Moving boxes without a car
Your options without a car, how to pack boxes so they hold, and when it pays to have them delivered.
Options without a car
- On foot with a hand truck: for a few boxes over a few hundred metres. More than three boxes stacked on top of each other tip over easily.
- By bike: With a trailer you can take two to three boxes, on the rear rack one at most.
- Rent a cargo bike: There are cargo bikes for rent in Bonn and Cologne. But factor in the trip to the station and back, and that several runs will be needed.
- Have them delivered: You pack, we pick everything up in one go and bring it to its destination.
How to pack boxes so they hold
- Heavy things in small boxes, light things in big ones. A big box full of books tears, and nobody likes carrying it.
- Tape the bottom crosswise with parcel tape, not just along one seam.
- Fill gaps with newspaper or towels so nothing slides and the lid doesn't cave in.
- Label on two sides: contents and room. Clearly mark anything fragile.
Which size do you need?
You don't book per box but for the whole shipment. What matters is total weight and space:
- Large (L): a few boxes, together up to 40 kg and 120 × 80 × 60 cm.
- Bulky (XL): over 40 kg, e.g. a stack of boxes or a few pieces of furniture as well. Then we come as a team of two, depending on the dimensions with a cargo bike and Zemmi trailer or with the electric van.
When it pays to have them delivered
When you'd have to walk or drive several times, when stairs are involved or when the boxes are simply heavy. We don't handle complete house moves. A few boxes, the leftovers after a move or the boxes for storage, on the other hand, are exactly what we do.
Or: let us do it
You pack, we pick everything up in one go. For a stack of boxes over 40 kg, book Bulky items: Price on request.
- Over 40 kg we always come as a team of two.
- Carrying without a lift can be added per floor.
- We are liable for goods worth up to €500 at no extra charge, and up to €5,000 for a surcharge.
- Fixed price in the booking or a quote within 2 hours on working days.
Just a few boxes up to 40 kg? Book Large (L)
Frequently asked questions
You'll find more answers on the FAQ page.
Pack it so you can comfortably carry it on your own. For most people that's 15 to 20 kg. Books go in small boxes, bedding and pillows in large ones.
No. We deliver a few boxes or individual items, including bulky items. For a complete house move, ask a removal company.
No. You enter the number of boxes and the total weight, and the price applies to the whole shipment. If the booking shows a fixed price, you book straight away; otherwise you get a quote within 2 hours on working days.
More from the guide
Related service: Courier for private customers in Bonn and Cologne
Moving large plants, even without a car
Water, wrap, protect from the cold: how a large houseplant survives the move.
Bike transport in Bonn and Cologne
Bought second-hand, going to the repair shop or stranded with a flat tyre: how your bike gets where it needs to go.
Moving a fridge: lying down or upright?
Defrost, secure, carry upright and then wait: what matters when moving a fridge.