery or furniture assembly service and one crew handles the whole job: collection, the lift and putting everything back together inside.

When does a sofa need hoisting?

Most London sofas still go in the front door and up the stairs — our crews do that by hand every day. Hoisting comes in when the stairs can’t take it: a tight turn on a half-landing, a low ceiling over the stairwell, a narrow front door in a converted flat, or a top-floor flat in a building with a small lift or none at all.

Before you book a hoist, check the simpler options: can the legs come off, does the sofa split into sections, can the back be unbolted? If it still won’t fit, a sofa hoist through a window or balcony is often the only way to get it in without damaging the sofa or the building.

Sofas and corner units too large for the stairwell or front door
Beds, mattresses and wardrobes that can’t be dismantled small enough
Dining tables, sideboards and other large single pieces
Furniture leaving a flat at the end of a tenancy or sale

What to measure before booking a furniture hoist

Good measurements are the difference between a quick, safe lift and a wasted trip. Use a tape measure rather than the product listing where you can, and send photos alongside the numbers so we can see what we’re working with.

We’ll check your measurements against the route and tell you whether hoisting looks possible. For tight fits or unusual buildings we’ll arrange a survey visit before confirming.

The item: width, depth and height, including legs and cushions
The opening: clear width and height of the window, balcony door or French door — frame to frame, not glass size
Whether the window opens fully, and whether a sash or casement can be removed
Which floor the opening is on
Photos of the outside of the building from the street, showing the opening and anything below it (railings, basement wells, bay windows)
Where the van can park and how wide the pavement is

How we hoist furniture over a balcony or through a window safely

Every hoist is planned and risk-assessed before the day. We decide where the lifting gear will be anchored, how the item will be wrapped and attached, and how many crew the lift needs. All ropes, slings and fittings are rated for lifting and checked before each job.

On the day a banksman keeps an exclusion zone clear on the pavement below while the item comes up steadily and is guided in by hand. Window frames, balcony railings and walls are padded so nothing is scraped on the way through. If weather or access on the day makes the lift unsafe, we stop and rearrange — we don’t take chances with your sofa or the people below.

Building, landlord and parking permissions

If you rent, or your flat is in a block with a managing agent or freeholder, ask for permission before the hoist — particularly if a window needs to open fully or be removed. Many buildings will want to see the mover’s insurance details; we can provide them for your managing agent.

Some London streets need a parking bay suspension so the van can stop directly below the opening. We’ll tell you whether your street is likely to need one when we look at your photos. We can combine the hoist with sofa delivery and furniture assembly, so the sofa is collected, lifted in and rebuilt by one crew.

Related services: Sofa delivery, Furniture assembly.

Helpful guides

What’s included as standard

We believe the price you’re quoted should be the price you pay. That’s why every sofa & furniture hoisting booking comes with the essentials built in — no surprise charges bolted on when the crew arrives.

Pre-job assessment from your photos and measurements (or a survey visit)
Written plan and risk assessment for the lift
Rated ropes, slings and lifting gear, checked before every job
Protective wrapping for the item, window frame and walls

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Exclusion zone and a banksman at street level during the lift
Hand-guiding the item in through the window, balcony or door and placing it in the room
Goods-in-transit and public liability insurance

Who this service is for

Not sure whether this is the right option? It’s a great fit for a wide range of moves, including:

Sofas and corner units that won’t fit up the stairs or through the front door
Upper-floor flats with balconies, Juliet balconies or large sash windows
Beds, wardrobes and mattresses that can’t be dismantled small enough
Furniture deliveries that a retailer’s two-person crew couldn’t get in
Taking large furniture out of a flat when you’re moving

Before you book

Measure the item, the doorways and the stairs
Check the lift size, or the floor if there is none
Say where the van can park at both ends

How it works, step by step

We’ve refined our process across London moves every week to keep everything simple and predictable. Here’s exactly what happens from your first enquiry through to completion.

Photos and measurements
Send photos of the item, the window or balcony opening and the outside of the building from the street. We need the item’s width, depth and height, the clear opening size of the window or door (frame to frame, not glass size), and which floor it’s on. From this we tell you whether hoisting looks workable or whether a survey visit is needed.
Access and permissions
We check where the van can park, whether the pavement below needs coning off, and whether a parking bay suspension is needed. If you rent or live in a managed block, we’ll ask you to get the landlord’s or managing agent’s permission for the lift and, if needed, for a window to be opened or a sash removed.
Set-up and rigging
On the day the crew protects the item, the window frame and the walls, sets an exclusion zone at street level and rigs the lifting gear from a secure anchor point. Every rope, sling and fitting is checked before any weight goes on it.
The lift
One crew member controls the lift, one guides the item from the ground and a banksman keeps people clear below. The item comes up steadily, is guided in through the opening by hand and is set down onto protected floor — nothing is swung or forced.
Placement and tidy-up
We unwrap the item, place it in the room you want and refit legs or reassemble any sections we removed. The rigging comes down, the window is closed and secured, and we only leave once you’re happy.

How much does it cost?

Sofa & Furniture Hoisting is priced per job: we agree a fixed quote on the call, based on what is moving, access and distance. You know the total before we arrive.

The first 10 journey miles are included, then £1.50 a mile. See our pricing page for the full rate card and calculator.

What sofa & furniture hoisting costs
Job	Price
Small van and driver	£50/hr
Transit van and driver	£55/hr
Luton van and driver	£65/hr
Each extra helper	+£20/hr
2-hour minimum	From £100
Journey miles	First 10 free, then £1.50/mi

Quotes are free. A deposit is only taken once we confirm your date, and it comes off the final balance.

A fixed quote in about one working hour. Larger jobs can book a free home survey.

What affects the price

A few practical factors move the final number up or down. Knowing them in advance helps you plan and, in many cases, keep costs lower:

Size and approximate weight of the item
Which floor it’s going to and the clear size of the window or balcony opening
Whether a window sash or door needs removing and refitting
Street access — parking, pavement width and any bay suspension

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How many crew are needed to control the lift safely
Whether the hoist is combined with delivery, collection or assembly

Key takeaways

Sofa & Furniture Hoisting is quoted as a fixed price, agreed before the day.
Loading, unloading and the first 10 journey miles are included.
Fully insured, across all 32 London boroughs.
A fixed quote in about one working hour.

Covering all 32 London boroughs

Wherever you’re moving in London, pick your borough for a dedicated sofa & furniture hoisting page — or browse the full areas hub.

Our drivers know which streets are too narrow for a Luton, where the low bridges and red routes sit, and how Congestion Charge and ULEZ affect your route — so the move stays on schedule.

Why choose Phi Movers

Fixed, transparent prices

The quote you agree is the price you pay — no hidden fees added on the day.

Genuine London specialists

London is where we work every day, so we know the boroughs, permits and shortcuts.

Fully insured

Goods-in-transit and public liability cover come as standard on every job.

Loading help included

Our crews do the heavy lifting with you, never charged as an extra.

Flexible scheduling

Evenings, weekends and same-day slots to fit around your life.

Experienced local crews

Uniformed movers who turn up on time with the right kit for London access.

What customers say

★★★★★

Polite, quick and genuinely careful with every single box. They got a huge sofa up a narrow staircase without a scratch. Couldn't recommend them more.

Mark TaylorGreenwich, London

★★★★★

Marketplace sofa collection and delivery in one trip. On time, careful with the walls, and priced exactly as quoted.

Abhinav AroraEaling, London

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Call us or send a quote request — we usually reply within about one working hour. No obligation.

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FAQs

Answers about sofa & furniture hoisting: pricing, booking, access and what is included.

Usually, yes. Balconies are often the best route because the doors behind them give a larger opening than a window. We check the railing height, the doors and the drop to the street, then confirm after seeing photos or doing a survey.

Related services

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Ready to book your sofa & furniture hoisting?

A fixed quote in about one working hour. No obligation, no hidden fees, all 32 London boroughs.