Moving to or from Södermalm usually takes longer than an equivalent move in a newer part of Stockholm, and since movers charge by the hour that shows up directly in the price. The reason is rarely the address itself. It is the stairwells, the hills and the streets.
What makes Södermalm different
Södermalm was largely built around the turn of the twentieth century, and you notice it on moving day:
- Many buildings have no lift, or have a small one retrofitted later
- Stairwells are narrow and often curved, which puts a hard limit on how large a piece of furniture can physically be carried
- The island is hilly. Carrying distance is one thing, carrying distance uphill is another
- Streets are tight, especially around the SoFo blocks, and parking pressure is high
- Through-streets like Hornsgatan and Götgatan are difficult to stop on at all
None of this makes the move impossible. It makes it longer, and time is what you are paying for.
Lift or no lift: the single biggest factor
Ask yourself, and the company, this first. The difference between a lift and no lift outweighs most other factors combined.
| Situation | Effect on time |
|---|---|
| Ground floor, or lift all the way | No impact |
| 2 floors up, no lift | Noticeably longer, but manageable |
| 3–4 floors up, no lift | Can add several hours |
| Small lift that only takes boxes | Furniture still carried, half the benefit |
| Top-floor attic flat, no lift | Assume the highest end |
A small lift is not the same as a lift. Many turn-of-the-century lifts take two people and a few boxes, but no sofa and no wardrobe. The company needs to know that, otherwise they schedule the wrong number of hours.
Many companies also charge a stair fee (trappavgift) per floor. Ask whether there is one and how it is calculated.
When the furniture will not fit through the stairwell
This happens more often on Södermalm than most people expect. A narrow stairwell with a sharp turn is a physical limit, not a matter of effort.
Measure in advance, and measure what is actually tight: the turn in the stairs, the door width, and the headroom at the turn. Compare that with the depth of the sofa and the wardrobe, not just the width.
If it will not fit, there is the möbelhiss, a furniture lift that brings items in through a window or balcony. It works well, but it has to be booked ahead, it costs extra, and it needs the van to get close to the facade. If you discover the need on moving day it is usually too late.
The alternative is to dismantle more than usual. Beds, bookcases and sometimes wardrobes come apart, and that costs less than a rebooked moving day.
Parking and carrying distance
On Södermalm the van rarely stands outside your door.
The moving company normally applies to Stockholms stad for an exemption to park where it would otherwise not be allowed. Ask explicitly whether they handle it and whether the cost is in the quote, because it varies between companies.
Ask also what happens if the space is occupied when they arrive. Carrying distance from the van to the door is one of the most underestimated factors, and on a slope it counts for more than the number of metres suggests.
How to prepare
- Measure the stairwell before you book, not the day before the move.
- Describe the flat honestly in the quote request: floor, lift and lift size, carrying distance, slope, narrow street.
- Book time with the building association (bostadsrättsförening) if the stairwell, lift or laundry room needs reserving.
- Finish packing before the movers arrive. In a building with no lift, every unfinished box costs more time than anywhere else.
- Avoid the end of the month if you have a choice. The last weekday of the month is the hardest day to book anywhere in Stockholm.
The price
The hourly rate is the same as the rest of Stockholm, roughly 1,000 to 1,800 SEK per hour before the RUT deduction as a 2026 guide figure. What differs on Södermalm is the number of hours, not the rate.
The full price picture is in what a move costs. If you only need carrying help rather than a full move, see man and van and small moves.
RUT deduction
Moving help is RUT-eligible: 50 percent off the labour cost, up to 75,000 SEK per person per year (Skatteverket). The company applies it directly on the invoice.
Boxes, materials and the call-out fee do not qualify. Ask for the labour cost on its own line on the invoice, otherwise the deduction cannot be checked. More in the RUT deduction.
Do not forget changing your address, which works the same whichever district you move to.
Common questions
Why does moving on Södermalm cost more?
Because the work takes longer: walk-up buildings, narrow stairwells, hills and tight streets.
How much does having no lift add?
It is the biggest single factor. A third or fourth floor without a lift can add several hours, plus any stair fee.
What if the sofa does not fit through the stairwell?
Measure the turn in the stairs in advance. If it will not fit, a furniture lift brings items in through a window or balcony.
Does the moving van need a parking permit?
Often yes. The company normally applies to Stockholms stad, but ask whether they do it and whether the cost is included.
What should I tell them when asking for a quote?
Floor, lift and lift size, carrying distance, whether the street is steep or narrow, and any heavy items.
Does the RUT deduction apply?
Yes, 50 percent off the labour cost (Skatteverket).
Related guides: what a move costs, choosing a mover and the moving checklist. Back to Moving.