When Is the Best Time To Move?

If you’re moving, it’s likely that one of the very first things you need to decide is when you’ll be making the trip. You probably already have an idea in mind about when you’d like to move, but is there a date that’s actually the best option?

We’ve determined that the best time to move is when moving companies are the least busy and you can have the lowest-stress move possible. This also coincides with the cheapest time of the year to move.

The answer: The best and cheapest time to move is during the off-seasons of spring and fall, mid-month, in the middle of the week, and during the morning hours.

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at what makes that the optimal time to move.

In this article:

• What Determines When the Best Time To Move Is?
  • Season
  • Part of the Month
  • Time of Week
  • Time of Day
• When is the Cheapest Time to Move?
• FAQs

What Determines When the Best Time To Move Is, Anyway?

There are a lot of factors at play, for sure! And what’s best for one person might be troublesome for somebody else. For example, you may have no choice but to schedule a move during a certain window, thanks to a conflict with your job, school, or childcare.

However, what typically constitutes a good time to move includes if a move will be cheaper, there’s less demand, the weather is mild, and there are enough homes on the market to rent or buy without trouble. 

Whether you can be flexible about your moving schedule or not, here’s the breakdown about when and why the best time of the move is…well, the best.

The best season to move: spring and fall

As mentioned earlier, choosing the right time of year to move is about balancing decent weather, free time, and cost. The “offseason” is the best time of the year to move, meaning the spring months of March, April, and May or the fall months of September, October, and November. And here’s more on what makes each season a good (or bad) choice to pick for your moving date:

• Spring: In most parts of the country, the weather is fairly mild during the spring. There may still be rain, but you probably don’t have to worry about getting rid of snow and ice before the moving truck arrives. It’s also just before the busiest moving season, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble with scheduling or cost. 
• Summer: Not surprisingly, many people choose to move in the summer. There’s less chance of bad weather, and if you have kids, you don’t have to worry about planning your move around school hours. In fact, about 60% of annual relocations occur between May and August. Unfortunately, moving companies know this and often charge a premium during the summer months. You’ll also want to consider how hot it gets where you’re traveling — if you’re transporting heat-sensitive items such as art supplies or plants, it’s really not the ideal time to move.
• Fall: As the days begin to cool, so does the demand for moving services. You’ll likely find better deals around this time, as well as generally mild weather. However, if you or your kids are in school, it may be tough to schedule around back-to-school season.
• Winter: This is probably the cheapest time of year for moving — and with good reason. Unless you’re lucky enough to live in a city where it’s sunshine almost year-round, like Los Angeles or Miami, you’ll be faced with freezing temps and snowy conditions. On the plus side, it’s a slow time for real estate, so you might find some home prices that are real steals.

The best part of the month to move: mid-month

About a third of the country rents their homes, and the typical renter moves every two to three years. That’s a lot of moving around! And thanks to most leases beginning early on in the month, the first and last weeks are super busy for moving companies. 

Depending on the terms of your lease, you might not have any flexibility about scheduling your move. But if you do have some wiggle room, aiming for the middle of the month is best. Movers will have more availability, and you’ll probably pay less of a premium for their services. That also means you’ll want to reverse-engineer your moving checklist appropriately, since prepping should begin six weeks before the move date.

Best day to move: weekdays

As you might guess, the most popular part of the week to move is the weekend. People often have time off from work, and so does any friends or family helping them out with the move.

 

“…about 60% of annual relocations occur between May and August. Unfortunately, moving companies know this and often charge a premium during the summer months.”

 

Of course, not only are popular times more expensive, but the slots for mover availability fill up fast on the weekends too, meaning you might not be able to find local movers who are available on the particular weekend you want. Worst-case scenario, you may need to rearrange your move date. 

So if you have the option, choosing a moving day of Monday through Thursday is much better. The earlier in the week, the better.

Best time of day to move: morning

When it comes to the actual move day, earlier is better for a number of reasons.

First, your movers are more likely to show up on time. They won’t have any jobs to complete before yours, so there’s less chance of a delay. If you wait until the afternoon, you’re reliant on the first move of the day going smoothly and efficiently to keep everything on schedule. 

If you’re moving during a warmer season, starting the move early also means you and your movers don’t have to haul boxes when the sun is at its hottest. Plus a morning move means you’re into your new place that much sooner, giving you ample time to unpack and get settled. Look to get started around 8 am to 10 am — it’s an early start, but definitely worth it in the end. 

When is the cheapest time to move?

Following the guidelines above will help you find the easiest time to move, which also coincides with the slower seasons for moving companies. As a result, you are likely to get the cheapest moving deals during fall and spring when moving companies aren’t inundated with homebuying season customers.

FAQs

What determines the best time to buy or rent?

The best time to buy a house or start a lease on an apartment is not necessarily also the best time of year to move. 

The height of the homebuying season tends to take place in late summer and early fall, so the best home prices can be found closer to the end of the year. 

Meanwhile, rental prices tend to hit their lowest points around December through March. 

What is the best time to move into an apartment?

When apartment hunting, you can save money by signing a lease during non-peak times. Rentals are more popular in the summer months when parents don’t have to worry about interrupting their kids’ school schedules, and when college students are looking to secure housing before the next semester starts up in the fall. 

The longer an apartment sits on the market, the more likely it is that the owner will drop the rent to attract a tenant. So looking for an apartment after the seasonal rush — around December through March — will allow you to find better deals. The tradeoff is that there will be fewer units overall, so you may not find exactly what you’re looking for.

What is the best time to move into a home?

Prospective home buyers typically do their shopping in the summer months, when kids might have time off school and it’s easier to plan. So the best time to buy a house is typically after peak homebuying season, which is late summer or early fall. Buying a home during this off-season means you can still find plenty of homes on the market, deal with less competition, and find better prices.

And while you may be thinking this means waiting until the winter will give you more negotiating power, there will be fewer homes on the market then.