Timing your booking correctly can make the difference between a smooth move and a stressful scramble. Book too late and you risk limited availability, higher prices, or missing your preferred date entirely. Book too early without confirmed dates and you may face complications if plans change.
The standard advice across the industry is to book your removal service 4-6 weeks before your moving date. But this is a guideline, not a rule—and the right timing depends on your specific circumstances.
Why 4-6 Weeks Works for Most Moves
This window gives you enough time to:
Get multiple quotes and compare services properly. Arrange a survey (in-person or video) for accurate pricing. Secure your preferred date and time slot. Plan packing and preparation without rushing. Sort out any additional services you need, such as packing materials or temporary storage.
For the removal company, this lead time allows them to schedule crews efficiently, arrange appropriate vehicles, and plan their logistics. Rushed bookings mean less flexibility for everyone.
When You Need More Time
Certain situations call for booking earlier—ideally 6-8 weeks or more in advance:
Peak Seasons
Summer (June to September) is the busiest period for removals. Families with children prefer moving during school holidays to minimise disruption, and longer daylight hours make the logistics easier. August is consistently the most popular month, with the last Friday in August typically being the busiest single day of the year.
During peak season, removal services book up quickly. Leaving it to 3-4 weeks before may mean your preferred company—or even your preferred date—isn’t available.
Bank Holidays and School Holidays
Any bank holiday weekend sees increased demand. Easter, half-term breaks, and the Christmas period (people wanting to move before the holidays) all create spikes in bookings. If your move falls near these dates, book as early as possible.
End of Month Dates
Rental agreements typically end on the last day of the month, creating a surge in demand from the 28th through to the 2nd of the following month. If you’re locked into an end-of-month move, expect competition for slots.
Fridays and Weekends
As the most popular days for moving, Fridays and Saturdays book up faster than midweek dates. If you specifically need a Friday slot during summer, you might need to book 8+ weeks ahead to guarantee availability.
Large or Complex Moves
For a long-distance or nationwide move, more planning is involved. The logistics of coordinating vehicles, crew scheduling, and potentially overnight stays mean these moves benefit from longer lead times. Similarly, moves involving lots of specialist items, multiple properties, or storage arrangements need more advance planning.
When You Can Book with Less Notice
Not every move needs six weeks of lead time. You may be able to book closer to your date if:
Off-Peak Times
Winter months (November to February, excluding Christmas) see lower demand. Removal companies often have more availability and may offer better rates to fill their schedules. Booking 2-3 weeks ahead during quiet periods is often perfectly manageable.
Midweek Dates
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday moves are less popular, meaning more last-minute availability. If you have flexibility on your moving day, midweek bookings can often be arranged with shorter notice.
Smaller, Simpler Moves
A student or short-term move with minimal furniture typically requires less coordination than a full house move. Man and van services, which operate with smaller teams and more flexible scheduling, can often accommodate shorter lead times than larger removal companies with fixed crew rotas.
Local Moves
Moving within the same town or city is logistically simpler than long-distance relocations. With no overnight considerations and shorter travel times, local moves are easier to slot into schedules at shorter notice.
Booking Before You Have a Confirmed Date
If you’re buying a property, you may not know your exact completion date until relatively late in the process. The average time from offer acceptance to completion in England is around 18 weeks—but the actual completion date often isn’t confirmed until exchange of contracts, which might be just 1-2 weeks before moving day.
Most removal companies understand this reality and offer provisional bookings. You can reserve a likely date range based on your expected timeline, then confirm the exact date once you’ve exchanged. This secures your slot without committing to a specific day you’re not certain about.
When making a provisional booking:
Be clear that the date isn’t confirmed yet. Ask about the company’s policy for changing dates. Understand any deposit requirements and cancellation terms. Confirm the final date as soon as you exchange contracts.
What Happens If You Book Late
Leaving your booking until the last minute creates several problems:
Limited Availability
Your preferred company may be fully booked. You might have to accept a less convenient time slot, or use a company you haven’t properly researched.
Higher Prices
Some companies charge premium rates for short-notice bookings to compensate for the disruption to their scheduling. Even if there’s no explicit surcharge, you lose the ability to shop around and negotiate.
No Time for Surveys
Accurate quotes usually require a survey—either in-person or via video call. Without time for this, you’re relying on estimates that may prove inaccurate on the day, potentially leading to unexpected costs.
Rushed Preparation
Booking late often means everything else gets rushed too. Packing becomes frantic, items get forgotten, and the whole experience is more stressful than it needs to be.
Same-Day and Short-Notice Moves
Sometimes circumstances force a last-minute move—a chain collapse, an emergency situation, or simply running out of time. Same-day or next-day moves are possible, but come with caveats:
Availability is hit-or-miss. You’ll need to call around and may not find anyone. Prices are typically higher, reflecting the premium nature of urgent bookings. You’ll have less choice about timing—you take what’s available. There’s no time for detailed surveys, so quotes are rough estimates. You need to be completely ready when movers arrive, with no flexibility for delays.
If you find yourself needing a last-minute move, be upfront about the urgency, be flexible on timing, and be prepared to pay more for the convenience.
The Booking Timeline
Here’s a practical timeline for most moves:
8+ weeks before: For peak season moves (summer, bank holidays) or specific date requirements, start getting quotes and making provisional bookings.
6 weeks before: The ideal time for most moves. Get quotes, arrange surveys, compare options, and make your booking.
4 weeks before: Still reasonable for most situations, though peak times may have limited availability. Don’t delay further.
2 weeks before: Getting tight. Availability may be limited, especially for popular days. You may have fewer options to choose from.
1 week before: Challenging but not impossible, particularly for smaller moves or midweek dates. Expect to compromise on timing or price.
Less than a week: Emergency territory. Some operators can help, but don’t count on it.
What to Have Ready When You Book
When you contact removal services, having key information ready speeds up the process:
Your moving date (or likely date range if not confirmed). Collection and delivery addresses with postcodes. Property details: floors, access, parking situation. Rough inventory of what’s moving: number of rooms, large items, approximate boxes. Any special requirements: packing services, storage, specific timing needs.
The more detail you can provide upfront, the more accurate your quote will be—and the less likely you are to face surprises on moving day.
When you’re ready to start planning, you can get an instant quote to see pricing for your specific move.
