Vasastan is flatter than Södermalm, its streets run on a grid and lifts are more common, so the carrying itself usually goes more smoothly. What drives the price instead is volume: the flats are larger, and the attic and cellar storage is almost always left out when the quote is requested.
What characterises a move in Vasastan
- The grid layout. Streets are wide and straight, which helps the van, but many are one-way
- A mixed building stock. Turn-of-the-century buildings next to 1920s and 30s ones, with very different lifts
- Larger flats. More three-room and family-sized apartments than in many other central districts
- Storage units come with the flat. Most buildings have them, and they are usually full
- High parking pressure around Odenplan, Odengatan and Sveavägen
Volume, not stairs
In districts full of walk-ups, the floor number is the deciding factor. In Vasastan it is more often how much you own.
Moving companies calculate in volume, and volume determines both the number of hours and which van is needed. A van that turns out to be too small means a second trip, and that is the most expensive kind of surprise.
What you can do about it is declutter before, not after. Every box that does not need carrying is billable time you avoid. That applies especially to things that are heavy and rarely used: books, tools, old electronics, exercise equipment.
The attic and the cellar
This is the most common reason a Vasastan move runs over time.
Storage units are not visible when you walk through the flat, so they never make it into the quote. Then on moving day it turns out there is a bicycle, four boxes of Christmas decorations and an old chest of drawers up in the attic.
| What is usually in there | Why it takes time |
|---|---|
| Bicycles and prams | Bulky, often down a flight of stairs to the cellar |
| Seasonal storage | Many boxes, rarely packed for a move |
| Furniture "to be sold" | Heavy, and nobody has measured it |
| Paint, tools, tyres | Heavy, and often should not come at all |
Three things to do:
- Go down to the storage unit before requesting a quote, and count boxes.
- Mention the storage explicitly in the request, including which floor it is on.
- Clear it out first. Storage units contain more things destined for the recycling centre than the flat does.
Lifts are more common, but size decides
Lifts are more common in Vasastan than on Södermalm, but a lift is not automatically a solution. In the turn-of-the-century buildings it is often small enough for two people and a few boxes, but no sofa.
Measure the internal dimensions of the lift, including the height, and state the size when requesting a quote. A company that plans for a lift and meets a small period one has scheduled too few hours.
If there is both a lift and stairs, ask whether the building association requires the lift to be booked or protected with covering material. Many do.
Parking and one-way streets
Wider streets help, but traffic around Odenplan, Odengatan and Sveavägen is heavy and parking pressure is high.
Ask the moving company whether they apply to Stockholms stad for an exemption to park where it would otherwise not be allowed, and whether that cost is included. Mention if the street is one-way, since it affects how they can plan the run between two addresses.
If you are moving within Vasastan, it is worth asking whether they can do it as one continuous run rather than two separate sessions. Short distances often make that possible, and it saves hours.
Timing
The last weekday of the month is the most heavily booked day in all of Stockholm, and summer is peak season. If you can move mid-month you usually get both a better price and more companies to choose from.
If you have school-age children, it is worth timing the move so the address change and the school switch do not collide. See the moving checklist for the timeline.
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. The full picture is in what a move costs.
If it is only a few heavy items, or a storage unit to empty, man and van help is often enough instead of a full move.
RUT deduction
Moving help is RUT-eligible: 50 percent off the labour cost, up to 75,000 SEK per person per year (Skatteverket).
If two adults live in the household you each have your own ceiling, as long as the invoice is split and both are listed as payers. That matters particularly on a larger family move. More in the RUT deduction, and do not forget changing your address.
Common questions
Is moving in Vasastan more expensive than elsewhere in Stockholm?
The hourly rate is the same. The total is often higher because flats are larger and storage gets forgotten.
What drives the price most in Vasastan?
Volume, meaning how much has to be moved. Stairs are rarely the deciding factor here.
Why does attic and cellar storage get forgotten?
Because you do not see it when walking through the flat. A full attic unit can add one to two hours.
How hard is it to park the moving van?
Streets are wide but traffic is heavy and many streets are one-way. Ask whether the company applies to Stockholms stad for an exemption.
Is having a lift enough?
Not always. In older buildings the lift is often small enough that only boxes fit.
Does the RUT deduction apply?
Yes, 50 percent off the labour cost (Skatteverket).
Related guides: what a move costs, packing for a move and choosing a mover. Back to Moving.