This guide breaks down the removals industry by region—US, UK, Europe, Australia, and Asia-Pacific—and the forces shaping demand. You’ll explore how consumer preferences, job relocation, and international mobility translate into move activity across markets. It also looks at the operational details behind the figures, from workforce and fleet size to move volume, time, and profitability.
Key Takeaways
- 68% of US consumers used professional movers for their last move in 2023.
- 42% of UK households moved due to job relocation in 2023.
- Globally, 55% of corporate employees accepted international assignments with relocation support in 2023.
- US removals workforce totaled 250,000 employees in 2023.
- UK moving industry employed 45,000 full-time workers in 2023.
- Global removals sector jobs grew 4.1% YoY to 1.2 million in 2023.
- The US removals industry average profit margin stood at 6.2% in 2023, up from 5.1% in 2022.
- Average revenue per moving company in the UK was £450,000 in 2023.
- Global top 10 removals firms generated $12.5 billion combined revenue in 2023.
- The global removals and relocation services market size was valued at USD 92.4 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2023 to 2030.
- In the US, the moving services industry revenue reached $19.2 billion in 2023, marking a 3.4% increase from the previous year.
- Europe's household goods moving market is projected to expand from €15.6 billion in 2023 to €21.4 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 6.5%.
- Average fleet vehicles per US moving firm: 12 trucks in 2023.
- Global average move volume: 15 cubic meters per household in 2023.
- US local moves average time 4.2 hours, long-distance 3 days in 2023.
In 2023, professional removals demand surged worldwide with steady industry growth and rising profits.
Related reading
01 · Category
Customer Behavior24 stats
01
68% of US consumers used professional movers for their last move in 2023.
02
42% of UK households moved due to job relocation in 2023.
03
Globally, 55% of corporate employees accepted international assignments with relocation support in 2023.
04
73% of millennials prefer full-service removals over DIY in 2023 surveys.
05
In Australia, 29% of moves were interstate in 2023.
06
51% of European customers booked moves online in 2023.
07
US average distance of local moves: 25 miles, long-distance: 1,200 miles in 2023.
08
37% of Canadian moves involved seniors over 65 in 2023.
09
India urban customers 64% used app-based booking for shifts in 2023.
10
45% of global moves included pet relocation services in 2023.
11
France 52% of customers requested eco-friendly packing options in 2023.
12
61% of US first-time homebuyers hired movers in 2023.
13
Germany's customers average 3 quotes before booking, down from 4 in 2022.
14
Brazil 48% of moves due to family reasons in 2023.
15
70% of UK renters moved more frequently than homeowners, averaging 2.1 years per tenancy.
16
China 55% of white-collar workers relocated for promotions in 2023.
17
Italy customers 39% delayed moves due to economic uncertainty in 2023.
18
Japan 67% of moves were within same prefecture in 2023.
19
South Africa 44% used friends/family help for local moves in 2023.
20
58% of global students used specialized relocation in 2023.
21
Spain 49% customers prioritized speed over cost in 2023 bookings.
22
Russia 53% of urban moves under 50km in 2023.
23
Mexico 62% families moved for better schools in 2023.
24
76% of pet owners chose movers with pet expertise in 2023.
Interpretation
Customer Behavior Interpretation
Customer behavior in 2023 shows a clear pull toward convenience and support, with 68% of US movers and 73% of millennials choosing full-service options and 51% of Europeans booking online.
02 · Category
Employment Data23 stats
01
US removals workforce totaled 250,000 employees in 2023.
02
UK moving industry employed 45,000 full-time workers in 2023.
03
Global removals sector jobs grew 4.1% YoY to 1.2 million in 2023.
04
Australia removals firms had 18,000 direct employees, plus 10,000 casuals in 2023.
05
Europe moving labor force 320,000, with 15% women in 2023.
06
US truck drivers in moving: 85,000 licensed in 2023.
07
Canada removals employment 28,500 in 2023, up 2.9%.
08
India shifting labor market 500,000 informal workers in 2023.
09
France 35,000 jobs in déménagement sector in 2023.
10
Germany Umzugshelfer average hourly wage €14.50 in 2023.
11
Brazil removals workforce 120,000, 60% self-employed in 2023.
12
Average tenure for US movers: 4.2 years in 2023.
13
China removals drivers 300,000, trained certifications up 12% in 2023.
14
Italy removals staff turnover rate 28% in 2023.
15
Japan moving workforce 45,000, aging average 48 years old.
16
South Africa 25,000 formal removals jobs in 2023.
17
Global corporate relocation managers: 15,000 professionals in 2023.
18
Spain mudanceros employment 22,000 in 2023.
19
Russia perevozki workers 180,000 in 2023.
20
Mexico removals laborers 95,000, unionized 20%.
21
Training hours per US mover: 40 hours annually in 2023.
22
UK removals apprenticeships: 2,500 new starts in 2023.
23
Women in global removals workforce rose to 18% in 2023.
Interpretation
Employment Data Interpretation
Employment across the removals industry shows solid growth and sizeable workforces, with global sector jobs rising 4.1 percent year over year to 1.2 million in 2023 alongside large local labor pools such as 250,000 employees in the US and 45,000 full time workers in the UK.
03 · Category
Financial Performance25 stats
01
The US removals industry average profit margin stood at 6.2% in 2023, up from 5.1% in 2022.
02
Average revenue per moving company in the UK was £450,000 in 2023.
03
Global top 10 removals firms generated $12.5 billion combined revenue in 2023.
04
US long-distance movers' average EBITDA margin was 8.4% in 2023.
05
European removals firms saw fuel costs rise 15% impacting margins to 4.7% average in 2023.
06
Australia's largest removals company reported AUD 250 million revenue with 7.1% net profit in FY2023.
07
Corporate relocation services average billing rate $15,000per move in 2023 globally.
08
Canadian moving firms' insurance expenses averaged 2.8% of revenue in 2023.
09
India removals startups average VC funding $2.5 million per firm in 2023.
10
US self-pack moving revenue share 18% of total at $3.4 billion in 2023.
11
France removals EBITDA average 5.9% in 2023.
12
Global removals M&A deals totaled $1.2 billion in 2023.
13
Germany's moving firms debt-to-equity ratio averaged 0.65 in 2023.
14
Brazil removals average job value R$8,500in 2023.
15
UK international movers' forex hedging saved 3.2% on costs in 2023.
16
China removals platforms commission rates averaged 12.5% in 2023.
17
US truck rental for moves generated $4.1 billion revenue in 2023.
18
Italy removals firms tax rate effective 24.3% in 2023.
19
Japan moving company average ROE 9.2% in FY2023.
20
South Africa removals bad debt write-offs 1.8% of revenue in 2023.
21
Global specialty moves profit margin 11.4% vs 5.8% industry average in 2023.
22
Spain removals cash flow from operations averaged €120,000 per firm in 2023.
23
Russia movers' fuel cost as % of revenue 22% in 2023.
24
Mexico removals average markup 28% on labor in 2023.
25
Pet relocation average revenue per pet move $4,200in 2023.
Interpretation
Financial Performance Interpretation
In the financial performance picture for removals, profits are strengthening across major markets as US average profit margins rose from 5.1% in 2022 to 6.2% in 2023, even while Europe battled higher fuel costs that pushed average margins down to 4.7%.
More related reading
04 · Category
Market Size & Growth30 stats
01
The global removals and relocation services market size was valued at USD 92.4 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2023 to 2030.
02
In the US, the moving services industry revenue reached $19.2 billion in 2023, marking a 3.4% increase from the previous year.
03
Europe's household goods moving market is projected to expand from €15.6 billion in 2023 to €21.4 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 6.5%.
04
The Asia-Pacific removals industry grew by 7.2% in 2022, driven by urbanization in China and India.
05
UK domestic removals market turnover was £1.2 billion in 2023, with a 2.8% YoY growth.
06
International removals accounted for 22% of the global moving services market revenue in 2023.
07
The US local moving segment represented 65% of total industry revenue in 2023, valued at $12.5 billion.
08
Australia's removals industry market size hit AUD 2.1 billion in 2023, up 4.1% from 2022.
09
Global corporate relocation services market is forecasted to reach USD 14.7 billion by 2027, growing at 6.1% CAGR.
10
Canada's moving industry generated CAD 3.8 billion in 2023, with long-distance moves contributing 35%.
11
The Latin America removals market is expected to grow at 5.3% CAGR from 2024-2030, reaching USD 4.2 billion.
12
In 2023, the Indian household shifting services market was valued at INR 45,000 crore, growing 8.5% YoY.
13
Middle East & Africa moving services market projected to USD 3.9 billion by 2028 at 4.9% CAGR.
14
US intrastate moving revenue grew 4.2% to $8.7 billion in 2023.
15
Global self-storage related to removals added $25 billion to the market ecosystem in 2023.
16
France's removals sector turnover reached €4.5 billion in 2023, up 3.1%.
17
China's urban relocation services market expanded to CNY 150 billion in 2023 at 9.2% growth.
18
The worldwide piano and specialty item moving niche was $1.8 billion in 2023.
19
Germany's Umzugsbranche market size was €6.2 billion in 2023, with 5.0% CAGR forecast to 2028.
20
Brazil removals industry valued at BRL 12.4 billion in 2023, growing 6.8%.
21
Southeast Asia moving market to hit USD 5.6 billion by 2030 at 7.4% CAGR.
22
US military relocation services segment: $2.1 billion in 2023.
23
Italy's moving services revenue €2.9 billion in 2023, +2.7% YoY.
24
Japan household removals market ¥1.8 trillion in 2023, 3.9% growth.
25
South Africa removals industry R18 billion in 2023, 5.2% CAGR ahead.
26
Global student relocation services: USD 2.4 billion in 2023.
27
Spain removals market €1.7 billion in 2023, growing 4.3%.
28
Russia domestic moves market RUB 250 billion in 2023.
29
Mexico moving services $3.1 billion USD equivalent in 2023.
30
Global pet relocation services, a removals subsector, $450 million in 2023.
Interpretation
Market Size & Growth Interpretation
The removals industry is steadily expanding across regions, with the global market reaching USD 92.4 billion in 2022 and forecast to grow at a 5.8% CAGR through the coming years, while international removals already make up 22% of 2023 revenue.
05 · Category
Operational Metrics21 stats
01
Average fleet vehicles per US moving firm: 12 trucks in 2023.
02
Global average move volume: 15 cubic meters per household in 2023.
03
US local moves average time 4.2 hours, long-distance 3 days in 2023.
04
Europe fuel efficiency for removals trucks: 2.8 liters/100km average in 2023.
05
Australia average packing materials cost $250per move in 2023.
06
82% of international moves used container shipping in 2023.
07
Canada winter moves 35% higher insurance claims due to weather.
08
India peak season (Mar-May) saw 45% volume surge in 2023.
09
France GPS tracking used in 91% of removals fleets in 2023.
10
Germany average truck capacity utilization 78% in 2023.
11
Brazil road delays added 12% to move times in 2023.
12
UK electric vehicle adoption in fleets: 15% in 2023.
13
China warehouse storage post-move average 7 days in 2023.
14
Italy damage claims rate 1.2% of moves in 2023.
15
Japan punctuality rate for scheduled moves: 96% in 2023.
16
South Africa container loading efficiency 85% average.
17
Global AI route optimization reduced fuel by 18% for top firms in 2023.
18
Spain lift usage in apartments: 88% of urban moves.
19
Russia customs clearance time for intl moves: 4.3 days average in 2023.
20
Mexico border crossing delays averaged 2.5 days for US moves.
21
Pet moves required climate control in 92% of cases in 2023.
Interpretation
Operational Metrics Interpretation
Operationally, moving firms are working with relatively small fleets of about 12 trucks in the US and handling household moves around 15 cubic meters in 2023, while logistics efficiency and process choices show up in benchmarks like 2.8 liters per 100 kilometers for European fuel use and 82% of international moves relying on container shipping.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Removals Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/removals-industry-statistics
MLA
Lukas Bauer. "Removals Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/removals-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Removals Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/removals-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
87 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level