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Published: January 12, 2026 | Reading time: 8 minutes

Best Time to Move in 2026: Save $1,000+ on Your Relocation

Timing is everything when it comes to moving. Pick the right time and you could save thousands. Pick the wrong time and you'll pay premium prices for everything. Here's when to move in 2026.

When I moved from Austin to Denver, I had flexibility on my move date. Moving companies quoted me $4,200 for July and $2,800 for October. Same distance, same amount of stuff, $1,400 difference. Just by waiting three months.

That's the power of timing your move strategically.

The Quick Answer

🏆 Best Times to Move:

Best months: January, February, October, November
Best days: Mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday)
Best time of month: Mid-month (10th-20th)
Potential savings: 30-50% vs peak times

❌ Worst Times to Move:

Worst months: June, July, August
Worst days: Weekends, especially Saturdays
Worst time of month: Last few days & first few days (lease turnover)
Premium pricing: 30-50% MORE expensive

Month-by-Month Guide for 2026

✅ January - BEST

Cost: Cheapest month of the year

Pros: Rock-bottom rates, movers eager for work, easy to book last-minute, truck rentals readily available

Cons: Cold weather (snow/ice in many areas), fewer daylight hours, holidays early in month

Savings: 35-50% vs summer

✅ February - EXCELLENT

Cost: Second cheapest month

Pros: Very low demand, excellent rates, shortest month (less rent overlap)

Cons: Still cold in many areas, potential for bad weather

Savings: 30-45% vs summer

March - GOOD

Cost: Below average

Pros: Weather improving, still decent rates, spring break flexibility

Cons: Prices starting to creep up, students moving for summer jobs

Savings: 15-25% vs summer

April - OKAY

Cost: Moderate

Pros: Nice weather in most areas, easier moving conditions

Cons: Spring moving season begins, rates increase

Savings: 10-20% vs summer

May - GETTING EXPENSIVE

Cost: Above average

Pros: Great weather, long days

Cons: College students moving, Memorial Day weekend busy, rates climbing

Savings: 5-10% vs peak summer (not much!)

❌ June - EXPENSIVE

Cost: Peak pricing begins

Pros: Weather is great, schools out, long daylight

Cons: Very high demand, book 6-8 weeks ahead, limited availability

Premium: 30-40% MORE than off-season

❌ July - MOST EXPENSIVE

Cost: Highest prices of the year

Pros: Best weather (if you like heat), kids out of school

Cons: Absolute peak demand, movers fully booked, highest rates, truck rentals scarce, HOT

Premium: 40-50% MORE than off-season

❌ August - VERY EXPENSIVE

Cost: Second highest prices

Pros: Weather still good, schools haven't started yet

Cons: Still peak season, college students moving back, rates still very high

Premium: 35-45% MORE than off-season

September - DROPPING

Cost: Moderate (improving)

Pros: Weather still nice, rates dropping, Labor Day deals possible

Cons: Schools just started (if you have kids), early fall allergies

Savings: 15-25% vs summer

✅ October - EXCELLENT

Cost: Very affordable

Pros: Beautiful fall weather, low demand, great rates, easier to book

Cons: Days getting shorter, some areas see early cold

Savings: 30-40% vs summer

✅ November - GREAT

Cost: Very low

Pros: Excellent rates, low demand, movers flexible on scheduling

Cons: Thanksgiving week busy, weather getting cold, shorter days

Savings: 30-40% vs summer

December - MIXED

Cost: Depends on timing

Pros: First 3 weeks cheap, movers want to book before holidays

Cons: Last week of December = nightmare (everyone's lease ends 12/31), holidays complicate everything

Savings: Early Dec: 25-35% vs summer. Late Dec: EXPENSIVE

Best Days of the Week

Cheapest days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Why: Most people move on weekends because they don't want to take time off work. Movers know this and charge more for Saturdays/Sundays.

Potential savings: 20-30% by moving mid-week vs weekend

💡 Pro Tip: If you can take a Thursday/Friday off work and move mid-week, you'll save significantly. You still get the weekend to unpack, but pay weekday rates.

Best Time of Month

Most expensive days: Last 3 days & first 3 days of the month

Why: Most leases end on the last day of the month and start on the first. Everyone's trying to move at once.

Cheapest days: 10th-20th of the month

Savings: 15-25% by avoiding month-end rush

Special Considerations

If You Have School-Age Kids

You're limited to summer or school breaks. But you can still optimize within those constraints:

Move in early June (before peak July/August pricing)
Or wait until late August (after peak but before school starts)
Consider spring break (March/April) if switching schools mid-year is okay

If You're Flexible

The absolute BEST combo:

Mid-week (Tuesday-Thursday)
Mid-month (10th-20th)
Off-season month (Jan, Feb, Oct, Nov)

Example: Moving on Tuesday, November 15th vs Saturday, July 30th could save you $1,500-$2,500 on the same move.

Long-Distance vs Local

Long-distance moves: Timing matters MORE. Big price swings between peak and off-season.

Local moves: Timing still matters but impact is smaller. Weekday vs weekend pricing is the bigger factor.

Weather Considerations

Northern States

Avoid: December-February (snow, ice, cold)

Best: April-June, September-October

Southern States

Avoid: July-August (brutal heat)

Best: October-April

Everywhere

Watch for: Hurricane season (June-November along coasts), tornado season (April-June in Midwest), wildfire season (summer in West)

How to Book During Peak Times If You Must

Sometimes you can't avoid peak season. Here's how to minimize damage:

Book 6-8 weeks ahead: Don't wait until last minute
Get quotes from 5+ companies: More competition = better chance of decent rate
Be flexible with exact date: Give movers a 3-day window and let them choose
Move early in the month: Even during peak season, avoid month-end
Consider mid-week: Even in summer, mid-week is cheaper than weekends
Ask about discounts: Some companies offer discounts for slow days even in peak season

Real-World Savings Examples

Example 1: 2-Bedroom Apartment, 1,000 Miles

July weekend move: $4,500

February mid-week move: $2,700

Savings: $1,800 (40%)

Example 2: Studio Apartment, Local (30 miles)

Saturday, July move: $900

Wednesday, January move: $550

Savings: $350 (39%)

Example 3: 3-Bedroom House, 500 Miles

Saturday, June move: $6,200

Tuesday, November move: $3,800

Savings: $2,400 (39%)

Notice a pattern? You consistently save 30-40% by moving off-peak.

Planning Your 2026 Move

If you're moving in 2026, here's your action plan:

Check your flexibility: Can you move off-peak? Mid-week? Mid-month?
Pick your ideal window: Choose the best 2-3 week window that works
Get quotes early: Even for off-peak moves, book 4-6 weeks ahead
Compare peak vs off-peak pricing: Use our moving cost calculator to see the difference
Factor in other costs: Time off work, hotel stays, etc.
Make your decision: Sometimes paying $500 more for convenience is worth it. But know what you're paying for.

The Bottom Line

Timing your move strategically is one of the easiest ways to save money—often $1,000-$2,500 with no extra effort.

Best combination for maximum savings:

January, February, October, or November
Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday
10th-20th of the month

This combo can save you 40-50% vs:

July or August
Saturday or Sunday
Last/first few days of month

I get it—you can't always choose your timing. Job starts, lease ends, life happens. But if you have ANY flexibility, use it. Even shifting your move by 2-3 weeks can save you serious money.

Your wallet will thank you. And honestly, off-season moving is less stressful too. Movers aren't rushed, trucks are available, everything's just... easier.

Plan smart. Move off-peak. Save big. 💰

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