How to Move a Bed

Thankfully, there are ways to move your bed and your mattress successfully, with or without the help of professional movers. Keep reading to learn the best way to move a bed.

Should You Hire Movers or DIY?

When you're getting ready to move a bed, hiring professional movers with a moving van or moving truck may be the best idea. This is especially true if you don't have an extra person to help out.

However, a DIY bed move isn't impossible. With a pickup truck or a van, a friend or family member to help, and the right materials, you can get your mattress where it needs to be.

What You'll Need

• A screwdriver or Allen key to disassemble the frame and headboard
• A mattress bag or plastic to cover the bed
• Packing tape or rope
• A plastic bag to store small hardware from the bed frame
• Move straps to help with lifting
• A friend or two to help with the heavy-duty lifting
• A good night's sleep before you get to work

Moving a Foam or Memory Foam Mattress vs. Moving a Standard Mattress

When it comes to moving your mattress, the method you use will vary dramatically when moving a foam or memory foam mattress. While a standard mattress is large, bulky, heavy and beyond difficult to move, memory foam mattresses can actually be moved far more easily. Even king-size memory foam mattresses can typically be rolled up tightly and held in place with rope or packing tape, making them easy to move, provided you've got an extra person available to help since even rolled up, a foam mattress can be heavy.

Standard mattresses are far more difficult to move, unfortunately. They can't be rolled up, folded or otherwise condensed and because they're soft, they're hard to get a good grip on to safely move. This is especially true when navigating flights of stairs with a mattress.

If using moving straps, slide them beneath the mattress about 1' from the ends on either side and use them to lift the mattress horizontally. Make sure you have one person to lift on each end and an extra hand or two to keep the mattress stable at the sides. If you won't be using straps, bend at the knees and grab the mattress from the bottom to lift it up. Again, lift it horizontally and ensure you have at least two people to move it and keep it steady.

Renting a Moving Truck

If you don't own a large van or a pickup truck or have a friend who does, you'll need to rent a moving truck from U-Haul, Penske or another truck rental company. If you're just moving a queen-size bed or smaller, a cargo van can typically fit the mattress, box spring and bed frame; however, king-size beds usually need to be moved in something larger. If you're planning to move other furniture, consider a 10' to 20' moving truck.

Moving Long Distances

If you're planning to move to a new city, state or country, you might want to consider shipping your mattress instead of moving it yourself. If you plan to do this, it's important to pack everything carefully in bubble wrap and other protective materials to prevent damages. That's especially true when it comes to your headboard, footboard and any organic parts of your bed frame, such as those that contain wood.

There are several shipping companies that can be found online. Before selecting one, make sure to discuss the details of your shipment, including the date you need your bed to arrive at its new home, with the provider and take time to research their reputation online.

The Bottom Line