Moving checklist: your week-by-week countdown
Enter your moving date to put a due date on every step. Your ticks are saved in this browser only.
Quick answer: start planning about 8 weeks before moving day. Book movers or a truck by 6 weeks out, set up mail forwarding and utilities by 4 weeks, confirm everything 2 weeks out, and pack an essentials bag the week before. After the move, most states expect a new driver's license and vehicle registration within about 10 to 90 days.
Your moving countdown
Pick your date
45 tasks · 0 done
8 weeks before 56 days before
6 weeks before 42 days before
4 weeks before 28 days before
2 weeks before 14 days before
1 week before 7 days before
The day before 1 days before
Moving day moving day
First week after 7 days after
Within the first month 30 days after
How the countdown works
Each group of tasks has a target date counted back from your moving day: 56, 42, 28, 14, 7 and 1 days before, then 7 and 30 days after. The group you should be working on now is highlighted, and earlier groups with unticked tasks are marked overdue. Nothing is sent to a server: your date and ticks are stored in your browser's local storage, so they stay on this device only.
The timeline follows common guidance from movers and consumer agencies. Short on time? Do the tasks in order anyway; booking and decluttering matter most. State-specific deadlines for licenses and car registration are in our moving-to-a-new-state guides.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I start planning a move?
About 8 weeks is a comfortable lead time for most household moves. Start earlier, around 10 to 12 weeks, for a summer move, a large home, or a long-distance move, because good movers book up.
What should I do first when moving?
Set a budget, decide how you will move (movers, truck rental or container), and get written quotes. Then declutter, because everything you get rid of is something you do not have to pack, move or pay to ship.
When should I change my address with USPS?
About two to four weeks before you move. You can choose the date mail forwarding starts, so you can submit early and set it to begin on moving day.
What should I pack last?
Pack an essentials bag with medications, documents, chargers, toiletries and a few days of clothes, plus a first-night box with sheets, towels, toilet paper and basic tools. Keep both with you, not on the truck.