Can You Move an Apartment in One Day? A Realistic Breakdown

Moving an entire apartment in a single day sounds ambitious – maybe even impossible if you’ve got years of accumulated stuff. But here’s the truth: thousands of people pull off one-day moves every week, and with the right planning and execution, you probably can too.

The key difference between a successful same-day move and a chaotic disaster? Realistic expectations, smart preparation, and knowing when to call in reinforcements.

If you’re working with a tight timeline or facing an urgent relocation, partnering with a same day moving company fort collins can transform an overwhelming task into a manageable project.

Let’s break down what it actually takes to move an apartment in one day – and whether your specific situation makes it feasible.

What “One Day” Really Means

First, let’s define terms. A true one-day move means:

Packing everything you own
Loading it into a vehicle
Transporting it to your new place
Unloading and basic setup

Notice we didn’t say “completely unpacked and organized.” That’s unrealistic for most moves. A successful one-day move gets you functional – you can sleep in your bed, use your bathroom, and make coffee the next morning. Full unpacking and organizing? That’s a weekend-or-two project.

Apartment Size Matters (A Lot)

Your apartment’s size is the single biggest factor determining one-day feasibility.

Studio or one-bedroom (under 700 sq ft): Absolutely doable for most people. With decent planning and 2-3 helpers, you can pack, move, and unload in 8-12 hours.

Two-bedroom (700-1,200 sq ft): Challenging but achievable if you’re organized, have adequate help, and start early. Expect a 10-14-hour day.

Three-bedroom or larger (1,200+ sq ft): This is where professional movers become almost essential unless you have a large crew of friends and family. Otherwise, you’re looking at multiple days or an extremely grueling single day that might stretch past midnight.

The Pre-Move Prep That Makes or Breaks You

Here’s what separates successful one-day moves from disasters: the work you do before moving day.

Two weeks before:

Declutter ruthlessly – sell, donate, or trash anything you haven’t used in a year
Gather moving supplies (boxes, tape, bubble wrap, markers)
Reserve your moving truck or book your moving company
Start packing non-essentials (off-season clothes, books, decor)

One week before:

Pack everything except daily essentials
Confirm truck reservation and helpers
Arrange parking permits if needed
Prep your new apartment (clean, measure spaces)

Day before:

Pack remaining items except absolute necessities
Disassemble furniture that comes apart
Load non-temperature-sensitive items if possible
Prep a “first night” box with essentials

If you show up on moving day with nothing packed, expecting to box everything up and move it all – you’ve already failed. The apartments that get moved in one day are 85-90% packed before moving day even starts.

The Math: Hours and Helpers

Let’s get into actual numbers. For a typical one-bedroom apartment:

Packing remaining items: 2-3 hours (assuming most is already done)

Loading a truck: 2-4 hours with 2-3 people

Drive time: Varies, but let’s say 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on distance

Unloading: 1.5-3 hours with the same crew

Basic furniture assembly/setup: 1-2 hours

Total: 7-14 hours, depending on efficiency and help

That’s tight but doable if you start at 7 AM and have a solid crew.

But add complications like third-floor walkup with no elevator, heavy furniture, a long drive, disorganized packing – and you’re easily pushing 16+ hours or into a second day.

When Professional Movers Change Everything

Professional movers don’t just provide muscle – they provide speed.

A two-person professional crew can often load a one-bedroom apartment in 1-2 hours versus the 3-4 hours it takes amateurs. They know how to pack a truck efficiently (so you don’t need multiple trips), handle heavy items safely (no injuries or damage), and work with actual urgency.

For same-day moves specifically, pros offer:

Equipment you don’t have: Dollies, furniture pads, straps, ramps
Experience-based efficiency: They’ve done this a thousand times
Insurance: If something breaks, you’re covered
No exhausted friends: You’re not burning social capital or risking friendships

Yes, it costs more than bribing friends with pizza and beer. But when time is your constraint, professional movers often make a one-day move possible where DIY would require two.

The Stuff That Slows You Down

Certain items and situations turn “quick moves” into “all-day marathons”:

Heavy furniture: Couches, mattresses, dressers, and dining tables eat up time and energy. Disassemble what you can beforehand.
Stairs: Every flight of stairs multiplies moving time. A third-floor walkup can easily double your loading/unloading hours.
Parking distance: If the truck can’t park directly outside your building, every extra 50 feet adds significant time.
Narrow doorways/hallways: Maneuvering large items through tight spaces can waste 30+ minutes per piece.
Poor packing: Unlabeled boxes, fragile items packed improperly, or overstuffed boxes that break all create delays.
Lack of clear plan: If you’re making decisions on the fly instead of executing a plan, you’re losing hours.

The One-Day Move Checklist

If you’re committed to pulling this off, here’s your game plan:

✅ Start at dawn – Seriously, 6-7 AM start times make or break one-day moves

✅ Have a crew confirmed – 3-4 people minimum for most apartments

✅ 90%+ packed before moving day – This cannot be overstated

✅ Furniture disassembled – Bed frames, tables, and shelves taken apart the night before

✅ Truck reserved and appropriately sized – Too small means multiple trips

✅ Clear path to truck – Parking permits, elevator reservations, door propping

✅ Essentials box packed separately – Toiletries, chargers, snacks, important documents

✅ Strategy for the first load – Heaviest items first, pack truck floor to ceiling

✅ Someone managing logistics – One person directing traffic, not just lifting

✅ Realistic timeline with buffer – Plan for 12 hours even if you think it’ll take 8

When One Day Isn’t Realistic

Be honest with yourself. A one-day move probably isn’t feasible if:

You have a three-bedroom or larger apartment and no professional help
You haven’t started packing with less than a week to go
You’re moving long-distance (5+ hours of driving)
You have specialty items (piano, safe, large aquarium, extensive home gym)
Your crew is small or unreliable
Either apartment involves significant stairs and no elevator
You’re already exhausted or dealing with injuries

Pushing an unrealistic one-day move just creates stress, potential injuries, damaged belongings, and strained relationships by asking too much of helpers.

Sometimes the smarter move is accepting it’ll take two days, or investing in professional movers who can compress the timeline.

The Costs: DIY vs Professional

DIY one-day move costs:

Truck rental: $50-$150
Gas: $30-$80
Moving supplies: $50-$100
Food/drinks for helpers: $50-$100
Total: $180-$430 (plus favors owed)

Professional same-day movers:

Local move (one-bedroom): $300-$800
Two-bedroom: $500-$1,200
Includes truck, labor, equipment, and insurance
No favors owed, no injury risk

The price difference isn’t as dramatic as many people assume, especially when you factor in your time, energy, and the risk of damaged items or injured backs.

Making It Actually Work

The apartments that get successfully moved in one day share common factors:

They’re organized – Everything has a place and a plan
They’re realistic – The owner knows what can and can’t be done
They have adequate resources – Enough people, right-sized truck, and proper supplies
They start early – No one’s rolling up at noon expecting miracles
They prioritize ruthlessly – Focus on getting functional, not perfect
They know when to get help – Whether that’s friends or professionals

The Bottom Line

Can you move an apartment in one day? For most studio and one-bedroom situations – absolutely yes, with proper planning and execution.

For two-bedrooms – yes, but it’s tight and requires everything to go right.

For three-bedrooms and larger – you’ll likely need professional movers to make it happen, or you should plan for two days.

The real question isn’t “can it be done” but “can you do it with your specific constraints?” Be brutally honest about your apartment size, your organizational skills, your available help, and your timeline.

If the math doesn’t add up, don’t force it. A slightly longer move that doesn’t destroy you physically and mentally is better than a rushed disaster that damages your stuff and your relationships.

But if you’ve got realistic expectations, solid prep, and adequate resources? Absolutely knock it out in a day and wake up in your new place tomorrow morning.

READ MORE: TRUE REALTY VALUE