How to Move a Queen Size Bed by Yourself

Without a doubt, moving a queen-size bed is one of the most difficult things to do during a move. Why? The answer is obvious enough – a queen-size bed is both big and heavy. A moving challenge indeed!

What’s more, queen-size beds are pretty tough to move from one place to another because they have very big box springs. In comparison, most king-size beds have two smaller box springs underneath.

If you just have to move a queen-size bed locally or long distance, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to find the best way to move a queen-size bed by yourself – that is, without using the services of professional movers.

Do you really need to move your queen-size bed?

The very first question you need to ask yourself is whether your queen-sized bed is worth moving to the new home. There are several things to consider here so that you can make the best decision in your specific relocation case:

• Condition of the bed. Is your bed manufactured with high-quality materials – for example, made of solid wood instead of particle board? Is it comfortable? Is it relatively new or very old? Is it an expensive piece of furniture? And most importantly, what’s the current condition of your queen-sized bed?
• Size of the bed. A queen-size mattress is 60 inches wide by 80 inches long, therefore the dimensions of your queen-size bed will be a bit large to accommodate the mattress comfortably. The big question here is whether the new place will have enough space for your bed – that’s especially relevant if you happen to be moving into a studio apartment with very limited space.
• Distance. How far you’re moving will play a major role in determining your course of action. If you’re moving only a short distance away (a local move), then it may make sense to take your bed with you to the new place. However, if you’re moving long distance – oftentimes moving to a new state, then the hassle of moving your queen-size bed hundreds or thousands of miles away is not likely to be worth it.
• Money. Transporting your queen-size bed to another location in your current city is so much different than hauling it long distance across the country. Different in terms of costs, of course. You need to ask yourself if the price you’ll end up paying for the transportation of your bed will be worth it. Naturally, you wouldn’t want to part with it if it holds a high sentimental value for you or if it is a rare antique furniture piece with high monetary value. Consider your available options and look at the practical side of things. Sometimes it’s better to just sell your queen-size bed (or simply leave it behind) than to go through the complicated process of moving it.
• Trouble. The bedding will have to be removed and packed separately, and the mattress of the bed will have to be adequately protected and then loaded onto a rented moving truck. The well-known method of transporting the mattress on the roof of your own vehicle is rather dangerous and is not recommended. Then, the storage frame will need to be emptied of its contents and the bed frame disassembled and carried out of the residence. If the thought alone of what lies ahead gives you a headache and the queen-sized bed has no value for you (sentimental or monetary), consider not taking it with you to your new home.

What to Do With Furniture When Moving

Step 1. Prepare the packing materials

Once you reach the conclusion that you’re taking your queen-sized bed with you no matter the cost and the effort, it’s time to prepare your large furniture item for transport.

The very first step to packing and moving a queen-size bed is to secure the required packing supplies. Here’s what you’ll need to protect your favorite bed against any type of damage during the haul:

• A mattress bag. Get a mattress bag of the right size (60’’ x 80’’), made of durable plastic for added protection. Mattresses can be pretty expensive so you have to make sure it’s well protected. A good mattress cover should cost around $15.
• Furniture blankets. You’ll need a bunch of moving blankets to protect the individual bed components.
• Packing tape. You’ll need packing tape to secure the bundled bed elements.

Step 2. Remove and pack the bedding

The second step to packing and moving a bed to a new home is to remove the bedding and pack those items separately. There’s nothing complicated here: simply transfer all bed covers, comforters, quilts, duvets, blankets, sheets, and pillows into large cardboard boxes, then close up, and label the moving boxes appropriately.

You might want to consider using special vacuum bags for the more voluminous bedding items in order to save valuable packing space.

How to Pack Bedding and Linens for Moving

Step 3. Pack the queen-size bed mattress

Queen-size mattresses are huge and heavy, meaning that they will be challenging to handle, carry, and load into a moving truck by one person. Another possible problem when moving a mattress by yourself may be to have it stuck in a narrow opening such as a doorway, a hallway, or the building stairs.

Follow these simple steps to learn how to move a queen mattress by yourself.

• Get the mattress off the bed frame and place it on the floor. Use at least one helper to accomplish that since mattresses weigh a lot.
• Slip the mattress into the special mattress bag to protect it from dirt and moisture during transportation.
• Use shrink wrap or tape to secure the mattress bag in place.
• Take the mattress outside the home, load it onto the rented moving truck, and secure it to the side wall to minimize any undesired shifts.

If you’re moving only a short distance, you can transport the wrapped mattress on the back of your pick-up truck but only after you’ve made sure the item is extremely well-fastened with sufficient lengths of rope. Moving your queen-size mattress on the roof of your vehicle is NOT recommended.

How to Move a Mattress to a New Home

Step 4. Disassemble the queen-size bed

It’s time to disassemble your queen-size bed safely for transport.

After all, you can just lift the bed structure as it is and take it outside your home. And you shouldn’t attempt it either.

Follow these simple steps to disassemble your queen-size bed for moving:

• Disassemble the queen-size bed frame by following the instruction manual. If your bed frame has drawers, take them out, empty and pack their contents separately, and then wrap the drawers in moving blankets.
• Unscrew the headboard from the main frame.
• Unscrew the sideboards from the bed frame.
• Disassemble the main bed frame into as many separate elements as you can. If the bed is already broken into its main components, you shouldn’t have any problems taking them out of your bedroom and carrying them all the way to the waiting moving vehicle.
• Wrap each bed frame component with moving blankets (or old pieces of clothing) to better protect it and your property as well.
• Place all small fastening elements such as bolts, screws, nuts, washers, etc. into plastic bags to keep them safe.
• Be extra careful when turning the bed frame around tight corners or going down the stairs.
• Don’t start the queen bed moving procedure all by yourself. Instead, make sure you have at least two other helpers around to give you a hand.
• Plan your actions well and wear personal protection, such as work gloves and comfortable shoes with anti-slip soles. Remember: your safety and the safety of your fellow helpers are what matters the most!
• Load the frame parts of your queen-size bed onto the moving truck and secure them for a safe trip.
• Drive safely.

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Step 5. Make safety your top priority

Disassembling, packing, and moving a queen-size bed without professional assistance can be a risky job and this is exactly why you must make safety your top priority.

Be sure to take the following safety measures when moving heavy furniture to another home no matter how confident you are in your packing skills and physical strength.

Here’s what you need to do to move a queen-size bed safely and problem-free:

• NEVER attempt to move your queen-sized bed entirely on your own. It’s just too dangerous because the task is not meant to be tackled by one person. Even professional furniture movers work in teams. So, be smart and don’t risk it. Ensure that you have at least two people to give you a hand. If nobody answers your call for help, then do the sensible thing and hire movers.
• Have a good plan before you start to disassemble your large bed. Discuss the course of action with your helpers beforehand and map out the route from the current position of the bed to the awaiting vehicle outside. Make sure there are no obstacles of any kind along the exit path.  
• Mind what you wear on the day of the move. Remember to wear your most comfortable set of clothes that won’t restrict your movements in any way. Also, your shoes should be closed, preferably with anti-slip soles for improved traction. In most cases, a pair of sports shoes should do fine.
• Do yourself a favor and hire experienced furniture movers to help you protect and transport your queen-size bed and any other larger furniture items you want to take with you. Get free quotes from several local or long-distance moving companies to be able to pick a good offer.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)