September can be one of the best times to move in Chicago—but the date you choose matters. The period around Labor Day is still part of the busy summer moving season. Families are settling before school, students are moving, and many apartment leases begin or end near the first of the month. By mid-to-late September, schedules often become more flexible and the weather is usually more comfortable for moving.
If you can choose your date, a weekday in the middle of September may give you a better selection of arrival times than a holiday weekend or month-end move. It does not guarantee a lower price, but better availability can make the entire move easier to plan.
Early September vs. Mid-to-Late September
Moving period | What to expect |
|---|---|
Labor Day weekend
| High demand, limited time slots, busy streets and buildings |
First week of September
| Apartment turnover, student moves and tight elevator schedules |
Middle of September
| More weekday flexibility and fewer end-of-summer moves |
Late September
| Calmer scheduling, but month-end demand may increase again |
National moving research describes May through mid-September as peak season, with June, July and August usually the busiest months. Demand commonly begins to ease after Labor Day, although popular weekends and the end of the month can still fill quickly.
Is Moving in September Cheaper?
Sometimes—but not automatically. Moving prices are based on the actual job, not only the month.
Typical 2026 local moving ranges in Chicago and nearby suburbs are:
Home size | General planning range* |
|---|---|
Studio or 1-bedroom
|
$450–$950 |
2-bedroom apartment or condo
| $750–$1,650 |
3-bedroom townhouse
| $1,200–$2,400
|
3–4 bedroom home
| $1,800–$3,800 |
*These are planning ranges, not fixed quotes. Your price depends on the inventory, crew size, labor time, distance, packing, stairs, elevator access, parking and heavy items.
A September move may be easier to schedule after the first week, but a last-minute weekend booking can still cost more than a planned weekday move. For a detailed breakdown, see our Chicago moving cost guide.
What Is the Best Day to Move in Chicago?
If your lease or closing date is flexible, consider:
- Tuesday through Thursday: usually less requested than weekends;
- the middle of the month: often calmer than the first or last days;
- an early start: gives the crew more time and avoids the hottest part of the day;
- a time that matches your building rules: the cheapest-looking time slot is not useful if the freight elevator is unavailable.
Before choosing the date, ask both buildings about permitted moving hours, elevator reservations, loading-dock access and required documents.
Chicago Details That Can Add Time and Cost
September weather may be pleasant, but Chicago access can still complicate a move.
Certificate of Insurance and elevator reservations
Many managed apartments and condos require a Certificate of Insurance, a reserved freight elevator and a specific move-in or move-out window. Request the COI early and confirm the elevator at both addresses. Our Chicago apartment moving guide explains the process in more detail.
Parking and long carries
If the moving truck cannot park near the entrance, every box and piece of furniture takes longer to load. Check whether you need reserved curb space, temporary no-parking signs or loading-dock access. Read our Chicago moving permit and parking guide before moving day.
Walk-ups and oversized furniture
Stairs, narrow hallways and tight turns affect crew size and labor time. Send photos of large furniture and difficult access points when requesting the estimate.
Five Ways to Make a September Move Easier
- Book as soon as your date is confirmed. Do not wait if you need Labor Day weekend or a month-end date.
- Provide a complete inventory. Include closets, storage units, balconies, garages and heavy items.
- Finish small-item packing early. Closed, labeled boxes are faster and safer to move than loose belongings.
- Declutter before the estimate. Fewer items can mean fewer boxes, less truck space and fewer labor hours.
- Separate first-night essentials. Keep medication, documents, chargers, toiletries, clothes and basic kitchen items with you.
Why Choose ACM Movers for a September Move?
ACM Movers provides local, apartment, house, packing and storage services throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Our goal is to balance price and quality: careful work, realistic planning and a quote based on the actual move.
Depending on your belongings, we use moving blankets, stretch wrap, bubble wrap, strong boxes, mattress bags and specialized cartons for TVs, mirrors and artwork. We also listen to your preferences and adjust the plan whenever possible—from partial packing and furniture disassembly to temporary storage or a specific building time window.
Our publicly visible reviews describe real crews and completed moves, helping customers understand the service before booking.
4.9 Stars
based on 673 reviews
Google Maps 5.0
Yelp 4.6
Facebook 4.9
Hired them again and Nazar was great! Both guys did a great job. I will be hiring them again
What I really loved was how cautious and professional they were— they got everything done so fast but didn’t rush or cut corners. Honestly, I felt so taken care of, which was such a relief because moving is usually the worst.
If you want movers who will make your life so much easier, ACM Movers is the way to go. I’m so glad Nazar and his team were there to help me! 🙂
The movers were friendly, worked quickly, and ensured everything was properly packed and secured. They made what could have been a stressful day so much easier, and I felt confident that my items were in good hands.
I highly recommend ACM Movers Evanston for anyone looking for reliable, stress-free moving services in Chicago. They exceeded my expectations in every way!
Update, they moved me into storage facility and I recently removed all my items from that storage facility. I found larger boxes stacked on top of small boxes and barely balancing, and every single piece of my furniture was damaged. I have vintage dressers that were in Christine condition with giant gouges in them. every table and hard piece of furniture that I had had scratches and gouges that are not really repairable. And my favorite is the one year-old chair that I had, a big oversized living room chair had the frame broken. Like they dropped it on some thing and didn’t bother saying anything . The wood is literally snapped in half. So now I have to pay to have it repaired. I’m talking every piece of furniture, huge dining table, all my living room for furniture. I’m not even going to bother asking them to do anything, because they don’t even answer their phones when you are upset. Keep in mind that I don’t even yell at people, I state things calmly. The men that were sent, although seemingly nice after a while, they weren’t at first because they actually had to work, but They were not movers. My uncle was a professional mover for 40 years until he passed away. There was no supervisor there, just three guys who needed a job. We were told that they would wrap our furniture, it was not even offered, except for a mirror, they taped close all the drawers on the wooden dresser with a high adhesive tape that luckily they make products to remove. It was ridiculous. I might as well have gone on craigslist and found somebody. It would’ve been cheaper to have my belongings damaged by random people off of craigslist. If you have decent stuff that you care about, avoid them at all costs.
Since it won’t let me directly respond to your comment, it was not under my name, but it was my things. My mother has the same name, and she’s a sister of the person who did the reservation and paid for it. And you ignored her and unless you’re gonna pay for all of my furniture that your people destroyed, I have no interest in speaking to you anymore
We had 2 trucks-worth of heavy, solid oak furniture we were moving to a family member's house (including a piano). What would have taken us months and several U-Haul rentals took the ACM Movers about 4 hours.
Side note: Based on all of these 5-star reviews, I was definitely say they are Rock, so happy of using your service guys !!!
I recently used ACM Movers for my move from Berwyn,IL to Chicago, and I couldn't be more satisfied with their service.
From the initial quote to the final box being placed in my new home, the entire process was smooth and stress-free. The team was professional, punctual, and extremely careful with my belongings. They took the time to wrap and protect my furniture, ensuring that everything arrived in perfect condition.
The movers themselves were friendly and courteous, making what is typically a stressful day much more pleasant. They worked efficiently and didn't waste any time, but also made sure to handle my items with care.
I highly recommend ACM Movers to anyone in need of a reliable and professional moving service. They made a potentially difficult day much easier, and I am extremely grateful for their help.
Thank you, ACM Movers for a job well done!
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I recently had the pleasure of hiring ACM Movers for my relocation of a WHOLE PRESCHOOL!!! in northern Illinois, and I cannot recommend them highly enough! From start to finish, the entire experience was seamless and stress-free. The team was incredibly professional, punctual, and attentive to all my needs. They handled our stuffs with the utmost care, ensuring everything arrived at the Mosses new home in perfect condition. The movers were friendly and efficient, making the entire process quick and effortless. ACM Movers truly exceeded all our expectations, and I am grateful for their exceptional service. If you're in need of a reliable and top-notch moving company, look no further than ACM Movers!
First of all, instant text communication made it really easy to schedule an appointment.
On the day of move, everything was smooth and professional.
ACM Movers were extremely careful with all stuff and furniture. They also had all needed wraps, tapes, covers and huge boxes to insure that everything is securely wrapped and ready to go.
Mirrors and glass items were packed with carton toppers👍
Plants were transported in a metal cart, which I think was a brilliant idea!
The easiest move out - move in in my life!
Thank you!
Plan Your September Move
September can offer comfortable weather and better scheduling than the busiest summer weeks, especially if you move after Labor Day on a mid-month weekday. The key is to confirm the crew, building requirements and parking plan before your preferred date disappears.
Request a free moving quote or call ACM Movers at +1 872-212-5599 to check September availability.
FAQ
Yes. September often offers comfortable weather and improving availability after the summer rush. Labor Day weekend, the first week and month-end dates may still be busy.
It may be easier to find flexible time slots after Labor Day, but lower pricing is not guaranteed. Your final cost depends on inventory, labor time, access, packing, crew size and the selected date.
Book as soon as your date is confirmed. Allow several weeks when possible, especially for Labor Day weekend, Fridays, weekends and the end of the month.
Tuesday through Thursday often has more availability than weekends. A mid-month weekday can be especially convenient if your lease, closing date and building rules are flexible.
Yes. ACM Movers offers full and partial packing using moving blankets, stretch wrap, bubble wrap, boxes and specialized protection based on the items being moved.

