When Is the Cheapest Time to Move?

December through February, on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, booked at least 3 weeks ahead. These three factors combined can save 20-30% compared to a peak summer weekend move.

Updated 2026-06-21

Month-by-Month Cost Impact

Percentage above or below the annual average moving cost. December is the cheapest. August is the most expensive.

Month	Cost vs Average	Season
January	-15%	Off-peak
February	-15%	Off-peak
March	-5%	Warming up
April	Baseline	Baseline
May	+5%	Rising
June	+10%	Peak begins
July	+15%	Peak
August	+20%	Most expensive
September	+5%	Cooling off
October	Baseline	Baseline
November	-10%	Off-peak
December	-20%	Cheapest

Day-of-Week Impact

Saturday is the most expensive day. Tuesday through Thursday is the cheapest window. The spread is 10-15%.

Day	Cost vs Average	Notes
Monday	-5%	Low demand
Tuesday	-10%	Cheapest
Wednesday	-10%	Cheapest
Thursday	-10%	Cheapest
Friday	Baseline	Average
Saturday	+15%	Most expensive
Sunday	+5%	Moderate demand

How Far Ahead Should You Book?

Last-minute bookings carry a rush premium. Planning ahead eliminates this surcharge entirely.

Booking Window	Price Impact
Same-day	+15-20%
Within 1 week	+10%
2-3 weeks ahead	Baseline
4+ weeks ahead	-5% (possible discount)

End-of-Month vs Mid-Month

Most leases start on the 1st, so the last 3 days and first 3 days of each month see a demand spike. Mid-month (roughly the 8th through the 23rd) is consistently the cheapest window.

Last 3 days of month

+10-15%

Lease move-outs. Highest demand window of any month.

First 3 days of month

+10%

New lease move-ins. Still elevated demand.

Mid-month (8th - 23rd)

Cheapest

Low demand. Movers actively discount to fill schedules.

The Cheapest Possible Move vs the Most Expensive

A Tuesday in January, booked 3 weeks ahead, mid-month. That is the single cheapest timing combination. Here is how it compares to the worst case.

Factor	Cheapest Timing	Most Expensive Timing
Month	January (-15%)	August (+20%)
Day of week	Tuesday (-10%)	Saturday (+15%)
Time of month	Mid-month (no surcharge)	End-of-month (+10%)
Booking window	3 weeks ahead (no surcharge)	Same-day (+20%)

For a move that would normally cost $2,000 at baseline pricing:

Cheapest timing

~$1,500

Jan Tuesday, mid-month, 3 weeks notice

Most expensive timing

~$3,300

Aug Saturday, end-of-month, same-day booking

That is a $1,800 difference for the exact same move. Same home size, same distance, same movers. Only the timing changed.

Saving Money When You Can't Control Timing

Not everyone can move in January on a Tuesday. If your move date is locked into peak season, here is how to cut costs anyway.

1.Pack everything yourself. Full-service packing adds 20-30% to the total cost. Buy boxes from Home Depot or U-Haul and do it over a weekend.
2.Declutter before the move. Fewer items means less cubic footage. Less cubic footage means a lower price. Sell, donate, or toss anything you haven't used in a year.
3.Be flexible on the exact date within the week. Even shifting from Saturday to Friday can save 10%. Ask your mover which day in your target week is cheapest.
4.Compare at least 3 quotes. Prices vary 30-50% between companies for the same move. Use Trunk to compare verified movers side by side in seconds.
5.Book as early as possible. Even in peak season, booking 3+ weeks out avoids the rush premium. Last-minute summer moves are the single most expensive scenario.
6.Move mid-month if your lease allows. Some landlords let you start a lease on the 15th. This alone can save 10% by avoiding the end-of-month rush.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest month to move?+

December is typically the cheapest month to move, followed closely by January and February. Moving demand drops sharply in winter, and movers lower prices to fill their schedules. You can save 15-20% compared to an average month.

Is it cheaper to move on a weekday?+

Yes. Tuesday through Thursday are the cheapest days to move. Saturday is the most expensive day, costing 10-15% more than a midweek move. Movers have lower demand on weekdays and often offer discounted rates to keep crews busy.

How far ahead should I book movers?+

Book at least 3 weeks ahead for the best rates. Same-day bookings carry a 15-20% rush premium. Booking 4+ weeks ahead can sometimes unlock early-bird discounts, especially during peak season.

Why is summer moving more expensive?+

Summer is peak moving season because families want to relocate between school years, college students move for fall semesters, and lease cycles cluster around June through August. High demand means movers can charge 10-20% more and still stay fully booked.

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