Quick list: the 15 best removal companies in Portsmouth
| Company | Best for | Based in |
|---|---|---|
| Heirs of Portsmouth | Family moves with piano and international options | Hilsea and Portsmouth PO3 |
| Curtiss & Sons | Trading since 1871 with their own storage | Quartremaine Road and Copnor PO3 |
| White & Company | Own fleet and deep Hampshire knowledge | Portfield Road and Portsmouth PO3 |
| J&J Removals Portsmouth | Small friendly team for straightforward moves | Waverley Road and Southsea PO5 |
| Beck's Removals and Storage | Access planning for tricky Portsmouth streets | Serves Portsmouth from Havant |
| Bishop's Move | 170 years of history and international reach | Voyager Park and Portfield Road and Portsmouth PO3 |
| Purple Move | Seven day availability for flexible moving dates | Portsmouth city centre |
| Apex Removals Portsmouth | Fixed price quotes with a directly employed crew | Serves PO1 to PO6 |
| Schepens | Family firm with over a century of experience | Serves Portsmouth and Hampshire based |
| K2 Swift Removals | What they quote is what you pay | Serves Portsmouth from Fareham |
| Locks Heath Removals | Which Trusted Trader with thirty years experience | Serves Portsmouth from Locks Heath |
| Britannia Reeves Removals | National network with a local Hampshire base | Serves Portsmouth from Petersfield |
| Robinson Transport | Man and van and full removals under one roof | Serves Portsmouth and Berkshire and Hampshire wide |
| 1st Choice Removals and Storage | International moves alongside local house removals | Portsmouth |
| BlueSky Relocation | Best for friendly full service house moves | Serves Portsmouth and Hampshire |
1. Heirs of Portsmouth
Best for: Family moves with piano and international options.
Heirs of Portsmouth has years of experience moving families across the city and beyond. A huge run of Checkatrade reviews backs up a reputation for friendly and efficient crews.
Piano removals sit alongside standard house moves and they also arrange international jobs. That range makes them a solid first call whether you are moving three streets away or three countries away.
Services: House removals · Storage · Piano removals · International removals.
Phone: 023 9237 2285.
2. Curtiss & Sons
Best for: Trading since 1871 with their own storage.
Curtiss & Sons has been moving Portsmouth families since 1871 and still runs its own freehold storage rather than renting space from a third party. Reviewers regularly mention the team fitting in last minute date changes without complaint.
The firm keeps a fleet suited to the city's tighter streets which matters in areas like Copnor and Fratton where a standard sized lorry can struggle.
Services: House removals · Storage · Packing.
Phone: 023 9298 5830.
3. White & Company
Best for: Own fleet and deep Hampshire knowledge.
White & Company has been established since 1871 and runs a Portsmouth base as part of its own fleet of over 260 vehicles. Being Hampshire based gives the team a strong feel for the Solent area's roads and access points.
Every move starts with in house training for the crew rather than relying on agency staff and consistent teams are what most reviewers point to when explaining why they would use the firm again.
Services: House removals · Office removals · Storage · International removals.
Phone: 023 9266 0661.
4. J&J Removals Portsmouth
Best for: Small friendly team for straightforward moves.
J&J Removals Portsmouth is a small team based in Southsea known for being kind and punctual. Customers often mention the useful moving advice given before the day itself rather than just turning up and loading a van.
Being based in Southsea they know the narrow terraced streets around Albert Road and Elm Grove well which helps when parking is tight.
Services: House removals · Man and van.
Phone: 07788 155724.
5. Beck's Removals and Storage
Best for: Access planning for tricky Portsmouth streets.
Beck's Removals and Storage has covered the Portsmouth area since 2001 from a base just along the coast in Havant. Every move is planned around parking and access first because the firm knows how tight many city streets can be.
They also offer international removals alongside the usual local house moves giving them a wider range than most firms this size.
Services: House removals · Storage · Office removals · International removals.
6. Bishop's Move
Best for: 170 years of history and international reach.
Bishop's Move has been trading for more than 170 years and its Portsmouth branch covers the whole Solent area. The firm is a member of the British Association of Removers which gives an extra layer of reassurance on bigger jobs.
A concierge style service can help with things like mail redirection alongside the physical move which suits people who want one company handling more than just the van.
Services: House removals · Office removals · Storage · International removals.
Phone: 023 9266 9350.
7. Purple Move
Best for: Seven day availability for flexible moving dates.
Purple Move has run since 1999 from the heart of Portsmouth and works every day of the week including weekends. That flexibility suits anyone who cannot move on a weekday because of work.
The team handles everything from tenth floor flats with a broken lift to straightforward ground floor terraces and bespoke pricing means you only pay for what the job actually needs.
Services: House removals · Man and van · House clearance.
8. Apex Removals Portsmouth
Best for: Fixed price quotes with a directly employed crew.
Apex Removals Portsmouth has worked the PO1 to PO6 postcodes for twenty years and does not subcontract so the crew who quotes the job is the crew who turns up. That consistency has built a strong average rating from local customers.
Prices are fixed after a short online survey and do not change on the day. The firm also covers Southsea and Cosham and Portchester as part of its regular patch.
Services: House removals · Office removals · Packing · Storage.
Phone: 023 9388 0070.
9. Schepens
Best for: Family firm with over a century of experience.
Schepens is a family run Hampshire company that covers Portsmouth as part of its wider south coast patch. Four generations of the same family have built the business which shows in the calm and steady way office staff handle enquiries.
A free survey is offered before any quote is given so the price reflects the actual job rather than a guess over the phone.
Services: House removals · Storage · Business removals.
10. K2 Swift Removals
Best for: What they quote is what you pay.
K2 Swift Removals is based just along the coast in Fareham and covers Portsmouth every week. The firm's promise is simple: the price agreed at quote stage is the price paid on the day.
That straightforward approach suits people who have been caught out before by hidden extras appearing after a move has already started.
Services: Man and van · House removals · Packing.
Phone: 023 8111 3116.
11. Locks Heath Removals
Best for: Which Trusted Trader with thirty years experience.
Locks Heath Removals has over thirty years of experience and Which Trusted Trader status and covering Portsmouth as part of its wider Fareham area patch. Customers say the team works calmly without leaving a mark on walls or floors.
That long track record makes them a safe choice for a bigger family house move where care around furniture matters as much as speed.
Services: House removals · Office removals · Storage.
Phone: 023 8044 4319.
12. Britannia Reeves Removals
Best for: National network with a local Hampshire base.
Britannia Reeves Removals has over 125 years of experience from its base in Petersfield and covers Portsmouth as part of the wider Britannia network. Local crews handle the loading while the national system takes care of anything moving further afield.
Storage is available for anyone whose new home is not quite ready and the firm's long history gives it a steady approach to bigger relocations.
Services: House removals · Storage · Long distance.
13. Robinson Transport
Best for: Man and van and full removals under one roof.
Robinson Transport covers Portsmouth as part of a wider Hampshire and Berkshire operation. A dedicated move manager is assigned to bigger jobs while smaller ones can be booked as a straightforward man and van.
The firm also arranges secure Big Yellow storage for anyone with a gap between homes which suits chains that fall through at short notice.
Services: Man and van · House removals · Office removals · Storage.
Phone: 07835 695527.
14. 1st Choice Removals and Storage
Best for: International moves alongside local house removals.
1st Choice Removals and Storage has built a very large Checkatrade review count covering Portsmouth and the surrounding towns. International removals sit alongside the standard local house move service.
An emergency removal option is useful for anyone dealing with a sudden change of moving date which happens often in a city with as much rented housing as Portsmouth.
Services: House removals · Storage · International removals · Emergency removals.
Phone: 07474 625530.
15. BlueSky Relocation
Best for: Best for friendly full service house moves.
For a calm and well planned move in Portsmouth BlueSky Relocation is a strong choice. A dedicated move coordinator handles the details so you know exactly what happens on the day.
Its crews are fully trained and insured and bring the right materials for fragile items and large furniture. Storage is available for short or longer stays.
Find out more on the BlueSky Relocation Portsmouth removals page.
Services: House removals · Packing · Storage.
Phone: 0800 090 3125.
How much do removals cost in Portsmouth?
Removal costs in Portsmouth are shaped by how tight the street is and whether a lift needs booking in one of the taller blocks near Gunwharf Quays. A one bedroom flat in Southsea is the cheapest job on this list while a five bedroom house heading to London costs the most.
Quotes tend to rise around the university term dates and on bank holiday weekends when demand for vans across the city spikes.
| Property | Local move in Portsmouth | Portsmouth to London |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bed flat | £300 to £550 | £500 to £800 |
| 2 bed house | £450 to £750 | £700 to £1,100 |
| 3 bed house | £650 to £1,000 | £950 to £1,450 |
| 4 bed house | £900 to £1,400 | £1,250 to £1,950 |
| 5 bed house | £1,300 to £2,000 | £1,750 to £2,700 |
Parking and permits for removal vans in Portsmouth
Portsmouth City Council controls parking across most of Southsea and Fratton and Landport through resident permit zones. If a removal lorry needs to park on one of these streets you can apply to the council for a temporary bay suspension and it is worth doing this two to three weeks before moving day.
Streets around Gunwharf Quays and the Hard get busy with visitors and the ferry terminal traffic so most firms prefer an early morning slot there. Older terraces in Southsea and Fratton often have no off street parking at all which is why a suspension matters more here than in the newer estates further north.
To book a parking suspension or dispensation visit the Portsmouth City Council parking page.
Tips for moving in Portsmouth
- Victorian terraces in Southsea and Fratton have narrow front doors and steep stairs so measure large furniture before booking a van.
- Gunwharf Quays and other waterfront apartment blocks usually need a lift booking with the management company before moving day.
- The M275 and the roads around the Continental Ferry Port can back up at busy times so avoid a midday slot if you can.
- Portsea Island is small and dense so a removal firm that knows the one way system will save time on moving day.
- Book well ahead around university term dates because van availability across the city drops fast.
- Apply for a bay suspension with Portsmouth City Council early if your street has resident permit parking only.
How to choose the right removal company in Portsmouth
- Get at least three quotes from firms that know Portsmouth.
- Check Google and Trustpilot ratings. Aim for 4.5 stars or higher.
- Ask about goods in transit and public liability insurance.
- Confirm who arranges any parking suspension.
- Get a fixed written price not an hourly estimate.
- Ask if storage is available in case your chain is delayed.
Areas of Portsmouth these movers cover
Portsmouth is a compact city split across Portsea Island and the mainland side. Southsea PO4 and PO5 sit by the seafront and suit young professionals and families alike while Fratton and Milton PO1 offer more affordable terraced housing close to the football ground. North End and Hilsea PO2 and PO3 lead out towards Cosham and Portchester on the mainland and Copnor and Baffins PO3 are popular with families wanting a bit more space.
Just outside the city you will find Gosport across the harbour and Havant to the east and Fareham to the north west all served by the same removal firms that cover Portsmouth itself. Waterlooville sits a little further out for anyone leaving the city for a quieter suburb.