The best (and cheapest) time to move cross-country
By the Nation Moving data team · Updated July 2026
Short answer: the cheapest time to move is October through April, mid-month, on a weekday. Peak season adds about 15%, and the last five days of any month add roughly 8%, up to 24%combined. On a typical 3-bedroom, 1,500-mile move that's a $1,450 swing for timing alone.
Price two dates side by side
Enter a move date and the estimate adjusts for season instantly, compare a summer and a winter date in under a minute. No email required.
- No email required to see your route's cost range
- Licensed & insured interstate movers only, named before contact
- Your estimate is yours to keep either way
Prefer to talk it through? Call (888) 555-0166, free, no obligation.
What timing does to your bill
Every figure here comes from the same rate model the quiz applies when you enter a date. Here's a benchmark 3-bedroom, 1,500-mile move across three timings:
| When you move | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season, mid-month, weekday | $4,875 | $5,950 | $7,250 |
| Peak season (May–Sep), mid-month | $5,625 | $6,850 | $8,350 |
| Peak season + last 5 days of month | $6,075 | $7,400 | $9,025 |
1. Season is the biggest lever
Roughly 70% of all moves happen between Memorial Day and Labor Day, 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, long-haul 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, about a 8% premium. The 7th through the 23rd is the quiet, cheaper window.
3. Weekdays beat weekends
Saturdays book out first. A Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday move gives you more carrier choice and stronger negotiating room, especially off-season.
The timing premium by home size
The percentage is the same at every size, but the dollars scale with your move. Off-season vs. worst-case (peak + end-of-month) on a 1,500-mile haul:
| Home size | Low | Worst case | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,050 | $2,550 | $500 |
| 2 bedroom | $4,075 | $5,050 | $975 |
| 4+ bedroom | $8,600 | $10,675 | $2,075 |
Can't pick a perfect date? Capture what you still control, aim mid-month even inside peak season, take a weekday, and book early. See how far in advance to book.
FAQ
October through April. Peak moving season (May–September) adds about 15% because demand for trucks and long-haul crews spikes around the school calendar, so an off-season move is the single biggest timing saving available.
Price your move for your actual date
The quiz applies these exact seasonal multipliers the moment you enter a date. Compare two dates in under a minute, no email required.
Or call Call (888) 555-0166, no email required to see your number.
Keep reading
- 8-Week Interstate Moving ChecklistA week-by-week plan for a state-to-state move: when to book, when to change your address, and what to do on load day.
- Packing for a Long-Distance MoveLong hauls are handled more times than local moves, pack for the road. A room-by-room method that survives the trailer.
- How Far in Advance to Book Interstate MoversLead times by season, why summer books out first, and the last-minute-move playbook when your date can't move.
- Cheapest Way to Move Across the CountryFull-service vs. moving containers vs. rental trucks, priced side by side, and the real trade-offs behind each cheap option.