Carrying help costs roughly 500 to 800 SEK per person per hour before the RUT deduction (2026 guide figures), so about 250 to 400 SEK after it. You are buying muscle and nothing else: the vehicle, the boxes and the packing are yours to arrange.
What carrying help is
In Swedish it is called bärhjälp, literally carrying help. Someone comes and lifts, and that is all. It is the simplest and cheapest form of moving help, and it suits situations where the problem is weight rather than logistics.
| Carrying help | Man and van | Full move | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrying | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vehicle | No, you arrange it | Yes | Yes |
| Boxes and materials | No | Usually an add-on | Yes |
| Packing | No | No | Yes or an add-on |
| Assembly and dismantling | Sometimes | Often | Yes |
| Suits | A few heavy items | A smaller move | A whole home |
What it costs
Guide figures for 2026:
| Before RUT | After RUT | |
|---|---|---|
| Per person per hour | 500–800 SEK | 250–400 SEK |
| Two people, per hour | 1,000–1,600 SEK | 500–800 SEK |
| Call-out fee (no deduction) | 300–700 SEK | 300–700 SEK |
Almost all companies apply a minimum charge, often one to two hours. That means a short job is rarely as cheap as the hourly rate suggests, which is a good argument for collecting several tasks into one visit.
Worked example, two people for two hours:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Labour, 2 people × 2 h × 650 SEK | 2,600 SEK |
| RUT deduction, 50 percent | −1,300 SEK |
| Call-out fee (no deduction) | 500 SEK |
| To pay | 1,800 SEK |
When carrying help is enough
It works well when:
- You have a vehicle or trailer and only need help lifting
- It is a few heavy items: a sofa, a bed, a washing machine, a piano
- A storage unit, attic or cellar needs emptying
- You are moving within the same building or the same block
- Furniture needs moving around inside the home, for example before renovation or floor sanding
- Something needs carrying down to the recycling centre or out to a buyer
It is rarely enough for a whole home. Carrying help plus a hire van plus your own time usually ends up both more expensive and considerably messier than booking a proper move. See what a move costs for the comparison.
What you have to arrange yourself
- A vehicle or trailer, and a licence for the right weight class
- Boxes, bubble wrap and protective covering
- The packing. Carrying help does not pack, and unfinished boxes eat the hours you are paying for
- Parking for the vehicle at both ends
- Booking the lift or stairwell with the building association if required
One more thing that often gets missed: someone needs to receive at the other end. Carrying help that carries out but not in halves the benefit.
The insurance question
This is the most important difference from a full move, and the one most often overlooked.
When a moving company both drives and carries, responsibility for your belongings normally sits with the company, within the limits of their insurance and terms. If you drive the vehicle yourself, the transport is your responsibility, even if someone else carried the items into it.
So always ask, before booking:
- What does the insurance cover, and up to what amount?
- Does it still apply when I provide the transport myself?
- What applies to particularly fragile or valuable items?
- What happens if something in the stairwell is damaged, meaning the building's property?
Ask for the answer in writing. Check also that the company holds approved F-tax (F-skatt), otherwise no RUT deduction applies. More on vetting a company in choosing a mover.
Storage
If you need to store things between two homes, for example when the handover dates do not line up, storage (magasinering) is common. Two things are worth knowing.
Storage itself does not qualify for RUT. Renting space is not labour. The labour of carrying items into storage and out again is RUT-eligible, so ask for it to be itemised separately on the invoice.
Expect also that items going into storage need packing better than items moving directly, since they sit still for longer and are usually stacked.
RUT deduction
Carrying and moving labour 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.
These do not qualify:
- Hiring a van, trailer or storage unit
- Boxes and materials
- The call-out fee and transport
The deduction applies whether you rent or own. More in the RUT deduction.
Common questions
What does carrying help cost?
Around 500 to 800 SEK per person per hour before RUT as a 2026 guide figure, so roughly 250 to 400 SEK after the deduction.
How is it different from a full move?
It is muscle and nothing else. The vehicle, boxes and packing are yours to arrange.
When is carrying help enough?
When you have a vehicle, for a few heavy items, when a storage unit needs emptying, or for a move within the same building.
What happens if something gets damaged?
Ask what the insurance covers before booking. If you drive yourself, the transport is normally your responsibility.
Does carrying help qualify for RUT?
Yes, 50 percent off the labour cost (Skatteverket). Hiring a van does not qualify.
Does storage qualify for RUT?
No, storage is renting space. The labour of carrying in and out does qualify.
Related guides: what a move costs, choosing a mover and packing for a move. Back to Moving.