Moving day can be affordable and low-stress, but timing is everything
Spring and fall moves are easier to schedule and more affordable.
The top months to move are April, September, and March.
Weekend moves are the most convenient, but expect to pay more.
We know moving is a big deal. Whether you’re flying the nest and getting the keys to your first place or moving your family into your perfect, forever home, there are a million and one things to consider before, during, and after moving day. One way you can streamline the process—and save yourself both money and stress—is to consider the best time to move. Our guide will help you pick the best month and even time of day to schedule your move.
If you’re able to plan your move well in advance and can be flexible with timing, you’ll find there are advantages to scheduling a move during certain times of the year.
Spring: This is the best season to schedule a move. The weather is often mild, and moving fees for different types of movers tend to be lower than peak season. Plus, spring is usually an excellent time to sell your previous home quickly. If you’re in school or you’re a parent of school-age kids, you can schedule your move during spring break (move-cation, anyone?). The only downside to a spring move is that moving while dealing with seasonal allergies can be uncomfortable.
Fall: This is the second best season for planning a move. The weather tends to be relatively mild, things have quieted down since summer, and if you plan to hire a moving company near you, you’ll notice that prices have started to come down. Barring any early winter weather, it’s a great time to move. However, those with school-age children may find a fall move difficult with a new school year starting.
Summer: Summer has some attractive moving-time benefits. School isn’t an issue, and it’s often easy to ask for time off from work. And if you’ll be renting, summer is when many leases end and availability tends to be higher. But summer is an extremely popular time for moves, which makes scheduling difficult and prices higher.
Winter: A wintertime move has some advantages, most notably lower prices—both for moving services and houses/apartments. But the weather can be difficult, daylight hours are short, and there are a plethora of holiday events happening at the same time. For these reasons, winter scores last on our list.
Let’s narrow things down further and talk about the best months to move. No matter which month you choose, try to schedule your move during the first half of the month; the end of the month tends to be more popular and more expensive.
April: The weather has warmed up, schedules are clear, and costs to hire movers are reasonable in April. It’s also a popular month for home purchases.
September: Depending on when school starts, an early September move can be ideal. Prices and schedules will have quieted down from summer highs, and the weather will be more pleasant.
March: March may be cooler and rainier than other spring months, but it’s still a reasonable time to plan a move. Plus, many schools have their spring breaks in March.
May: The weather is mild, school is drawing to a close, and you even have a three-day weekend to work with. However, around this time moving starts becoming very popular, so you can expect to see costs rise quickly.
October: Putting off a move until October can be a great way to save on expenses, but the weather starts to get more unpredictable.
When you’ve got a week chosen, what are the best days to move? This question depends on your circumstances, but there are two general schools of thought:
For convenience, start on Friday. Begin a move on a Friday, and you’ll have the entire weekend to get everything done. You may even be able to start setting up your new place before returning to your normal routine on Monday. Just be prepared that movers—and highways—are going to be a lot busier on a weekend.
For lower stress, move mid-week. Roads are clearer, schedules have more room, and prices may even be lower from Monday through Thursday. But a midweek move requires you to have the flexibility to take time off from work or school.
Schedule your move as early as possible, and get ready to go first thing in the morning. This gives you the entire day to deal with any unexpected challenges—and there are almost always a few surprises on moving day. Plus, if you’re the first job on your moving company’s schedule, you won’t have to deal with them running late because they’re finishing up a previous job.
