Learning how to move heavy furniture by yourself can be difficult and risky. In 2018 alone, 184,470 workers in the transportation and moving sector sustained injuries on the job that were serious enough to require time off to recuperate. And they had professional experience!
If you’re considering tackling a solo move, it’s important to plan ahead and know how you’re going to handle all the heavy lifting. From getting organized and assembling the right supplies to having proper posture, these tips will help set you up for success.
1. Plan Your Move
Your plan to get organized for your move should start ASAP. Kevin the Mover, a HireAHelper expert with years of experience in the moving business, puts it like this:
“Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.’ Okay, that’s a little weird, but moving heavy furniture is the same idea. You gotta really, really prepare.”
Whether you have a room full of home gym equipment, a collection of inherited antiques, or just a living room with a nice sectional and loveseats, chances are you have some heavy furniture to transport. Planning ahead allows you to sort through your belongings and single out heavy pieces that will be more difficult to move.
For each large piece, ask yourself:
- Will this fit through my doorways?
- Can I get it down the stairs?
- How will I get it into my vehicle/the moving truck?
The answers to those questions will inform your next steps and your shopping list. You need the right gear to protect yourself and your furniture. This is not a task to skip over or minimize — your well-being and wallet depend on developing and sticking to a safety-first strategy.
Also, always let someone know you’re planning to move furniture by yourself. They can sound the alarm if you are injured and fail to check in.
When to Call a Professional Mover
While moving furniture by yourself is typically an option, in some cases, it just isn’t practical or safe. Call a professional mover to take over if:
- You feel pain or discomfort.
- The item you’re moving is too fragile or valuable.
- Stairs or narrow spaces make the move dangerous.
Your health and well-being should always come first. If at any point you feel unsure, you should stop and reevaluate before getting extra help. It’s really not worth it to damage your furniture, your home, or yourself trying to tough it out.
2. Gather Your Tools
Moving heavy furniture requires the right tools. Some of which are almost universally necessary, while others are specialized for certain types of furniture.
- A furniture dolly for easier transport.
- Furniture sliders to go under the legs of bigger pieces to facilitate movement and protect your floors.
- Moving blankets to protect furniture, walls, and floors.
- Protective gloves to protect your hands and enhance grip.
- Stretch wrap to keep drawers closed.
- Lifting straps help evenly distribute the weight of items being carried, and are usually used for heavier furniture like big dressers and couches.
- Hand trucks for moving items over uneven ground.
- Packing tape for extra security and keeping moving blankets in place.
- Ratchet straps and grips to secure cargo during transport.
If you have a prior injury, you may want to wear back or knee braces for extra protection and support.
3. Prepare Your Furniture and the Space
It’s not just materials you have to prepare for, either. Your furniture and home should also be set up so you can have an easier, smoother, and safer time on moving day.
Disassemble Heavy Furniture
Disassembling furniture can make it easier to move items, secure them, and increase the amount of space you have to work with in the moving truck or container. But you don’t need to take items apart completely if that’s not feasible for you. Instead, you can simply take the legs off your dining room table or the mirror off the back of your dresser. Always put nuts, bolts, and screws in a labeled baggie for stress-free re-assembly at your destination.
Some items may not be sturdy or high-value enough to bother taking apart and moving. As Kevin says:
“If you have any pressboard furniture or any furniture that – be honest with yourself – is generally cheap and flimsy, consider selling it or giving it away. Moving it costs time and money and will more than likely turn it into an unusable piece (or pieces) of trash.”
Wrap and Attach Straps
Use wraps and straps to make lifting items easier by redistributing weight and improving your grip. Sometimes, moving items as-is to the truck and then prepping them for secure transport gives you more leverage while lifting and loading.
Kevin the Mover explains it best:
“Moving pads can make it hard to keep a firm grip on your furniture. I always preferred to wrap everything in the staging area, or right there on the truck.”
Use Sliders
Place furniture sliders under the feet of couches, tables, chests, desks, appliances, and any other heavy furniture you plan to slide out instead of lifting. These feet, which come in plastic and felt versions, help furniture glide over the floor without damaging your carpets, hardwood, or tile.
4. Clear a Path
Another key to successfully moving furniture alone is to pinpoint potential hurdles before they happen. Before actually picking anything up, walk the path you plan to take heavy furniture through. Look for anything that could trip you up, such as extension cords, loose tile, or frayed carpet. You should also protect your flooring and walls by following these steps:
- Use sliders or towels to safeguard the finish on areas with hardwood or tile.
- Use plastic sliders or a dolly over carpeted areas.
- Cover door frames and walls with moving blankets, foam strips, or bubble wrap.
- Lay down cardboard or blankets to keep the floors clean.
- Place temporary runners or mats on the floor to help sliders and dollies move more easily over uneven surfaces.
If you have a large space to traverse and a limited budget, you can create a staging area in the middle. Move everything to that staging area first. Then, move your pads, blankets, and runners to the second half of the path, and relocate everything from the staging area to the truck.
5. Use Proper Lifting and Moving Techniques
Just like your floors, walls, and furniture, you should protect yourself when lifting heavy items. Use these tips to protect your body along the way:
- Warm up. Do some stretches to warm up your muscles rather than just lifting “cold.”
- Wear the right clothes. Cover your arms and legs to protect your limbs from scrapes and bruises, and wearing closed-toe shoes with grippy bottoms is also recommended.
- Practice your posture. Lifting starts with a spine in natural alignment — no stooping or slouching. Stand close to the item you’re lifting and place your feet about shoulder’s width apart for a stable base.
- Lift from your knees, not with your back. It’s an old adage, but it’s great advice. Tighten your core and squat down to pick up something heavy. Never arch your back.
- Get a grip. Ensure you have a strong grip before lifting anything. You may need gloves to help mitigate sweaty hands.
- Straighten up strategically. Use your legs to stand up, keeping your load close to your body at or around waist height.
- Keep your body aligned. As you walk, always make sure your feet, hips, shoulders, and head point in the same direction. No twisting or abrupt pivoting.
Avoid lifting heavy items above waist height. If you need help getting items into an elevated truck bed, rent a ramp or ask for help.
Finally, always listen to your body. If you need a break — or a complete change of plan — it’s worth the delay to keep yourself healthy. Injuries to the back, ankle, shoulder, knees, and hands are all common when moving. Being aware and planning ahead can prevent you from joining those ranks.
6. Check Yourself and Your Furniture
One of the last steps when you move heavy furniture by yourself is to ensure you and your furniture are in good shape at your destination. Furniture that has been disassembled needs to be reassembled and checked over to make sure everything is tightened and in proper alignment.
“[A]lways let someone know you’re planning to move furniture by yourself. They can sound the alarm if you are injured and fail to check in.”
After unpacking, walk through your main pathways again to clear any debris that could cause trips or falls as you get used to your new space. Items like leftover stretch wrap, a dolly sticking out, or a bunched-up moving blanket can be unexpected hazards if you don’t notice them.
Also, check yourself for injuries. Don’t ignore minor pains that don’t seem to ease up. A simple anti-inflammatory or Epsom salt bath may be helpful for easing basic aches and pains. Anything more serious should be checked by your new primary care physician or a healthcare professional at your local urgent care. Back injuries, in particular, should never be ignored.
Considerations for Moving Heavy Furniture Up or Down Stairs
There’s a reason movers sometimes charge extra for stairs — it’s not easy moving furniture up or down them. The best way to prepare is to look into equipment designed for navigating stairs during a move, such as a stair-climbing dolly. Don’t push or slide items — they’ll likely be in for an unfortunate landing.
This may also be the one time you simply can’t go it alone. Kevin the Mover recommends using the buddy method for moving stuff when stairs are involved:
“Hauling large pieces of furniture – more importantly, heavy pieces of furniture – down a flight of stairs is a dangerous proposition if you don’t take it slow (and smart). Make sure you have a strong friend(if not two) on the lower end as you go down (or up) the stairs. Take those steps one at a time. Rest as often as need be.”
Also, watch out for walls, banisters, artwork, and hanging light fixtures. Remove anything that can be taken down before you start moving.
Keep in mind that moving furniture downstairs increases the risk of injury or property damage. You may want to consider moving insurance that includes coverage in case of a stairs-related accident.
Bonus Safety Tips When Moving Heavy Furniture by Yourself
Here are a few extra tips to help you think outside the box while moving heavy objects by yourself.
- DIY furniture sliders by cutting circles from plastic lids.
- Move during cooler times of day, like mornings and evenings, to maximize comfort and lessen the risk of things like heat stroke.
- Take breaks and hydrate often.
- Consider renting tools instead of buying them.
- Take photos of your furniture before and during disassembly to use as a guide for reassembly later on.
- Take doors off their hinges to gain a couple of extra inches of clearance and help large items fit through.
- Bungee or strap items to your dolly to prevent slippage.
FAQ
How to move a dresser by yourself?
To move a dresser by yourself, start by removing its contents and drawers. Take off any protruding elements, such as a large mirror or spindle legs. Use furniture sliders or a dolly to help move the dresser from your room to the staging area or moving truck.
Make sure you’re using a dolly with straps or moving straps if you need to carry or roll the dresser instead of sliding it. It may be harder to move heavy furniture by yourself downstairs. In that case, call a friend or hire professional movers to put safety first.
How to move a heavy bed by yourself?
To move a heavy bed by yourself, start by clearing a path to your staging area or truck. Then, take apart the bedframe. Separate the mattress and wrap it in a protective cover, and use furniture sliders or a dolly to transport the disassembled pieces.
You should also use lifting straps to maneuver bigger pieces, such as the headboard and footboard. Lift with your legs, not your back, and take as many breaks as necessary. Always secure furniture to your dolly and in the truck for safety and to prevent damage.