When Is the Best Time To Move? And the Times To Avoid
Here’s the quick answer: The best time to move is between October and April, ideally on a weekday in the middle of the month. May through September is peak moving season, and according to moveBuddha’s moving industry statistics, 41% of annual U.S. moves happen between May and August. Moving off-season usually means lower rates, more open dates, and less competition for crews and trucks.
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Jump to the moving date info you’re looking for:
- Best & worst times to move
- How to choose your moving date
- Best time to move by season
- Cheapest time to move
- Best days of the week & month
- Holidays to plan around
- When your date isn’t up to you
- How far ahead to book
- DIY vs. professional movers
- Timing for families, students & renters
- What real movers told us
- FAQ
What are the best and worst times to move?
The best times to move are fall, winter, and early spring, on a weekday in the middle of the month. The worst times are summer weekends and the first and last days of any month, when demand for movers, trucks, and containers peaks. Here’s how the year breaks down:
| Time period | Cost | Demand | Weather | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January – February (winter, off-peak) | Lowest | Very low | Cold, snow and ice risk | Budget movers, flexible schedules | Weather delays, short days |
| March – April (spring) | Low to moderate | Low to moderate | Mild, possible rain | Home sellers, families before school ends | Allergies, unpredictable rain |
| May – September (summer, peak) | Highest | Very high | Hot, longer days | Families, students | Higher prices, limited availability |
| October – December (fall and early winter) | Low | Low | Mild to cold, more rain | Renters, flexible movers | Holidays, earlier sunsets |
| Mid-month, midweek | Lowest | Lowest | Varies | Anyone looking to save | May require time off work or school |
Avoiding peak season matters for three reasons:
- Lower cost: Movers have less demand to fill in the off-season, so rates tend to drop and there’s more room to negotiate.
- Better availability: You’ll find more open dates and more choice of crews, trucks, and containers.
- Less stress: Fewer scheduling conflicts and fewer last-minute changes from overbooked companies.
Want to see how your date changes your price? Compare quotes for your move date.
How do you choose the best moving date?
The best moving date is the one that balances cost, weather, and your own deadlines. The calendar sets the price, but your job, lease, closing date, and family schedule usually set the window. Work through these factors in order:
- Your hard deadlines: Start with the dates you can’t move, like a lease end, a home closing, or a first day at a new job. Everything else fits inside that window.
- Your budget: If cost matters most, look for a date between October and April, midweek, and away from the 1st and the 30th or 31st.
- Weather at both ends: A January move from Miami to Minneapolis carries more risk than one between two Sun Belt cities. Check typical conditions at your origin and destination.
- Work and school: Families with school-age kids often trade higher summer prices for an easier school transition. Workers may need to take a weekday off to get a cheaper midweek date.
- Housing market: More homes and apartments hit the market in spring and summer, so buyers and renters get more choice then, along with more competition.
- Distance: Long-distance moves carry wider delivery windows, so leave a cushion between your move-out and the date you need your things.
Once you have two or three candidate dates, get quotes for each. One date can come in noticeably cheaper than another a week away.
What’s the best time to move by season?
Fall and winter are the best seasons to move on a budget, and summer is the most convenient but the most expensive. Each season has trade-offs:
Spring
- Mild weather and rising home inventory
- Lower demand than summer, so rates are still reasonable
- Unpredictable rain, allergy season, and school conflicts
Summer
- Most convenient for families, since school is out
- Longer daylight and a busy home-sales market
- High costs, less availability, and a higher risk of delays
If summer is your only option, see our guide to peak moving season for the busiest dates and how to book, plus our summer moving tips for protecting your belongings in the heat.
Fall
- A good balance of lower prices and cooler temperatures
- Easier scheduling once peak season winds down
- School is already in session, and days get shorter
Winter
- Lowest demand of the year
- Flexible scheduling and more open dates
- Weather hazards, shorter daylight, and holiday conflicts
Read our guide to moving in winter for tips on handling snow, ice, and cold-weather packing.
When is the cheapest time of year to move?
January and February are usually the cheapest months to move, because they fall in the slowest part of the year for movers. The fall months, after peak season ends, are the next-best option. Summer is the most expensive, since 41% of annual U.S. moves happen between May and August and movers price for that demand.
Real moves bear this out. Better Moves Project participant Bethany moved from Oakland, California, to Arlington, Virginia, with PODS in May 2022. When we asked how her final price compared with what she expected, she told us: “It was more expensive, since the quote had been much less when I had explored moving in the winter.” Read Bethany’s story.
Ross, who moved from Norristown, Pennsylvania, to Cordova, Tennessee, in July 2022, said his cost came in “a little more, but understandable given the time of year and gas prices.” Read Ross’s story.
How much you save depends on your distance, home size, and services. The fastest way to see the difference for your move is to price the same move on a summer date and an off-season date.
41% of annual U.S. moves happen between May and August, so an off-season date means less competition for crews, trucks, and dates.
Learn MoreWhat are the best days of the week and month to move?
Midweek dates in the middle of the month are usually the easiest to book and the least expensive. The first and last days of the month are the busiest because so many leases and closings line up on them. According to moveBuddha’s moving industry statistics, June 1 and June 30 are the busiest moving dates of the year, with September 1 and September 30 close behind.
Here’s the share of moves scheduled on each day of the week, from moveBuddha’s moving industry statistics:
| Day of the week | Share of moves |
|---|---|
| Monday | 19% |
| Tuesday | 12% |
| Wednesday | 16% |
| Thursday | 13% |
| Friday | 17% |
| Saturday | 15% |
| Sunday | 8% |
Mondays and Fridays are the most common moving days because they stretch a weekend move. Tuesdays and Thursdays see fewer moves, which can mean more open slots and more room to negotiate.
- Mid-month: Aim for dates between the 10th and 20th, away from lease turnovers.
- Midweek: Tuesday through Thursday dates are usually easier to book than Fridays and Mondays.
- Mornings: Start early to beat traffic and use the daylight. A crew on its first job of the day is fresher than one finishing its third move, which matters even more with long-distance moving companies loading a full house.
Which holidays should you avoid when moving?
Avoid major holiday weekends if you can, especially the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the stretch from Thanksgiving through New Year’s. Movers book up around them, crews take time off, and your own family plans compete with the move.
Better Moves Project participants felt this firsthand:
- Fourth of July: Kallie moved from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Houston, Texas, in late June 2022. “The move was a bit more challenging than I expected. I think the 4th of July holiday impacted it.” Read Kallie’s story.
- Christmas: Adam moved from Austin, Texas, to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in December 2022. “I wish the moving company had more flexibility with moving dates, so that I could’ve avoided the need to put my items in storage. But it was the holidays and with relatively short notice.” Read Adam’s story.
- Holiday season: Joey, who moved from Syracuse, New York, to Fresh Meadows, New York, in January 2026, said finding a mover took about a week. “It was especially tough since it was the holiday season and I was traveling to see family.” Read Joey’s story.
Winter holidays don’t just affect movers. Lyle, who moved from Clearwater, Florida, to Raleigh, North Carolina, in December 2022, told us: “I wish the timing of my move was a bit better but my family had an event during the weekend right after the move which added an additional layer of stress on an already stressful undertaking.” Read Lyle’s story.
What if your moving date isn’t up to you?
If a lease, closing, or job start sets your date, focus on what you can still control: booking early, getting firm quotes, and planning for delays. Many people only find out their date a few weeks ahead. Isabel, who moved from San Francisco to New York City in March 2022, booked her movers “3 weeks in advance because I have to find an apartment first.” Looking back, she said, “I would have booked the movers earlier in advance but that was my own fault.” Read Isabel’s story.
- Start getting quotes before your date is final: Quotes for a likely window give you a price range and a short list of movers, so you can book fast once the date is set.
- Ask about storage up front: Closings slip, and lease dates don’t always line up.
- Check building and city rules: Elevator reservations, loading dock times, and parking permits can limit which days and hours you can move.
- Pick the best day inside your window: Even a fixed week usually has a cheaper midweek option.
Expert tip: moveBuddha founder Ryan Carrigan says unexpected storage is one of the hardest costs to plan for, such as when your closing is delayed but you have to be out of your old home. Before you book, ask whether the mover offers storage, locally or long distance, and get it quoted, even if you don’t expect to need it. See the legitimate ways movers can increase your final cost.
Permits take time too. Alex, who moved from Minneapolis to Seattle with PODS in August 2023, advised other movers to “be sure to research and secure any necessary permits well in advance as the application processes can take multiple days.” Read Alex’s story.
How far ahead should you book movers?
Book long-distance movers eight to 12 weeks ahead in peak season and four to eight weeks ahead off-season. Local moves need less lead time. Here’s moveBuddha’s booking guide by move type:
| Move type | Peak season (May – Sept.) | Off-peak (Oct. – April) |
|---|---|---|
| Local | 4 – 8 weeks | 2 – 4 weeks |
| Intrastate | 8 – 12 weeks | 4 – 8 weeks |
| Interstate | 8 – 12 weeks | 4 – 8 weeks |
| International | 12 – 16+ weeks | 8 – 12 weeks |
Getting estimates takes longer than most people expect. Marcie, who moved from Los Angeles to Colorado Springs in November 2022, advised: “If possible, start the estimate process at least 2 months before your move date and get several quotes.” Read Marcie’s story. For more detail, see how early to book movers.
When is the best time for a DIY move vs. professional movers?
DIY moves work best in early spring or late fall, and professional moves are best booked between late September and mid-April. The best timing differs because you’re competing for different things: trucks and containers on a DIY move, and crews on a full-service move.
The best time for DIY moves
If you want full control over the move or you’re on a tight budget, plan your DIY move for a morning in early spring or late fall. You’ll avoid peak season and the more extreme weather of winter and summer.
Avoid the beginning and end of the month, when many renters are moving and rental trucks are in short supply. A Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday around mid-month gives you the best shot at lower rates and less traffic at pickup.
For a long-distance DIY move, a portable container from one of the best moving container companies, like PODS or U-Pack, lets someone else do the driving. If you’d rather drive yourself, U-Haul offers one of the best rental trucks.
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4.8 / 5
The best time for professional movers
Reserve professional movers between late September and mid-April to avoid the months when demand drives prices up and makes it hard to get your preferred date.
Winter can also be a good time to book a pro, because a professional crew is usually better equipped to handle icy roads and cold-weather loading than you are on your own.
As with DIY moves, aim for midweek in the middle of the month if your schedule allows. For long-distance moves, Safeway Moving and American Van Lines are two of our top picks.
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4.9 / 5
- Best overall value
- Veteran owned
- Portion to charity
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4.9 / 5
- Certified crews
- Flat-rate pricing
- Family-owned
When should families, students, and renters move?
Families usually do best in early summer, students should plan around semester breaks, and renters get the most flexibility in late fall and winter.
- Families: Summer avoids school disruptions if you’re moving with kids. Book early and expect higher costs.
- Students: Plan around semester breaks, and book early in college towns, where trucks and movers sell out around move-in and move-out weekends. See our guide to moving into a dorm.
- Renters: Late fall and winter offer better deals on movers. Aim for mid-month if your lease allows it.
- Long-distance vs. local: Plan around weather and wider delivery windows for long-distance moves. Local moves offer more flexibility, but avoiding peak days still saves money.
What do real moves tell us about timing?
Most of the moves in moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project happened in peak season, and many participants told us timing shaped their cost and stress. In the Better Moves Project, real customers documented their moves from quote to delivery in exchange for grants. Of the 121 participants with a recorded move date, 57 moved between May and August, and June was the most common month, with 21 moves. Only 21 moved between December and February.
Their experiences point the same way as the data:
- Off-season quotes came in lower: Bethany found her winter quote “much less” than what she paid in May.
- Holidays made scheduling harder: Kallie, Adam, and Joey all said holiday timing complicated their moves.
- Late booking limited options: Isabel wished she’d booked earlier, and Marcie recommended starting estimates at least two months out.
Can you negotiate moving rates based on your date?
Yes. Flexibility on your date is one of the best bargaining chips you have. If you’re willing to move outside peak times, try asking:
- “Can I get a moving discount for a midweek or off-season move?”
- “Are there any specials if I book in January?”
- “Can I save by being flexible on my pickup date?”
What’s the best way to time your move?
Pick an off-season, midweek, mid-month date if you can, and book early if you can’t. As you finalize your date, keep these in mind:
- January and February are usually the cheapest months to move.
- Midweek and mid-month dates are usually cheapest and easiest to book.
- Avoid the 1st and the last day of the month, and major holiday weekends.
- Book long-distance movers eight to 12 weeks ahead in summer.
- Check building and city rules, like elevator reservations and parking permits.
- Use date flexibility to negotiate.
Want to see how your move date affects your costs? Use our moving cost calculator to compare quotes and plan with confidence.
FAQ
What’s the cheapest month to move?
January and February are usually the cheapest months to move. They’re the slowest part of the year for movers, so you’ll find more open dates and more room to negotiate.
What is the worst time to move?
Summer weekends and the first and last days of the month are the worst times to move. According to moveBuddha’s moving industry statistics, June 1 and June 30 are the busiest moving dates of the year.
How far in advance should I book movers?
Book long-distance movers eight to 12 weeks ahead in peak season and four to eight weeks ahead off-season. For local moves, book four to eight weeks ahead in peak season and two to four weeks ahead off-season.
Is moving on a weekday cheaper?
Usually, yes. Tuesday and Thursday are among the least common moving days, so movers often have more open slots and more flexibility on price than on Mondays and Fridays.
Can I negotiate moving costs?
Yes. Many movers will negotiate, especially if you can move on a date that fits their schedule. Use flexible dates as leverage to ask about discounts or perks.
What is the best time to move into an apartment?
Late fall and winter are usually the best times to move into an apartment, because fewer people are moving and movers have more availability. Aim for a mid-month date, and check your building’s rules for elevator reservations and move-in hours.
How we chose the best moving companies
The moveBuddha team has spent nearly 10 years evaluating moving companies using a rigorous review system to identify the best moving companies. Our thorough methodology evaluates each moving company's services, cost, customer service, and reputation:
Moving services (35%):
We verify operating authority, insurance, and service scope against FMCSA/SAFER and state databases. We confirm availability via standardized mystery-shopping calls (packing tiers, storage type, specialty handling, delivery windows, valuation), and then review contracts alongside complaint and claims patterns over time.
Customer feedback (28%):
We run structured post-move surveys through our Better Moves Project with verifiable documentation. We emphasize on-time performance, care of goods, and estimates’ accuracy, and we investigate outliers before they influence scores.
Online reviews (7%):
We aggregate ratings across multiple third-party sites to reduce platform bias, analyze overall trends and company response behavior, and discount obvious spam/fake signals such as sudden bursts, duplicate language, and low-history profiles.
State availability (12%):
We confirm USDOT numbers, broker vs. carrier status, and any required state permits, then score a state-by-state service matrix that accounts for coverage gaps, seasonal limits, and lane strength. We award additional credit for documented cross-border or specialty lanes.
Additional services (12%):
We verify whether add-ons are performed in-house or subcontracted, look for crew training/certifications for high-value or oversized items, count only documented offerings (tariffs, photos, written service descriptions) confirmed via mystery shopping, and reward robust pre-move planning (virtual surveys, itemized crating).
Quotes/Payment options (6%):
We test standardized move profiles to assess estimate type (binding, not-to-exceed, non-binding), line-item transparency, and disclosed surcharges, require clear written policies for deposits, refunds, and cancellations, and award points for secure, flexible payment methods and customer portals.
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