Guide
Measuring and estimating your move
How to get a useful estimate out of Moving Volume Estimator (version 1.0.0), step by step, with answers to common questions.
1. Start a move
Tap New move, give it a name and, if you know them, the moving date and the two addresses. Start empty or from a template: studio flat, one-bedroom flat, two-bedroom terraced house or three-bedroom semi-detached house. A template fills in typical rooms, furniture and boxes – remove what you do not have and add what is missing. Want to look around first? Load an example on the first screen shows three filled-in moves; you can remove them in one step under More › Backup and data.
2. Measure furniture
Open a room and add pieces from the catalogue (a tap adds one with its typical size; the pencil lets you adjust it first) or with Own size. Measure the outer box around a piece: the widest, deepest and highest points, including legs, handles and cushions. Centimetres or inches – choose in Settings. If the same piece appears several times, raise the quantity instead of adding new lines.
Your own furniture differs from the catalogue? Edit the entry in the Catalogue tab, and new items use your size. Items already in rooms keep the size they were added with.
3. Pieces taken apart
Beds, wardrobes, desks and tables usually travel flat. Tick Taken apart for the move and set how much of the assembled space the parts still need – for example about 30% for a bed frame. The summary shows how much space dismantling saves in total. Mark Fragile and Heavy – two-person lift where it applies; both appear in the inventory.
4. Count the boxes
Everything that is not furniture goes into boxes: books, kitchenware, clothes, toys, decorations. Count them per room with the four box sizes. Heavy things such as books belong in small boxes so they stay liftable; bedding and cushions go in large ones. If your boxes are a different size, change the box sizes in Settings. On the Compare tab you can see how your boxed volume works out in each single box size.
When a room is complete, tick Room surveyed. The move shows how many rooms are done.
5. Loading allowance and vehicles
Furniture never fits together perfectly, so the app adds a loading allowance to the listed volume (15% by default; 10–20% is a common rule of thumb). That is the volume to plan for. The Compare tab shows how many trips each vehicle size would need and how full it would be, and suggests the smallest vehicle that takes everything in one trip. The load spaces are typical values; edit them or add your own in Settings.
The result is an estimate. Confirm the final volume and vehicle with your removal firm or van hire company.
6. Quotes and the inventory
On the Compare tab, add the quotes you receive – removal firm, man and van or van hire – with the price in pounds. The app sorts them, marks the lowest price and shows the price per cubic metre of your load. Quotes are your own notes; the app contacts no one.
The PDF button on a move creates an A4 inventory: every room with its pieces, sizes, quantities and volumes, the boxes to have ready and the vehicle comparison. Share it or save it to a folder. Leave "Your quotes" switched off when you send the inventory to firms for a quote. Share as text puts the same list into a message.
7. Backup and a new phone
Your data is stored only on your phone. Under More › Backup and data you can share or save a backup file and import it again – also on a new phone. When importing, choose Add to merge or Replace to start from the backup.
Common questions
How accurate is the estimate?
As accurate as the sizes you enter. Each piece counts as the box around it, so the listed volume tends to be on the safe side; the loading allowance adds space for gaps. Vehicle load spaces are typical figures. Use the result to plan and to ask for quotes, and confirm the final volume with your removal firm.
Do I have to measure everything?
No. Most furniture is in the catalogue with a typical size. Measure what is unusually large or not in the list, and adjust catalogue entries to match your own pieces.
Can I use inches and cubic feet?
Yes. In Settings choose inches for measuring and cubic feet as the main unit; the other unit is always shown alongside.
Does the app contact removal firms?
No. It has no internet access. You decide whom to send the PDF or text inventory to. Quotes in the app are your own notes.
What does it cost?
Nothing. There are no subscriptions, no in-app purchases and no ads.
8. Contact
Questions, ideas or a problem with the app? Write to [email protected] – one address for support, feedback and privacy requests.