What Is the Cheapest Time of Year to Move, and How Much Does Timing Actually Save?

Unlike nearly anything else you are likely to purchase, a relocation service of the same standard can have wildly differing prices based on little beyond the date booked. Other elements such as crew size, distance travelled, and quantity of goods moved should be equal, but the availability of the preferred date will create enormous variation between providers. This is a situation where most households will be unaware of the value of flexibility, having fixed on a date for other reasons first before getting multiple quotes.

It is worth investigating what the flexibility might deliver in terms of real cash savings, however, as providers will always be willing to exploit known demand and scarcity. Anyone requesting estimates from Clean and Careful Moving or any other company will find the same job priced differently across the calendar, and the pattern behind that is consistent enough to plan around.

The Season Has the Biggest Impact

The majority of US relocations occur in the late spring and summer period, with peak demand seen between the two school terms. During this period, crews are booked months in advance, with prices at their highest. The remainder of the year, from around October to April, is far quieter, and represents the window where the biggest potential savings can be made.

The End of Month Is the Most Expensive

Many tenancy agreements end on the last day of the month, causing massive demand to cluster into the final week and the first few days of the new one. The middle of the month is far less busy in comparison, and providers who might have been unavailable at the end are now willing to offer much lower prices. If a move can be scheduled to avoid the end of month rush, even if it overlaps slightly in either direction, this is almost always cheaper.

Weekdays Are Cheaper Than Weekends

Saturday is by far the most popular day to move in America, with Sunday not far behind. The demand for weekends drives up prices across the board compared to the weekdays, which have a glut in availability. A midweek date, preferably on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, is almost always cheaper, with the weekend surcharge being far greater than the cost of taking a day off work.

The Cheapest Possible Booking Has Predictable Traits

The most inexpensive relocations are on a midweek day in the middle of the month, from around October to April. The last Saturday in July, by contrast, is the most expensive time of all and is difficult to book without several months’ notice.

How Much Can Be Saved by Booking Right?

By avoiding the end of the month, weekends, and summer in general, the hourly rate for the crew should be lower, and there is also less of a likelihood to be charged a peak surcharge on top of the standard rate. Rather than asking about theoretical national averages, it is much more useful to ask one provider to compare a quiet weekday against a busy weekend directly, in order to see what the value difference really is.

Why Off-Peak Booking Is Better Than You Think

Apart from the explicit costs associated with a date, such as the hourly rate and any surcharges, the implicit ones are also relevant. A busy weekend means the crew will be pressed for time, likely also finishing another job immediately beforehand. This can create issues if any unforeseen circumstances arise, whereas midweek moves give far more leeway to resolve them in-house.

How Much Time to Book Ahead Is Reasonable?

The further out a customer books the move, the lower the price should be, but this is far more true for busy seasons like the summer. If the preferred date is a weekend at the end of July, it is entirely reasonable to expect to need a couple of months’ notice to secure it. Far fewer people are moving in mid-February, so a month’s notice should be enough for nearly any date during this period. The real mistake is waiting until the last minute before the most expensive weekend, as this leaves only the providers nobody else booked.

When the Value of Flexibility Is Not Worth It

Many relocations simply cannot be scheduled around preferred dates, and this is entirely reasonable. The end of the school year and the beginning of a new job are both excellent examples of fixed dates that will often cost more precisely because they cannot be adjusted. If there is an opportunity to shift off a weekend, even during the busy period, it is almost certainly worth doing so in order to avoid the additional costs.

Conclusion: Cheapest Moves Are on a Midweek, Off-Peak Date

The cheapest time to move is on a Tuesday to Thursday, somewhere in the middle of the month and outside of the busy peak season. The most expensive is the last few days of a summer month, the end of a school term, or any weekend. If the date is set in stone, it is worth booking further out and avoiding the end of month rush, whereas with a truly flexible request, one provider should be asked to give two quotes that compare a cheap weekday against the desired, more expensive date.