Best Time of Year to Move in the DMV

What changes with the calendar

Three things move with the date, and they move together.

• Price. Weekends, the last days of the month, and same-day requests cost more. Midweek and mid-month dates cost less.
• Availability. Busy dates book weeks ahead. Quiet ones are often open the same week.
• Conditions. Heat, storms, short days, and ice each change how the day runs.

Spring, March to May

Moving season picks up in March and builds through May. Weather is mild, which makes it the most comfortable season to move. End-of-month weekends start filling three to four weeks ahead. Late March and early April bring cherry blossom crowds and street closures near the Tidal Basin and the Mall, so check your route if you are moving in or through downtown DC.

Summer, June to August

Summer is the peak. Leases turn over, school is out, and families move between school years. Book four to six weeks ahead for any weekend. Heat and humidity are the main hazard, along with afternoon thunderstorms. Start early in the day, and make sure the air conditioning is on at both homes.

Fall, September to November

September is still busy around the start of the school year and the first of the month. October and November are quieter, with good weather and more open dates. The weekends before Thanksgiving are the exception and fill quickly.

Winter, December to February

Winter has the most open dates and the most flexible scheduling. The trade-offs are short days, cold, and the occasional snow or ice. The last days of December are busy because of leases that end with the year.

The best day of the month and week

Within any season, the day you choose matters as much as the month.

• Best: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, between the 5th and the 25th
• Harder: any Saturday
• Hardest: the last weekend of the month and the first of the month
• If your lease allows a few days of overlap, use them to move midweek.

How far ahead to book

Lead times for our calendar look like this.

• Midweek, mid-month: often the same week
• Most dates: two to four weeks
• The last weekend of a month, and June through August: four to six weeks
• $100 holds your date and comes off your final bill.