17 Ways to Reduce Your LA Moving Costs

After helping thousands of families relocate across Los Angeles, our team at Green Moving has identified exactly where moving budgets go wrong—and how to fix them. The difference between an expensive move and an affordable one often comes down to decisions made weeks before the truck arrives.

These 17 strategies are based on real data from our moves. Clients who implement even half of these tips typically save $700-$1,750 on their total moving costs.

Timing Strategies

When you move affects cost more than most people realize. Our busiest days cost 15-25% more than our slowest—same crew, same truck, same service.

1. Move mid-week

Tuesday through Thursday rates run 10-15% lower than weekends across most LA moving companies, including ours. Why? Demand drives pricing. Weekend slots book weeks in advance while Tuesday often has same-week availability.

Real savings: On a $1,200 move, mid-week timing saves $120-$180.

2. Avoid month-end

The last week of every month sees peak demand as leases expire simultaneously. We book solid from the 25th through the 31st, and last-minute availability commands premium rates.

Best timing: The 10th through the 20th of any month offers the best combination of availability and rates.

3. Skip summer if possible

May through September is peak moving season across Los Angeles. Families move before school starts, college students relocate, and demand spikes 40-60% above winter levels.

Best months for savings: October through February. December offers the lowest rates of the year—most people avoid holiday moves, creating opportunity for budget-conscious movers.

4. Book early

Booking 30-60 days in advance secures better rates than last-minute scheduling. Early booking also guarantees your preferred date and time slot.

Pro Tip: If you know your moving date, book immediately—even if it's two months away. Cancellation policies are typically flexible, but rate locks are valuable.

Decluttering Tactics

Every item you don't move saves money twice: less packing time and less truck space. Our data shows that clients who declutter aggressively before moving save 20-30% on their final bill.

5. Sell before you pack

Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Craigslist turn unwanted items into cash while reducing moving volume. Price items to sell quickly—your goal is removing them from the move, not maximizing profit.

Strategy: List items 4-6 weeks before your move. Drop prices weekly until sold. Anything unsold at 2 weeks goes to donation.

6. Donate strategically

Many LA charities offer free pickup for furniture and large items, saving you disposal hassle.

Best options: Habitat for Humanity ReStore takes furniture and building materials. Goodwill and Salvation Army accept most household items. Out of the Closet accepts clothing with proceeds funding AIDS healthcare.

Bonus: Donations are tax-deductible. Keep receipts and itemized lists.

7. Host an estate sale

For larger households with significant items to offload, professional estate sale companies handle everything for 25-35% commission. They price, display, sell, and remove unsold items.

When it makes sense: If you have $2,000+ in sellable items you don't want to manage yourself.

8. Calculate the true cost of keeping items

Moving that old dresser costs $50+ in time and materials. If the dresser is worth less than $50, you're paying to move something that should be replaced.

Rule of thumb: If replacing an item costs less than moving it, consider letting it go.

DIY Elements

Full-service moves offer convenience, but selective DIY saves significantly without overwhelming you.

9. Pack yourself

Professional packing adds $300-$800+ to most moves depending on home size. Self-packing takes time but delivers the biggest single savings opportunity.

Time investment: Budget 1-2 hours per room for careful packing. A 2-bedroom apartment typically requires 10-15 hours of packing spread over several days.

What to still hire out: Consider professional packing for fragile, valuable, or awkward items—artwork, antiques, large mirrors. The expertise is worth the cost for high-risk items.

10. Source free boxes

New boxes cost $3-7 each. A typical move requires 40-60 boxes, totaling $150-$350 in materials alone.

Free sources: Liquor stores have sturdy, uniform boxes. Grocery stores offer produce boxes. Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace "free" sections list moving supplies daily. NextDoor neighbors often give away boxes after their moves.

Pro Tip: Collect boxes 3-4 weeks before packing begins. You'll need more than you expect—grab extras when available.

11. Use what you have

Suitcases roll easily and protect contents—perfect for heavy books or fragile items. Laundry baskets transport awkward items. Dresser drawers can stay full of clothes (we just wrap the dresser). Trash bags work for soft items like bedding and pillows.

12. Disassemble furniture yourself

Taking apart beds, tables, and shelving before movers arrive reduces labor time. Keep hardware in labeled plastic bags taped to the furniture piece.

Time savings: A bed frame takes our crew 10-15 minutes to disassemble. Multiply by 3-4 beds plus other furniture, and you've saved 45-60 minutes of labor—roughly $50-$80 at hourly rates.

Smart Booking

How you book and negotiate affects your final price more than most clients realize.

13. Get multiple quotes

Three to five quotes reveal the true market rate for your move and identify outliers—both suspiciously cheap and unnecessarily expensive.

Red flags: Quotes significantly below market often signal unlicensed movers, hidden fees, or bait-and-switch tactics. If a quote seems too good to be true, it probably is.

14. Ask about discounts

Discounts exist but aren't always advertised. Ask specifically about:

- Military and veteran discounts (typically 5-10%)

- Senior discounts (often 5-10% for ages 60+)

- Teacher and first responder discounts

- Repeat customer discounts

- Referral credits

15. Negotiate—respectfully

Moving companies have flexibility, especially during slow periods (mid-week, mid-month, winter). Ask: "Is there any flexibility in this quote?" or "What would it take to reduce this estimate?"

What works: Flexibility on date and time. Willingness to be a "fill-in" move if a cancellation occurs.

What doesn't work: Demanding discounts without offering flexibility.

16. Bundle services

Combining moving with packing, storage, or supplies often yields package discounts. Ask about bundled pricing even if you initially planned separate services.

Example savings: Booking packing and moving together typically saves 10-15% versus booking separately.

Moving Day Efficiency

How you prepare for moving day directly impacts your final bill on hourly-rate moves.

17. Be completely ready

Movers on the clock waiting for you to finish packing costs money. Every 15 minutes of waiting at $169/hour (3-person crew) costs over $40.

Ready means:

- Everything packed and sealed in boxes

- Furniture disassembled where possible

- Pathways cleared through the home

- Parking arranged for the truck

- Building requirements completed (elevator reserved, COI delivered)

- You're present and available for questions

Real-World Savings Example

We recently moved a client from a 2-bedroom in Silver Lake to a 2-bedroom in Glendale. Her original quote: $1,450.

Strategies she implemented:

- Moved on Wednesday instead of Saturday: saved $160

- Packed herself over two weekends: saved $350

- Decluttered 15 boxes worth of items: saved approximately $120 (faster load time)

- Sourced free boxes from NextDoor: saved $85

- Was completely ready when crew arrived: saved 30 minutes, approximately $85

Her final cost: $850. Total savings: $600 (41% reduction).

Her investment: About 20 hours of her time over three weeks. That's $30/hour return on her effort.

Common Money-Wasting Mistakes

Based on moves where clients overspent, here's what to avoid.

Waiting until the last minute: Last-minute bookings during busy periods can cost 25-40% more than advance bookings.

Packing on moving day: If movers wait while you pack, you're paying premium rates for your own labor.

Keeping everything: Moving items you'll throw away after unpacking wastes money twice—moving them and disposing later.

Choosing the cheapest quote blindly: Unlicensed movers may damage belongings with no insurance recourse. The cheapest quote often becomes the most expensive move.

Not reading the fine print: Understand what's included. "Extra" charges for stairs, long carries, or packing materials can double a low quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I realistically save using these strategies?

Most clients who implement 8-10 of these strategies save $700-$1,200 on a typical LA move. The biggest savings come from self-packing ($300-$800), timing optimization ($100-$250), and decluttering ($100-$400). Combined with smaller savings, total reductions of 30-45% are achievable.

Is it worth my time to pack myself?

Depends on your hourly value and available time. Self-packing a 2-bedroom apartment saves roughly $400-$600 and takes 12-18 hours. That's $25-$50 per hour of your time. For most people, that return justifies the effort. If your time is worth more, or you have physical limitations, professional packing makes sense.

Should I always choose the cheapest moving company?

No. Extremely low quotes often indicate unlicensed operations, hidden fees, or inadequate insurance. Verify CPUC licensing for any California mover. Compare what's included in each quote. A slightly higher quote that includes packing materials, insurance, and transparent pricing often costs less than a "cheap" quote with add-on fees.

What's the single most impacthat money-saving strategy?

Timing. Moving mid-week in October instead of Saturday in July can reduce your costs by 30-40% with zero effort beyond flexible scheduling. If you can only implement one strategy, choose your moving date carefully.

Do moving companies really negotiate?

Yes, especially during slow periods. Companies prefer a discounted booking over an empty truck. Be flexible on date and time, ask respectfully, and you'll often find room for adjustment. Peak season and weekends offer less flexibility.

Key Takeaways

- Mid-week, mid-month moves in fall/winter save 20-30% versus peak times

- Self-packing delivers the biggest single savings: $300-$800

- Decluttering reduces costs by removing items from your move entirely

- Get 3-5 quotes to understand fair market pricing

- Be completely ready when movers arrive—waiting time is expensive

- Combine multiple strategies for maximum impact: $700-$1,750 potential savings

- Never sacrifice insurance and licensing to save money—it's not worth the risk

Want a transparent quote with no hidden fees? Green Moving provides detailed estimates and honest pricing throughout Los Angeles and Orange County.

Green Moving — Licensed (CAL-T 201327) & Insured. 1% of every move supports California environmental causes. Call (213) 829-4795 for your free quote.

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