[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/how-to-move-during-the-summer\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/how-to-move-during-the-summer\/","headline":"How to Move Easily During the Summer","name":"How to Move Easily During the Summer","description":"Around 40 million people move every year. Of that, 70 percent move between May and September. Summer tends […]","datePublished":"2021-07-23","dateModified":"2026-06-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/author\/kevin\/#Person","name":"Great Moving (Kevin)","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/author\/kevin\/","identifier":5,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b4997c379c86a878ffe0e2cbc54f56f2298ff0763e895fa10c13c22bfb54a237?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b4997c379c86a878ffe0e2cbc54f56f2298ff0763e895fa10c13c22bfb54a237?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NYC Great Movers","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nycgreatmovers-logo-20250918.png","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nycgreatmovers-logo-20250918.png","width":600,"height":363}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/How-to-Move-During-the-Summer.jpg","url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/How-to-Move-During-the-Summer.jpg","height":683,"width":1024},"url":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/how-to-move-during-the-summer\/","about":["How To","Moving Tips"],"wordCount":1367,"keywords":["great time to move","move during the summer","Move in the Summer","moving during the summer","professional movers","summer moves"],"articleBody":"Around 40 million people move every year. Of that, 70 percent move between May and September. Summer tends to be a great time to move due to several factors such as weather, summer break for kids, slower work schedule for adults, and general lease timing for landlords. When you consider all of the different moving parts, it\u2019s no surprise that many people opt to move during the summer months. Of course, there are plenty of downsides to moving during the summer, not least of which are soaring temperatures and sudden summer thunderstorms. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to make your summer move a bit easier.Book Your Movers Ahead of TimeIf you\u2019re renting, you probably already know when your lease is up, so instead of waiting until the last second, book your movers well in advance. Summer is one of the busiest times of the year for professional movers, so if you wait too long, you\u2019ll either pay an exorbitant amount or you\u2019ll end up hiring a not-so-reputable company (that will also charge you an arm and a leg). You might be able to get away with booking your movers a month in advance during the fall or winter, but you should aim for at least two months in advance during the summer. When booking your move, try to start it as early in the day as possible, as that is when temperatures and humidity levels tend to be lowest. You\u2019re also more likely to beat traffic if you start earlier in the day!Start Packing EarlyWhile you shouldn\u2019t leave packing to the last minute regardless of when you move, this is especially true during the summer. Most people get more lethargic and cranky during the hot summer months, making it all too easy to just throw everything into a box without too much thought. You want to limit how much time you spend lifting and moving around, so start packing as early as possible. Top Summer Packing MistakesPacking Mistake% of Movers AffectedImpactForgetting to pack non-essentials first45%Causes last-minute stress and rushed packing, increasing breakage riskImproper sealing of boxes38%Leads to boxes opening during transit and potential damageNeglecting electronics protection32%Electronics can overheat, get wet, or break during summer movesOverpacking boxes with heavy items28%Makes lifting difficult and increases the risk of box collapseNot labeling fragile or heat-sensitive items25%Items may be mishandled or left in the heat, causing damage Focus on packing non-essentials first and then slowly put away the rest of your belongings until you\u2019re left with just the necessities the day before your move. Be careful when packing, though! Some items, such as electronics, don\u2019t handle heat well. Do some research before you have the movers load your laptop or box on the truck. If you think some of your items might melt, pack them in separate boxes and try to keep them in air-conditioned surroundings as much as possible. Electronics should also be the last items placed on the truck and the first items taken off after you arrive at your new apartment. Go the extra mile and pack them in weatherproof bins and\/or baggies to protect them from summer showers.Think About Your ClothesWhile you might not be doing all the heavy lifting if you hire professional NYC movers, you should still think about what you\u2019re going to wear on the day of the move. You generally want to stick with lightweight and breathable fabrics such as cotton and\/or linen. Opt for more loose-fitting clothes as well to help keep you cool. Your clothes should be summery, but your footwear should not! Moving day is not the time for flip flops, sandals, or heels. Stick with comfortable closed-toed shoes or, if you\u2019re doing a DIY move, wear some boots to protect your feet in case you drop a box on your foot. Even if you hire movers, chances are you\u2019ll probably carry something, whether that\u2019s your pet or a box of important documents and items that you want to make sure make it to your new home.Stay HydratedStaying hydrated during the summer months is incredibly important, especially if you plan on moving. Even if you\u2019re not doing the heavy lifting, you\u2019ll probably still sweat a lot since you\u2019ll be keeping your door open for the movers and have your air conditioner either off or uninstalled from the window. If you\u2019re not replenishing your body with enough water, you could experience negative side effects of dehydration. Make sure to offer water to the movers and anyone else helping out. If possible, try to stock your fridge at your new apartment with water as well so that you can have something cold to drink after you arrive. You and the movers will be thankful for it!Look Up the WeatherA couple of days before your move, take a look at the weather report. Thunderstorms and squalls happen frequently during the summer months, so you want to make sure you prepare accordingly. If it does look like rain, you should purchase protective coverings for your clothes, furniture so they don\u2019t get wet. For boxes, make sure to give them a thorough inspection and seal any gaps with packing tape. If you\u2019re using old cardboard boxes, you\u2019ll need to take some extra precautions:Reinforce the box with extra layers of packing tape around the edges, corners, and bottomLine the inside of the box with a plastic sheet, drop cloth, or trash bag to prevent water from leaking insidePut your belongings in a plastic bag before you put them in the boxClearly label boxes that should not get wet in large letters on the top and side of the box by writing \u201cKEEP DRY\u201d or \u201cDON\u2019T GET WET.\u201d Best Times of Day to Move in SummerTime of DayAverage Temperature (\u00b0F)Average Humidity (%)Traffic LevelComfort Level6:00 AM \u2013 8:00 AM68\u201375\u00b0F55\u201360%LowExcellent \u2013 Coolest part of the day, less traffic, ideal for moving8:00 AM \u2013 10:00 AM75\u201380\u00b0F60\u201365%ModerateGood \u2013 Warm, but manageable; still a reasonable moving window10:00 AM \u2013 12:00 PM80\u201385\u00b0F65\u201370%HighModerate \u2013 Getting hotter; traffic may slow movers down12:00 PM \u2013 2:00 PM85\u201390\u00b0F70\u201375%HighPoor \u2013 Hottest part of the day, risk of heat exhaustion2:00 PM \u2013 5:00 PM85\u201388\u00b0F70\u201375%ModerateFair \u2013 Still hot; may consider indoor tasks or breaks5:00 PM \u2013 8:00 PM78\u201382\u00b0F65\u201370%Low\u2013ModerateGood \u2013 Cooler than midday, less traffic, still manageable Heavy rain and\/or hailstorms can also affect the timing of the movers, as it might take longer for them to get to your house and the destination. They might run into dangerous road conditions and\/or detours along the way. If they end up going above the time allotted for the move, be prepared to have a higher bill after the move. You should also consider tipping them more, especially if they did a good job of protecting your belongings from the rain.ConclusionSummer moves might be common, but that doesn\u2019t mean you should take them lightly! You\u2019ll be competing with millions of other people moving during the same time, so you\u2019ll have to plan accordingly. If that\u2019s not enough, you also have to contend with the summer heat and downpours. Luckily, with enough preparation, you should be able to make your move without any issues.FAQDoes NYC Great Movers charge more for peak season moves?We do not. We charge a fixed hourly rate for our moves regardless of the season.What are some of the biggest health risks of moving during the summer?While dehydration is the biggest risk during the summer in general, you should also look out for overheating symptoms which include elevated body temperatures, headaches, nausea, dizziness, weakness, fainting, muscle cramps, seizures, and general confusion.Should I tip the movers more for summer moves?That depends on you! If you feel like your movers did a great job, you should absolutely tip them more. If nothing else, you can tip them normally and then give them some ice hold water to keep them hydrated."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to Move Easily During the Summer","item":"https:\/\/nycgreatmovers.com\/blog\/how-to-move-during-the-summer\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]