How to Move a Bed and Mattress By Yourself

While your home is filled with plenty of large furnishings and objects, none of them compare to the bulkiness of your bed! From the mattress and box spring to the frame and headboard, moving a bed and mattress is no easy task – especially if you’re doing it without the help of professionals. The good news: we’re here to guide you. Whether you’re moving across the street or across the country, here are some tips on moving your bed and mattress successfully.

The pros of moving your bed without hiring professionals

Moving the bed and mattress yourself is a good idea for several reasons: a) you will save a boatload of money by not hiring movers. In fact, hiring a professional moving company to move your home can cost in the thousands, depending on how far and what you’re moving; and b) moving the bed yourself will give you total control over the move. If the bed is an antique or valuable in some way, you’ll be able to choose how to best pack it up and relocate it to your new home.

What to know before you begin

First, consider its size. A king size bed will most likely be easier to move than a queen size bed. That’s because a king size box spring is usually divided into two separate box springs, and a king size mattress is often split. While the majority of queen size box springs and mattresses are not split. This can make them more difficult to maneuver up and down the stairs, through narrow hallways and around tight corners.

What you’re going to need

Mattress bags to protect all mattresses and box springs from water, dust and general wear and tear throughout the move.
Friends! You’re going to need an extra set of hands to help you bring the mattress, boxspring and frame down the stairs and through the doorways. You may also need help hoisting the bed into your moving truck.
Bubble wrap and tape.
Moving straps, if you need help lifting.
A rented dolly if your bed is especially heavy.
A screwdriver or wrench to disassemble a bed.
Plastic bag to keep all the bed’s nuts and bolts safe after disassembling.

What size truck you should rent

To move a bed and mattress by yourself, you’re going to need the right vehicle for the job. For those unlucky few who have no truck-driving friends, you can rent an enclosed truck or moving van from any number of places including: U-Haul, Penske, U-Pack and Budget. For more information and discounts, check out Moving.com’s truck rental center.

To give you a better idea of what size truck you’re going to need, check out U-Haul’s options:

8 ft. pickup truck – capable of holding a twin size bed
Cargo van – capable of holding a queen mattress set
10 ft. enclosed moving truck – capable of holding a one or two bedroom home.

For more information on U-Haul moving truck sizes and capabilities, check here .

How to move the bed

Taking a bed apart is pretty straightforward. First, wash and pack all bed linens, pillows, blankets and comforters. Once these are packed up and the bed is stripped down, pack the mattress and box spring into their appropriate mattress bags for protection. Carefully carry each item lengthwise to the truck. Make sure you have a friend to help.

Once the mattresses and box springs are out of the way, you can start disassembling the bedframe. This is where a screwdriver or an allen wrench may come in handy. Make sure to save all screws and small parts in a safe and secure bag. I recommend heavily wrapping the bed frame and headboard in bubble wrap and/or moving blankets for protection. This way, they won’t bang up your walls while carrying them outside. It will also prevent damage to your bed.

Other options for moving your bed

Moving container

Need to temporarily store your bed before or during the move? Then choosing a moving container to move your bed and mattress may be the way to go. All you have to do is load the moving container with your bed and mattress, and the moving container company will do the rest. A few shipping container companies include: PODS, ABF’s U-Pack Relocubes, United Mayflower, COWs, U-Haul’s U-Boxes, Door-to-Door Storage, and Zippy Shell. For help choosing the right portable moving container company for your relocation, check here .

For more information on portable moving containers, check out Moving.com’s ‘Get Free Quotes Now’ tool. Simply enter where you’re moving from, the location of your new home, the number of bedrooms, and what date you want to complete your move. We’ll send you the best quote available, and let you compare other companies as well.

If you need to get your bed and mattress to your new home as soon as possible, then shipping the bed may be your quickest option. When shipping a bed, make sure you pay special attention to properly wrapping and protecting your mattress, box spring, bed frame, and headboard. This will prevent damage to your belongings during a sometimes bumpy, long distance ride. To ship your bed, I suggest looking at various service providers online, such as uShip.com , a website that makes it easy to find the right shipping partner. All you have to do is create a listing for your shipment and select the service provider that suits your needs and price point. You can even read reviews of the various service providers on the website. uShip points out that shipping memory foam or extra thick mattresses may require special packaging and handling, so make sure to discuss all details with your service provider before the day of shipment.

Hire professionals

Of course, you can always hire professionals for the job! While hiring a professional moving company might cost more money, it could end up saving your sanity. Chances are, these professionals have moved quite a few beds in their lifetimes. And with plenty of this experience under their belts, you can bet that the move will be more efficient, overall.

To find the best moving company to handle your upcoming move, check Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers. All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands. Good luck and happy moving!