Tool · Seasonality
Best month to move
Moving in January instead of June saves about $1,128 on a typical cross-country 2-bedroom move. Here's the full month-by-month breakdown.
Cheapest month
$5,130
January (and other off-peak months)
Peak month
$6,258
June (peak demand)
You save
$1,128
By moving in the cheapest month
Cost by month — 2BR cross-country
Sample route: California → Texas (~1,607 miles), 2-bedroom home. The model applies our standard seasonality multipliers (1.00 in off-peak months → 1.22 at peak demand) to a representative long-haul base estimate.
| Month | Tier | Estimated cost | vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Off-peak | $5,130 | Cheapest |
| February | Off-peak | $5,130 | Cheapest |
| March | Shoulder | $5,386 | +$256 |
| April | Shoulder | $5,642 | +$512 |
| May | Start of peak | $5,899 | +$769 |
| June | Peak | $6,258 | +$1,128 |
| July | Peak | $6,258 | +$1,128 |
| August | Tail of peak | $6,053 | +$923 |
| September | Shoulder | $5,642 | +$512 |
| October | Shoulder | $5,386 | +$256 |
| November | Off-peak | $5,130 | Cheapest |
| December | Off-peak | $5,130 | Cheapest |
Run your own
Get your route, your home size, your month
The numbers above are for the CA → TX route at a 2-bedroom home. Use the calculator below for your specific situation — change the date to see how seasonality affects your move.
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Common questions about moving-cost seasonality
- Why do moving costs vary by month?
- Roughly 60–70% of US household moves happen between mid-May and end of August, so movers raise rates to ration scarce truck capacity in peak months. In off-peak months (late Sep through April), trucks sit idle and movers offer 15–25% discounts to fill schedules.
- Is the difference really that big?
- On a typical 2-bedroom cross-country move, the difference between January and July is about $1,100 — roughly 22% of the total cost. For larger homes or longer routes, the savings compound.
- Are off-peak moves slower or worse-quality?
- No. The same crews and same trucks handle off-peak moves; movers just have more availability. The only off-peak risk is winter weather on northern routes — most reputable movers will reschedule without penalty if a storm hits, but confirm the policy in writing.