Is It Cheaper To Move On A Weekday?
More people will always try to schedule their move on the weekend, which means moving companies are likely to charge higher rates on those days. There are definite pluses and minuses to both options, not the least of which is the impact it will have on your work schedule, or maybe your children’s schooling. You may ultimately have to choose between securing the best price and locking down the most optimal move date.
You can’t have it all, but in this article, we’ve broken down the benefits and drawbacks to moves at all times of the week. We have taken into consideration all factors concerning the moving industry and possible upheaval to your personal lives in order to help you determine when you should schedule your move.
Weekday Move Pros And Cons
Pros
- Higher availability of moving companies: Even if you happen to be moving during the summer months, you will be more able to hire movers mid-week than on a weekend. You should still schedule your move several weeks in advance. Leaving your booking to the last minute will make a stress-free move nearly impossible, as you will likely have to settle for whichever movers are available – not your first choice.
- Extra money for other expenses: Moving is expensive. Your moving date falling on a weekday will lead to lower hourly costs, which means that you will have more money to spend on packing supplies or other moving expenses. You could even use the extra cash to buy yourself and your moving crew some breakfast or coffee on the morning of the big day.
- Most other people are at work: Especially if you live in an apartment building (or are moving into one), the cleared streets and stairwells or elevators can be a huge advantage. For one, your moving truck and crew will not have to compete for parking close to your home. This further cuts down on time spent moving, as your moving crew will likely have a shorter walk to get into your house or building from their truck.
- Easier utility setup: If you have left it until the last minute to set up utilities at your new home, and shut them off at your current location, a weekday move may be to your benefit. Some utility providers do have weekend hours to receive calls. But, if you require a technician to be present for any reason, you may be out of luck for a few days. Weekday mornings present your best odds for getting through to a representative.
- Children (might be) in school: This obviously only applies to you if you have children, and aren’t moving during the summer. A general rule of thumb for moving is this; the fewer people in the home, the better. More people crowding stairwells and rooms with furniture in them will make for a longer move, which will show up in your final move bill.
Cons
- Loss of work: If you work at a conventional job, then moving during the week could be stressful – or at least annoying – for different reasons. You will likely have to use up vacation time or call out of work if your move takes place on a weekday. If you have a salaried position, you may only lose vacation time. If you have an hourly position, then you will lose money as well.
- Heavier traffic (time-dependent): If your move begins mid-morning, then your movers may have to deal with rush hour traffic on their way to you. This could be problematic for your wallet if they bill travel time from their point of origin, as you could be paying for a certain amount of extra time. You can combat this by booking a start time for either the very early morning or late morning.
- Fewer people to help: This only applies if you plan on asking for moving help from your friends. This is a difficult enough proposition to sell under normal circumstances, but you may be totally out of luck in this department on a weekday move.
Weekend Move Pros And Cons
Pros
- Less likely to need time off from work: Again, this applies to people with more conventional work schedules. This is the main reason most moving clients book moves for weekends, however. Not being forced to allocate vacation time for what is essentially a workday anyway is always a plus.
- Less traffic: Especially when driving a moving truck, navigating busy roads can be a challenge. Much of this hassle is eliminated when planning a weekend move. However, your move could be equally held up if you’re moving into or out of a dense neighborhood with a lot of people around. This goes to show that there is no single “most convenient time” to move. Each has its benefits and drawbacks.
- More likely to have friends available: If you’re planning on a DIY move, complete with a truck rental, this will be a key aspect of your move. Assuming conventional work schedules, it should be easier to find people you know who can help on the weekends.
Cons
- Higher rates: Moving on a weekend won’t merit a ridiculous rate increase, but your professional movers (and other moving options) will likely cost more if you’re moving on the weekend. When looking for the best day to move, you should be aware that full-service movers up their pricing on weekends to take advantage of the higher demand.
- Lack of downtime: Moving on a weekend will save you vacation days, but it will also mean that you will not have a lot of time for unpacking or getting settled before you have to go back to work. For your own mental health, it may be better to simply book in the middle of the week and take the hit to your accumulated vacation time. You will have the entirety of the next weekend to unpack and get settled if you do.
Move Scheduling FAQs
Does weekend pricing only affect full-service moving costs?
Weekend pricing, especially during the summer months, will affect you, no matter which moving option you may choose. Truck rental companies like U-Haul and Penske will have higher prices per mile, along with greatly decreased availability on the weekends. The least affected moving companies will be those that supply moving containers, like PODS or U-Pack. Since their rental periods are often a month or longer, renting these on a weekend instead of a weekday shouldn’t be much more difficult.
How far in advance should I schedule my move?
You should begin contacting moving companies between six and eight weeks ahead of your move. You should use a checklist to help organize your planning that far in advance. If you’re lucky enough to be able to plan this far ahead, you will have ample time to vet and evaluate all possible options. This includes checking up on different moving companies’ complaint histories with the FMCSA and Better Business Bureau.
Does weekend vs weekday scheduling affect long-distance moving?
Typically, booking on a weekday or weekend does not influence your long-distance moving costs. Long-distance movers may up their rates during the summer, but the day of the week on which your move begins is largely irrelevant.
When is the easiest time to schedule a move?
You will have the easiest time of all when scheduling a move for late autumn or winter. If this is when you absolutely have to move, then you won’t have a hard time finding a moving company to help you. However, if you have a choice, you may want to wait until summer, due to more agreeable working conditions. You can always schedule well in advance to avoid the rush.