Knowing how to move a mattress properly will save you time and mitigate the risk of accidents and injuries. Most mattresses are heavy and awkward to carry, so it’s important to learn how to move them efficiently to lessen the stress on moving day—and have a truly successful move.
Before You Move a Mattress
Prior to putting your shoulder to a large and heavy mattress, save yourself harm and hassle by taking these simple, logical steps first:
- Measure the length, width, and height of each mattress you own so you can rent a large enough vehicle to move all your beds alongside your other belongings.
- Identify which mattresses require unique preparation, such as memory foam mattresses, king and California king mattresses, and mattresses of antique or heirloom beds.
- Create a checklist of everything—and everyone—you’ll need on moving day.
What You Need to Move a Mattress
Investing in supplies will help you move your mattress much more efficiently, saving you time and energy on moving day. Here are our recommendations for what you may need to move your mattress:
- A Helping Hand: No object or item will be quite as helpful as a second (or even third) pair of steady hands. Call in any goodwill or favors you have with friends or family. Moving a mattress alone is extremely difficult, and it’s much less frustrating to move a mattress with help.
- Moving Vehicle: Similarly important is a large moving vehicle—such as a cargo van, box truck, or pickup truck—to move your mattress to your new home, apartment, or storage unit without incident.
Here are the smallest truck sizes you can use to move standard mattress sizes:
- Twin: Cargo van
- Double/Twin XL: Cargo van
- Full: 12-foot truck
- Queen: 12-foot truck
- King: 16-foot truck
- California King: 16-foot truck
- Moving Accessories: Accessories such as dollies, hand trucks, or even shoulder straps make moving your mattress to and from your moving vehicle safer, easier, and faster.
- Tools and Sandwich Bags: If you have a bed frame, dismantle it before moving. Depending on your bed frame type, you will likely need a screwdriver, wrench, or both. Additionally, we strongly recommend using plastic bags to keep all screws, nuts, and bolts together. Simply tape the bag to the bed frame before you load it in the truck so you’ll have all the parts right where you need them when it’s time to reassemble.
- Mattress Bag and Tape: Mattresses are investments, so protect yours from damage and potential infestations by using a mattress bag large enough to fit your mattress. Once your mattress is bagged, secure the bag with duct or packing tape.
Can You Move a Mattress by Yourself?
Generally, moving a mattress by yourself is incredibly challenging, if not impossible. Learning how to properly move a mattress won’t make it any easier to move your bed on your own. However, you may be able to move a smaller mattress, such as a twin mattress, alone for a short distance.
5 Steps to Actually Moving a Mattress
If you need to know how to move a mattress, these five steps will help you move your bed more safely and quickly.
- Gather Help and Your Supplies: Get everything ready for the move. Enlist help, put your mattress in an appropriately sized mattress bag to protect it, dismantle your bed frame, etc.
- Trust Your Measurements: Not only did measuring your mattresses allow you to get the right moving vehicle and mattress bags—those measurements now determine whether or not you need to remove doors or other obstacles in your path and which route to take through your home.
- Plan Your Route and Clear a Path: Plan your route so you won’t need to stop to decide where to go next while carrying your mattress. Then, clear a path and remove any necessary doors or other obstacles.
- Carry Vertically: Flip your mattress on its side to make it easier to carry. Use proper, leg-focused lifting techniques. Never lift with your back, and avoid turning or twisting while carrying a mattress.
- Load and Secure Your Mattress: Unless you need to follow special guidelines (see special cases below), you should secure your mattress in an upright position against the wall of your truck with other items placed on its other side. However, if you aren’t unloading your mattress for weeks, do not leave it standing upright as it can damage and deform the mattress.
Special Cases and FAQs
Why is moving a memory foam mattress so hard?
Moving a foam mattress is more difficult because these mattresses can be easily damaged or indented. If you have a memory foam mattress, you’ll need to take extra precautions before you move it. Knowing how to move a memory foam mattress is vital to protect it from damage.
Memory foam mattresses should always be transported in a breathable, light mattress bag. If you do not have a mattress bag, you can wrap the mattress in a cloth sheet. Additionally, memory foam beds must be transported flat instead of on their side, with no other items resting on top of it.
When possible, it’s best to load all other items into your moving truck or cargo van and then secure the mattress on top of the other items. However, it must remain reasonably flat throughout the move.
What size truck do you need to move a king mattress?
Knowing how to move a king mattress is similar to learning how to move any other-sized mattress, with one key difference: truck size. King beds take up much more space, so naturally, you may need a larger moving truck to accommodate them and keep them secure and protected during your move.
King-sized mattresses will only fit in 16-foot and 26-foot Budget Trucks. When choosing between those two truck sizes, keep these additional considerations in mind:
- The number of bedrooms in your current home
- Double/Twin XL: Cargo van
- The number of boxes
- The total weight of your belongings
- The cubic feet of your items
What's the best way to move a mattress upstairs?
Are stairs involved in your move? We recommend learning ahead of time how to move a mattress upstairs in order to more easily navigate stairwells—and reduce the strain on your back and arms.
Use these steps to safely and efficiently move your mattress up or down stairs:
- Clear the stairwell of any debris or objects that pose a tripping hazard and reduce the space you have to operate in.
- Have a friend or loved one help you move your mattress upstairs, with each of you standing on opposing sides of the mattress.
- Use proper lifting techniques, and prevent injuries by lifting with your knees bent. Don’t twist your back or bend at the waist.
- Take the stairs one step at a time and communicate with your partner anytime either of you needs a break. Take things slow to prevent injuries, even if completing the task takes longer.
Get a Great Deal on Moving Trucks and Accessories
Knowing how to move a mattress into an apartment, home, or storage unit properly will help you avoid injury, work more efficiently, and reduce stress on moving day.
Check out our comprehensive moving guide for more tips on packing, moving, and unloading your furniture and belongings. And as always, you can count on Budget Truck for the best deals on moving trucks, cargo vans, and more.
As your moving day approaches, don’t forget to book a Budget Truck rental.