Save your belongings and your back with the following tips
Moving heavy furniture safely protects your back and belongings, as improper lifting techniques strain muscles and risk serious injuries to you and your home.
Expect to pay $260 to $580 for professional piano movers, while moving straps and furniture sliders cost $25 to $40 for your DIY projects.
You should disassemble furniture whenever possible, clear pathways to your moving truck, and use proper lifting techniques by bending your knees and keeping your back straight.
Hiring a local furniture moving professional provides reliable help with heavy lifting and specialty items, keeping you safe while protecting your furniture and home from damage.
Moving heavy furniture isn’t a task to take lightly. While it’s tempting to roll up your sleeves and get it done, learning how to move heavy furniture properly is essential for safety and damage prevention. By following proper lifting techniques, using the right tools, and planning ahead, you can prevent personal injuries, protect the furniture, and ensure there’s no collateral damage to your home. Use these seven tips to move heavy furniture safely.
It's important to move heavy furniture safely to avoid personal injury or property damage. The safest option is to hire professional movers with the right tools, equipment, and experience to move heavy furniture efficiently.
One of the most important reasons to move heavy furniture safely is to avoid personal injuries. Improper lifting and carrying techniques can strain your back, shoulders, and other muscles, potentially resulting in serious injuries.
It’s also crucial for protecting the furniture: If you don’t have a good handle on it, you might drop, bump, or ding the furniture, and that’s certainly not something you want to happen. Plus, when furniture is improperly lifted or dragged across floors, it can cause scratches, dents, and other damage to your home. Protect your flooring when moving by following these guidelines for transporting heavy furniture.
Before moving heavy furniture, it’s best to enlist help from your friends, family members, or, the best option, professional movers. The safest option is to hire professional furniture movers to move furniture in or out of your house. Consider this step mandatory if you’re moving the heavy furniture up any stairs or tight stairways. Don’t try to push yourself—we don’t recommend moving heavy furniture on your own.
It’s always easier to move smaller and less bulky pieces, so it’s worth the effort to disassemble your furniture where possible. Unscrew and remove wobbly dresser mirrors, and remove drawers to make the piece much easier to move. Additionally, certain furniture items like dining tables, couches, larger desks, or dressers may have detachable legs, so it helps to remove these, too. Be sure to store the pieces together and label them properly to make reassemble easier.
Another important prep step is clearing the pathway to your moving truck of any furniture, personal belongings, and other potential obstacles. If you need to move the furniture through doorways, narrow stair landings, or other tight spaces, measure them to ensure it will fit through. If not, you may need to remove doors from the hinges or consider different lifting angles to make it fit.
Once you’re ready to lift, get a comfortable and secure grip on the furniture that allows your palms (not your fingers) to do most of the heavy lifting. Then, bend your knees, keep your back straight, and lift with your legs to avoid straining your back. Again, this process can cause personal injuries, so it’s best to hire professional movers who have the skills and experience necessary to tackle this task.
If you only need to move a piece of heavy furniture to a new spot on the same floor, slightly lift one side of the furniture and slide a furniture slider under each leg. Ensure the smooth side faces the ground while the padded side faces the furniture's legs for optimal grip. With the sliders in place, you should be able to easily push the furniture to its destination. Always apply pressure from the lower section to prevent tipping or other mishaps.
Some large, bulky items require specialized professional help to move them safely. These items can include pianos, pool tables, grandfather clocks, gun safes, and more.
If you’re moving a piano, a professional piano mover can ensure it gets done without damaging the instrument. The average piano moving cost is between $260 and $580. If you’re worried about transporting your valuable piano, hire these specialists to ensure it arrives safely.
While moving straps are frequently used for moving heavy appliances like washers and dryers, you can use them to move bulky furniture, too. Moving straps, known as furniture-lifting straps, help to distribute the weight of the heavy item more evenly, making it easier to carry onto a moving vehicle. These helpful tool costs $25 to $40, depending on the brand and model.
Alison Kasch contributed to this piece.
My furniture was delivered today, and the whole move went smoothly. The final cost matched the original quote with no extra charges. The movers were friendly, professional, and handled everything with care. Even after the long distance, everything arrived in perfect condition. I’m very happy...
Moving of AmericaShowed up on time and cleaned carpets well, but didn?t move furniture.
Voda Cleaning & Restoration of ColumbusA reliable team for moves across state. My switch to a new place needed careful lifting through tight hallways. The movers checked the doorway first, then carried heavier pieces with slow, controlled movements. Their patience helped prevent damage, and I?d choose them again.
**Would rate a 0 if i could** NEVER USE THIS COMPANY!!!!! They shattered my tv console and dresser, lost a mirror, and never finished the move. The broken furniture cost me over $600 to replace. They left me with 6+ hours of personal labor moving my 1BR apartment, when I was quoted a FULL...
All My Sons Moving & StorageI could not have moved without the help of Jen Stover! I was in my house for nearly 20 years, so the thought of clearing it out while working full time was overwhelming. Jen takes great joy in sorting and organizing while asking the hard questions with patience and compassion. Jen is...
Go and Stow Home OrganizingExcellent experience for me! They helped me a lot with my move. very reasonable price. Good communication with the office manager is excellent.
Goodview Moving and StorageI was concerned about my possessions safety throughout the move but Bridge View Van Lines took all necessary security measures to make sure everything arrived in mint shape I am really appreciative of their effort and commitment They made my long distance move seem simple
Bridgeview Van LinesThis moving company is the best in Columbus, Ohio! They rescued me when my movers didnâ t show up. Do not ever use Plane Movers! They never showed up for my move, claiming that I never signed the contract. They didnâ t call me to follow up, communication was awful. The people that work for...
All My Sons Moving & StorageOzie and Tyquese were great and worked fast. It was a good move
All My Sons Moving & StorageJust moved from PA to Columbus in a studio apartment and needed help with some heavy furnitures because I couldn't do it alone. I called Hyremovers and they did a great and timely job and also left my apartment walls intact. Great service!
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