Let’s face it: moving day can be stressful, especially if you have heavy, bulky furniture. Fortunately, Budget Truck helps make your move easier with our detailed moving guides like this one.
Knowing how to move heavy furniture correctly will help you load your Budget Truck more efficiently, protect your furniture, and reduce the likelihood of injury.
Quick Tips and Tricks to Moving Heavy Furniture
- Dress appropriately, wearing light, breathable clothes and durable, enclosed footwear.
- Plan and clear your path before lifting anything.
- Ensure you have the proper moving equipment, like dollies or moving straps.
- Stretch thoroughly before any heavy lifting.
- Use proper lifting techniques and bend your knees, not your back.
- Consider wearing work gloves to improve your grip.
- Get help when moving heavier items.
- Remove your doorstop molding for extra room.
- Disassemble what you can.
- Calculate the size of the Budget Truck you’ll need before moving day to avoid any unexpected surprises.
What to Gather Before Moving Heavy Furniture
An essential part of knowing how to move heavy furniture is having everything you’ll need before you start. We recommend gathering the following:
Help
Assemble your team of friends and family to help you get the job done. Moving is hard, and attempting to lift more than you can comfortably carry can result in injuries and accidental property damage. Even one extra pair of hands can significantly impact moving day. Maybe even consider throwing in some cash or the traditional “thanks for helping me move” pizza to make the event less of a chore for loved ones.
Moving Accessories
Accessories are a lifesaver when moving heavy furniture. Moving straps and dollies help take some of the weight off your arms and back, making loading items into your Budget Truck easier. Additionally, you can place furniture sliders under leg corners to help you glide furniture across the floor. You’ll avoid lifting while mitigating the risk of damage to the floor or your furniture. Sliders are also a great option if you can’t find many moving helpers.
Furniture Blankets
Furniture blankets help protect your furniture, appliances, and other items from scratches and damage during the move. Additionally, you can use blankets to keep drawers and cupboards from shifting or opening without risking surface damage from duct tape.
Preparing to Move Heavy Furniture
After you’ve gathered everything you need, you should take a few steps to ensure a more manageable, safer move.
Disassemble Furniture for the Move
As a rule of thumb, if it can come apart, take it apart. Many oversized furniture items, like dressers, desks, entertainment stands, bed frames, and bookshelves, are easier to move once disassembled. Additionally, carrying chairs, couches, loveseats, and similar items can be less awkward if you remove all cushions first.
Plan Your Route and Clear a Path
The last thing you want to do is kick something out of the way or pause while lifting heavy furniture to decide how to get the item to the truck. Instead, plan ahead and remove obstacles between you and the Budget Truck before lifting.
Measure Doorways, Stairways, and Other Areas
Have you ever tried to move something through a door, only to realize it won’t fit? Taking the time to measure problem areas will help save you time and stress in the long run. Additionally, you’ll have the chance to remove any doors or removable molding to give yourself more room and mitigate the risk of damage.
Wrap Furniture (If Applicable)
If you’re using furniture blankets, now’s the time to wrap things up to keep things secure and prevent damage. If possible, get help for this task, as lifting and wrapping bulky furniture on your own can be challenging.
Guidelines for Lifting and Moving Heavy Furniture
Knowing how to move heavy furniture correctly will mitigate your risk of injuries. The last thing you want to do on moving day is throw your back out! When moving heavy furniture, use these proper lifting techniques:
- Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, and place one foot just a bit ahead of the other.
- Bend with your hip and knees when squatting down. If you need extra support, you can place one of your knees on the floor.
- Maintain good posture while lifting, and lift slowly by straightening your knees and hips. You should look straight ahead with your chest out, shoulders back, and back straight.
- Always hold the furniture close to your body, keeping its center level with your belly button. Never attempt to lift a heavy object above your shoulders.
- Maintain your posture as you move. If you need to change directions, move slowly and turn your whole body by taking small steps rather than bending or twisting your back.
- Set your furniture in the truck carefully, squatting down without bending your back. This should feel similar to the motion you used to lift the object.
Special Cases
How to Move Heavy Furniture Up and Down Stairs
If you’re like many movers wondering how to move heavy furniture down or up stairs, you’ve likely already assembled help. You’ll definitely need it. While moving heavy furniture down stairs is more manageable than going up, you’ll still need another person opposite you to help lift and guide the furniture down the steps.
Before starting, cover any corners and banisters with padding or a blanket to prevent damage to your furniture or the stairs. Then ensure the area is clear and safe to move through. Using the proper lifting techniques outlined above, have anyone on lifting duty pick up the item at the same time so the weight is shared as evenly as possible. When you reach the stairs, the person at the bottom of the stairs will be holding more of the weight, so you may want to have the stronger person take that position or alternate positions to minimize fatigue.
One thing the rules above don’t mention is communication, but it’s very important. Tell your helper if you need a break or need to adjust your hold on the item.
Using a Hand Truck or Dolly
If you use a hand truck or dolly, ensure your furniture is centered for optimal balance. When moving furniture down stairs, stand behind the hand truck with your helper a few steps ahead of you. Tilt the dolly’s handle toward your body and take each step slowly and carefully.
If you’re moving furniture up stairs, start on the first step with the hand truck leaning toward your body. Then, pull the items up onto the next step as you work your way backward. Your moving partner should position themself in front of you and the dolly at all times in case any items roll forward.
Moving Furniture Across the Country
You may need to move furniture to another state or across the country. If so, take a few extra steps to ensure a smooth, successful, affordable move.
Plan Your Route
There’s plenty to worry about on moving day, so plan your route in advance. Consider jotting down directions in addition to using a GPS in case you enter areas with no cell reception.
Check State Traffic Laws
Each state has its own traffic laws you have to follow when driving a moving truck. For example, some states require moving trucks to stop at weigh stations. Others limit the lane you can drive a moving truck in or limit your speed. Checking laws for states you’ll pass through can help you avoid a ticket.
Save More with a Low-Price, Long-Distance Moving Truck Rental
The last thing you want to worry about is how you’ll afford the big move. Fortunately, you can get a long-distance moving truck rental for less by choosing Budget Truck. Not only do we provide big savings, but we give you all the miles you’ll need for your move, and we have hundreds of locations throughout the country.
Book a Budget Truck Rental
Now that you know how to move heavy furniture properly, you can confidently approach moving day! While lifting heavy, bulky furniture is the most challenging part of a move for many, this guide can help you work more efficiently and get the job done right.
Ready to start prepping for moving day? Rent a moving truck from Budget Truck today.