The best time to move house (2026 data)
Our booking data on the cheapest day, month and season to move — and how much flexibility on timing can save you.
Bottom line: The cheapest time to move is mid-week (Tuesday–Thursday), mid-month, in autumn or winter. The most expensive is a summer Friday at month-end. Moving off-peak rather than peak can save roughly 10–25% on the same job, because demand — not distance — sets how busy and pricey a slot is.
Best time to move — 2026 headline statistics
- Cheapest days
- Tue–Thu
- mid-week
- Cheapest months
- Jan / Nov
- low demand
- Cheapest season
- Winter
- off-peak
- Potential saving
- 10–25%
- off-peak vs peak
Headline findings
Removal prices are driven by demand as much as distance. When lots of people want to move at once, slots are scarce and prices rise; when demand is low, the same job costs less. Our booking data shows clear, exploitable patterns.
Moving off-peak (a mid-week, mid-month day in winter) rather than at peak (a summer Friday at month-end) can save roughly 10–25% on an otherwise identical move.
Cheapest day of the week
Relative demand and price by day of week. Friday is consistently the most expensive day to book.
| Day | Demand | Relative price |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Medium | Average |
| Tuesday | Low | Cheapest |
| Wednesday | Low | Cheapest |
| Thursday | Low–Medium | Below average |
| Friday | Very high | Most expensive |
| Saturday | High | Above average |
| Sunday | Medium | Average |
Fridays and weekends are popular because people avoid taking extra leave — which is exactly why they cost more.
The cheapest months to move
Demand follows the housing market and the calendar. The quietest, cheapest months are typically January, November and early December (excluding the Christmas peak), when fewer people choose to move.
Summer (June–August) is the busiest and most expensive moving season, while late autumn and mid-winter are the cheapest, with demand often 20–30% lower.
Demand by season
| Season | Demand | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | High | Above average |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Very high | Most expensive |
| Autumn (Sep–Nov) | Medium–low | Below average |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Low | Cheapest |
Avoid the late-August school-holiday and month-end peaks for the biggest savings.
How much can you actually save?
Timing flexibility is one of the few levers that cuts your bill without cutting service. The same move, shifted from a peak to an off-peak slot, can save a meaningful chunk.
Mid-week vs Friday: often 10–15% cheaper.
Winter vs summer: often 10–20% cheaper.
Mid-month vs month-end: avoids the rental-cycle rush.
Combine all three and savings can reach ~25% on the same job.
Methodology
This report draws on patterns in Giant Van booking demand across days, months and seasons, alongside published UK housing-market and removals-industry trends. Figures describe relative demand and typical price differences, not fixed discounts — your exact quote always depends on your move's specifics.
Data is refreshed periodically. The ‘last updated’ date above shows the current revision.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the cheapest time to move house?
What is the cheapest day of the week to move?
What is the most expensive time to move?
How much can I save by moving off-peak?
Why does the timing of a move affect the price?
Sources
Giant Van booking data
Demand and pricing patterns by day, month and season, 2024–2026.
UK housing-market trends
Seasonal moving-volume data, 2025.
- Compare My Move
Removals seasonality surveys, 2025.
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