Moving tips and checklists
The best time to move house in Nairobi depends on the time of day, the day of the week, the week of the month and the season. Get those four right and the move is cheaper, quicker and calmer. This guide explains each one, with simple rules you can use to pick your date.
Quick answer
The best time to move house in Nairobi is early in the morning, on a weekday, in the middle of the month and in a dry month such as January, February, July or August. Month-end weekends, December and the long rains are the busiest and most difficult times to move.
Most people choose their moving date by the lease, not by choice. Still, there is usually some room to move by a few days. Those few days can make a real difference. A truck that leaves at 7am on a Tuesday in mid-month crosses the city in half the time of one that leaves at 4pm on the last Saturday of the month. This guide explains why, and how to use it.
Homes
Early is best. Our crews usually arrive between 7am and 8am, for several reasons.
In contrast, moves that start after lunch often run into evening traffic and darkness. For large homes, it can even be better to load in the afternoon and deliver early the next morning.
How it works
Weekdays are usually easier than weekends. Fewer people move on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, so trucks and crews are easier to book. Building managers and caretakers are also at work, which helps with lift bookings and clearance letters. However, weekends suit people who cannot take time off work, and office moves almost always happen at weekends. If you must move on a weekend, book early.
Best time to move house in Nairobi
Most leases in Nairobi end at month-end, so the last few days of each month and the first few days of the next are the busiest. During those days, trucks are fully booked, crews are tired and prices can rise. By contrast, the middle of the month is calm. If your landlord allows it, overlap the two leases by a few days and move mid-month. The extra rent is often less than the saving on the move and the stress you avoid.
Homes
Nairobi has two rainy seasons. The long rains usually fall from around March to May, and the short rains from around October to December. Heavy afternoon storms can soak furniture, turn murram roads to mud and slow traffic. Therefore the drier months are often easier for moving.
| Months | Typical conditions | Moving notes |
|---|---|---|
| January to February | Mostly dry and warm | Good conditions, but early January is busy after the holidays |
| March to May | Long rains | Wrap well, start early and check road access |
| June to September | Cool and mostly dry | Good conditions for local and long-distance moves |
| October to December | Short rains | Afternoon storms are common; December is very busy |
Weather varies from year to year, so check the forecast from the Kenya Meteorological Department in the week before your move.
Families with children often move during school holidays, so the children can settle before a new term. That makes April, August and December busier. If you plan a holiday move, book early. On the other hand, families without school-age children may find mid-term dates quieter and easier to book.
Public holidays give extra days off, which helps with unpacking. However, some buildings limit moves on holidays, and roads out of Nairobi can be very busy on holiday weekends. For long-distance moves, avoid travelling on the day before a long weekend. Instead, travel a day or two earlier or later.
Night moves avoid traffic, but they bring other problems. Many estates and apartments do not allow moves after dark. Neighbours may complain about noise. In addition, it is harder to see scratches, steps and loose items in poor light. For homes, therefore, an early morning start is usually better. For offices, however, evening and overnight moves are common, because the building is empty and security staff are on duty.
Sometimes the date is fixed and the forecast is wet. Even then, a good plan keeps everything dry. First, ask for a covered truck and extra stretch wrap. Next, tape every box seam and keep mattresses and sofas fully wrapped. Then park the truck as close to the door as possible and lay blankets or boards at the doorways to keep mud out. Finally, pause loading for a short time during the heaviest showers. Rain rarely lasts long in Nairobi, so a short wait saves a lot of damage.
Best time to move house in Nairobi
Your lease usually decides the outer limits. Check the exact end date and whether the landlord expects the keys back by noon or by the end of the day. Similarly, check when the new home is available. If the two dates are the same day, the move becomes a race. If they overlap by a few days, you can choose the best time to move house within that window, and also clean the old home properly afterwards. That small overlap is often the most valuable part of planning.
Homes
The cheapest date is not always the most convenient. For example, a mid-week move may mean taking a day off work. Still, the saving on the move, the quicker trip and the calmer day often make it worth it. Our moving cost guide explains how timing affects a move.
For moves between towns, the best time to move house is a dry month and an early start. Trucks leave Nairobi at dawn, avoid the worst traffic and arrive in daylight. In addition, try to arrive mid-week, so offices, banks and utility companies in the new town are open for your first errands. Our long-distance movers plan routes around weather and traffic.
Offices are different. The best time is usually a weekend, starting on Friday afternoon, so staff work as normal on Monday. Avoid month-end if your finance team closes the books then. See our office relocation checklist for a full plan.
Families with a new baby or elderly relatives need a gentler plan. For them, a quiet weekday is usually best, because there is less noise and fewer people around. Ideally, the baby or relative spends moving day with family or friends. Meanwhile, the crew sets up their room first at the new home, so it is ready when they arrive. In addition, keep medicines, feeding items and comfort things in a bag that never goes on the truck.
Once you know your date, book quickly. Two to three weeks ahead is enough for most mid-month moves. However, book a month ahead for month-end weekends, school holidays and December. Small moves and lorry hire can often be arranged at shorter notice.
If you can choose, aim for a weekday in the middle of the month, in a dry month, with an early start. That combination is the best time to move house in Nairobi for almost everyone. If you cannot meet all four, meet as many as possible. Even just starting early makes a big difference.
Tell us your preferred dates, and we will suggest the best day for traffic, availability and price. Request your moving quote to get started, or read our house moving checklist next.
We do not publish fixed prices, because every move is different. Instead, we assess each move, send a written quote and agree the final price with you, so the figure you agree reflects your real move. If you are working to a budget, tell us early. Then we can suggest options, such as packing some boxes yourself, moving mid-month or sharing a truck on long routes.
Get started
Tell us what you are moving and where, and our move coordinator will call you back within one working day to plan it with you.
Prefer to talk? Call +254 184 379 590
A weekday in the middle of the month, with an early start. Trucks are easier to book, traffic is lighter and building staff are available.
Between 7am and 8am is best. Early starts avoid traffic, leave daylight for unloading and avoid afternoon rain.
Not if you plan for it. Choose a covered truck, wrap furniture fully and start early, because storms usually come in the afternoon.
Most leases end at month-end, so trucks and crews are fully booked and prices can rise. Mid-month dates are calmer.
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