Where to Buy Moving Blankets

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If you hire full-service movers, you don’t have to think about whether or not to use moving blankets. Also called furniture pads, those big, thick blankets that movers wrap around your furniture and major appliances usually come as part of the deal.

However, if you decide to rent a truck and DIY your move, those blankets become an optional, added expense. This may leave you wondering if you really need them.

The short answer is yes. You need them, just like the pro movers do. And we’ll walk you through where the best places to get moving blankets are, how much they cost, and more tips to ensure your DIY move goes off without a hitch.

Moving Blankets: What They Are and How They Make a Difference

A stack of blue moving blankets placed into a truck at the end of a ramp

Moving blankets (AKA furniture pads) are big, thick, heavy squares of quilted cloth and padding. If used properly, they keep your furniture and appliances (and anything else that doesn’t fit in a cardboard box) from getting scratched or irreparably damaged in transit.

While they aren’t cheap, a few $12 moving blankets could actually save you hundreds to thousands of dollars in damages. Imagine your flat-screen TV rubbing against the corners of your antique wooden dresser for hours — that’s why moving blankets are worth it!

Plus, they do more than help prevent scrapes and scratches.

Dust, Dirt & Grease

Moving blankets help protect your appliances and electronics from dust and dirt, especially those with sensitive components. This includes washers, dryers, refrigerators, pianos, microwaves, and speakers. And let’s face it, how often does anyone clean behind and under their sofas and bookcases? Once you start moving all that stuff, you’ll be kicking up months or years of dust and dirt.

 

“A lot of movers use tape or shrink wrap to keep their pads in place. Others use big rubber moving bands, which are costlier upfront but are reusable and more environmentally friendly.”

 

You’ll also be disconnecting your washer/dryer, clearing out your garage, boxing up the basement and attic, and tackling the stuff in the yard. In short, moving out is dirty work.

However, taking the time to cover your furniture and major appliances in moving blankets will protect them from the inevitable moving day dust storm and grime.

Save Your Floors

Dragging a dresser across the floor can instantly damage wood, tile, or linoleum. Instead, position the dresser on a furniture pad, which is both safer and easier to move. Of course, it doesn’t work for all furniture. While a dresser with a flat bottom or short, thick feet will slide across the floor nicely when placed on a pad, a dresser with long, spindly legs will break.

Navigating stairs is also much easier with a pad. As long as you have a solid, flat surface to work with, you can wrap an appliance or a piece of furniture in pads and slide it down (or even up) a flight of stairs relatively safely and easily.

Added Stability During Transport

An example of a packed truck where moving blankets are used as both wrapping for furniture and cushion in the spaces between boxes

For movers, loading a truck is like a game of Tetris. Not only do they have to make sure everything fits, but it all has to sit snugly. If there are gaps between the boxes and odd-shaped items, your entire load will start to shift during transport.

If your stuff starts moving around back there, that’s when things get damaged. To prevent this, movers wedge rolled-up pads into those spaces and gaps, keeping everything stable and secure.

If you’re packing up your own rental truck, you’ll want to do the same. You could also use blankets, comforters, sleeping bags, and even couch cushions to keep your stuff from shifting. Just make sure you put them in plastic bags first so your bedding or cushions don’t get damaged or dirty.


Where Can I Get Moving Blankets?

Two large stacks of moving blankets strapped down onto a pallet

As mentioned earlier, furniture pads are part of the deal when you hire full-service movers, and companies like UHaul, Budget, and Penske offer moving blankets as an add-on when you rent one of their trucks.

If you decide to buy moving blankets, there are plenty of options to choose from. Make sure when you’re shopping around that you consider the size and weight of the blankets in addition to price. Here are some of the best we’ve found:

  • Amazon offers some of the cheapest blankets, in both price and quality.
  • U-Boxes has a large range of moving blankets varying in price and quality.
  • New Haven and US Cargo Control sell pads that are generally tougher and geared toward professional use. The price might reflect that, too.

Some types of moving blankets, referred to as burlap pads, moleskin pads, or simply skins, are much thinner, lighter, and usually smaller than regular furniture pads. These are meant to be wrapped around items found in your garage or shed, like rakes and shovels, not your lacquered black walnut dining room set.

Should I rent U-Haul moving blankets instead of buying them?

Considering the number of blankets you’ll need for your move (and the odds of never needing them again), renting may, on the surface, seem more sensible than buying. But if you do rent furniture pads, there are a few things to know:

  • Pads for rent are not always the size and quality you’d want or expect.
  • Rented pads have very likely been used many times, which can degrade their quality. Also, rental agreements usually require you to return the pads in good condition, or you’ll have to buy them. Take note, and take pictures before you use them.
  • Outside of U-Haul, Budget, and Penske, you may be hard-pressed to find a company that rents moving blankets.

As a last resort, you can give online marketplaces a shot. Check eBay or Craigslist for a deal on used (or maybe even new or never used) moving blankets and pads.

Does the weight of the furniture pad matter?

Yes, it does. Price can be one indicator of the quality of a pad, but a much better measure of quality is how heavy it is.

Durable, quality pads weigh in at around 5.5 lb. each, if not more. Cheaper ones are lighter, around 3.5 lb., and noticeably thinner. If they’re that thin, they might not offer full protection, though they can work well for items like patio furniture or bicycles.

How many moving blankets will I need?

A stack of moving blankets is set close to the lens of the camera. In the background, there is a very tall stack of boxes.

There’s a lot of advice out there, sometimes contradictory. Twelve blankets for every bedroom. Twelve to fifteen pads, or maybe twenty-four, for a one-bedroom apartment. Some say you need a dozen pads for every five cubic feet of truck space.

Ignore those “rules.” Instead, get an accurate count by taking note of every item in your house that you’ll need to wrap. Then, you can estimate how many pads you’ll need by understanding how many each furniture item takes to wrap.

Going with the standard 72” x 80” furniture pad, here are the number of pads you’ll need to wrap common household items:

  • 1 furniture pad: Nightstand, end table, small bookcase, dining room chair, average-sized flat-screen TV, microwave, small computer stand/table
  • 2 furniture pads: Large bookcase, washer, dryer, headboard/footboard, upholstered chair, smallish kitchen/dining room table (one for the tabletop and one for the legs, once you remove them)
  • 3 furniture pads: Entertainment unit, armoire, large kitchen/dining table (two for the tabletop and one for the legs), loveseat, refrigerator, large dresser
  • 4+ furniture pads: Sofa, piano, hot tub

If you aren’t sure how many pads a piece will require, go high. It’s always better to have too many pads than too few!

Can I use shrink wrap instead of moving blankets?

Two women use shrink wrap on a couch

In short, no, you can’t use shrink wrap instead of moving pads, but it might be a good idea to use it with moving pads.

Shrink wrap is the plastic material that movers sometimes use to wrap furniture. Resembling a huge roll of Saran Wrap, shrink wrap is safe to use on cloth upholstery. However, it can cause irrevocable damage to leather or wood if left for long periods, especially under extreme temperatures. Shrink wrap also tends to trap moisture, leading to mold.

Movers generally use shrink wrap in addition to furniture padding. It helps keep the pads in place and offers extra protection against dust and dirt. Shrink wrap also has a slightly sticky texture, giving you a better grip when carrying heavy items down stairs, through doorways, and onto the truck.

Pro Tip: When pad-wrapping furniture with a glass surface, like a china hutch or curio, wrap a piece of cardboard over the glass with shrink wrap before covering it with a furniture pad. This adds extra protection and signals that there’s glass underneath.

Can I just use old blankets instead of furniture pads?

Technically, yes, but moving blankets are much better at protecting your nice stuff than old blankets.

If you’d like to save some money or effort by using fewer moving blankets, there’s a compromise. Wrap your nice furniture in clean moving blankets and save your old blankets for dirty garage and outdoor items.

Are moving blankets easy to use?

Pad-wrapping a piece of furniture tends to be easier than keeping those pads in place. A lot of movers use tape or shrink wrap, while others use big rubber moving bands, which are more expensive upfront than shrink wrap, but are reusable and environmentally friendly.

 

“While a dresser with a flat bottom or short, thick feet will slide across the floor nicely when placed on a pad, a dresser with long spindly legs will break.”

 

Tape is probably your cheapest option. However, shrink wrap is the quickest and best way to get the blankets to stay in place while giving your hands a good grip.

Pro Tip: It’s much easier to handle and haul a shrink-wrapped piece of furniture with your bare hands than with gloves on.

Will my stuff be safe if I use enough moving blankets?

A mover wraps a tall piece of furniture in a moving blanket

Wrapping up your furniture and appliances in quality pads is a great move and will help keep your stuff safe. But blankets don’t make your things lighter. If loaded onto the truck improperly, your stuff will start tipping and slipping all over the place. When that happens, blankets aren’t enough to save your flat screen. This is why so many people opt to have vetted movers like the professionals at HireAHelper do the heavy lifting and loading for them.

If you want to DIY your move, go for it! Just be sure to stock up on plenty of moving pads — for your furniture, appliances, and a little peace of mind.


How Much Do Moving Blankets Cost?

Moving blankets typically cost anywhere from $8 to $15 each, but the prices can vary widely based on quality, size, and weight. Whether you need one to move heavy furniture down the stairs or several to protect your belongings while loading a PODS container, you have plenty of options.

Consider buying moving blankets online as opposed to in-store for more options and better prices.

Retailer Cost What to Keep in Mind
Walmart $12.86
  • Moving blankets come singly or in two-packs.
  • Walmart’s website includes listings for third-party sellers.
The Home Depot Starting at $15.98
  • Many moving blankets at The Home Depot come in multipacks. Consider buying in bulk to reduce the price per blanket.
U-Haul Starting at $8.95
  • U-Haul calls its moving blankets furniture pads.
  • Quilted furniture pads are available for heavier-duty protection.
Target $16.99
  • Target has a limited selection of small moving blankets available. However, they’re costlier and smaller than what you can get at other retailers.
Amazon Starting at $14.99
  • Numerous sellers on Amazon offer moving blankets.
  • Buy in bulk to reduce per-blanket price.
  • Some blankets may be available for free, expedited, or same-day delivery if you have an Amazon Prime membership.
Lowe’s $22.98
  • Lowe’s sells moving blankets, but they tend to be pricier than at other retailers. If you’re already there for other packing supplies and only need one or two, it may be more convenient to grab them anyway. If you need several, consider other retailers to reduce costs.
U-Boxes Starting at $41.19/2-pack
  • U-Boxes provides a range of moving blankets at various prices.
New Haven Starting at $36
  • New Haven sells moving blankets designed for frequent, professional use. If you value durability or plan to move frequently, they may be worth the extra cost.
US Cargo Control Starting at $6
  • US Cargo Control offers an affordable way to bulk-buy moving blankets. For the best deals, buy them in larger quantities.
  • Some high-quality, professional-grade blankets cost substantially more, with specialty options like sound blankets costing over $70 each.
The amounts in this table were accurate as of the time of publishing, based on the online marketplaces of the companies and services listed.

How To Move Heavy Furniture Down Stairs

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Technique. Finesse. And a bit of muscle. That’s what movers use to get heavy, bulky pieces of furniture safely down flights of stairs. To get your own sofa or dresser down your staircase without damaging your home or your health, that’s what you’ll need, too.

So grab hold of the following tips for maneuvering big bulky things down seemingly tight staircases, and turn your own situation into a safe and successful move.


Five Tips to Make Moving Heavy Things Down the Stairs Easier

  1. Lighten up: Take out drawers, remove shelves, and disassemble any furniture you can into manageable pieces.
  2. Clear the way: Get rid of rugs under your feet, light fixtures overhead, and anything else you might knock into or trip over.
  3. Get a grip: Furniture pads protect, but they also can be slippery. Cover them in shrink wrap to create stickier surfaces for your hands.
  4. Slide down: A piece of furniture with a flat side can be slid right down the steps. But use furniture pads as a cushion! 
  5. Watch the legs: Never pick up any piece of furniture by its legs if they’re long and skinny. They will break right off in your hands. Also, watch out for fragile decorative bits on tops of items like armoires, hutches, and curios.

How to Use a Hand Truck Going Down Stairs 

Two movers in blue overalls lift a fridge that has been placed on a blue hand truck

You might wonder if it’s possible or safe to use a hand truck (sometimes called a dolly) to get that dresser or sofa down the stairs.

It is possible! Assuming the stairs are wide enough and straight. Otherwise, you’ll get stuck maneuvering a sofa and hand truck around a corner. Whether it is safe to wheel a sofa down a staircase largely depends on you and your hand truck. Here are six steps to make the job both safer and easier.

Step 1: Find a hand truck big enough for the job 

The size of the bottom plate is not usually a concern. The back (upright) part is what needs to be long enough for you to reach the handles and hold on! once you get that sofa or dresser loaded onto it. Even if you can manage to keep hold of the handles, if your hand truck is too short, you might end up knocking your face into the furniture on the way down. 

Step 2: Avoid scratching your stuff 

Whatever you are carrying will bounce and shift around on that hand truck with each step. Use blankets or furniture pads to cover the upright part of the truck so no metal parts are exposed. Taping the blankets or pads to the uprights will not only keep them in place but also adds a measure of non-slip to the set-up.

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Step 3: Strap in your furniture 

The heavier the item you’re carrying, the more it will bounce and shift down each step. A way to get around this is to tie it down firmly. Some trucks come with a built-in strap. Others don’t, in which case you’ll want to improvise, with a strap from your rental truck (if there are any) or some stout rope tied firmly.

Step 4: Opt for a hand truck with sliders on the back 

Sliders are handle-like attachments located on the back of the hand truck, down near the bottom of the uprights next to the wheels. Sometimes made of plastic, they are optimally covered in thick, soft carpet-like material, which adds a cushion that creates a smooth, safe transition from step to step when the wheels are off the floor.

Step 5: Get some help 

two movers in grey polos carefully lower a large box on a hand truck down the stairsWorking with a second person below to guide and support the dolly as you descend the stairs is also a good idea. Even a small amount of unwanted momentum can lead to disaster if you’re working completely on your own.

Step 6: Take it one stair at a time 

With a firm grip on the handles and the truck facing straight, ease down the first step. Communicate clearly with your assistant down below. After each step, bring your truck to a complete stop. Make any necessary adjustments (grip, direction, angle, etc.) before tackling the next step.

Note that actually going down the stairs is the last step in the process. Safety and success come from being properly prepared, with the right equipment and enough hands for the job.


What is a Stair Roller?

In the evolution of moving equipment, the term “stair roller” has come to refer to a few different things.

The earliest one I encountered in my moving career consisted of simple conveyor belt mechanisms that attached to a hand truck, down near the bottom of the uprights. Since the slip-resistant rubber treads would, in a sense, crawl forward instead of sliding over the edge of each step, the risk of scratching the stairs would be minimal.

 

“In some instances, gloves are your best friend in maintaining a good grip on things. Without gloves, a hot day will have your bare and sweaty hands slipping and sliding off the furniture you’re carrying.”

 

Then there’s this six-wheeled contraption that is designed for stairs with a standard drop. On stairs with a larger drop, this type of hand truck will have to be lowered with muscle power until the wheels reach the step below.

Also out there are these cousins to the rolling pin. Compact and ostensibly easy to use, they are completely detached from whatever is being moved, so you have to use your bare hands to keep the furniture from rolling out of control down the stairs. At least three people are needed: two to support the item being moved and one to move the rollers from behind the item to the front as the crew makes its way down the stairs. I wouldn’t suggest this option.

There are also next-generation motorized trucks, which are as impressively priced as you might expect.


How to Move Furniture Down the Stairs by Hand

two people move a desk down a flight of stairs

Moving big furniture pieces, like moving most things, isn’t rocket science. But when it comes to getting heavy items down flights of stairs (safely!), every tip and trick is welcome.

Here are the steps to get a couch down the stairs without the help of equipment. 

Step 1: Measure your staircase 

For a straight flight of stairs, you’ll simply need to know how wide it is. If you have an angled staircase you’ll want to measure the height of the staircase as well, meaning from the corner steps to the ceiling. Also, take into account any handrails and banisters protruding from the walls. 

Step 2: Measure the height and depth of your furniture 

Since you already know how wide your staircase is, you’ll know right away if you can carry your couch, dresser, or other piece upright or if you’ll need to carry it on its back. If it is too wide either way, you may need to carry it at a forty-five-degree angle. If your staircase is angled, measure your furniture’s length. You’ll need to stand it on end around the corner of the staircase, so make sure it isn’t longer than the staircase’s ceiling is high.

Step 3: Make your furniture manageable 

For couches, remove any unattached cushions. For a sofa bed, take out the mattress. Anything to make it lighter. If the space is going to be tight, remove the legs if possible. You can usually simply unscrew them from the frame by turning them. 

For dressers, armoires, and similar, remove all of the drawers and secure any doors. If the legs come off these pieces, remove those too.

Pro tip: Shrink wrap compresses couch cushions and pillowy armrests, perhaps giving you the extra inches you need while also making the couch easier to grasp. But never use shrink wrap on leather!

Step 4: Get a grip 

two movers in blue shirts carry a piece of furniture wrapped in moving blankets and shrink wrap down a flight of stairs

If your furniture has short, stout legs, they might offer the best handholds. If you need them for this reason, it might be worth it to keep them attached. This is especially pertinent for the person at the high end of the item going down the stairs. Unlike the person at the bottom, who will be pushing against gravity, the person above will need to have a firm hold on his end to keep the piece of furniture from falling downward onto the person below.

In some instances, gloves are your best friend in maintaining a good grip on things. Without gloves, a hot day will have your bare and sweaty hands slipping and sliding off the furniture you’re carrying. And watch your knuckles as you go down! Slamming them into a doorjamb or scraping them against the wall can hurt enough to make you drop your couch.

Step 5: Taller person below, shorter person above 

As you begin descending the staircase, your furniture will angle downward, more or less parallel to the stairs, but the person on the bottom will be a step or two below the lower end of the item, meaning that end will be up around their chest

Meanwhile, the person above will be a step or two higher than the top end of the piece of furniture, which will be somewhere around their knees. Alleviate the situation by having the taller person below.

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Step 6: One step at a time 

This is the key to safety any time you are navigating stairs. Pause after each step to make sure everything is balanced and to give yourself a chance to glance down at the next step your feet will need to find.

For an angled staircase, you’ll need to stand the furniture on end, and coax it around the corner and down each step. If you’re moving a couch, this means you’ll want to carry it with the backside down, and for dressers/armoires, you want the legs facing forward. This is so when you stand it on end and slide it off the edge of each corner step, the legs won’t be bearing the entire weight of the piece. 

Pro tip: Place a furniture pad on the first corner step and set the end of the furniture on top. This will protect it while offering the ability to slide it toward the edge of each corner step without scraping or scratching the floor.

What If My Couch Doesn’t Fit Down the Stairs?

Well, it evidently made it up so it should make it back down. But if your couch won’t fit down your straight staircase either upright or on its back, try turning it forty-five degrees forward. This means: 

  • The front bottom edge of the couch is pointed toward the floor 
  • The back bottom edge is facing one wall
  • The open seat cushion side facing the other wall 

Your couch will be at its narrowest at this angle, so hopefully, that will help you maneuver it down.

The same general idea applies to an angled staircase. But to make your couch fit around the corner, you’ll have to stand it on end with the seat side facing the inside corner so you can wrap it around. Plan ahead and make sure you have the seat side of your couch facing the right way before you start going down!

How Do You Move a Couch Down the Stairs by Yourself?

a man lifts one end of a white couch by himself

You don’t. You don’t want to anyway, although it’s not impossible. To get a couch from the top of a staircase to the bottom by yourself without damage or serious injury, you’ll need a light couch and plenty of strength and patience.

There are two ways to approach this. If you can’t lift your couch off the ground by yourself, don’t try either of the following. Swallow your pride and get some help.

The first way: 

Stand the couch upright on one end and ease it down one step at a time. Lift and set, each step you go down. You might try leaning it slightly backward (meaning toward the top of the stairs) and nudging the bottom end forward and down each successive step, but this requires lots of balance and control.

At all times, you’ll want to be on the step above the couch, not below. You don’t want it falling down on top of you.

The second way: 

Lay the couch down on whatever flat surface it may have (maybe the bottom, more likely the back) and slide it down the stairs. I highly recommend wrapping it in furniture pads first!

Understand that although the idea is simple, sliding your couch down the stairs is risky. To handle it from above, you’ll need a super firm grip or some kind of rope or strap tied securely around a sturdy part of the couch. Otherwise, there goes your couch, down the stairs without you.

 

“Shrink wrap compresses couch cushions and pillowy armrests, perhaps giving you the extra inches you need while also making the couch easier to grasp. But never use shrink wrap on leather!”

 

If you position yourself below your couch so you can ease it down with more control, make absolutely sure you are able to keep that couch from getting any downward momentum. Otherwise, there goes your couch, down the stairs on top of you.

If you are set on trying to get your couch down the stairs by yourself, consider wrapping it in shrink wrap first. It will help you get a better grip if you’re handling your couch vertically, and it will help keep the couch from slipping out of control if you’re sliding it down the stairs.

But again, moving a couch or anything else bulky and heavy down a flight of stairs by yourself is something I highly discourage. So please, do whatever you can to find an extra pair of hands. It’ll be worth the pizza you’ll be buying as a thank-you.

What if My Furniture Won’t Fit Down the Stairs?

If it went up, theoretically, it should be able to get back down. The obvious exception is furniture that was assembled inside the home. Your options then are to disassemble the piece or try a window – slowly and carefully, secured with rope and/or straps long enough to reach the ground below, with some slack to spare.

If none of these is an option, it’s your call. Leave it behind (with the blessing of your landlord or buyer), or cut it into pieces and dispose of it properly.


Final Words on the Best Way to Move Heavy Furniture Down Stairs

At a glance, it may seem impossible to get your sofa, your dresser, or anything else that big down those stairs. But as the old saying goes, what can go up can come down. Okay, that’s not exactly the saying, but you get the idea.

Remember, the point is not simply to get that piece of furniture down the steps but to do it safely, without damaging your furniture, your home, or yourself.

With the right technique and enough muscle, you can do it just like the pros

If you’re not convinced, or you’re simply not confident, no problem. You can hire professional movers who will help you move your furniture down the stairs or down the block. 

Furniture Pads: A Moving Must

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Update (12/9/19): Check out our updated furniture pads and moving blankets post here.

When you’re in the middle of a big move, it may seem like you’re throwing money out the window.

You’re buying boxes, you’re getting extra tape, you’re renting a truck…ca-ching! ca-ching! ca-ching! Yeah, we never said moving was going to be completely free.  Sometimes when you feel like you’re spending dolla dolla bills left and right, you may be hesitant going into each and every purchase.

Take furniture pads for instance (or movers blankets)… do you really need to shell out extra dough for them? Do you really need to add them to your moving supplies list?

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