Moving couches can be a challenging task whether you’re moving a couch by yourself or with the support of family and friends. Our comprehensive Moving Help® guide will help you through the process by giving your preparation advice, steps on how to move your couch, and other tips you may encounter when moving a couch.
Looking for specific instructions on moving a sectional couch? Check out our dedicated sectional couch guide.
By investing in time and preparation, you’ll make the moving process significantly easier for your couch move.
Recommended Tools and Supplies for Moving a Couch
Proper equipment is essential when it comes to successfully moving couches. Before you begin the lifting process, it’s important to gather the necessary tools and supplies. The following list outlines the recommended items that can make moving a couch easier.
Equipment List
- Measuring tape
- Moving blankets or furniture blankets
- Stretch wrap
- Packing tape
- Moving boxes
- Dollies
- Tie-down straps
- Hand truck
- Flat head screwdriver
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Hammer
- Plastic bags
Moving couches will depend on your specific needs and may vary depending on factors such as their size, weight, and the number of people assisting you. Your situation will determine what items will be most helpful in your case, which can help you to adapt to the list above accordingly.
How to Move a Couch in 6 Steps
Moving a couch can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, you can make the process smoother and avoid any unnecessary challenges. Follow these six steps to ensure a smooth couch move.
1. Measure your couch
You’ll want to measure your couch’s dimensions by length, width, and depth. These dimensions will help you later on when moving your couch throughout your home.
2. Find the best moving path
Before lifting your couch, you need to figure out the best and quickest way to move your couch out of your home. You’ll want to clear the pathway of any debris.
Additionally, you’ll want to make sure your couch can fit through any doorway. This is why measuring your couch in Step 1 was important because you can now compare it with any tight hallways or doorways. If your couch can’t fit through a doorway, but it must go through that path, remove the door hinges if that’ll help get your couch through the door.
3. Clean your couch
Take your time to vacuum or wipe down your couch. You want to avoid any dust, pet hair, etc. before you begin moving a couch by yourself with help from others. You and your new home will appreciate a fresh and clean couch.
4. Remove any parts
This is the time to put pillows and cushions into moving boxes. If the legs can be removed, unscrew them from the couch, wrap them in bubble wrap or packing paper, and put them in a padded moving box. Any screws should be put into a plastic bag, labeled, and taped with the part that the screw goes with on your couch.
5. Wrap the couch
You won’t want your nice couch getting damaged during the moving process. This is where moving blankets and stretch wrap come in handy. The moving blankets will give your couch plenty of protection and padding. The stretch wrap will keep the moving blankets secure and won’t move or slip off during the move.
6. Move the couch on a dolly, hand truck, or furniture dolly
To make life easier on your back, you should use a dolly, hand truck, or furniture dolly. This will make moving and transporting your couch across your home easier. If using a dolly, make sure to use the moving straps. This will help protect your floors. It’s also recommended to lift with your legs and not your back to avoid injury.
You’ll then want to carefully guide the couch through your designated path. Once you get it into the rental truck or storage container, make sure you secure it with tie-down straps. If you’re loading it into a rental truck, make sure you use the provided loading ramp whether you’re by yourself or have help.
3 Helpful Tips for Moving Couches
1. What if my path involves stairs?
If you have several people helping you, assign one person as the navigator to ensure smooth coordination while lifting the couch. Take your time and handle the couch with care. If you’re moving the couch by yourself, utilize a hand truck to navigate the stairs cautiously.
2. What to do if I encounter a tight doorway?
Ideally, you’ll be aware of any tight hallways because you measured beforehand. If you forgot to measure, you have a couple of options, however. First, try moving the couch through the doorway vertically. If that doesn’t work, try removing the door’s hinges. If that doesn’t work as well, consider an alternate path to move your couch.
3. Clear any debris out of the way
While you probably cleared the path when planning your couch move, you should double check once more right before you, or you and your friends and family, begin moving couches. You never know what shoes, toys, or packing supplies might’ve been inadvertently placed in your pathway. Additionally, remove any furniture or rugs that obstruct the path or have the potential to get damaged during the moving process when moving a couch.
Additional Items to Consider Moving
If you require assistance moving other belongings, Moving Help has you covered. You can explore our comprehensive guides on moving specific household items. While we highly recommend utilizing Moving Help for a safer, faster, and cost-effective experience, these guides will provide valuable insights.
- How to move a TV
- How to move a washer and dryer
- How to move a mattress
- How to move a gun safe
- How to move an upright piano
- How to move a grand piano
- How to move firearms
- How to move with plants
Experience a Hassle-Free Couch Move With Moving Help
By following our Moving Help tips and guidance, you can confidently move couches by yourself or with the support of family and friends.
If you prefer a stress-free moving experience while avoiding heavy lifting and preventing injury to yourself, consider enlisting Moving Help’s experienced Service Providers. Our professional moving labor has the expertise in efficiently handling couches of all sizes and angles to take the utmost care and convenience on your moving day.
Don’t burden yourself with the task of moving your couch — let Moving Help lift the weight for you.