Moving during the holidays sounds stressful, yet it can be a calm time to relocate. Crews have more open dates after the summer rush. Buildings are quieter, and you can start the new year in a new home. The hard part is fitting packing, travel, and family plans into a few busy weeks. Chicago weather also turns cold and dark early in December. Elite Moving and Storage has handled moves across Chicago and the suburbs since 2006. That includes many December closings and New Year lease renewals. Our five tips below cover booking windows, budgets, decorations, and winter conditions. They also cover the small details that keep moving day on schedule, from Thanksgiving week through the first days of January.
How Does Holiday Timing Change a Chicago Move?
The holiday season is not one block of time. It breaks into short windows. Each one changes how easy it is to book a crew, reach a building manager, or close on a home. The table shows the 2026 to 2027 calendar and what to plan for in each stretch.
| Window | 2026 to 2027 dates | What changes | What to plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre Thanksgiving | Nov 9 to Nov 25 | Steady demand, longer days than December | Book December dates, start decluttering |
| Thanksgiving week | Nov 23 to Nov 29 | Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov 26 | Avoid Wednesday to Saturday moves if family travels |
| Early December | Nov 30 to Dec 18 | Quieter calendar, overnight parking ban starts Dec 1 | Best window for a December move |
| Christmas to New Year | Dec 19 to Jan 3 | Offices and building staff on reduced hours | Confirm elevator and COI approvals early |
| Early January | Jan 4 to Jan 31 | Coldest month, normal low near 19°F | Plan for ice, salt, and short daylight |
Pick your target week first, then work backward. A December move in the quiet early December window usually offers the widest choice of dates. It also gives you more arrival times to choose from.
5 Tips for Moving During the Holidays in Chicago
Each tip comes from patterns crews see every winter. Some families book too late. Others lose a box of ornaments in the wrong room. Follow the tips in order and the season works for you, not against you.
1. Book your date by early November
Elite recommends booking three to four weeks before moving day. That lead time matters even more in the holiday season. Many families want the same dates: the weekend after Thanksgiving, the week before Christmas, and the days around New Year. Lock in your date early. Ask for a morning start, which gives the crew the most daylight.
Your dates might shift because of a closing. If so, ask how the deposit works before you sign. Elite deposits are fully refundable when you cancel within the contracted time. An early booking does not trap you. If a closing slips into the new year, read about how to navigate last minute changes to your move.
2. Build one budget for gifts and the move
Holiday spending and moving costs hit the same account in the same month. Plan them together. List the fixed costs first: the moving deposit, boxes and tape, utility deposits, travel, and any storage. Then set your gift and hosting budget with what is left.
Local moves at Elite are billed by the hour. Long distance moves get a guaranteed price based on your inventory. Knowing which model applies helps you predict the final number. Want to trim the total? Compare dates using this breakdown of moving in the middle of the week or on the weekend.
3. Pack decorations and gifts in their own boxes
The classic holiday moving mistake is packing ornaments, lights, and gifts with everything else. Give them their own boxes and mark them clearly. Ask the crew to place them in one room. You can unpack the tree and stockings first and leave the rest for January.
Wrap glass ornaments one by one in packing paper. Fill empty space so nothing shifts. Coil light strings around a piece of cardboard to stop tangles. Label gift boxes with a code instead of names, especially if kids will help unpack. For fragile pieces and full room packing, see what our packing services Chicago team offers.
4. Plan around ice, cold, and early sunsets
Chicago winter changes how a move runs. National Weather Service climate normals put the December high at 36.6°F and the low at 24.4°F. December also brings about 7.6 inches of snow. January is colder, with a normal low of 18.8°F and 11.3 inches of snow. The sun sets around 4:20 p.m. in early December, so a morning start matters.
Clear and salt every walkway, porch, and driveway the night before. Elite crews lay blue floor runners from the door to each room. The rubberized bottom keeps them in place, and they keep slush off hardwood and carpet. Leave a box of towels by the entry for wet boots and dolly wheels.
Cold also affects what you pack. Electronics, candles, aerosols, and some liquids react badly to freezing temperatures in a truck. Move them in your car when you can. Let devices warm up for a few hours before you plug them in.
5. Line up utilities, parking, and building access
Arriving at a cold house with no heat is a rough start to the season. Schedule gas, electric, and internet at the new address at least one day before the move. If the home will sit empty, ask the seller or landlord to keep the heat on.
Parking and building rules also tighten in winter. From December 1 to April 1, Chicago bans overnight parking from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. on 107 miles of main streets. A truck cannot stay overnight on those routes. Condo buildings often want an elevator reservation and proof of insurance. Elite can usually issue a certificate of insurance for your building within one to two business days. Request it at least three business days ahead.
What Belongs on a Holiday Moving Checklist?
A short checklist keeps the busy weeks under control. Print it, tape it to the fridge, and check items off as you go. These are the tasks families most often forget when moving during the holidays:
- Confirm your holiday move date and arrival window in writing.
- Schedule utilities to start one day before the move.
- Reserve the elevator and send the building your COI.
- Pack holiday decorations and gifts in labeled boxes.
- Set aside winter coats, boots, and an ice scraper.
- Salt walkways and clear snow the night before.
- Pack a first night box with chargers and medications.
- Plan meals for moving day so nobody cooks.
Share the list with everyone in the house. Give each person one or two tasks. A shared plan stops the last minute scramble that makes a holiday move feel harder than it is.
Is It Cheaper to Move During the Holidays?
In most years, yes. Off season dates usually cost less than peak summer dates because demand drops. The exception is the few days right before Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. Many people try to move then. If price matters most, choose a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday in early December or mid January.
Savings also come from doing less on moving day. Declutter before the crew arrives. Every item you donate is an item you do not pay to move. The season is a natural time to give. This list of items to donate before your move shows where common goods can go. A smaller load means a shorter day and a lower hourly total on a local move.
Timing your utility and service transfers also saves money. Overlapping service at two addresses for a week costs less than a cold first night. That small overlap is one of the best investments when moving during the holidays.
How Can Storage Help With a December Move?
Holiday closings rarely line up perfectly. A buyer may push the date into January. A new apartment may not be ready until after the first of the year. Short term storage lets you leave the old home on schedule without moving everything twice.
Elite stores household goods in sealed moving vaults. The vaults sit inside a climate controlled facility monitored 24/7. That protects wood furniture, electronics, and photos from the freeze and thaw cycles of a garage or unheated unit. If the gap is only a night or two, ask about Chicago movers overnight storage. It avoids an extra unload.
Moving out of state this season? An interstate timeline starts much earlier than a local one, and holiday delivery windows can stretch. Use this 60 day interstate moving timeline to set deadlines for estimates, packing, and travel.
How Do You Keep Kids and Pets Calm During a Holiday Move?
Children and pets feel the change before the boxes even appear. School breaks, visiting relatives, and a half packed house can throw off routines fast. Keep bedtimes and meal times the same as much as you can. Pack kids’ rooms last and unpack them first, so they have a familiar space on night one.
Let children pack one small box of favorite things and carry it in the car. Give them a job on moving day, like guarding the holiday box or counting cartons. If grandparents are in town, ask them to take the kids out while the crew loads. A quiet house makes the day faster and safer.
Pets need a plan too. Doors stay open for hours during loading, and winter cold is dangerous for a dog or cat that slips out. Set up a closed room with water, food, a bed, and a sign on the door. Better yet, book a sitter or boarding for the day. These tips for keeping pets comfortable during a move cover carriers, routines, and the first days in a new home.
Keep one holiday tradition intact, even if the house is half unpacked. Hang the stockings, light a candle, or order the same takeout you always do. Small rituals tell everyone, kids especially, that the season still belongs to them.
What Should You Do in the First Week After a Holiday Move?
Keep the first week simple. Unpack the kitchen, bathrooms, and beds first. Then open the holiday boxes, then everything else. Pack an essentials box with chargers, medications, toiletries, dishes, and clothes. That way the first night does not depend on finding the right carton. Here is what to put in your first night box.
Before the snow piles up, walk the property with a flashlight. Test the furnace and find the water shutoff. Check that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors work. New to the North Shore? Read about winter moves on the North Shore for snow removal rules and village services.
Finally, check each room against your inventory. Photograph any damage within a day or two. Most families find that a winter move done right leaves January free for settling in and meeting neighbors.
Weather is the biggest wildcard when moving during the holidays. To pick a date with the best odds of a dry, mild day, check the Chicago climate normals by month from the National Weather Service.
Make the Season Easier With an Experienced Crew
A December or January move asks for more planning, but the payoff is real. You get quieter calendars, more open dates, and a fresh start before the new year. Book early and keep holiday boxes separate. Plan around ice and short days. Confirm utilities and building access before the truck arrives. With those steps covered, moving during the holidays becomes a simple project, not a seasonal headache. Elite Moving and Storage brings trained crews, floor runners, and climate controlled storage to every winter job. Our team has two decades of Chicago winters behind it. Share your dates, address, and special items, and request a free moving quote today. We will reserve the crew and time slot that fit your plans.
