Moving during the holidays in Ontario is doable if you plan around three things: statutory holiday closures, a crowded family calendar, and the fact that December books up earlier than you’d think. Pick your date first, lock in your mover, building and utilities around it, and pack the decorations last. Everything else follows from the calendar.

G Force is closed on December 24, 25 and 26 and on January 1. We do move on December 31, and on the other days between Christmas and New Year’s.

Is it better to move before or after Christmas?

It depends on what you want the holidays to look like.

Move in early December if you want to host Christmas in the new place. You’ll have two or three weeks to unpack the kitchen and find the tree stand. Banks, lawyers and building offices keep regular hours, so closing paperwork and elevator bookings are easier to sort out.

Move between December 27 and 31 if your lease or closing date lands at year end. Many people take that week off work anyway, and kids are out of school, so you don’t lose workdays to the move. The catch: some offices and suppliers run short hours that week, so confirm anything you depend on before you book.

Wait until January if your dates are flexible and you’d rather keep the holidays free. Plan for January weather, though. Our guide to moving in winter in Ontario covers snow, ice and floor protection.

Which holiday dates should you avoid?

Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day are statutory holidays in Ontario. Banks, government offices and most property management offices close, and real estate closings don’t happen on those days. We’re also closed on Christmas Eve.

That leaves these windows for a moving day:

  • Any day up to December 23
  • December 27 to December 31
  • January 2 onward

Before you pick one, check three things: your building’s elevator availability, your utility provider’s holiday hours, and whether your keys or closing funds depend on a bank or lawyer being open that day.

Moving in December: how far ahead to book

Book a local move at least 1 to 2 weeks ahead and a long-distance move 3 to 4 weeks ahead. In December, aim for the long end of that range or earlier. With four closed days and many people trying to finish before the new year, the open dates go first.

Then work through this list as soon as you have a date:

  • Elevator and loading dock. Condo management offices often close or short-staff over the holidays. Book both buildings before mid-December.
  • Utilities and internet. Schedule the transfer early. Installers get booked up before the holiday break.
  • Mail forwarding and address changes. Holiday cards and packages are already in transit, so set up forwarding before December 1 if you can.
  • Online orders. Ship gifts to the new address only if you’ll have the keys by then. Otherwise use a pickup point or a relative’s address.

How to pack Christmas decorations and gifts

Pack decorations last if you’re moving before Christmas, and first if you’re moving after. Either way, keep them separate from everyday boxes and mark each one clearly.

  • Glass ornaments. Wrap each one in packing paper and use egg cartons or divided boxes. Fill the gaps so nothing shifts.
  • Lights. Wind each string around a piece of cardboard so it doesn’t tangle, and test them before packing.
  • Artificial tree. Take it apart and pack it in its original box or a long, sturdy carton.
  • Real tree. A cut tree sheds needles and water in the truck. Put it out for your city’s tree collection before moving day.
  • Wrapped gifts. Put them in a box labelled with your name only, not “gifts,” and keep it in your car if kids are riding along.

Short on time in December? Our packing services can handle the whole house or only the rooms you haven’t reached, and we bring the materials.

Moving during the holidays with kids and guests

School break makes the logistics easier and the house busier. A few things help:

  • Arrange for a relative or sitter to take young kids for moving day.
  • Pack one “first night” box per person with pajamas, a favourite toy, chargers and toiletries.
  • If guests are staying over, tell them the moving date early and keep one bathroom and the guest bed for last.
  • Set up the beds and the kitchen first. A tree can wait a day.

For a family home, our residential moving crews handle apartments, condos, townhouses and houses across Ontario.

Office move over the holidays: use the shutdown week‍

If your business closes between Christmas and New Year’s, that week is a good window for an office move. Staff are away, nobody needs a working desk, and you can open in the new space in January.

Here’s how to make it work:

  • Book in November. We’re closed on December 24, 25 and 26 and on January 1, so the realistic moving days are December 27 to 31. Those fill up fast.
  • Confirm building access at both addresses. Many commercial buildings run reduced security and management hours over the holidays.
  • Label desks and IT equipment before staff leave. Have each person pack and label their own desk on their last day.
  • Book your IT team for reconnection. Our crews wrap and move computers, monitors and printers, but your IT team reconnects the systems.

A small office with 5 to 10 workstations typically takes 4 to 8 hours, including setup, and most of our office clients are up and running by the next business day. Evening and weekend moves are available but may carry an additional fee. See our [office moving] page for the full process.

What if your new place isn’t ready?

Holiday closings sometimes slip a few days. If you have to leave your old home before you can get into the new one, short-term [storage solutions] cover the gap. We load, store and deliver under one contract, from a few days to several months.

Plan your holiday move

We work to keep holiday-season pricing low. The main variable is fuel cost at the time of your move. Choose your date, check it against the closures above, and request a free moving quote. It takes under 3 minutes, and we’ll call you back within 2 hours.