Best Time of Year to Move in Phoenix (Without Melting)

The best time of year to move in Phoenix is mid-October through November, with March a close second. Normal daytime highs run from the upper 80s in October to the upper 70s in November and March, there are no monsoon storms to dodge, and moving calendars are not as packed as they are in summer. Pick a weekday in the middle of the month and you have the easiest move the Valley offers.

That is the short answer. The longer answer depends on your lease, your schedule, and how much you mind the heat. I have been moving families around the Valley since 2005, and here is how I would think about picking a date.

Phoenix Moving Seasons at a Glance

Here is what each part of the year looks like for a move, using the normal daily highs the National Weather Service records at Phoenix Sky Harbor.

Temperatures are the 1991 to 2020 normal highs and lows for Phoenix Sky Harbor, from the National Weather Service Phoenix office monthly climate summaries. The East Valley runs close to these numbers.

Summer: Doable, But Plan Around the Heat

Summer is our busiest stretch. Families want to be settled before school starts, and a lot of leases turn over. It is also when the weather fights you hardest. When the normal high in July is around 106 degrees and the overnight low barely drops into the 80s, there is no cool part of the day. There is only less hot.

Plenty of people move in summer and it goes fine. The ones that go well start at 7 or 8 in the morning, have every box packed the night before, and have the AC running at the new place. I wrote a whole post on moving in Arizona summer heat if you are stuck with a July date.

"We moved from a single story to a second floor apartment, and Robert and Max were awesome! It was over 100 degrees out, but they hustled nonstop. They took excellent care of our items and were super friendly. We will definitely use this company again for our next move!"

Amanda Townzen, Google review

Monsoon Season: Watch the Afternoons

The National Weather Service treats June 15 through September 30 as monsoon season in Arizona. The real storms usually do not show up until July, but when they do, they can bring dust, wind, and sudden downpours with very little warning.

For a move, monsoon season mostly means two things. First, a morning start matters even more, because getting the load-out done early keeps you ahead of the weather that tends to build later in the day. Second, have a backup plan for the driveway: clear space in the garage or just inside the door where boxes can land quickly if a storm rolls in.

Snowbird Season: Great Weather, Busier Calendars

From fall through spring, winter visitors come back to the Valley, and a lot of them need help moving in, moving out, or downsizing. The weather is the best of the year, but the calendar fills in. If you are planning a move between October and April, call a few weeks earlier than you think you need to. Our post on snowbird season moves in the East Valley goes deeper on timing those moves.

The End of the Month Is the Real Crunch

Season matters, but the day of the month can matter just as much. Most leases end on the last day of the month, so the last few days of a month and the first few days of the next are when everyone wants a mover at the same time. Apartment elevators get booked, loading zones fill up, and the good start times go first.

If your lease gives you any overlap, use it. Moving on the 18th instead of the 31st gives you a calmer day, better parking, and time to fix anything you forgot. If you are moving into an apartment, our apartment moving checklist covers the elevator and parking calls to make first.

Weekday or Weekend?

Saturday is the most requested day of the week, every season. If you can take a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, you will usually find more open start times, easier elevator reservations, and less traffic around apartment complexes and shopping centers. It is not always possible with a work schedule, but if you have the flexibility, a midweek move is worth it.

So When Should You Move?

If you have total freedom, here is the order I would pick in:

1. A midweek, mid-month day from mid-October through November
2. A midweek day in March
3. December through February, booked early because of snowbird season
4. May, with a 7 AM start
5. June through September, with an early start, everything packed, and a plan for the heat

Most people do not get total freedom. Leases, closings, and jobs pick the date for you. That is fine. Any date in the Valley can go smoothly with the right start time and a crew that has done it before. We are based in Chandler and handle local moves across the Valley, including plenty of moves in Phoenix. Call me with your date and we will figure out the best way to work with it.

Common Questions