How Far in Advance to Book Movers, Season by Season

How far in advance to book movers: the short answer

Two numbers cover most moves. For a local move, give the mover 1 to 2 weeks of notice. For a long-distance move, give 3 to 4 weeks. Those are the lead times we recommend at Allpoints Moving Services, and they assume an ordinary date.

Not every date is ordinary. Summer, the last and first days of a month, and weekends fill well before everything else. If your move lands on one of those, or on all three at once, treat the usual lead time as the bare minimum and book as soon as your date is firm.

There is no penalty for being early. The estimate takes the same amount of time whether you ask for it two months out or two weeks out, and the earlier call gets first pick of dates and start times.

When to book movers, season by season

Use the table as a starting point, then adjust for the calendar. A Saturday at the end of June needs far more notice than a Tuesday in the middle of it.

Peak moving season: late spring through summer

Peak moving season runs from late spring through summer. Families want to move while school is out, leases turn over, the weather cooperates in most of the country, and home sales that began in spring reach their closing dates. All of that demand lands on the same few months.

Crews and trucks are finite, so the most popular summer dates are claimed first. If you are moving between Memorial Day and Labor Day:

• Request your estimate as soon as you have a target date, even if it might shift by a few days
• If you need to book long-distance movers, start even earlier, because the truck and the delivery window have to be scheduled along with the crew
• Offer the mover two or three dates you can live with
• Ask for a morning start, when crews are fresh and the heat is lower. Our guide to moving in summer heat has more

Fall and winter: the best time to move for flexibility

If you can choose your season, the best time to move for scheduling is fall through winter. Once school starts, demand eases. You are more likely to get the exact day and start time you want, and the standard lead times of 1 to 2 weeks for local moves and 3 to 4 weeks for long-distance moves are usually enough.

Two cautions. The weeks around Thanksgiving and the December holidays are busy for everyone, including moving crews, so book those like a summer date. And winter weather can delay a truck, so leave a little slack between your move-out and move-in dates. See our tips for moving in winter.

Why month-end, weekends, and holidays fill first

Season is only half of it. Within any month, three kinds of dates go first:

• The last and first few days of the month. Many leases end on the last day of a month and begin on the first, and many closings are set for month-end
• Fridays and Saturdays. People prefer to move without taking time off work
• Holiday weekends. A three-day weekend looks like free moving time to everyone at once

If you have any flexibility, a weekday in the middle of the month is the easiest date to get in any season. We explain the pattern in why end-of-month moves are so busy.

What to have ready before you call

A mover can hold a date faster when the estimate is quick to prepare. Have these ready:

• Both addresses, including floor, stairs, and elevator details
• Your preferred date and one or two backups
• A rough inventory by room, including the garage, attic, and any storage unit
• Oversized or delicate items such as a piano, a safe, or large artwork
• The services you want, such as packing or furniture disassembly
• Building rules, such as elevator reservations or required insurance certificates

Our moving checklist lays out the rest of the weeks before moving day.

What to do if you need last-minute movers

Sometimes the date is not up to you. A closing moves, a lease falls through, a job starts sooner than planned. If you need last-minute movers:

1. Call instead of waiting. Schedules change daily, and a phone call finds an opening faster. Our number is (678) 886-0944
2. Be flexible on time of day. An afternoon start or a weekday may be open when the morning is not
3. Do more of the prep yourself. Being fully packed and ready shortens the job and makes it easier to fit in
4. Consider splitting the work. If a full-service slot is not available, labor-only help to load a rental truck may be
5. Do not lower your standards. A rushed search is when people fall for bad operators. Still ask for license numbers, proof of insurance, and a written estimate

A simple booking timeline

• As soon as you know you are moving: pick a target date and two backups
• Six to eight weeks out: request estimates, especially for summer or long-distance moves
• Three to four weeks out: have a long-distance move booked
• One to two weeks out: have a local move booked, and confirm elevators and parking
• A few days out: confirm the arrival window with your mover

Quotes from Allpoints are free and carry no obligation, so there is no reason to wait. Request yours and put your date on the calendar.