Restaurant and retail equipment moving in Kyiv is priced from four parts. The crew is sized not by a «standard package» but by the weight of the heaviest item and the number of items:
+ movers (hours × rate × number of people)
+ weight × 5 UAH — for every item from 80 kg
+ floors × 15 UAH — if there is no elevator
Benchmarks in Kyiv: espresso machine ~100 kg — from ~3,150 UAH, refrigerated display case ~200 kg — from ~5,200 UAH, a small coffee shop move — from ~12,400 UAH. We work 09:00–21:00 and fit around your closing time. Tel.: +38 (063) 724-86-04.
A coffee shop owner is not shopping for an «apartment move» — the job is specific: collect the espresso machine from the old site, put the display case into the new room, get the oven out of the basement without breaking the glass. Below is VantageOK practice for HoReCa and retail: how we size the crew, where every figure on the invoice comes from, and where businesses most often overpay.
Why café equipment is not ordinary furniture
An OLX sofa and a refrigerated display case both look «big», but for a crew they are different jobs. Commercial equipment more often means weight over 80 kg, glass, a compressor, oil or water inside, and a narrow entrance to a basement space.
| Household furniture / appliances | Restaurant / retail equipment | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Often up to 80 kg — no surcharge | Often 100–300+ kg → 5 UAH for every kilogram of the item |
| Risk | Scratches, corners | Display case glass, compressor, leaks, manufacturer warranty |
| Access | Entrance, elevator | Basement, narrow stairs, ramp, mall pass and unloading window |
| Cost of a mistake | An inconvenient evening | A closed venue = revenue lost for every hour |
| Crew | Two people cover most jobs | Sized to item weight and number of items — often 3–4 |
What exactly we move: from espresso machines to display cases
80–150+ kg. Do not lay it on its side unless necessary. Disconnect the water, drain the boiler. Minibus or van, two people.
150–400 kg, glass, shelves. Defrosting and draining are mandatory. Gazelle; from 250 kg — four people or a maxibus / 5 t.
Weight plus narrow kitchen doors. Sometimes we partly remove doors or legs on site to clear the opening.
Drain the oil and the water. Do not move them «as they stand in the kitchen» — leaks in the cargo bay and on the stairs.
More compact, but heavy. Often a van. Secured in the cargo bay so they do not shift on turns.
Lighter, but bulky. Minibus or van. Till equipment is packed separately from heavy metal.
A household refrigerator from an apartment follows a different logic — see the article on how to move a refrigerator and a washing machine. A commercial display case is heavier and more fragile.
How many movers you actually need
This is the question owners ask most often — and there is no single answer. We size the crew by two independent criteria: the weight of the heaviest item (that is about safety) and the total volume of work (that is about time and money). We take the larger of the two numbers.
Criterion 1: the weight of a single item
| Item weight | People per item | What it looks like on site |
|---|---|---|
| up to 80 kg | 1–2 | Bar station, till, light shelving. No weight surcharge |
| 80–150 kg | 2 | Espresso machine, ice maker, small cabinet. Carried on straps or from both ends |
| 150–250 kg | 3 | Display case, oven. Two carry, the third clears the path, steadies it on turns, sets down rollers |
| 250–400 kg | 4 | Two pairs swapping over on the stairs. Trolley or rollers on the flat, straps on the stairs |
| over 400 kg | 4 + rigging | Only with special gear. Without it we decline honestly — this is about injuries, not money |
Criterion 2: volume of work
| Volume | People | Approximate time |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 items (display case, espresso machine) | 2–3 | 2–3 hours |
| Bar area or a 20–40 m² venue | 3–4 | 4–6 hours |
| Café or shop of 60–100 m² | 4–5 | 6–9 hours |
| Full restaurant kitchen | 5–6 + truck | Quoted individually, often in two runs |
A practical rule: if there is more than one item weighing 150 kg or more on site, take at least four people. Two pairs work in parallel instead of queuing for each other at the stairs — and you pay for fewer hours.
The rates that make up the 2026 price
Vehicles: why the minimum is longer than two hours
The vehicle rate includes 1 dispatch hour — the time the vehicle spends driving to you. The minimum working time itself is 2 hours for vans. Together that makes 3 billable hours, and that is exactly where the minimum order figure on the site comes from. For 5 t and 10 t trucks the minimum working time is 3 hours, i.e. 4 billable hours.
| Vehicle | Hour | Min. order | What it is for in HoReCa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minibus 0.8 t | 350 UAH | 1,050 UAH (dispatch + 2 hrs) | Espresso machine, tills, bar station, small inventory |
| Van 1.2 t | 450 UAH | 1,350 UAH (dispatch + 2 hrs) | Small refrigerator, ice maker, a few smaller items |
| Gazelle 1.5 t | 600 UAH | 1,800 UAH (dispatch + 2 hrs) | Display case, oven, moving a small venue in one run |
| Maxibus 2 t | 550 UAH | 1,650 UAH (dispatch + 2 hrs) | Long display cases and shelving — bulky, but not extra-heavy cargo |
| Truck 5 t | 1,150 UAH | 4,600 UAH (dispatch + 3 hrs) | A full kitchen, several heavy display cases, equipment on pallets |
Movers: the rate depends on the length of the shift
The longer the shift, the cheaper the hour per person. The minimum is 2 hours. The rates below apply to orders that include a vehicle — which is almost always the case in HoReCa.
| Length of work | Per 1 mover | Example: 4 people |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 2 hours | 400 UAH/hr | 2 hrs × 400 × 4 = 3,200 UAH |
| 2–4 hours | 375 UAH/hr | 4 hrs × 375 × 4 = 6,000 UAH |
| Over 4 hours | 350 UAH/hr | 6 hrs × 350 × 4 = 8,400 UAH |
Surcharges
| Item | Price | How we apply it |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy item from 80 kg | 5 UAH per kg | Calculated on the full weight of the item, charged once for loading and unloading. A 200 kg display case → 1,000 UAH |
| Floors without an elevator | 15 UAH per floor | Per floor and per trip. The ground floor is free. Basement −2 in a single pass → 30 UAH |
| Disassembly / assembly | from 400 UAH | Shelving, bar counter, tables — when they will not fit through the doors otherwise |
| Packing materials | from 30 UAH/lin. m | Bubble wrap for display case glass, stretch film for pallets, boxes for dishes |
| Outside the city | 20–50 UAH/km | Both ways, depends on the vehicle type |
Real estimates for business
Kyiv, equipment prepared (water drained, shelves secured), access without surprises. All figures follow the same logic as the calculator on the site.
| Job | Price breakdown | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso machine 100 kg, elevator or ground floor | Minibus 1,050 + 2 people × 2 hrs × 400 = 1,600 + weight 100 × 5 = 500 | ~3,150 UAH |
| Refrigerated display case 200 kg, level access | Gazelle 1,800 + 3 people × 2 hrs × 400 = 2,400 + weight 1,000 | ~5,200 UAH |
| The same display case from basement −2, 3 hrs, four people | Gazelle 2,400 + 4 people × 3 hrs × 375 = 4,500 + weight 1,000 + floors 30 | ~7,930 UAH |
| Pizza oven 150 kg + tables, 3 hrs, three people | Gazelle 2,400 + 3 people × 3 hrs × 375 = 3,375 + weight 750 | ~6,525 UAH |
| Coffee shop of 25 m²: espresso 90 kg, cabinet 120 kg, display case 150 kg + inventory | Gazelle 3,600 + 4 people × 5 hrs × 350 = 7,000 + weight 1,800 | ~12,400 UAH |
| Full restaurant kitchen, 8 hrs, five people, 5 t truck | Truck 10,350 + 5 people × 8 hrs × 350 = 14,000 + weight 4,750 | from ~29,000 UAH |
Why a bigger crew often works out cheaper
The same coffee shop move from the table above, but with different crews. The volume of work is fixed — only the number of people changes, and with it the hours:
| Crew | Time | Movers | Gazelle | Weight | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 people | 10 hrs | 7,000 | 6,600 | 1,800 | 15,400 UAH |
| 3 people | 7 hrs | 7,350 | 4,800 | 1,800 | 13,950 UAH |
| 4 people | 5 hrs | 7,000 | 3,600 | 1,800 | 12,400 UAH |
The labour costs roughly the same — fewer hours are offset by more hands. But the vehicle waits half as long, and that is what creates the 3,000 UAH difference. Plus the thing that matters most for a business: the venue opens half a day earlier.
Preparing for the move: the owner's checklist
Defrost and drain
Display cases, refrigerators, ice makers — in advance, not on moving day. Water on the stairs means an injury and downtime.
Disconnect the utilities
Water, gas (if any), electricity. For the espresso machine, drain the boiler as the manufacturer instructs.
Secure everything inside
Shelves, doors, glass panels. Drain the fryer oil separately — do not move it full.
Measure the passages and weigh the heavy items
Kitchen doors, corridor, stair turns, freight elevator. Take the weight from the equipment data plate so we can size the crew correctly up front, instead of «adding a person on site».
A window after closing
Give us the exact time. Hours count from the crew's arrival: waiting for the mall keys is on your bill.
Basements, narrow stairs, malls: where the plan breaks
The most common surprise in Kyiv is a café on a lower ground floor with no freight elevator. A 200 kg display case goes down the stairs slowly, on straps, with someone spotting. Budget both an extra hour and a third pair of hands: one pair carries, the third clears the landing and holds the doors.
- Photos of the stairs and the door opening in chat — the estimate will be more accurate than «it's fine there»
- Parking at a mall or market: pass, ramp, permitted unloading window
- A 300+ kg display case on steep stairs — we say honestly that it takes four people, or we decline without rigging gear
- A run to a supplier's warehouse outside the city — extra hours and mileage; see also Gazelle with movers
- Two addresses in one order (collect from the warehouse, deliver to the venue) — billed as continuous hours, which is cheaper than two separate call-outs
The weight surcharge logic is the same for any heavy item — a detailed breakdown is in the guide on moving safes, pianos, and generators.
How to book equipment moving in 2 minutes
Message or call
+38 (063) 724-86-04 · WhatsApp / Viber / Telegram. Daily 09:00–21:00.
Equipment list with weights
Models or weights, photos, addresses, floor or basement, preferred window after closing.
Get the price breakdown
We will tell you how many people your weight and volume need, how many hours to budget, and what it costs. No «we'll see when we get there».
Meet the crew
You need someone with the keys and access to the floor. Payment after completion.
Moving a coffee shop or a display case this week?
Send the equipment list with weights and the addresses — we will name the vehicle, how many people, and a price benchmark.
Call +38 (063) 724-86-04 Office / business moveQ&A about café and shop equipment
How much does it cost to move a refrigerated display case in Kyiv?
A 200 kg display case with level access: Gazelle 1,800 + three movers for 2 hours 2,400 + weight 200 × 5 = 1,000. Benchmark ~5,200 UAH. The same display case from basement −2 with a crew of four for 3 hours — around 7,930 UAH.
How much does it cost to move a professional espresso machine?
A 100 kg espresso machine: minibus 1,050 + two movers for 2 hours 1,600 + weight 500. Benchmark from ~3,150 UAH within Kyiv.
How many movers do you need for a display case or an oven?
By item weight: up to 150 kg — two, 150–250 kg — three, 250–400 kg — four, over 400 kg — only with rigging gear. If there are many items, we also size the crew by the volume of work — and it is almost always larger.
Why is the minimum vehicle order longer than two hours?
Because the rate includes 1 dispatch hour. The minimum working time for vans is 2 hours, which makes 3 billable hours in total: Gazelle 3 × 600 = 1,800 UAH. For 5 t and 10 t trucks the minimum working time is 3 hours, i.e. 4 billable hours: 5 t = 4,600 UAH.
Is it cheaper to hire more movers?
On high-volume jobs — yes. Take the coffee shop example: two people over 10 hours — 15,400 UAH, four people over 5 hours — 12,400 UAH. The labour costs roughly the same, while the vehicle waits half as long. It does not work for a single display case — two or three people carry it whatever the crew size.
Do you move equipment after the venue closes?
Yes, within 09:00–21:00 we agree on a window that fits your schedule.
Do I need to drain the water from the refrigerator and the display case?
Yes. Defrosting and draining save crew time and remove the risk of leaks in the cargo bay.
How much does a small coffee shop move cost?
A 20–30 m² venue with an espresso machine, a refrigerated cabinet, and a display case: a Gazelle for 5 hours + four movers + weight surcharges — around 12,400 UAH. A full restaurant kitchen is a separate estimate, often with a 5 t truck.
How quickly can I book?
Often within 2–4 hours in Kyiv. A venue move is better booked 1–2 days ahead.
