The cheapest day to hire movers in St. Louis is a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday in the middle of the month, between October and April. Demand is lowest on those days, so movers are available and rates are at their base level. The most expensive days are summer weekends and the last three days of any month. If your lease or closing gives you any room, move the date to mid-week and mid-month, and ask the mover which nearby days are cheaper.

Arch Moving is locally owned and operated out of St. Ann and moves households across St. Louis, St. Charles County, and the Metro East. Here is how the day, the date, the month, and the hour each affect what you pay.

The Quick Answer

Factor	Cheapest	Most expensive
Day of week	Tuesday to Thursday	Saturday
Date	8th to 22nd	Last 3 days and the 1st
Month	October to April	June to August
Start time	First slot of the morning	Afternoon

Day of the Week

Day	Demand	Notes
Monday	Medium	Picks up overflow from the weekend
Tuesday	Low	Best availability
Wednesday	Low	Best availability
Thursday	Low to medium	Still a good choice
Friday	High	People want the weekend to unpack
Saturday	Highest	Books first
Sunday	Medium to high	Fewer movers working

A weekday has a second advantage in St. Louis City. The city's Blocking Right of Way permit, which you need if the truck blocks part of a street, normally covers Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. To 3 p.m. Many apartment and condo buildings also allow moves on weekdays only. A mid-week move fits both.

Arch Mover Tip

If you cannot take a weekday off, ask about a Friday morning. It usually costs less than Saturday and still leaves you the weekend to unpack.

Date of the Month

Leases in St. Louis mostly end on the last day of the month. That pushes a wave of moves into a few days.

1st to 5th

busy with move-ins

8th to 22nd

the quiet stretch

26th to 31st

the busiest days of the month

If your lease ends on the 31st, ask your landlord about moving a week early, or ask your new landlord for early access. A few days of overlapping rent can cost less than the month-end premium, and the move is calmer.

Month of the Year

Season	What to expect
December to February	Cold, occasional ice, best availability
March to April	Mild, some rain
May	Student move-outs mid-month
June to August	Heat, humidity, heavy demand
September	Still warm, demand easing
October to November	Mild and dry, a good balance

October and April are the best trade between price and weather. January and February are the cheapest, with a small risk of ice delays. Our guide to the best time to move covers the seasons, and our article on St. Louis weather shows what each month is like.

Time of Day

Start time does not change the hourly rate, but it changes the hours.

Morning starts

mean fresh movers, lighter traffic, and cooler air in summer

Afternoon starts

follow another job, so the movers may arrive late and tired

Summer afternoons

in St. Louis are hot and humid, and work slows down

On an hourly move, faster movers are a cheaper move.

What the Difference Looks Like

Same home, same mover size. The date is the difference. Our guide to St. Louis moving costs explains what affects the price.

Dates to Avoid in St. Louis

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Mid-May and mid-August. Student move-out and move-in around Washington University and Saint Louis University.

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Cardinals home game days, if you are moving downtown. Traffic and parking near the stadium are difficult for a few hours before and after.

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Holiday weekends. Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day book early.

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The first warm Saturday in spring. Everyone has the same idea.

When Paying More Is the Right Choice

The cheapest day is not always the right day.

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School calendars. A summer move lets children start the year in the new school.

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Closing dates. These are set by the sale, not the mover.

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Job start dates. You move when the job begins.

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A fixed lease end. Some landlords will not budge.

If you must move on a peak date, book six to eight weeks ahead and take the earliest start. Our guide on booking movers ahead covers the lead times.

If Your Dates Are Flexible

A little flexibility goes a long way. Ask the mover for prices on three or four dates around your target and choose from the list.

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Offer a range of days, not a single date

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Say whether you can start at any hour

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Ask if there is a lower rate for a mid-week slot

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Ask to be told if a cheaper date opens up

Movers would rather fill a quiet Tuesday than turn away a Saturday request, so this conversation tends to work in your favor.

Other Ways to Cut the Cost

The date is one lever. These are the others.

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Pack before the movers arrive. Our packing tips speed it up.

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Take furniture apart yourself.

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Reserve parking so the truck is close to the door.

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Reserve the elevator if your building has one.

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Get three estimates and compare what is included.

Arch Mover Tip

Ask the mover a direct question: "Which day in my week is cheapest?" A good company will tell you, and the answer is sometimes a day you had not considered.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest day to hire movers in St. Louis?

Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday in the middle of the month, outside the summer season.

What is the most expensive day to move?

A Saturday at the end of the month in summer.

Is it cheaper to move in winter?

Yes. December through February has the lowest demand, though ice can occasionally delay a move.

Do movers charge more on weekends?

Often, either through a higher rate or because weekend dates carry the peak premium. Ask for both prices.

Does the time of day affect the price?

The rate is the same, but a morning start is usually faster, which lowers the total on an hourly move.

How much can I save by changing my date?

Moving from a peak date to an off-peak one can lower the total. Rates are higher in the last week of the month and lower in the cold months.

Find Your Cheapest Date

Arch Moving provides reliable moving services throughout the St. Louis area, including local and long-distance moves, packing and unpacking, furniture assembly, piano moving, labor-only jobs, and junk removal. Request a free quote with your preferred date range, and our St. Louis Movers team will help you find the day that costs the least.

About the author

Hayden Mattingly

Owner, Arch Moving · St. Ann, MO

Hayden Mattingly owns and runs Arch Moving, a locally owned moving company in St. Ann serving St. Louis, St. Charles County and the rest of Missouri. He leads a crew with a combined 20 years in the moving industry, trains movers from within, and oversees residential, commercial, packing and long-distance moves. He writes these guides from what his crews handle on real St. Louis moves.