Timing your LA move wrong costs hundreds extra and adds massive stress. Move on August 31st? Join thousands fighting for trucks and crews. Pick mid-November Tuesday? Save 30% with plenty of availability. After analyzing thousands of moves across Los Angeles, here's when to move for best prices, weather, and sanity.
Monthly Moving Breakdown
January - EXCELLENTPost-holiday dead zone. Cheapest prices all year. Movers desperate for work. Rain risk minimal. Book same week. Save 25-30%.
February - EXCELLENTStill slow season. Valentine's Day week especially empty. Perfect weather. Great availability. Prices remain low.
March - GOODSpring moving starts. Prices creeping up. Weather ideal. Book 2 weeks ahead. Avoid USC/UCLA spring break.
April - MODERATETax season keeps people home. Coachella weekend impossible. Otherwise decent availability. Prices rising.
May - GETTING BUSYCollege moves begin. Families with kids starting. Prices up 15%. June gloom starting. Book 3 weeks ahead.
June - EXPENSIVEPeak season begins. Graduation moves everywhere. Prices up 20-25%. Marine layer mornings. Book month ahead.
July - PEAK PRICESEveryone's moving. Prices highest. 4th of July week insane. Heat becoming issue. Book 4-6 weeks ahead.
August - ABSOLUTE WORSTPeak of peak. Prices up 30-40%. Every lease turning over. Impossible last week. Book 2 months ahead or forget it.
September - STILL BUSYLabor Day weekend packed. After 15th calms down. Prices dropping slowly. Weather perfect. Book 3 weeks ahead.
October - GOODPrices normalizing. Weather ideal. Halloween week slower. Great sweet spot. Book 2 weeks ahead.
November - EXCELLENTThanksgiving week dead (except Wednesday). Prices down 20%. Beautiful weather. Easy booking.
December - GREATNobody moves in December. Except December 31st (nightmare). Prices lowest except holidays. Book week ahead.
Day of Month Patterns
Days 1-3: Chaos. Everyone moving in/out. Premium prices.
Days 4-10: Still busy from weekend spillover.
Days 11-20: Sweet spot. Normal prices. Good availability.
Days 21-27: Picking up as month-end approaches.
Days 28-31: Absolute mayhem. Prices peak. No availability.
Best days: 12th-18th of any month
Day of Week Pricing
Monday: 10% below weekend (SOS: $119/hour for 2 movers)
Tuesday: Cheapest day (same prices, best availability)
Wednesday: Still reasonable
Thursday: Prices same, availability dropping
Friday: Weekend rates begin (SOS: $135/hour for 2 movers)
Saturday: Peak demand, premium prices
Sunday: Slightly less than Saturday but still premium
Save $100+ moving Tuesday vs Saturday.
Time of Day Strategy
7-9am starts:
- Beat traffic
- Cooler weather
- Crew fresh
- Parking easier
- Finish by noon
10am-12pm starts:
- Standard pricing
- Traffic building
- Hotter weather
- Still manageable
After 1pm starts:
- Often discounted
- Brutal heat (summer)
- Traffic worst
- Crew tired
- Overtime risk
Best value: 7am Tuesday start in February.
Weather Considerations
LA "Seasons":
January-March: Perfect moving weather. 65-75°F. Minimal rain.
April-June: June gloom mornings. Clears by noon. Still comfortable.
July-September: Hot. 85-100°F common. Brutal for moving.
October-December: Fire season. Air quality issues. Otherwise perfect.
Rain reality: LA gets 15 rainy days annually. 90% between December-March. Even then, usually just mornings.
Lease Cycle Impact
Academic calendar drives everything:
- August: Worst (students + families)
- September: Bad (stragglers)
- June: Bad (graduation)
- January: Good (mid-year quiet)
- May: Getting bad (early birds)
Professional cycles:
- End of quarter: Busy
- Mid-quarter: Slower
- Bonus season (Dec-Jan): Some movement
- Tax season: Dead
Neighborhood Specific Timing
UCLA area (Westwood):Avoid late August, early September entirely
USC area (University Park):Same plus avoid graduation week
Beach communities:Summer tourist season complicated
Downtown:First of month worse than anywhere
Valley:More stable, families move in summer
Holiday Complications
Avoid completely:
- July 4th week
- Labor Day weekend
- Memorial Day weekend
- Thanksgiving Day
- December 25-January 2
Surprisingly good:
- Valentine's Day
- President's Day
- Columbus Day
- Veterans Day
- Black Friday
Booking Timeline
Peak season (June-August):Book 4-6 weeks ahead minimum
Shoulder season (March-May, September-November):Book 2-3 weeks ahead
Off season (December-February):Book 1 week ahead sufficient
Last minute moves:Only possible October-February midweek
Cost Differences by Season
2-bedroom apartment move:
Peak (August 31st, Saturday):
- 3 movers: $210/hour
- 6 hours (delays): $1,260
- Total with fees: $1,400+
Off-peak (February 14th, Tuesday):
- 3 movers: $159/hour
- 4 hours (efficient): $636
- Total with fees: $700
Savings: $700 (50%)
Strategic Moving Hacks
The "overlap month" strategy:Keep both places for one month. Move mid-month leisurely. Often cheaper than peak rush prices.
The "storage bridge":Move out in cheap season to storage. Move in later. Two off-peak moves beat one peak.
The "vacation move":Schedule vacation during move. Tuesday rates while you're off work.
The "semester break":College areas empty during breaks. Great rates in those neighborhoods.
When You Have No Choice
Must move at month-end?
- Book immediately
- Consider the 28th or 2nd instead
- Start at 6am
- Pay for extra movers for speed
Must move in summer?
- Avoid weekends
- Choose early July over late August
- Morning starts mandatory
- Hydration for crew
Best Times Summary
Absolute best:Mid-February, Tuesday, 7am start
Best realistic:October-November, midweek, midmonth
Good compromise:Early March, late September
Acceptable:May, early June
Avoid if possible:Late August, month-ends, holiday weekends
Book Your Perfect Moving Date
Don't let calendar constraints cost you hundreds extra. SOS Moving offers consistent quality year-round, but our prices reflect demand. Book during off-peak times and save significantly.
Call 909-443-0004 to check availability for your preferred dates. We'll suggest alternatives if you're flexible—sometimes moving three days earlier saves $300. Smart timing makes moving affordable.
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