When is the cheapest time to move?

When you’re moving on a tight budget, it’s only natural that you will be looking for good ways to reduce the moving cost. And while there are proven tactics that can help you save some money on your move (see here), one such effective cost-saving strategy to pay less when moving house is to choose the cheapest time to move out.

Interestingly enough, the moving date can affect the final moving bill more than you think. For example, there are specific seasons of the year, months, time of the month, days of the week, and even times of the day when professional moving services are cheaper than the standard movers’ rates. Therefore, understanding these professional “secrets” will enable you to pay less money for the same high-quality moving services.

So, when is the cheapest time to move house? Read on to find out.

SEASON of the year

According to statistical data, approximately 46 million Americans move every year, and roughly 62% of all those residential moves takes place during the high moving season (from May to September). The reasons are clear: the weather is fine (except maybe for the sweltering summer heat), children are out of school for the summer break and most families with children can move without any disruption of the school year. Summer is also the time when most people take days off work to go to vacation… or to move to a new home.

And because summer is the busiest time for moving, the demand for moving companies is much higher and as a result, that May-September period is the most expensive time of the year to move.

So, if possible at all, avoid moving during the high-moving season. If you wish to save money when moving, then move during late fall, winter, or early spring – that is, anytime between the end of September and the end of April.

As a rule of thumb, winter is the cheapest time of the year to move because the demand for professional moving services is at its lowest. Most moving companies have flexible schedules and can accommodate your move date with ease during the off-season period simply because they are not as busy. But more importantly, they will be willing to significantly lower their rates in the winter due to the scarcity of work for them.

See also: How to move in the winter

MONTH of the year

As mentioned above, the months starting from September and ending with April are part of the off-season for the moving industry, so you’re most likely to save good money when moving during that window simply because the demand for movers will be low and the moving rates will be lower.

Statistically, January will be the cheapest month to move house and that does sound promising for people moving on a limited budged, like yourself. However, January is usually the coldest month too, so you may as well be prepared for adverse weather such as snow, ice, and possible snow storms too.

Of course, winter is not that bad in the entire country, and most southern states never get too cold in winter anyway. So, in a way, the best time of year to move house will largely depend on where exactly you live in the country.

Read also: How to negotiate with moving companies

TIME of the month (WEEK)

What time of month should you move when you’re looking for a good deal from professional movers? The answer is hardly surprising: aim for a mid-month move to get the best prices for your move.

The reason for that is quite logical – the beginnings and ends of months are the periods when the leases of most people start and end, so the best moving companies in the country should be quite busy then and won’t be in the mood to lower their rates for you.

And that is why you will have a much better chance of scoring a good deal if you choose to move roughly in the middle of the month, like during the second or third week of a month, when the demand for moving services is lower, so the movers’ rates tend to be lower as well.

Good to know: How to move long distance on a budget

DAY of the week

You may have guessed by now that cheapest days of the week to move house are, once more, closely connected with the demand for professional moving services. Again, the less demand there is for movers, the cheaper their rates will be.

Therefore, the best days of the week to move in terms of price are Monday through Thursday.

The main reason for that is that the majority of people plan their respective house move for the weekend when they are off work. Fridays are super-busy for home movers as well since they try to add the last workday to the weekend to make it a 3-day stretch of house moving activities.  

When you’re planning your move, make an effort to stick to a weekday when determining your exact move date. As mentioned above, moving between Monday and Thursday is your best chance to avoid the higher demand for professional moving companies and thus get a better price for your relocation.

Good advice: How to get discounts when moving

TIME of day

Without a doubt, the best time to start your move is early in the morning, usually between 8 am and 10 am. Getting an early start will give you more time throughout the day to get more things done. As a bonus, mornings are cooler in the summer months if you had no choice but to move during the high moving season.

Of course, most people also choose to start their moves early, so you’re not likely to get a better deal from professional movers with an early start of your relocation. If that’s an option at all, you may wish to book an evening more which should be more cost-effective than a morning one because of the low demand. As a bonus, there is no rush hour during an evening move either.

The best thing about it all is that you may get a good deal from a good mover right from the start so you won’t need to worry about scheduling your move day in a way to try to save money. Get a free quote from affordable movers near you and compare their cost estimates to see for yourself.