How to Move Heavy Furniture By Yourself

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Moving heavy furniture by yourself is an arduous task. There are many things to consider when moving heavy furniture, such as where you can store it for the time between buying and selling (if applicable), how long it will take you to move all of your belongings out, and what equipment might be necessary.

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Things that you'll need to move furniture by yourself:

Where to Store Your Furniture at First

Ideally, you'll want to store your furniture somewhere not too far away from where you live (within an hour's drive). Somewhere about an hour away or perhaps a little more is friendly enough not to be considered right next door, but not too far as to make it difficult to travel and transport heavy furniture with your car (especially if you're doing this alone). If it's too close, it might be tempting for your helpers or yourself to get the stuff between loading and unloading if they're available, but this can cause mistakes and annoyances.

Dollies

A dolly is a wheeled platform that you can muscle the heavy pieces of furniture onto. Sliders are made out of plastic, and they slide very easily along the carpet or smooth floors, but it's easy to have them unpredictably shoot across the room, so be cautious when using them.

Also See: How to use Furniture Moving Sliders

Ropes, Straps, or Slings

Use these to tie the heavy furniture down onto the dollies. You'll need quite a number of them for larger pieces, probably at least four or five per piece of furniture.

Specialty Moving Equipment

If you have a large armoire or a very heavy china cabinet, you'll need to get a strong piece of specialty equipment from an as-is store to move these pieces as they're too heavy for dollies, and it's difficult to tie them down with ropes alone.

A Third Hand

A third hand is simply someone who helps move and guide the piece you're working on. This can be a friend or family member who offers to help (do this only if they aren't busy and won't mind helping out) or a hired moving company. This will make moving your large, heavy furniture much easier.

You may visit our article on Best Furniture Moving Companies in the US to find helpers for you.

Carts/Hand trucks

These are smaller than dollies but can also be used to move furniture. Carts typically have four wheels and are meant to be pushed, but hand trucks tend to be like a dolly with only three wheels that will roll rather than slide across the floor.

Pallet Jacks

This is a ridged dolly that has forks on the bottom of it. It's primarily used to lift and lower stacking pallets but can also be used to move heavy furniture onto your truck or another vehicle.

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Winch for Heavier Pieces of Furniture

A winch is a heavy-duty rope that attaches to the piece of furniture you want to move. The other end attaches to a secure object on the ground, and as you pull on the rope with your hands or machinery, it will lift from the ground.

More Equipment for Large Pieces of Furniture

A crane is used for very large objects. It consists of a long metal arm that attaches to either side of the item you're moving. It is then raised and lowered as needed with heavy machineries, such as a forklift or backhoe.

Pipe Dollies

A set of 4-6 pipe dollies is recommended for larger furniture pieces. These are similar to regular dollies, but they have three legs at the base instead of four. They can be used on carpet but not on very thick surfaces.

Bubble Wrap and Clothes

These can help to protect your items if they accidentally get scratched or dented during the moving process. Bubble wrap will be used over corners, legs, feet, handles, arms, etc., while clothes are useful for protecting flat surfaces.

Moving Blankets

These can prevent scratches or dents if bubble wrap is not desired. Moving blankets are useful for wrapping up sofas, chairs, dining tables, etc.

Also See: Why you should use Moving Blankets | Tips to Rent Moving Blankets

Plastic Sheeting

This can be used to make a temporary cover for your furniture as you're moving it. Plastic sheeting is especially useful if the weather is not ideal (rain, snow, etc.) for moving heavy furniture.

Boxes

You'll need a large number of boxes to pack up your belongings. Don't forget to label them with what's inside so you can find items easier during the moving process. Find out how to Label Moving Boxes in our article on Tips to Label Moving Boxes. Whether or not you want to use packing paper will be up to your discretion, but it may help keep breakables from getting damaged.

Extras

If you're planning on using some of the equipment mentioned above, make sure to put them together before trying to move your furniture. There's nothing worse than getting halfway through moving a piece only finding out that you don't have all of the necessary equipment or pieces.

Safety Equipment

There should always be one person who has their hard hat on and is the designated safety officer of the group. They will need to know where all the equipment is and where it should go. A wrench may also help tighten some of your furniture if it's wobbly or loose from being moved several times.

Safety First

To keep moving large, heavy objects safe, it's important to have at least two people on hand for every piece of furniture that needs moving. Before you start moving your items, make sure that the area is clear and free of clutter or anything else that could get in the way if an accident were to happen.

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How Long Does It Take?

It takes time to move heavy furniture by yourself. A coach will take around 2 hours to move, while a TV stand could take 30 minutes, depending on how much you're willing to carry at once and where it needs to go.

After the moving process is finished, make sure that everything is put away in its proper place or at least stacked neatly where it's supposed to go for the time being.

Things that Should be Considered

For heavy furniture that is hard to move, the equipment mentioned above should be used in conjunction. While it may not be possible to use everything at once, it's important to have the equipment ready if you need it.
Before moving any heavy furniture by yourself, ensure that your area is free of clutter and that everyone involved knows what they're doing (where the equipment is kept, how it works, etc.). This will help keep things safe.
Trying to move heavy furniture by yourself will always be a great help. Packing up boxes and bringing them out when you arrive will also make things easier for your movers. Whether or not you want to invest in packing paper is up to your discretion, but it may help keep breakables from getting damaged.
Ensure that the equipment is easy to access and within reach if needed. If possible, try to pick a day with good weather for moving heavy furniture outside. You can use bubble wrap and moving blankets to keep your furniture safe while it's being moved. If you're planning on using the plastic sheeting for this purpose, make sure that it's wide enough to cover your furniture and is secured properly (at least 3 people should be holding each end).
Extra equipment like hard hats, wrenches, etc., can be useful but remember that their purpose is to be used in an emergency. It's always better to prepare for things than not at all!
It takes time and effort to move heavy furniture by yourself, but it can save you money in the long run. If possible, try to clear out as much space as possible before your movers arrive so that they don't have to worry about moving extra stuff. Things like your bed, couch, and dressers can go ahead of time.

Conclusion

Moving heavy furniture by yourself will be a challenge, but it is possible. You'll need to rely on your strength and the equipment that you have to move heavy, large objects across the room or from one location to another. Remember that if you're having trouble moving something by yourself, you can ask for help from friends, family members, or even strangers who are willing to help out.

It is important to consider how you'll move your belongings before actually moving them. This will prevent you from doing the task haphazardly, thereby increasing the risk of injury and/or loss of money for professional movers.

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FAQ's

Do I need to do anything before moving heavy furniture by myself?

Before you start moving your items, make sure that the area is clear and free of clutter or anything else that could get in the way if an accident were to happen.

What should be considered when moving heavy furniture by yourself?

It takes time and effort to move heavy furniture by yourself, but it can save you money in the long run. If possible, try to clear out as much space as possible before your movers arrive so that they don't have to worry about moving extra stuff. Things like your bed, couch, and dressers can go ahead of time.

How long does it take to move heavy furniture by yourself?

How long it takes to move your items depends on the number of people moving them, how much space they have to work with, and the size/shape/weight of the pieces being moved. Remember that smaller objects will take less time than larger ones.

Do I need help to move heavy furniture?

Depending on how big the furniture is, you may need help to move it. Remember that if you're having trouble moving something by yourself, you can ask for help from friends, family members, or even strangers who are willing to help out.

What do I avoid doing when moving heavy furniture by myself?

Avoid lifting heavy objects alone - this is where others can help out. Remember to use the proper equipment, especially when lifting heavy items. For example, trying to lift something while standing on a ladder is not recommended.

How do I move heavy furniture by myself?

Clear out the area you'll be moving into or have a plan on how to get it done quickly. When lifting, remember that your legs are stronger than your back so use them as much as possible. If you're having trouble lifting something by yourself, try using a doll.