When Is The Best Time To Move? And the Times to Avoid!
Fact Checked by: Believe it or not, your timing can affect how much you pay and the quality of your move. It can all get overwhelming if you try to do it all yourself. The best moving companies can handle your move no matter what time of year you decide, but that doesn’t let you off the hook from planning.
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Being thoughtful about the time of year you decide to move can make a big difference in how smoothly your move goes. The best time to move is between September and April, since moving companies aren’t in high demand during this time. It’s an also a good idea to schedule your move in the middle of the month or week when there’s less demand.
Finding the perfect time to move means considering the weather, your family, and your obligations. Here, we’ll highlight the best times to move and what to keep in mind when choosing the right date.
The best time to move by season
The different seasons have different upsides and downsides. We’ve broken down the most important things you need to know for each time of year, so you can be prepared if you’re moving at the last minute and informed if you’re able to plan ahead.
Spring moves
Spring is one of the best times of year to move and it may even be the best time if you manage to sneak your moving date in before peak season starts. Let’s take a look at the positives and negatives of moving at this time of year, so you can make an informed decision.
Pros and cons of moving in spring
- Better weather: Spring weather is generally less harsh than winter and summer. Moving in the spring avoids many of the negatives associated with extreme heat and extreme cold.
- The best time to sell your house: Since most people want to move in the summer, the housing market heats up in the spring. The increased competition during this time will allow you to sell your house at a great price.
- Lower rates: Summer is when most people move, which increases demand. In spring, the demand isn’t as high. Prices should be lower and availability should be more flexible.
- Pollen: Spring is the season of pollen and other allergens. Be sure to seal your boxes and cover your furniture to avoid bringing it into your new home.
- Unpredictable rain: It’s important to prepare for rain. Spring is notorious for unpredictable rain. Avoid leaving boxes and furniture outside.
- School conflicts: Spring is a busy time of year for school-aged children, especially for older children with exams, sports, prom, graduation, and other exciting events.
Summer moves
The summer months are right in the middle of peak moving season, which means increased prices, less flexibility availability, and the highest temperatures of the year. If you aren’t able to avoid moving during this time, consider the following pros and cons.
Pros and cons of moving in summer
- Summer break: If you’re a college student moving or you have school-aged children, moving in the summer can be the best option. The first day is the best day for a student to transition to a new school.
- Warm weather: People love being outdoors in the summer, which can make it more enjoyable for everyone participating in your moving project. You definitely won’t have to worry about icy roads in the summer.
- Longer days: Summer means more sunlight for your move. On average, you can get as many five extra hours of daylight compared to the winter, which gives you and your movers more time to get everything done in one day
- The busiest time of the year: Moving in the summer is more expensive. Moving companies charge around 20%–30% more during the summer months. There’s no way around this reality. To get the best prices, be sure to book your move as early as possible.
- Movers may cancel: It’s a reality in the moving industry — movers cancel. The high demand for the season means that moving companies have to cancel sometimes, which can throw a major wrench in your plans.
- Lower-quality movers: Because the demand is only seasonal, companies hire seasonal movers and subcontractors in the summer, which can lead to inconsistent service quality and additional headaches.
- Extreme weather: Especially in the southern half of the country, the summer heat can be scorching, which can present challenges during your move.
- Heat-sensitive items: Certain items like wine, electronics, and record collections need special attention under extreme heat.
Check out some more of our summer moving tips to learn how to protect your items.
Fall moves
If you can’t move in the spring, the fall might be the next best time as long as you don’t have school-aged children. Review the advantages and drawbacks to get a full picture of the moving process during the fall months.
Pros and cons of moving in the fall
- Best of both worlds: The fall has the temperate weather conditions of early spring without the constant threat of unpredictable rain or scorching heat.
- Less moving demand: Like the weather, the demand for moving companies starts to cool off in the fall.
- Optimal road conditions: Minimal icy roads and less traffic for vacations means the road will be welcoming whether you’re moving locally or across a long distance.
- School schedules: School starts in the fall. It’s best to avoid moving in the fall if you have school-aged children to avoid disrupting their schedules or transferring them to a new school mid-year.
- Shorter days: The fall ushers in an end to those long summer nights. Shorter days mean less natural light for your move. Movers may have to work in the dark, increasing the chances of an accident.
Winter moves
Moving during the winter months completely circumvents peak moving season. If you can, try to secure a moving date during this time for the best pricing and crews. Moving during the winter months can be a breeze for professional movers, but more challenging for DIYers, so keep the pros and cons below in mind.
Pros and cons of moving in the winter
- Better pricing: Winter is off-season in the moving industry. Fewer people move in the winter, so moving companies tend to have 20%–30% lower rates.
- Veteran crews: Moving companies only keep their best employees around during the slow winter months. Moving crews in the winter will be more experienced and less likely to cause delays or damage to your items.
- Fewer delays/cancellations: Because it’s slower in the winter, moving companies overbook less, have more slack in their schedules, and are less likely to delay or cancel your move. Experienced moving crews are also less likely to delay and cancel unexpectedly.
- Better real estate deals: Similar to the moving industry, winter is the slow season for real estate. This means that fewer people are buying houses. If you are buying a house for your move, you could buy a home at a lower price in the winter.
- Ice and snow: Freezing roads should be a real concern for your winter move. Icy roads can cause delays in your move, depending on the severity of the situation. Besides affecting road conditions, harsh weather conditions could slow down your movers and make your experience less than optimal.
- School: School-aged children would be in the middle of their school year. This makes a transition more difficult for some children. They must adapt to a new house, surroundings, and school. Children may feel out of place entering a school that has already been in session for a few months.
- Holidays: Holidays are notoriously expensive and stressful. Moving during the holiday season adds extra expenses and to do list items to an already hectic time of year. Not to mention, this might affect traditions. If you do move during the holidays, be sure to plan to avoid any inconveniences.
The best time to move by month
You’ll pay much lower rates if you move between October and March, when most moving companies operate well below capacity.
However, if you’re locked into moving during the peak season, you may still be able to take advantage of non-peak discounts if you book your move months ahead of time.
For example, if you have to move at the end of June, consider booking your move as early as March or April.
The best time to move by day
Besides the month’s time, the day of the week is essential to consider when moving.
Here’s how annual moves actually break down by day of the week:
- Sunday: 8%
- Monday: 16%
- Tuesday: 11%
- Wednesday: 13%
- Thursday: 14%
- Friday: 20%
- Saturday: 18%
The best day of the week to move is Tuesday because it’s the slowest day of the week for moving companies. Wednesday and Thursday are also good times to move so aim to plan your move mid-week.
Most people have to move during the weekend to avoid missing school or work, so prices are higher. If you cannot avoid planning your move date on a Friday or Saturday, make sure to book your move in advance to access the best prices.
The time of day to move
The time of day you decide to move can have a big impact on how smooth your moving experience is.
Morning moves
Early morning is the best time of day to move, especially if it is a long-distance move.
Crews of long-distance moving companies will be less tired and fresher in the morning than after moving two other houses that day. Remember, movers are people, too, who can make mistakes — and the likelihood of those mistakes increases with exhaustion. The best way to minimize the possibility of mistakes is by booking them early in the morning.
It’s a reality of the moving industry that movers can cancel. Be the first move of the day to avoid delays or cancellations.
If you are moving locally, movers get paid by the hour. Movers are more likely to work quickly in the morning before they’re tired. By booking early in the morning, you can potentially save yourself money.
It’s the little decisions you make when you’re moving that can end up saving you a lot of money. Booking in the early morning is one of those things. Also, if you get to move early, you can spend the rest of the day unpacking your new home.
Afternoon moves
Moving companies tend to provide a general time range for when they’ll show up on your moving date. The benefits of moving in the middle of the day include having a crew that’s already warmed up for the day and slightly lower prices because moving companies can often squeeze in a small move before yours.
If you’ve specifically requested to have your move mid-day, you can be at risk for delays and rescheduling if earlier moves run long, crews get stuck in traffic, or other plans change.
Afternoon moves also present the challenge of fighting daylight. It can be more difficult to load or unload if one or both parts of your move run into the evening hours. This difficulty is in part due to the decreased visibility in the moving truck and on the path to the house.
Evening moves
Evening moves also present the challenge of managing daylight hours, but they can be difficult in other ways, too. For example, when you move in the evening, you may run into rush hour traffic, which can add time to your reservation and increase your costs.
Similarly, professional moving companies may have less people available to service your move, which can mean it takes longer to complete your moving services and also increase your costs —especially if you’re moving locally.
That said, evening moves can be particularly attractive in the summer months when the temperature is cooler. You may also find that you’re able to secure lower rates at this time because demand is typically less than at other times of day
No matter when you decide to move, the earlier you book your moving company, the better. Check out our moving cost calculator for an instant moving estimate.
DIY moves vs. pro movers
DIY moves and professional moves are very different, so the best time to move can also be very different.
The best time for DIY moves
If you want complete autonomy over the moving process or you have a tight budget, plan your DIY move for a morning in early spring or late fall. Moving during this time not only avoids peak moving season, but it avoids the more extreme weather of the winter and summer months.
Moving early in the day can be advantageous because you’ll have more energy and time in the day to get through your to-do list. We generally recommend you avoid moving at the beginning or end of the month because many renters are moving into their new apartments at this time. Opt for a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday around mid-month to take advantage of lower rates and less moving traffic.
We recommend U-Pack — one of our top picks for best moving container companies —if you go with a portable storage container for a long-distance move. U-Haul offers one of the best rental trucks if you’d rather drive yourself.
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The best time for pro moves
The best time of year for a professional move coincides closely with the best time for a DIY move, but for different reasons. It’s best to reserve professional movers between late September and mid April to avoid times of year where increased demand can drive prices up and make it challenging to book on your preferred moving date.
It can also be good to request a free quote during the winter months because professional movers may have the resources to handle icy roads better than you would on your own.
Like DIY moves, we’d suggest trying to move mid-week in the middle of the month if your schedule allows.
Check in with American Van Lines for local moves and Safeway Moving for long-distance moves — they’re two of our favorites.
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What to consider when planning a move
Relocating has a lot of moving parts, so it’s important you take time to thoughtfully consider the following:
- Parking at your new home or new apartment: Busy urban centers or small apartment complexes where parking may be challenging can add to your moving expenses.
- Other obstacles: Flights of stairs or hardwood floors can increase the labor demands for your move, so it’s important to be upfront about any potential obstacles at your new or current home.
- Time constraints for a long-distance move: If you’re on a tight schedule for a long-distance move, you’ll need to consider how long it’ll take your belongings to get to you if you’re working with a professional moving company. If you’re driving a moving truck yourself, you’ll need to think about how long it’ll take you to reach your new home and plan accordingly.
- Work and school schedules: Consider how much time you, your partner, or your kids might have to take off work to accommodate your moving date. Many Americans end up moving during the summer months to avoid disrupting their children’s school schedules.
- Pets: Securing safe pet care and secure transport is often an afterthought in the moving process, but it’s worth some pre-planning because pets can be extra sensitive to the heat and cold in extreme weather. They also have routines, feeding schedules, and flight risk concerns that can complicate your move if you’re not careful.
- Weather conditions: When you’re planning your move date, factor in the likelihood of extreme weather. This consideration is doubly important if you’re intending to do some or all of the move by yourself.
- Labor help: If you need packing, loading, or unloading support, consider how much of a task this is and who might be in the best position to help. If you have friends or family willing to help, you might be able to do it without hiring professional movers or packers. Otherwise, think about how long it might take for laborers to help you and set your budget accordingly.
FAQs about the best time to move
What month is cheapest to move?
There isn’t one month in the year that’s cheapest to move. Instead, plan your move for the off-season, which occurs from late September to mid-April.
What season is the most cost-effective for moving?
The late fall, winter, and early spring are the most cost-effective for moving. The late spring and summer months are peak moving season, which creates high demand and cost for moving services.
What is the best time to move into an apartment?
December through February is the best time to move into an apartment because leases tend to be cheaper due to reduced demand. Scheduling your moving date mid-month or during the school year can also help you schedule professional movers or secure lower rates than other times of the year.
Should I move during the week or on the weekend?
You should move during the week if you can swing it. Moving during the week means there’s less demand for moving trucks and professional movers, while the weekends are among the busiest times to move. You can save more money by trying to move at the middle of the month or mid-week, as most Americans are tied up with work and renters are usually bound to their leases until the end of the month.
How do I determine the best time to plan a move for favorable weather conditions?
Professional moving companies will have the tools necessary to navigate weather conditions at any time of year. However if you’re planning on a DIY move, plan for the early spring or late fall to avoid cold weather and icy roads.
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