When is the Busiest Peak Moving Season?

Whether you’re moving for your job, to start school, upgrade your living situation, or another major life event, you’re not alone. In fact, experts suggest that one in five households move every year. To put things into perspective, that means roughly 24.1 million household shifts occur annually. If you’re currently planning an upcoming relocation, you may be wondering when is the best time to move? When is hauling season? And if it's the right time for you to hauls.

More specifically, you might be wondering when is the peak shifting season? With approximately 60% of moves in the United States occurring between May and August, this makes summer the busiest moving season. Summer is actually known as the “peak season” in the relocating industry. The high demand for moving services has an impact on pricing, quality, and availability for those who are looking to move during the summer months.

As a result, the cost to move during the summer is roughly 20-30% more expensive than any other time during the year. This fact can make many want to avoid shifting during this time altogether. So, if moving in summer is so expensive then when is the best time to move? However, let’s take a look at why summer is so busy, some tips for moving during the peak season, and what exactly is the best time to shifts.

Why is Summer the Busiest Moving Season?

There are a number of factors that contribute to summer being the busiest moving season. As you might expect, the fact that kids are off of school is definitely one of the major reasons for summer being a busy season for moving. Not to mention, summer is when many families take their annual vacations. With that said, let’s take a look at all the various reasons why summertime is a peak moving season for the shifting industry. It is also the peak hauling season for a lot of people.

Summer break: Arguably, the most impactful reason why May to August is the peak hauling season has to do with schools being on summer break. As a result, this tends to be the preferred time for families with school-age children to plan and execute a relocation. Moving to a new town and having to start over at a new school is already challenging enough for kids, especially when it is done in the middle of the school year. Most families choose the summer to move so as to not interrupt the school year and also allow their kids to have the opportunity to say goodbye to their friends.

College movers: Like grade schools, colleges are also on break for the summer. This is the time when a substantial number of students are changing housing. Many of them need to be out of the dorms for the summer, hauls back home, and then move to campus when the summer is over. Whether they’re graduating, or transitioning from a dorm to an apartment, college students contribute significantly to summer being the busiest moving season. So, If you are a college student, then the summer holidays are the best time to move for you.

Military movers: Roughly one-third of military personnel hauls each year. Most of them tend to shifts between May and August, with a large majority of these moves occurring from June to July.

Warmer weather: For most of the country, it is simply much easier and more comfortable to move during any time but the winter. Snow, ice, freezing road conditions, and extreme temperatures not only make for an uncomfortable move, but they also present potential safety hazards. Another major benefit of moving during the summer is the fact that the days are longer, meaning more daylight and more time to complete your shifts than in the winter.

Everyone’s lease is up: Since summer is such a popular season to move, many sign their leases during this time. As a result, these same leases will also end during the summer. This creates even more demand for the season. Long story short, the more leases that end in the summer, the higher the demand for moving.

So, Which is the best time to Move?

Ultimately, the best time to move will be different for everyone and will depend on your individual circumstances. Moving during either off-season or peak season has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. For example, if you don’t have any children, shifting while school is in session may not make a difference for you. Consider the following when trying to determine the best time for you to move:

• Housing availability. The end of a lease or the sale of your current home may dictate when it’s time to move. However, the peak home-buying season tends to coincide with the peak moving season. So, for a lot of new house owners, summertime is the peak season to haul.
• Job requirements. If you have to haul for work, you might not have a choice in regards to your moving schedule. Although, depending on your employer, they may be open to negotiating your move date.
• Family schedule. If you’d prefer to avoid moving during the school year, your only choice is to haul during the busiest hauling season.
• Moving budget. Since summer hauling is in high demand, moving services are generally more expensive. Therefore, if you’re trying to save money, it’ll be much cheaper to move in late fall or winter.
• Personal circumstances. In some cases, you may have to uproot your life as a result of a recent divorce, death of a loved one, natural disaster, or some other reason that’s out of your hands and requires little to no notice.

Best Months of the Year for Hauling

Not every month registers the same amount of moves. The summer season accommodates for a higher number of hauls than other months of the year. Of course, there are many reasons for that. During the summertime, many people have holidays and don't have to take extra leaves for moving. Also, many house selling and buying happen during the summer, which aids in the higher shifting rates during the summer season. Moving companies are the busiest during the peak hauling season in summer.

Most people tend to move less during Monsoon months due to rain and storms. It is difficult to transport due to rain, flood, and other factors. People also avoid the Winter season to move because of the excessive snow on the roads, which makes it difficult to drive. Also, extreme cold is a factor for people to avoid moving during the winter months. So, the best time for shifting would be anywhere between April to August. The months of April, May, June, and July receive the highest number of haul compared to other months.

Best Day of the Week to Haul

There is no particular rule that you should move on a certain day. But some days are favored over other days for moving. People who work tend to choose weekends to haul because this allows them to move during the leave days and helps them avoid taking extra leave from their workplace. Also, there is very less traffic during the weekend so transportation is very smooth. It is the most convenient time for them in the entire week. But keep in mind that moving costs during the weekend are usually higher and shifting companies are busier during this time.

But people with children tend to choose the middle of the week for moving as the children are away in school. With the children being in school, it makes the shifting very convenient. Moving on the weekdays also helps avoid neighbors' complaints due to noise caused during the haul. Also, moving during the weekdays is cheaper compared to shifting during weekends. However, you may lose a workday if you move during the middle of the week. But in general, people tend to choose Friday and Saturday to move into their new location.

Tips for Relocating during peak season

If you absolutely must move during the summer, you can still have a good moving experience by understanding the trends of the busiest hauling season. Also, there are several steps you can take to help simplify the whole process. For instance, begin booking your moving services as early as possible. The earlier you book, the more likely you’ll be to be able to secure quality movers and get the best rate!

As far as the specific date that you might want to move, try to book a moving company in the middle of the month and on a weekday. There is a high demand at the beginning and end of the month, as well as on the weekends. These are the peak shifting days. This means that prices are considerably more expensive, most bookings are full, and delays and cancellations are very common. To reduce the likelihood of cancellation or delay, choose an early morning move! Obviously, you should avoid any summer holidays like the plague. Labor Day, Memorial Day weekend, and the 4th of July are the busiest days for moving companies.

To help save some money when moving during peak season, make sure you purge any unwanted items. If you’re hauling long distance, you’ll be paying based on weight and since you’re already paying the highest rates during the busiest shifting season, this is one way to save money.

One last, but definitely not least, tip for the busiest moving season is to have a backup plan. Do some research and know of some last-minute hauling companies near you. Though you most likely won’t need it, it’s good to have options when something unexpected happens.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I schedule a move during peak season?

You should schedule your move at least two weeks in advance. However, much further in advance is preferred to ensure that you have the best options.

How will COVID-19 impact peak hauling season?

In 2020, the spread of COVID-19 delayed the beginning of peak hauling season due to the real estate market stalling and most being nervous about making major life changes. It’s uncertain how the virus will continue to affect peak moving season. However, as many cities are slowly trying to return to “normal,” we’re seeing moving start to take place more frequently again.

What is the cheapest day to haul?

During peak season or not, weekdays tend to be the cheapest days to haul. That means that if you’re looking to obtain a better rate, choose a hauling date that falls on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

Is it cheaper to shift in the winter?

With kids in school and winter weather making it much less desirable to haul, there is a much lower demand to move in the winter. As a result, many moving companies have much lower rates in the winter, than in the summer, to compensate for the lower demand.