Moving on Sunday: What is permitted and what does it cost?

Moving on Sunday—the day when most people have time off. At first glance, this seems like the ideal solution for mobilizing friends and family to help out and get the stressful moving day over with quickly. However, in Germany, Sunday is a special protected day: it is a statutory day of rest. So the crucial question is: Are you even allowed to move on Sundays? The answer is a clear yes, but with conditions. We explain the rules you must follow.

Can you move on a Sunday? The legal situation in Germany

The fear of the watchful eyes of the neighborhood is often the biggest obstacle to moving on a Sunday. The decisive factor is not the ban on moving itself, but compliance with the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) and local noise control regulations.

The sticking point: quiet hours

On Sundays, quiet hours apply all day. This means that anything that causes avoidable and disruptive noise is prohibited.

The noise caused by carrying moving boxes or briefly driving up with the van is generally considered reasonable. So as long as you refrain from hammering and drilling, you'll be on the safe side with your move on Sunday.

Important: Communication about the move

Even if you follow all the rules, your neighbors may perceive the noise differently. Therefore, the most important step before moving on a Sunday is to inform everyone involved.

1. Inform: At least one week in advance, post a friendly note in the stairwell of your old and new homes.
2. Ask for their understanding: Give an approximate time frame and promise to be especially quiet. Ideally, offer a small token of appreciation (a box of chocolates or a beer after work).

If you prepare perfectly for moving day, most of the noise will be eliminated.

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Moving on a public holiday: What do you need to bear in mind on Good Friday, Christmas, etc.?

Moving on a public holiday is subject to the same strict noise regulations as on Sundays. In principle, you are allowed to move on public holidays, but the risk of disturbing someone is even higher, as most people spend this day at home.

Special case: Moving on quiet holidays (e.g., Good Friday)

Moving on Good Friday, Memorial Day, or All Souls' Day is problematic because these days are specially protected as quiet holidays in many states. On these days, not only are noisy construction works prohibited, but in some cases also public events such as parades or dances.

Your private move on one of these holidays is not directly affected, but the acceptance of moving noise is extremely low on these days. It is advisable, especially on such days, to limit loading and unloading to the absolutely necessary time. This will be less stressful for you.

Costs & organization: How to make your move on Sunday stress-free

Your moving day is logistically challenging. Consider whether you want to hire private helpers for Sunday or rely on professionals:

Option 1: Private move

To make the most of Sunday, you need to plan your preparations extremely thoroughly.

• Use Saturday: Disassemble all large pieces of furniture (cupboards, beds) on Saturday so that you don't need a noisy cordless screwdriver on Sunday.
• Equipment: Make sure you have packed all your moving boxes the day before.

The most important thing: Make sure you protect your fragile items well according to our tips for safe packing.

Option 2: The professional moving company

If you want to save yourself the trouble of transporting large items, you will need to find a company that works on Sundays:

• Sunday surcharges: Expect moving companies to charge high surcharges (often between 50% and 100%) on top of the normal hourly rate, as work on Sundays must be compensated as overtime.
• Strategy: If you want to save money, you can hire the company for transport only. You can quietly load and unload the moving boxes with friends while the professionals load and unload the truck.
• Final cleaning: Do you also have to hand over your old apartment on Sunday? Then don't forget to clean the apartment.

Moving on a Sunday is a matter of organization and consideration. Inform your neighbors, avoid construction noise, and focus on transporting your boxes and furniture quietly. If you follow these rules, your moving day will be successful and stress-free.