How to safely move heavy furniture without professional help

One of the primary benefits of moving yourself instead of hiring professionals is keeping costs low. Unfortunately, it also opens you up to injuries, especially if your body isn't used to the movements and strain that come with lifting heavy furniture for long periods of time. Add in navigating tight spaces and stairs with furniture in tow, and you have a recipe for disaster if you aren't prepared.

If you're planning to tackle your move on your own, we've put together some tips to help you stay safe (and hopefully injury-free) while moving things like couches, dressers and appliances. Nothing is foolproof, but you can take some precautions to reduce your chances of injury. Here's what you need to know.

Start with the right tools for moving furniture

Professional movers use a lot of tools to help them move everything from furniture to boxes safely and efficiently — and you should too. Here are some you should consider, from dollies and gloves to ratchets and lifting straps.

Dollies, hand trucks and lifting straps

These are the bread and butter of saving your back during a move. Dollies and hand trucks can be expensive, but they're the best way to tackle everything from heavy furniture to loads of boxes with ease. If you have some awkwardly shaped or extra-heavy items to move, like a washer and dryer set, a pair of lifting straps is a good alternative.

Miscellaneous must-haves

These aren't absolutely necessary, but are highly recommended for a smooth move. A proper pair of gloves (preferably with some grip) can protect your hands from cuts and calluses. A mattress bag with straps also makes moving one much easier than going without. Finally, ratchet straps and bungee cords are great for keeping large furniture in place inside a truck.

These are the most useful things you can have on hand for moving heavy furniture (and staying safe while doing so), but there's a lot more that can come in handy for a full DIY move. Check out our guide to must-have moving supplies for the full rundown.

Prepare your furniture and your space for the move

Just as important as the actual moving is making sure your heavy furniture and the space around it are prepared ahead of time. First, make sure there's a clear path directly from where you're moving the furniture to the exit of your home or apartment. Don't forget to move small items like tables or shoe racks near your entryway that may get in the way.

3 Men Movers , one of our picks for the best movers in San Antonio , recommends emptying all drawers in dressers, tables and other furniture before moving them. Not only does this lighten the load, but it prevents items from slipping out while moving. Shifting items inside of drawers can also easily damage the wood or shift the weight, making moving more dangerous.

You should also consider disassembling any furniture that you can before moving it. NYC Great Movers , one of our picks for the best Brooklyn movers , recommends disassembling beds, desks and tables for a smoother move. Doing so will remove some of the weight while also making these items easier to fit through doorways.

It's also a good idea to wrap large pieces before moving them. That's where plastic wrap can come in handy, though blankets will also work (especially for wooden furniture). Wrapping isn't foolproof, but it offers some protection against scratches and rips while moving, especially if you're navigating tight corners and packing your truck tightly.

Finally, always measure the width of your doorways before lifting a piece of furniture to move it. The last thing you want to do is move a couch to the door, only to find out it won't fit without some further disassembly.

How to move common types of furniture

Below, we'll go over some tips on how to move specific common pieces of heavy furniture. However, some general rules apply to all of them. 

Always lift with your legs and keep items near your body to avoid needlessly straining your back, recommends the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in its guide to proper lifting techniques. Keep your head and back straight and never twist your torso when lifting. Also, never try to move these items by yourself and make sure you have at least one other person helping. If a piece feels like it's too heavy, don't overextend yourself; recruit more help from friends or family (it's always better to be safe than sorry).

Couches

You can tip a couch vertically and use sliders or a dolly to easily move it from its current spot to your door, keeping a person on each side to avoid tipping. From there, you can have a person lift each end to carry it to your moving truck, according to Home Depot . If you need to go around tight spaces, remove the legs to make maneuvering easier. You can strap the couch to the sides of your truck with ratchet straps or bungee cords to keep it in place.

Mattresses

3 Men Movers recommends protecting your mattress with a dedicated mattress bag. They're pretty cheap, and many have handles for easier maneuvering. Once bagged, tape any excess material down to make the bag easier to grip. If you're working on a smooth surface, you can usually slide the mattress across the floor to your door; just watch for anything that could snag and cause a rip in the bag. From there, have each person firmly grip either end low on the mattress and carry it to your truck.

Bed frames

Depending on what kind of bed frame you have, this may not require two people to move. You can often disassemble frames down to their individual pieces, but it requires a fair bit of organization. Use tools like a wrench and screwdriver to disassemble the frame and place its smaller parts in clearly labeled bags. Make sure to wrap headboards and footboards in blankets to protect them from scratches. Try to keep all pieces together in your moving truck to avoid losing them.

Dressers

After emptying the drawers, secure them in place with plastic wrap. Two Men and a Truck , one of our top Oklahoma City movers , recommends using lifting straps with a partner to safely move dressers from your home to your truck. You can also use furniture dollies to make the move easier. Either way, go slowly and communicate clearly to avoid issues.

Appliances

Whether it's a refrigerator, washer, dryer or dishwasher, Colonial Van Lines , one of our top national moving companies , says to make sure you've properly unplugged them and disconnected water lines before proceeding. Remove any loose pieces, such as refrigerator shelves and racks, before moving. Also, wrap appliances in plastic or otherwise secure their doors to keep them from opening while moving. From there, use a hand truck, dollies or lifting straps to move the appliance to your truck slowly. Appliances are very heavy, so take your time and don't be afraid to take frequent breaks. Once inside your moving truck, secure appliances with ratchet straps. Check out our guide to moving with appliances to learn more.

These are just some of the most common large furniture pieces you may move, though there are some specialty items that may require a little more help. For example, while you can move a piano on your own , it's recommended that you hire a professional mover who has experience with them. The same is true for things like gun safes, pool tables and other specialty items that are very heavy, require special handling to avoid damage, and movers usually charge extra for .

Stay safe and prepare

According to Moving Proz , one of our top movers in Overland Park, Kan. , back, knee and shoulder strains, along with broken bones and scrapes, are some of the more common injuries people encounter when moving. Taking the proper precautions and putting safety first when moving heavy furniture is vitally important for a smooth (and injury-free) move. After all, ending up in the emergency room is a surefire way to cancel out all the money you saved by not hiring professional movers.

If moving all of your own furniture or appliances seems intimidating, consider going for a hybrid move . You can still move all of the smaller stuff yourself, but hire professional movers to handle the tough stuff like refrigerators or that massive sectional in your living room. Just make sure you read up on what you need to know before hiring a moving company .

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