Giant Van vs Pickfords — 2026 Comparison
An honest, side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right service for your move.
Pickfords is a trademark of its respective owner. Giant Van is not affiliated with Pickfords. This comparison reflects publicly available information reviewed on 21 July 2026; competitor details may change — check the provider for the latest.
Pickfords is the UK's oldest and most recognised traditional removal company, offering full-service moves including professional packing, storage, and specialist item handling. Giant Van is a tech-first direct booking service better suited to cost-conscious movers who want a fixed price, live tracking, and instant confirmation.
Pickfords is the right choice for high-value moves needing white-glove service; Giant Van is more accessible for standard house moves and furniture delivery.
Who Pickfords is
Traditional full-service removal company
Pickfords is the UK's oldest removal company, founded in 1756 and based in London. It offers premium full-service domestic and international removals, including professional packing, storage, and specialist item handling. Pickfords is best known for comprehensive service and long heritage — pricing reflects this premium positioning and varies by move; check the provider for a quote.
This describes Pickfords’s published model rather than a private experience of it, so you can check every part of it against their own site. Read how we research these pages and our editorial standards.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
How Giant Van and Pickfords stack up across the features that matter most.
- Pricing model
- Giant Van
- Fixed upfront price
- Pickfords
- Survey-based quote; premium pricing
- Price transparency
- Giant Van
- All-inclusive at booking
- Pickfords
- Full quote after home survey
- UK coverage
- Giant Van
- Nationwide
- Pickfords
- Nationwide + international
- Transit insurance
- Giant Van
- Goods-in-transit cover: £500 included, £3,000 optional
- Pickfords
- Comprehensive insurance options
- Same-day booking
- Giant Van
- Yes — available in most cities
- Pickfords
- Not standard; planned moves only
- Weekend availability
- Giant Van
- Yes
- Pickfords
- Limited — primarily weekday service
- Live GPS tracking
- Giant Van
- Yes — in-app real-time
- Pickfords
- No app-based tracking
- Online booking
- Giant Van
- Yes — instant confirmation
- Pickfords
- Survey required for most moves
- Cancellation policy
- Giant Van
- Free up to 48 hours before
- Pickfords
- Contract-based; terms vary
- Driver vetting
- Giant Van
- Vetted self-employed driver network
- Pickfords
- Professional employed crews
- Furniture disassembly
- Giant Van
- Included on eligible moves
- Pickfords
- Yes — full-service standard
How each side arrives at a price
The pricing model matters more than the headline number, because it decides who carries the risk when a job takes longer than planned.
One fixed price, quoted up front
You enter the two addresses and what is moving, and the quote comes back priced on distance, access and the date you picked. That figure is what you book at — there is no callback, no survey and no bidding window, and nothing about the job is priced after the fact.
How their model reaches a number
Larger moves are generally priced after a survey, in person or by video, and the resulting quote reflects a full-service package rather than a van and a crew. That is a slower route to a number, and it buys a level of handling an instant quote does not attempt to cover.
What every Giant Van booking includes
These are our own terms, and they are the same on every job. What the other service includes is set out in the table above.
A price fixed before you book
Stairs, difficult parking and London congestion or ULEZ charges are worked out and built into the quote you are shown, so the figure does not move between the quote and the invoice.
£500 of transit cover included
Goods-in-transit cover of £500 comes with every booking at no cost, and £3,000 Plus cover is available for £12 if you are moving something worth more.
Live tracking from collection to delivery
You can see where the van is in the app for the whole job, rather than ringing a depot to ask.
A vetted, self-employed driver network
Drivers are vetted before they take work, so the standard you get is set by the platform rather than by whoever happened to accept the job.
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before
Cancel at least 48 hours ahead for a full refund, and every booking includes one free reschedule at the same notice.
Extras approved by you, on the day
If something has to be added once the crew is on site, it is priced and sent to you to approve before any of it is done.
How Giant Van Works
- 01
Get an Instant Quote
Enter your pickup and delivery details online. Get a fixed price in under 60 seconds.
- 02
Book Your Slot
Choose your preferred date and time. Confirm online with no deposit required.
- 03
We Collect
Your vetted crew arrives on time, wraps and loads everything with care.
- 04
We Deliver
Track your move in real time. We unload at your new address and place items where you want them.
Price Comparison: Giant Van vs Pickfords
Indicative prices for common move types. Get a live quote for your exact move — prices depend on distance, access, and date.
- 1-bed flat move
- Giant Van
- From £180
- Pickfords
- Pricing varies — check provider
- Full house removal (2-bed)
- Giant Van
- From £280
- Pickfords
- Pricing varies — check provider
- Full house removal (3-bed)
- Giant Van
- From £450
- Pickfords
- Pricing varies — check provider
- Long-distance move (200+ miles)
- Giant Van
- From £350
- Pickfords
- Pricing varies — check provider
Prices are indicative and accurate as of June 2026. Actual prices vary by distance, date, floor level, and access conditions.
Before you book with Pickfords
Whichever way you go, these are the things worth settling in writing first. Most moving-day disputes trace back to one of them being left vague.
Book the survey early — a surveyed quote takes far longer to obtain than an online one.
Ask exactly what the package includes: packing, materials, dismantling, storage.
Confirm the cover limit and whether high-value items have to be declared separately.
Check the cancellation and date-change terms before you pay anything.
Which Service Is Right for You?
Choose Pickfords If…
- You're moving high-value antiques, art, or specialist items needing professional crating
- You need international removal services
- Full professional packing and unpacking is essential to your move
- Budget is less important than white-glove service and heritage brand reputation
Choose Giant Van If…
- You want an instant fixed price for a standard house move
- Live GPS tracking throughout the move matters to you
- Pickfords' premium pricing is beyond your budget
- You want weekend availability with instant online booking
- A modern app-based experience is important
How this comparison was made
We compare the things that can be checked: the pricing model each service uses, what a booking includes, and the terms you agree to. Where Pickfords’s answer varies by provider or by job, the table says so instead of printing a number that would be wrong by the time you read it.
We do not publish a competitor rating, review count or price we cannot point at, and we do not rank providers on anything we cannot show you. Giant Van’s own figures come from the same price engine and insurance products the booking flow uses, so the numbers here and the numbers at checkout are the same numbers.
This page was last reviewed on 21 July 2026. If something here no longer matches what Pickfords actually does, that is a defect and we would rather fix it than defend it.
If you want a fixed price, live tracking, and a vetted crew, Giant Van is the better choice. Pickfords may suit you if you're moving high-value antiques, art, or specialist items needing professional crating.
Giant Van vs Pickfords — FAQs
Is Pickfords more expensive than Giant Van?
Generally, yes. Pickfords targets the premium full-service market and its pricing varies by move — check the provider for a quote. Giant Van's fixed prices start from £180 for a 1-bed flat. Pickfords' premium reflects professional packing, larger crews, and international capability.
What is Pickfords best for?
Pickfords excels at complex, high-value moves — large family homes, antiques and fine art, international relocations, or moves requiring professional packing and long-term storage. For standard house moves and furniture delivery, Giant Van offers equivalent reliability at a much lower price.
Does Pickfords offer instant online booking?
Most Pickfords moves require a home survey and tailored quote, which takes days rather than minutes. Giant Van gives you a confirmed fixed price in 60 seconds with instant online booking.
Does Pickfords offer live GPS tracking?
Pickfords doesn't offer app-based live tracking. Giant Van provides real-time in-app GPS tracking throughout your move.
Is Giant Van a good Pickfords alternative for a standard house move?
For a standard 1-4 bed house move, Giant Van delivers comparable service quality — vetted crews, transit insurance, furniture disassembly — at a considerably lower price than Pickfords' premium tier.
Which is better for antiques and high-value items — Pickfords or Giant Van?
For antiques, fine art, and exceptionally high-value items requiring specialist crating and full professional packing, Pickfords is the appropriate choice. Giant Van handles standard furniture and household goods with care but isn't a specialist fine art mover.
Does Pickfords operate at weekends?
Pickfords primarily operates weekday services. Weekend availability is limited. Giant Van is available seven days a week including bank holidays.
Can Pickfords do international moves?
Yes — international removals are one of Pickfords' core services. Giant Van's core service is UK removals and delivery; check the coverage details for your route.