The first question most families ask before a move is not about packing – it is about the vehicle. Book one that is too small and you pay for a second trip. Book one that is too big and you pay for empty space, or find it cannot enter your street. This guide explains how we choose between a Shehzore (loader), a 16 ft Mazda and a 20 ft truck or container for moves in and from Lahore.
Quick answer: which vehicle for which move
| Vehicle | Usually right for | Price (one trip within Lahore) |
|---|---|---|
| Shehzore / loader | One room, hostel or student luggage, a few appliances, small shop stock | Lower than Mazda – price on WhatsApp |
| Mazda 16 ft | 2–3 bedroom house or a portion / upper floor | Rs 15,000 without packing, Rs 25,000 with packing |
| 20 ft truck / container | 4–5 bedroom house, villa, or most intercity moves | Price after free survey |
These are starting points. The real answer depends on how much furniture you have, not just the number of rooms – which is why we do a free survey, on site or by video call, before fixing the price.
When a Shehzore is enough
A Shehzore is the small open or covered loader you see on every Lahore road. It is the right choice when you are moving:
- a single room, a hostel room or a bachelor flat,
- a few big items – a fridge, washing machine, sofa set or one bed,
- goods into an area with very narrow streets where a Mazda cannot turn.
The narrow-street point matters in Lahore. In parts of the Walled City, Ichhra, Mozang and older mohallas, a 16 ft Mazda often cannot reach the door, and labour would otherwise carry everything a long way to the main road. A Shehzore – sometimes two Shehzore trips – can be cheaper and safer in those streets.
What a Shehzore is not good for: a full family house. Trying to fit a 2–3 bedroom house into a loader almost always ends in two or three trips, extra labour time and more handling of your furniture.
When you need a 16 ft Mazda
The 16 ft Mazda is the standard house-shifting vehicle in Lahore and what most families need. It usually takes the full contents of a 2–3 bedroom house or a portion: beds and wardrobes (dismantled), a sofa set, dining table, fridge, washing machine, LED TVs, ACs and the cartons from the kitchen and rooms.
Our standard rate for one 16 ft Mazda trip within Lahore is Rs 15,000 without packing and Rs 25,000 with full packing (packers, cartons, bubble wrap, stretch film and blankets). Our Mazdas are covered, which matters in the monsoon and during smog and dust.
A Mazda is the right size for most moves between areas like Johar Town, Gulberg, Model Town, Wapda Town, DHA and Bahria Town, where roads are wide enough for it to park near the gate.
When to book a 20 ft truck or container
Choose a bigger vehicle when:
- you are moving a 4–5 bedroom house, a kanal house or a villa with heavy furniture,
- you have many large items – double-door fridge, deep freezer, several ACs, a big dining set, heavy wooden wardrobes,
- the move is intercity, for example Lahore to Karachi or Lahore to Islamabad, where one large vehicle is better than several smaller ones on the motorway.
For a large house, one container trip is normally cheaper and quicker than two Mazda trips, because the team loads once and your goods are handled less. Container and intercity moves are priced after a free survey.
Four things that change the choice
1. Amount of furniture, not the number of rooms
A 3 bedroom house with simple furniture may fit easily in one Mazda; a 3 bedroom house with heavy sheesham furniture, a piano or a home gym may not. Show us every room during the survey, including the store room, roof and garage.
2. Street width and parking
Tell us if your street is narrow, has a low gate, overhead wires or a sharp turn. If the vehicle cannot park near the door, labour has to carry goods further, which takes more time.
3. Floors and lifts
Upper floors without a lift take more labour time. In apartment buildings, book the service lift with the building management in advance and check its size against your largest item.
4. Distance
Within Lahore, the Mazda rate above applies. For intercity moves the vehicle is chosen with the route, and the price is fixed after the survey.
Common mistakes when booking a vehicle
- Booking the cheapest vehicle and hoping it fits. A second trip usually costs more than booking the right size first.
- Forgetting the roof and store room. Old cupboards, charpais, plants and boxes add up quickly.
- Not mentioning ACs. Split ACs need a technician for dismantling and installation, and the indoor and outdoor units take space.
- Booking at month-end at the last minute. Most rental agreements end then, so vehicles and teams are busiest. Book a few days earlier.
Not sure? Send us a video
The easiest way to get the vehicle right is a short video call or a video of each room on WhatsApp. We will tell you which vehicle you need and give you a fixed price in writing before the move.
Useful pages:
- Mazda and Shehzore on rent in Lahore – with driver, with or without labour
- Shifting rates in Lahore – full rate table
- Shifting cost calculator – a quick estimate for your house
- House shifting in Lahore – packing, labour, vehicle and setting
Call or WhatsApp 0323 4097155 – we are open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
