Moving to a new place? Here’s how to transport your furniture safely

Whether you’re rearranging your living space, relocating to a new home or simply moving your couch across the room, learning the proper way to move furniture will limit the risk of injury to yourself and damage to your belongings. Moving heavy items requires strategy, technique and, above all, safety.

While moving a bulky dresser or a massive wardrobe may seem overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be a back-breaking ordeal with the right tools and methods. That said, if you’ve followed each step and still don’t feel capable, your best bet is to consider hiring trained movers.

“It’s important to know and accept your limitations,” said Matt Graber, managing owner of Cool Hand Movers in New York City. “If an item is too heavy or too awkward to lift safely, stop and discuss alternatives. Don’t just try to push through something that feels potentially hazardous.” 

In this guide, we’ll delve into the art of safely and efficiently moving heavy furniture. From essential preparations — such as asking for help, planning a path and wrapping your furniture — to practical techniques — such as lifting, carrying or sliding — we’ll equip you with the knowledge and skills to navigate this challenging task. 

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How do you move heavy furniture safely?

Implement safety precautions when moving hefty or bulky pieces of furniture. Heavy lifting, awkward angles and tight spaces can all pose significant risks if not approached with caution. Here are steps to move furniture safely.

Ask for help

Recognize your physical limitations and capabilities when moving bulky, heavy items. Rather than attempting to move them solo, reach out to friends or family members for assistance. Having extra hands makes the task more manageable and reduces the risk of accidents and injuries.

Plan your path

Before you start maneuvering heavy furniture, plan your path. Take some time to map out your route and consider obstacles such as going down stairs, through narrow hallways or around tight corners.

Measure your furniture and doorways to ensure a smooth fit without damaging your items or door frames. Clear away any potential tripping hazards or clutter to create a safe and unobstructed path. Designate specific spots where you’ll temporarily set the furniture down to rest and readjust your grip if needed.

Protect your home

Moving heavy furniture can inadvertently cause scratches, dents and other damage to your home’s walls, moldings, floors and doorways. Use furniture sliders or moving blankets to create a barrier between furniture and the surfaces it may come into contact with.

Cover sharp edges with padding or foam to prevent dings and dents. Additionally, be mindful of the furniture’s weight distribution and stability. Sudden shifts could cause you to drop it, damaging both the piece and your floor. Enlist the help of multiple people when moving awkward or unsteady pieces or disassemble them when possible.

Disassemble large items

Disassembling large furniture can make moving it easier and safer. Items such as bed frames, tables, desks, bookshelves and entertainment centers can often be taken apart. Aim to break pieces down into their largest manageable components without compromising structural integrity. For example, remove legs from tables or detach headboards and footboards from beds.

Keep track of screws, bolts and other small parts by storing them in labeled plastic bags or containers to ensure easy reassembly later. Take photos or notes of how the pieces fit together to simplify the reassembly process.

Wrap your furniture

Wrapping your furniture during a move prevents scratches, dents and other damage that can occur during transportation. One effective way to wrap furniture is to use moving blankets or padded furniture covers. These thick blankets provide cushioning and absorb shock during transit, minimizing the risk of damage from bumps, jostling and other items on the moving truck, especially during long-distance moves. 

When wrapping furniture, pay special attention to corners, edges and protruding parts that are susceptible to damage. Use extra padding or corner protectors to provide additional reinforcement. Secure the blankets with packing tape or stretch wrap to keep them from shifting during transport.

Lift, carry or slide your furniture

Moving heavy furniture requires proper lifting techniques and careful maneuvering to prevent injuries and damage. Here are some tips for physical safety:

• Carry tall items high and low: Distribute the weight of tall items, such as dressers or bookcases, by having one person carry the top while another supports the bottom. This helps maintain balance and reduces the risk of tipping over.
• Communicate and coordinate: Establish clear communication with your moving partner(s) to ensure synchronized movements and avoid accidents. “Make sure that you and the other person decide in advance how you are going to lift the item,” said Graber. “Some people lift on ‘three’ when you count to three, and some lift a beat after that. Which are you? Which is your lifting partner? Have that talk.”
• Hook chairs around doorways: To navigate through doorways, angle chairs diagonally and hook the chair’s back around the doorway’s frame before moving it through.
• Lift with your legs: Keep your back straight when lifting heavy items to minimize strain on your back muscles. Bend your knees to squat down to the furniture, and keep your back straight as you lift the item.
• Slide when possible: For large and heavy items, consider sliding them across smooth surfaces using furniture sliders or blankets to reduce strain and minimize the risk of dropping.
• Stand couches on end: If space allows, stand couches vertically on their ends to maneuver them through narrow passages or staircases.

What tools and equipment make moving furniture easier?

The right tools, such as lifting straps and furniture sliders, can help you maneuver heavy furniture with greater ease and safety. Here is some essential furniture-moving equipment:

Moving blankets

Moving blankets are thick, padded covers designed to protect furniture from scratches, dents and other damage during transportation. They also create a barrier between furniture and other items in the moving truck to protect your belongings during local and interstate moves.

Pad sharp edges of furniture, such as desk corners and shelf ends, before wrapping them with moving blankets to prevent them from puncturing or tearing the fabric. Place the moving blanket over the furniture and wrap it securely, ensuring all surfaces are covered. Use packing tape, plastic wrap or moving straps to secure the moving blanket and prevent it from slipping or shifting during transit.

Furniture sliders

Furniture sliders are handy tools designed for moving heavy items. They feature smooth, low-friction surfaces and come in various shapes and sizes, making them suitable for use with many types of furniture, including sofas, tables, dressers and appliances. The sliders’ soft material prevents scratches, scuffs and other damage to hardwood, tile, laminate and carpeted floors during furniture relocation.

To use furniture sliders, lift one corner of the item and place a furniture slider underneath it. Repeat this process for all legs or corners of the furniture piece. Once the furniture sliders are in place, gently push or pull the furniture in the desired direction. 

Dollies

Dollies feature sturdy wheels that allow you to transport heavy items, such as sofas, refrigerators, dressers and stacked boxes, without straining your back or muscles. They come in various configurations, including upright, flat and stair-climbing models, offering versatility and adaptability for different moving scenarios. 

“When we do elevator moves in apartment buildings, we stock our trucks with at least five or six flat dollies so that the move can be done efficiently and so that we are never carrying anything when we can roll it,” said Graber.

Place the dolly next to the furniture, ensuring the platform is aligned with the bottom surface or edge you intend to support and transport. Carefully lift one side or corner of the furniture item and slide the dolly’s platform underneath. Tilt the furniture slightly to position it securely on the dolly. 

Use straps or bungee cords to secure the furniture item to the dolly. Slowly and steadily push or pull the dolly, keeping a firm grip on the handles and maintaining control of the furniture as you navigate through doorways, hallways and other obstacles. 

Moving straps

Moving straps distribute the weight of heavy items evenly across the shoulders and back, reducing strain on the arms and lower back muscles and minimizing the risk of accidents and injuries caused by loss of balance or dropping items. You can use them to lift and carry various heavy objects, including couches, refrigerators, mattresses and appliances. 

Adjust the length of the moving straps to ensure a comfortable fit and proper weight distribution across the shoulders and back. Position the moving straps underneath the item, ensuring that the lifting harnesses are centered and aligned with the body’s natural lifting position. Bend at the knees and keep the back straight while lifting the item using the moving straps. Keep the torso upright and maintain a firm grip on the moving straps while lifting and carrying the item.

What’s next?

Moving furniture can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, particularly when dealing with large or cumbersome items. “If you are thinking about DYI-ing your move, I would first encourage you to ask yourself: Am I physically up to this? Do I have the endurance to carry 50 pounds up and down flights of stairs for several hours?” said Graber. “Because if you can’t, odds are you should be hiring movers, not working as movers.”

Professional movers can efficiently pack and transport your large pieces of furniture, allowing you to focus your time and energy on other aspects of your move. Whether you’re managing logistics or simply taking a much-needed break during the moving process, outsourcing furniture transportation to top rated moving companies can help streamline your relocation efforts.