Furniture moving: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What furniture moving is

Furniture moving carries large pieces such as sofas, dressers, beds and tables within a home or to a new location. The crew uses dollies, straps and padding, takes apart pieces that will not fit through doors, and protects floors and walls along the route.

Signs you need it

  • A sofa, armoire or dresser is too large to carry through the doors or up the stairs without damaging the walls
  • You are rearranging rooms and need heavy pieces moved without the risk of a back injury
  • A bed frame, headboard or dining table needs taking apart and reassembling to fit a new room
  • Your floors are hardwood, tile or stone and need protection from scratches during the move
  • A piece is on a second floor or in a basement with stairs that are steep or narrow

What the pro does

  • Measure the doorways, stairs and the item to plan a route before anything is lifted
  • Wrap the furniture in moving blankets and protect corners, arms and legs with corner guards
  • Disassemble beds, tables and shelving that will not pass through the opening, and bag the hardware
  • Lift with dollies, straps and a team, keeping the load balanced on stairs and tight turns
  • Place each piece in the room you chose, and protect the floor under heavy items
  • Reassemble what was taken apart and check that each piece is stable and level

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Number and size of the pieces, and their weight
  • Stairs, elevator access and the number of floors each item must cross
  • Narrow doorways, tight turns and corners that require disassembly
  • Whether reassembly of beds, tables or shelving is included
  • Distance from the truck or the van to the door and the room
  • Whether floor protection, wall protection or a piano dolly is needed

What a written quote should spell out

  • The list of pieces, with the size and weight class of each one noted
  • Whether disassembly and reassembly are included, and which pieces they cover
  • The protective materials used on floors, walls and corners
  • The number of crew members and the expected time on site
  • What the crew will not move, such as a piano, a safe or a glass top that needs a specialist

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Will you measure the doorways and stairs before you lift anything
  • Do you disassemble beds and tables, and will you put them back together
  • How do you protect hardwood and tile floors during the move
  • Do you move a piano, a safe or a glass table, or do I need a specialist
  • Are you insured for damage to my walls, floors and furniture
  • Will you put the furniture in the rooms I choose, and where do you leave the packaging

Red flags

  • A crew that does not measure the route and plans to force items through an opening
  • No floor protection on hardwood, tile or stone
  • Furniture carried by one person on the stairs with no straps or dolly
  • A quote that leaves out disassembly for a bed or table that clearly needs it

What you can do yourself

You can empty drawers, remove cushions and lift smaller pieces like nightstands and chairs yourself, and keep hardware in labeled bags. Call a professional for sofas, dressers, beds, tables that need disassembly, and any heavy piece on stairs, since the risk of injury and damage is high.

Licenses and permits

Furniture moving is commonly done by moving companies that are registered and insured, and the rules for those companies vary. Check with your state or local licensing agency for the registrations that apply to the company you hire.

Furniture moving questions

Do I need to take apart my bed frame?

Often yes if it will not pass through the door or stairs. Ask the crew to measure and tell you which parts need to come off, and keep the bolts and small hardware in a labeled bag.

Who pays if a wall is scuffed or a floor is scratched?

This depends on the company's insurance and its claim process. Ask before the move, and photograph the walls and floors before the crew starts so there is a clear starting point.

Can the movers place furniture in a specific room?

Yes. Label the room and mark the doorway, then tell the crew where each piece goes. Clear the path to the room before they arrive.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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