The Best (and Cheapest) Time to Move in 2026
By the Moving Company Estimate data team · Last updated July 2026 · Methodology
Short answer: the cheapest time to move is October through April, mid-month, on a weekday. Peak season (May–September) adds about 15%, and the last five days of any month add roughly 8%, up to 24% combined. On a typical 3-bedroom, 1,000-mile move that's a $1,150 swing for timing alone.
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Enter your move date and the estimate adjusts for season, instantly, no email required.
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What timing does to your bill
Every figure here comes from our published rate model, the same seasonal multipliers the calculator applies when you enter a date. Here's a benchmark 3-bedroom, 1,000-mile move across three timings:
| When you move | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season, mid-month, weekday | $3,900 | $4,750 | $5,800 |
| Peak season (May–Sep), mid-month | $4,500 | $5,475 | $6,675 |
| Peak season + last 5 days of month | $4,850 | $5,900 | $7,200 |
1. Season is the biggest lever
Roughly 70% of all moves happen between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when families move around the school calendar. That demand spike is why peak season carries a ~15% premium. Move in the October–April off-season and you not only pay less, crews are less rushed and more dates are open, so service quality tends to be higher too.
2. Avoid the last five days of the month
Most leases end on the 1st, so the last weekend of every month is a crush of turnover, worth about a 8% premium. The 7th through the 23rd is the quiet, cheaper window. Combine off-season with mid-month and the two discounts stack.
3. Weekdays beat weekends
Saturdays book out first and fastest. A Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursdaymove gives you more crew choice and stronger negotiating room, especially in the off-season. If you can take a weekday off, it's one of the easiest ways to land a better crew for less.
The timing premium by home size
The percentage is the same at every size, but the dollars scale with your move. Here's the off-season vs. worst-case (peak + end-of-month) gap on a 1,000-mile move:
| Home size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,600 | $2,000 | $400 |
| 2 Bedroom | $3,275 | $4,050 | $775 |
| 4 Bedroom | $6,500 | $8,050 | $1,550 |
Bigger homes pay more for bad timing in absolute terms, which is exactly why the 4-bedroom and 5-bedroom guides push date flexibility hardest.
When you can't pick the perfect date
Most moves are driven by a closing, a lease, or a job start, you rarely get a free choice. When the calendar is fixed, capture the savings you still control: aim for mid-month even inside peak season, take a weekday if you can, book 4+ weeks ahead to lock a rate before trucks fill, and get three quotes so peak-season pricing power doesn't go unchallenged. Even one of those moves can offset a chunk of the seasonal premium.
See your number for your actual date
The calculator applies these exact multipliers the moment you enter a move date, so you can compare two dates side by side in under a minute, no email required:
Price your move for your date
Answer six quick questions, your seasonal-adjusted range appears instantly, before any contact form.
- No email required to see your price
- Licensed & insured movers only
- Your estimate is yours to keep either way
Prefer to talk? Call (561) 220-0117, free, no obligation.
FAQ
October through April. Peak moving season (May–September) adds about 15% to your cost because demand for trucks and crews spikes, so a winter or early-spring move is the single biggest timing saving available.
A weekday, mid-month. Weekends book out first and the last five days of any month carry roughly a 8% premium driven by lease turnover. Mid-week, mid-month, off-season stacks all three savings together.
On a benchmark 3-bedroom, 1,000-mile move, off-peak runs about $4,750. The same move mid-July costs $5,475, and on July's last weekend about $5,900, a $1,150 swing for timing alone.
For most people, yes, the off-season discount is real and crews are less rushed, which often means better service. The trade-offs are weather contingency in cold climates and shorter daylight; build a backup date into the plan and the savings usually win.