How long does it take to move?

Figure out how long your move will take

Knowing how much time it takes to move is helpful for several reasons. It helps you know when to expect your items — a critical piece of information — and it also helps you know when to schedule moving labor, when to start packing, and when to schedule turn-on dates for utilities. The speed of a move depends on a few factors. Explore them below and see typical timeframes for popular moving options. 
How long does it take to move?

What determines move duration?​

There’s no standard answer to “How long will my move take?” because every move is different. However, you can figure out the length of your move by considering how you’ll move, the locations, when you’ll move and how long other tasks will take.  

How you move​

The biggest factor in move length is the method you choose. Moving services operate differently, so transit times can vary widely.  

Full service

You can expect transit times of 2-4 weeks for this type of move. Unless your household is large enough to take up the entire trailer, your belongings will be loaded with another shipment going in the same direction. Because multiple households are involved and the company will need to arrange for an unloading crew, it can take a little longer to receive items.    

Container moving

Many container moving companies give you 30 days to complete your move, and while you could decrease the loading or unloading time a little, most companies can take upwards of a month to deliver belongings to destination because of their transportation method. One exception is U-Pack®ReloCubes® — average transit times are 2-5 business days, and you get up to three business days to load and unload. So all in all, a move in a ReloCube takes 8-11 business days (or faster if you load and unload quickly).

Truck rental

Since truck rental moves are completely DIY, transit times are a little more in your control. Many truck rental companies give a timeframe for the rental based on the distance, and you just have to fit the loading, driving and unloading into that time (or arrange for more).
For example, for a trip from Boston, MA to Dallas, TX (1,700 miles), U-Haul® gives six days. If it takes one day for loading and one day for unloading, that leaves four days to drive. You could drive more miles each day and arrive sooner, take all of the allotted time, or pay for additional days if you need them.

U-Pack

As mentioned above, U-Pack is a “you pack, we drive” service that gives you three business days for loading and three for unloading, with transit times averaging 2-5 business days. Using a moving crew can help speed up the loading and unloading. And if you need a shipment faster or on a particular day, we have Guaranteed service where you can either expedite transit or choose a specific date or window of time.

Location, location, location​

No matter which method you choose, distance plays into how long a move will take. Traveling just 300 miles away is very different from moving coast-to-coast, so keep your origin and destination in mind when estimating arrival dates.

Move date

The date can have an impact because of road traffic. For example, more cars are on the road on the weekends and holidays — adding travel time no matter how your belongings are being transported. Consider off-peak days to avoid congested roadways.

Other tasks

Transit times are a key factor in how long a move takes, but additional tasks have to be completed as well. Packing can take several days, and other necessary steps (like transferring personal information and finding a new home) also take some time to finish. We recommend starting eight weeks before the move date to give adequate time. Use this moving checklist to stay on track!   

So, how long will your move take?

To see how long a move with U-Pack would take, get a free moving quote. It will show you the estimated transit time for your shipment (based on location and date), and you can just add on days for loading and unloading. If you have any questions about the move duration or moving with U-Pack, just leave a comment below.
 
U-Haul® is a registered trademark of U-Haul International, Inc.  Use of third-party trademarks or registered trademarks does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by such third-party. 

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