Moving into a University of Kansas residence hall is a do-it-yourself job, because KU does not allow trailers, rental trucks, box trucks, or RVs at residence hall move-in. Students arrive in assigned 30-minute windows over two days in August, unload at the hall, and park in a long-term lot with a shuttle back. Movers come in for everything around that: moving into or out of an off-campus apartment, storing your things over the summer, and getting furniture to and from home. The way to make it easy is to bring only what fits in a car for the dorm, book movers and storage early for off-campus moves in May and August, and pack before the crew arrives.
Professional Moving & Storage is based on Thomas Court in Lawrence and has moved KU students, faculty, and families since 2000. We handle apartment moves, summer storage, and moves home or across the country as an agent for National Van Lines, under USDOT 917983 and MC 397078. Here is how each type of student move works in Lawrence and how to plan it.
Residence Hall Move-In
KU Student Housing runs a structured move-in. The details for Daisy Hill move-in include:
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Assigned arrival windows | Each hall and room range gets a 30-minute slot over two days in August |
| Missed your window | Sign up for another time through the housing portal |
| Boarding pass | Print it and tape it inside the driver's side windshield |
| KU ID | Bring it |
| Vehicles not allowed | Trailers, rental trucks, box trucks, and RVs |
| Parking after unloading | Long-term lot, with a shuttle back to the hall |
| Furniture | Housing-provided furniture stays in the room |
Check KU Student Housing for the current year's dates and your hall's schedule.
What This Means for Your Plan
- Pack for a car or SUV. If it does not fit, it probably does not fit in the room.
- Leave furniture at home. Rooms come furnished, and housing furniture cannot leave.
- Bring storage that slides under the bed and stacks.
- Expect heat. Lawrence in August is hot and humid, so carry water.
- Plan for traffic around campus on move-in days.
Pro Tip From Our Crew
Measure the room before you shop. A rug, a small shelf, and bins are the most common purchases. A futon or a second dresser is the most common mistake.
Off-Campus Apartment Moves
This is where movers earn their fee. Most KU students move off campus after the first year, into apartments, duplexes, and older houses around Oread, the Hillcrest area, and west Lawrence.
What Makes These Moves Different
- Stairs. Many student apartments are on the second or third floor with no elevator.
- Older houses. Rentals near campus often have narrow stairs and porches.
- Parking. Streets near campus are crowded, especially during the school year.
- Lease timing. When many leases end around the same time, the busy days fill quickly.
- Shared furniture. Roommates splitting a move need to agree on who owns what.
What It Costs
A studio or one-bedroom move in Lawrence typically costs $400 to $1,000, depending on stairs and how ready you are. Our guide to Lawrence moving costs has the full table, including larger homes.
A small move with two movers and a ground-floor apartment sits at the low end. A third-floor walk-up with a sofa and a full bedroom set sits higher.
Pro Tip From Our Crew
Split the cost with roommates and book one crew for the whole apartment on the same day. One three-hour move costs less than three separate one-hour minimums.
Summer Storage
Going home for the summer and coming back in August? Storage is often cheaper than moving everything home and back.
When Storage Makes Sense
- You are coming back to Lawrence in the fall
- Your lease ends in May and the next one starts in August
- Home is far away
- You have furniture but no room for it at home
How to Store Well
- Use sturdy boxes of the same size so they stack
- Label each box on two sides
- Put the things you will need first near the front
- Clean and dry anything with fabric before storing it
- Do not store food
Kansas summers are hot and humid. Climate-controlled storage protects electronics, instruments, and wood furniture. Our article on long-term storage in Lawrence explains the options, and our guide to storing instruments covers music students' gear.
Timing Your Move
| Period | What is happening | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Early May | Finals, then move-out | Book movers and storage by March or April |
| Late May to July | Quieter months | The easiest time for an off-campus move |
| August | Move-in, leases start | Book six to eight weeks ahead |
| December | Winter break | Short moves between semesters |
The two weeks around the end of the spring semester and the start of the fall semester are the busiest. Our guide to the best time to move to Lawrence has more on seasonal timing.
Moving Home or Across the Country After Graduation
Graduating and taking a job in another state is a long distance move. It is priced by weight and mileage, not hours, so what you take matters.
- Sell or give away cheap furniture rather than moving it
- Get a written estimate based on a real inventory
- Ask how long delivery will take
- Book eight weeks ahead if you can
Our guide to packing glassware covers the fragile items.
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A Note for Parents
Parents often book the move while the student is still in class. A few things help:
- Check that the mover is legitimate. Kansas intrastate movers file tariffs with the Kansas Corporation Commission, and the KCC's household goods tariff list shows each carrier with its MCID or DOT number.
- Get the estimate in writing.
- Confirm the student will be there, or arrange a key and a contact.
- Make sure the student has packed. Movers can pack, but it costs more.
- Ask about storage if dates do not line up.
Our guide to choosing a moving company covers the full checklist.
Packing on a Student Budget
- Collect free boxes from grocery and liquor stores
- Use towels and clothes to wrap breakables
- Put books in small boxes so they stay liftable
- Keep chargers, documents, and medication in a backpack
- Label boxes by room and contents
Our packing tips for Lawrence and our ultimate packing guide go into more detail.
Getting to Know Lawrence
New to town? Our ultimate guide to Lawrence covers the city, and our list of best Lawrence neighborhoods helps you pick where to rent next year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use movers for KU residence hall move-in?
Not with a moving truck. KU does not allow trailers, rental trucks, box trucks, or RVs at residence hall move-in, so students unload from cars.
When is KU move-in?
Residence hall move-in runs over two days in August, with assigned 30-minute windows. Check KU Student Housing for the current dates.
How much does a student apartment move cost in Lawrence?
A studio or one-bedroom typically costs $400 to $1,000, depending on stairs and preparation.
Is summer storage worth it for KU students?
Usually, if you are returning to Lawrence in the fall and home is far away. It often costs less than moving everything twice.
When should I book movers for a May move-out?
By March or April. The days right after finals fill quickly.
Can roommates share one moving crew?
Yes. Booking one crew for a shared apartment usually costs less than separate moves.
Student Moves in Lawrence
Our student movers in Lawrence handles apartment moves, storage, local and long distance moves, packing, piano moving, and junk removal across Lawrence, Topeka, and Johnson County.
We operate under USDOT 917983 and MC 397078 and serve as an agent for National Van Lines. Call (785) 363-9582 to book a student move or summer storage.
About Professional Moving & StorageFounded in Lawrence by Bobby Jones in 2000. Our motto: "There is only one boss, the customer."
