The Best and Worst Times of Year to Move House in Australia

Most people choose their moving date based on when their lease ends or when settlement falls. That's understandable, you don't always have a say in the matter. But when you do have some flexibility, the timing of your move can make a genuine difference to your budget, your stress levels, and how smoothly the whole thing goes.

In Australia, the gap between a well-timed move and a poorly-timed one isn't trivial. We're talking about the difference between booking your preferred removalist on your preferred date, and scrambling for whoever's still available at a price that makes your eyes water.

Here's an honest breakdown of what each time of year actually looks like, and what it means for you.

The Numbers Behind the Seasons

Before getting into specifics, it's worth understanding just how uneven moving demand is across the year in Australia.

According to removalist booking platform Muval, which has analysed more than 400,000 Australian moving records spanning 2019 to 2024, roughly two-thirds of all moves take place between October and March. That's six months absorbing the lion's share of demand, which means the other six months are significantly quieter, more affordable, and considerably less stressful to navigate.

Knowing which side of that divide your move falls on is the first step to planning it well.

The Worst Time to Move: December and January

If you have any flexibility at all, avoid moving in December and January.

January is the single busiest month for removalists in Australia. The summer school holidays mean families are free to move without disrupting the school year. People have time off over Christmas and New Year. The weather is warm and the days are long. All of this sounds convenient, and it is, right up until you try to book a removalist.

In the peak summer months, quality removalists book out weeks, sometimes months in advance. Prices are at their highest. You're competing with a large chunk of Australia for the same limited slots. And if your preferred date doesn't work out, you have very few alternatives.

Add to that the physical reality of moving in Australian summer heat. Loading and unloading a truck in 35-degree heat is genuinely exhausting and, in extreme cases, dangerous. Electronics, artwork, candles, and other heat-sensitive items are at greater risk. And your highly-rated Brisbane removalists, who do this for a living, are working harder and tiring faster than they would in cooler conditions.

The week between Christmas and New Year is particularly difficult. Many businesses operate on skeleton staff or don't operate at all, which means utility connections, real estate agents, and building managers may be harder to reach when you need them.

Verdict: Avoid December and January if you can. If you can't, book your removalist at least eight to ten weeks out and plan your move for first thing in the morning before the heat peaks.

The Second-Worst Time: End of Month, Any Month

This one has nothing to do with the season, it applies year-round.

Most Australian leases end on the last day of the month, and most property settlements happen around the same time. This means the final week of every month is consistently the most in-demand period for removalists, regardless of the season.

If you have any flexibility in your moving date, shifting it to mid-month, even by a few days, can make a meaningful difference to availability and cost. It sounds like a small thing, but it's the kind of detail that experienced movers use to their advantage.

Similarly, Friday is the most popular moving day of the week (people want a weekend to settle in), which means it commands a premium. Tuesday and Wednesday are quieter and often cheaper for exactly the same service.

The Best Time to Move: Autumn (March to May)

If you want the best combination of reasonable weather, good availability, and competitive pricing, autumn is the sweet spot.

By March, the summer rush has wound down. School is back, which frees up families who were waiting for the holidays. Removalists are competing for jobs rather than turning them away. Prices drop from their summer highs, and you're far more likely to get your first choice of date, time, and company.

The weather in autumn is genuinely pleasant across most of Australia, mild temperatures, low humidity, and manageable rainfall in most parts of the country. Moving in 20-degree weather instead of 36-degree weather is a completely different physical experience, for you and for your removalists.

April consistently ranks among the lowest-demand months for moving in Australia, making it an ideal window if your circumstances allow. The Easter long weekend creates a brief spike in some years, so it's worth avoiding that specific week, but the rest of April is as close to ideal as moving conditions get.

Verdict: March, April, and May offer the best value and the most relaxed experience. If you can time your move here, do it.

The Underrated Option: Winter (June to August)

Winter gets overlooked as a moving season, mostly because it sounds unappealing. But if your primary concern is cost and availability, the winter months are worth considering.

Demand is at its lowest from June to August. Removalists have more time, more flexibility, and genuine incentive to offer competitive rates. You're unlikely to face waitlists, and last-minute changes are far easier to manage.

The trade-offs are real but manageable. Winter in most of southern Australia is cold and sometimes rainy, not dangerous, but not comfortable either. Morning frosts in Melbourne, Canberra, and regional areas can slow things down. In Queensland and the Northern Territory, the dry season actually makes June to September the most comfortable time of year to do anything physical outdoors, making winter an excellent choice for moves in the north.

For office relocations in particular, winter can work very well. You're not relying on good weather the same way a residential move does (most of the heavy lifting happens between a building's loading dock and lifts), and the cost savings can be significant on a commercial move.

Verdict: Winter is the best-kept secret in moving. Lower prices, better availability, and for Queensland and the Top End, genuinely ideal conditions.

Spring: Good, But Getting Busy (September to November)

Spring sits in a middle ground. The weather is pleasant, school is in session, and the worst of the summer rush hasn't arrived yet. September and early October are still relatively quiet and offer solid value.

The catch is that spring is also when the real estate market picks up, with more properties changing hands as buyers and renters who've been waiting move into action. By late October and November, Australian removalist demand starts climbing back toward its summer peak. Spring is a reasonable window, but it's tightening month by month as you approach December.

If you're moving in spring, September and October are preferable to November. And booking at least four to six weeks out is advisable.

The One-Line Summary for Each Season

• Summer (Dec–Feb): Most expensive, least available, most exhausting. Avoid if possible.
• Autumn (Mar–May): Best value, best weather, most flexibility. The smart choice.
• Winter (Jun–Aug): Cheapest rates, quietest period. Underestimated by most people.
• Spring (Sep–Nov): Good conditions, but prices creep up toward the end. Book early.

What This Means for Office Moves

Everything above applies to residential moves. For businesses relocating to a new office, there are a few additional factors worth considering.

The end of the financial year (June 30) creates a brief spike in commercial moving activity as businesses time fit-outs and relocations to coincide with their books. If you're planning an office move, it's worth checking whether your preferred dates clash with EOFY demand, particularly for removalists who specialise in commercial work.

January and the start of February are also complicated for office moves because many staff are on leave, making it difficult to coordinate the people needed to pack workstations, manage IT equipment, and oversee the move on both ends.

The quietest and most manageable time for a commercial relocation is typically the middle of the year, July and August, once the EOFY rush has settled, or the autumn months of March and April.

The Bottom Line

You may not always be able to choose your moving date. Settlement dates, lease end dates, and life circumstances often dictate the calendar more than you'd like. But when you do have flexibility, use it. A move in April is a genuinely different experience, financially and logistically, from a move in January.

And regardless of when you move, booking early gives you options. The further ahead you plan, the more control you have over the outcome.