Address:
13 Woodhouse Rd,
Manchester M22 1PZ
Phone
07510 077183
What day is the cheapest for removals? It’s a question more people should ask before they lock in a moving date — because the day of the week you choose can make a surprisingly big difference to what you end up paying.
Most people pick their moving date based on what’s convenient. A Friday feels natural — you get the weekend to unpack, you only need one day off work, and it lines up nicely with completion. And that logic makes total sense. But convenience comes at a cost, and if you have any flexibility at all, knowing the cheaper days can save you a meaningful amount of money without any sacrifice in quality.
Here’s the honest breakdown.
What Day Is the Cheapest for Removals? Tuesday and Wednesday
If you’re purely looking for the cheapest day of the week for removals, the answer is midweek — specifically Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Fewer people book these days, removal companies have more availability, and that increased competition tends to bring prices down.
Data from over 170,000 UK house moves shows that Sunday is technically the cheapest day of the week, with an average three-bedroom house move costing around £683 — a saving of roughly 21% against the weekly average. Tuesday comes in as the second cheapest at £755, around 14% cheaper than average.
But here’s the practical reality: Sunday moves are tricky. Banks and solicitors aren’t open, so if you’re in a chain and anything goes wrong with fund transfers or paperwork, you have nowhere to turn until Monday. For most buyers, that’s too much risk.
That makes Tuesday and Wednesday the real sweet spot — cheap, but without the risk of a Sunday move leaving you stranded if something in the chain goes sideways.
Why Is Friday So Expensive?
Around 30% of all UK moves take place on a Friday. The logic is obvious — one day off work gives you a full long weekend to unpack and settle in. Estate agents love it too, because completions on Friday mornings keep chains moving cleanly.
But that popularity comes at a premium. Because so many people want Fridays, local removal companies are fully booked well in advance, and prices reflect that demand. You’re not necessarily paying more for a better service — you’re paying more because everyone else wants the same slot.
There’s also a hidden risk with Friday moves that people overlook. The bank deadline for transferring completion funds is usually 3pm. Miss that window, and your solicitor can’t complete the transaction until the next working day — which in this case is Monday. If anything goes wrong in the chain on a Friday afternoon, you could be sitting in a loaded van with nowhere to go for an entire weekend. That kind of delay can mean emergency storage costs and unplanned accommodation on top of everything else.
The Full Day-by-Day Breakdown
Here’s how the days of the week typically stack up for removal costs in 2026:
| Day | Relative Cost | Popularity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Mid-range | Low | Often used for overflow from weekend moves |
| Tuesday | Cheapest (weekday) | Very low | Best balance of price and practicality |
| Wednesday | Very cheap | Low | Our top recommendation |
| Thursday | Can be higher | Moderate | Picks up as the week builds toward Friday |
| Friday | Premium | Very high (30% of all moves) | Popular but expensive and higher risk |
| Saturday | Premium | High | Second most popular — commands a surcharge |
| Sunday | Cheapest overall | Very low (5%) | Cheap but risky — no banks or solicitors open |
The pattern is simple: the more popular the day, the more you pay. Removal companies have limited capacity — vans, crew, and hours — so pricing follows demand. So if you’re still asking what day is the cheapest for removals, the table above gives you a clear answer: midweek, every time.
It’s Not Just the Day That Matters — Timing Through the Year Makes a Big Difference Too
The Cheapest Months to Move
If you want to save the most money overall, the data for 2026 is clear: January, February, and March are the cheapest months to move. After the festive season, the property market cools down, fewer completions are happening, and removal companies are actively looking to fill their schedules. That gives you real negotiating power.
February in particular is often the absolute low point for removal pricing. Yes, the weather might be grim, but your budget goes noticeably further. If you can stomach a cold moving day, the savings are real.
The Most Expensive Months to Move
Summer is the peak season — June, July, and August are the busiest months for removal companies across the UK, driven by families wanting to move during school holidays. Prices are highest, availability is tightest, and you’ll need to book further in advance. The same applies to December, when there’s a surge of people trying to move before Christmas.
Avoid End-of-Month Dates
Many rental agreements end at the last day of the month, which means there’s a surge in demand from tenants moving at the end of every month — typically the 28th to the 2nd of the following month. If you can move mid-month, you’ll often find better availability and lower quotes.
What Could You Actually Save By Choosing the Cheapest Day for Removals?
To put some real numbers on it — weekend moves can cost 20–30% more than midweek alternatives, and some companies apply flat surcharges for Saturday or Sunday slots. On a 3-bed house removal costing around £1,200 on a Friday, moving on a Wednesday instead could realistically save you £150–£300. That’s not nothing — it’s a decent chunk of your packing materials budget, or a contribution toward your first grocery shop in the new place.
For long-distance removals, the savings from choosing an off-peak day can be even greater, since these moves typically cost more to begin with and the percentage saving is applied to a higher base figure.
The Risk Nobody Talks About: Chain Delays on Peak Days
Here’s something estate agents don’t always mention clearly. Fridays are actually the riskiest day to complete a house purchase — not just the most expensive.
If there’s a delay in the chain — a bank transfer that doesn’t clear, a solicitor waiting on paperwork — and you miss the 3pm bank deadline, nothing can happen until Monday. By that point your removal van may be sitting outside your new property with nowhere to unload, you’ve vacated your old home, and you need somewhere to sleep.
By opting for a midweek move — a Tuesday or Wednesday — you give yourself a two-to-three day buffer before the weekend if anything in the chain needs resolving. Estate agents and solicitors are often quietly relieved when buyers suggest a Wednesday completion for exactly this reason. It makes everyone’s lives easier and removes the Friday afternoon panic.
But What If I Can’t Choose My Moving Day?
Sometimes you can’t — the chain dictates the date, your tenancy end date is fixed, or your employer won’t give you a specific day off. In that case, don’t stress about it. What day is the cheapest for removals matters, but the day of the week is just one factor among many — a reliable, professional removal team is worth more than the saving from switching from a Friday to a Wednesday.
What you can control regardless of the day:
- How far in advance you book. Booking 4–6 weeks ahead gives you better availability and often better pricing than last-minute bookings.
- Whether you pack yourself. A professional packing service adds to the cost, but doing your own packing saves a meaningful amount regardless of which day you move.
- Whether you’ve decluttered properly. Fewer items means a smaller van, shorter job, and lower quote — no matter what day you’re moving.
- Whether you’ve got specialist items sorted in advance. A piano removal or furniture dismantling service is best booked early, especially on popular days when specialist slots fill up fast.
Our Honest Recommendation: What Day Is the Cheapest for Removals?
If you have flexibility: book a Wednesday in January, February, or March. You’ll get the best possible price, strong availability, plenty of working days on either side if anything in the chain needs resolving, and a removal team that isn’t exhausted from a packed Friday-heavy week.
If you don’t have flexibility: book as early as possible, compare at least three quotes, and don’t leave it to the last minute. The day matters less than the team you book and how well you’ve prepared.
Either way, get a free quote from SmartyMoves and we’ll give you a clear, honest price for your specific date — peak or off-peak, local or long-distance.
Moving in Greater Manchester?
SmartyMoves covers the full Greater Manchester area. Whether you’re moving within Manchester city centre, across to Salford or Trafford, or heading out to Stockport, Chorlton, Didsbury, Wilmslow, or Wythenshawe — you can see the full list of areas we cover here.
Transparent pricing. Proper insurance. A team that shows up on time and does the job properly — whatever day you move.
Related reading: How Much Should I Budget for a Move? (2026) — a full breakdown of every cost to factor in, from removal fees to legal charges.
Also useful: How Much Do Home Removals Cost in the UK? — removal cost benchmarks by property size, so you know what a fair quote looks like.