Short answer: Saturday and Friday are by far the busiest days to move, and late summer is the busiest time of year. If you can move on a Tuesday, a Sunday, or in January or February, you will have far more choice of time slots. These figures come from more than 22,200 jobs our movers have completed across the UK since July 2019.
Busiest days of the week
Here is how moves were spread across the week over the last three years (October 2023 to September 2026):
| Day | Share of all moves | Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 23.0% | Very high |
| Friday | 19.5% | High |
| Monday | 12.7% | Normal |
| Thursday | 12.2% | Normal |
| Wednesday | 11.6% | Normal |
| Tuesday | 10.6% | Quieter |
| Sunday | 10.5% | Quieter |
Fridays and Saturdays together account for more than four in ten moves. Fridays are popular because most completions happen on a Friday, and Saturdays suit people who cannot take time off work. If your dates are flexible, a Tuesday or Sunday move gives you the widest choice of start times and crews.
Does the day change the price?
Less than most people think. For our most common booking, two movers with a Luton van, the median total paid over the last 12 months was:
- Sunday: £279
- Tuesday: £283
- Saturday: £297
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: about £300
- Friday: £311
The gap between the cheapest and dearest day is around £30 on a typical move. Hourly rates are the same every day (from £40/hr for one mover, £60/hr for two and £80/hr for three). The difference mostly comes from longer, more complicated moves clustering on Fridays, when keys are handed over. The bigger win from a quiet day is availability, not price.
Busiest months of the year
Across 2023, 2024 and 2025, this is how moves were spread across the calendar:
| Month | Share of the year’s moves |
|---|---|
| August | 11.4% |
| September | 10.1% |
| July | 9.6% |
| June | 8.8% |
| November | 8.8% |
| March | 8.1% |
| October | 8.1% |
| December | 8.0% |
| May | 7.8% |
| April | 7.5% |
| February | 6.2% |
| January | 5.6% |
August is twice as busy as January. The July–September peak is driven by families moving before the school year, tenancies that start in late summer and students heading to university. Expect the tightest availability in those three months, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.
Start, middle or end of the month?
About 24.5% of moves fall in the last seven days of a month and 23.2% in the first seven. That is only a little above an even spread, so month-end is busier but not dramatically so. The real pinch point is a Friday at the end of the month in late summer, when completions, tenancy changes and school timing all line up.
How far ahead should you book?
- Peak dates (Fridays and Saturdays, July to September, or month-end): book two to three weeks ahead if you can.
- Quieter dates (Tuesday, Sunday, January, February): a few days’ notice is often enough, and same-day man and van slots are frequently available.
- Completion day moves: book a provisional slot as soon as you have a likely date, then confirm when contracts exchange.
Our quick tips
- If you are renting, ask your landlord whether you can collect keys a day early so you can move on a quieter weekday.
- Choose a morning start on busy days so the crew is not running late from an earlier job.
- Have boxes packed and labelled before the crew arrives. Most moves are booked by the hour, so being ready is the easiest way to keep the cost down.
Ready to pick a date? See your price instantly and choose a slot that suits you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the busiest day to move house in the UK?
Saturday, followed by Friday. Together they account for over 42% of the moves we complete.
What is the quietest day to move?
Sunday and Tuesday are the quietest, each with about 10.5% of moves, so you get more choice of crews and start times.
What is the busiest month to move?
August, followed by September and July. January and February are the quietest months.
Is it cheaper to move midweek?
Only slightly. Hourly rates do not change by day, and the median total for a two-mover Luton job varies by about £30 between the cheapest and most expensive days. The main benefit of a quieter day is availability.
About this data: figures are based on more than 22,200 jobs completed by Hello Vans movers between July 2019 and September 2026. Day-of-week figures use October 2023 to September 2026; monthly figures use full years 2023–2025; prices are median totals paid (extras included) for two movers with a Luton van in the last 12 months.