How to Move a Heavy Bookcase to a New Home

If you’re an avid reader, you probably have plenty of books in your home – and a large bookcase where to keep them.

Both sturdy and elegant, bookcases are great guardians of books – and all the knowledge, wisdom, and entertainment contained in them. In addition to your book collection, however, a bookcase can also store – and display – a number of souvenirs, collectibles, keepsakes, decorations, framed photos, and all kinds of knick-knacks you enjoy seeing around.

All in all, a bookcase is an extremely useful and very fascinating piece of furniture.

When the time comes to move house, however, it presents quite a challenge – the shelves are loaded with books and stuff and the furniture itself is bulky and heavy, and, therefore, very difficult to move.

To successfully relocate your personal library, you need to come up with an efficient moving strategy – and to know how to move a heavy bookcase the right way.

Here are some tips and tricks to help you take your bookcase to your new home intact and unscathed so it can continue to house your treasured reads and cherished bits and pieces for years to come.

Decide whether your bookcase is worth moving

Before you begin wondering how to move a large bookcase to a new place, you need to make sure that you do indeed want to take yours to your new home.

As useful as your bookcase may be, it won’t make much sense to relocate it if it is not in a good condition or won’t fit into your new living room – or if moving the furniture will cost you more than buying a new one after the relocation.

So, before you start planning for the relocation of your bookcase, be sure to:

• Take a look at the floor plan of your new house or apartment and find out if the bookcase will fit in the available space;
• Consider the interior décor of your new home and whether your old bookcase will match it well;
• Inspect your bookcase for damages (worn-out finishes, scratches, dents, broken parts, etc.) and decide if it is in good enough condition to serve its purpose for at least several more years or not;
• Consider the quality of the bookcase (the quality of the materials, the quality of the workmanship, etc.) – A well-made hardwood bookcase is worth keeping, but a particleboard piece can simply be left behind (pressboard bookcases are inexpensive and easily susceptible to damage – not only during transportation, but also during disassembly and reassembly);
• Consider the sentimental and monetary value of the bookcase – You will likely not want to part with your old furniture piece if it is a family heirloom or an antique. And if your bookcase is an expensive one, it certainly makes more financial sense to bring it along than to replace it with a new one after the move;

• Think about how difficult it will be to move your bookcase – If the piece is very bulky, very heavy, too awkwardly shaped, or too vulnerable to damage – or if it can’t be disassembled – moving it will take a lot of effort, will involve a lot of risk, and will cost a lot of money. The peculiarities of the pickup and delivery locations (your old home and your new one) should also be taken into account – narrow doorways or hallways, tight corners, and steep stairs will make it even more difficult and more expensive to relocate the bookcase;
• Consider the distance to your new home – Moving heavy furniture across the country may not be worth it, but if you’re moving locally, it won’t make much sense to leave your furniture behind (including your bookcase) and buy new pieces after the relocation;
• Compare the cost of moving your bookcase to the cost of buying a new one of similar quality:
  • Find out how much it will cost you to move your bookcase with professional moving services – Fill in a moving quote and request on-site price estimates from several reputable moving companies in your area – get an estimate that includes the bookcase and another estimate that does not include it, so you can calculate exactly how much it will cost you to move that specific piece of furniture;
  • Find out how much it will cost you to move your bookcase by yourself – Figure in the cost of the necessary packing materials and the cost of renting or buying the necessary moving equipment, then find out whether you’ll need to rent a bigger moving truck if you decide to take your bookcase along or not (if yes, calculate the difference in the price of renting a smaller truck and renting the truck necessary for the relocation of your bookcase). Think about whether you will be able to take the bookcase out of your home, load it onto the moving truck, unload it, and take it to its rightful place inside your new residence on your own (or with the help of family and friends) or will need to hire moving labor to help you out (if so, figure in the cost of hiring moving labor);
  • Find out the cost of a new bookcase of the same quality as your old one;
  • Compare the last figure (the cost of a new bookcase) to the previous two figures (the cost of moving a bookcase with professional moving services and the cost of moving a bookcase by yourself). If the difference is minimal, it may be better to buy a new bookcase after the relocation instead of going into all the trouble of moving your old one.

See also: Move it or sell it – is it better to move furniture or buy new

Having considered all the above factors, you will be able to make an informed decision about the fate of your old bookcase.

If you decide to take it with you, keep reading to find out how to move a bookcase safely and without too much of a hassle.

Empty the bookcase

No matter whether you’re moving across the country or just across the street, you need to empty your bookcase before the move. Trying to relocate the bulky furniture as it is would be a huge mistake – books are very heavy, so they will add a lot to the weight of the already weighty furniture and will make it too heavy to lift and carry. Besides, the books and the other items in the bookcase may fall out during the move and get damaged.

So, your first task when preparing a bookcase for moving is to remove all items from it:

1) Books – Take all books from the bookshelves and sort them out:

• Go through your book collection and set aside the volumes that have no special value to you or anyone else in your family and that no one from your household is likely to read ever again. Give them away to friends or donate them to local libraries, schools, daycare centers, or any other organizations that may want them. Keep in mind that books are very heavy and will greatly increase the cost of your move, so it’s highly advisable to purge your collection as much as possible;
• Sort out the books you’re going to move to your new home – organize them by size, genre, author, or any other way that makes sense to you. Pack each group in a separate box;
• Pack your books safely for the move:
  • Get small, strong moving boxes, reinforce their bottoms with packing tape, and line them with several sheets of packing paper;
  • Dust the books well;
  • Wrap your more valuable volumes in soft packing paper;
  • Put your books in the boxes – place them flat with the heaviest volumes at the bottom or arrange them standing upright with their open parts facing the side of the box;
  • Be careful not to make the boxes heavier than 40-45 pounds. If a box reaches this limit, but is not yet full, pack some lightweight items in it, so you don’t waste box space but don’t overload the moving container;
  • Lay a sheet of packing paper on top of the books, close the boxes, and seal them with packing tape;
  • Use a permanent marker to label the boxes with their contents (children’s books, encyclopedias, fantasy novels, etc.).

See also: How to pack books for moving

2) Framed photos – Take all framed photos from the shelves, sort them by size, wrap them in packing paper and bubble wrap, and put them in a padded moving box. If there remains too much space in the box, pack some soft, lightweight items together with your framed photos. Be sure to provide plenty of cushioning inside the packing container and to seal it well. Label the box and write “FRAGILE” and “HANDLE WITH CARE” on at least three of its sides.

See also: How to pack pictures for moving

3) Souvenirs, keepsakes, collectibles, and artwork – Such items hold a lot of value, so you need to take special care of them:

• Wrap each individual article in packing paper and bubble wrap and use packing tape to secure the protective wrappings in place.;
• Carefully arrange your treasured belongings in small, strong, well-padded moving boxes and make sure each item is properly cushioned on all sides (use crumpled paper, packing peanuts, and bubble wrap). It’s crucial to prevent the items in a box from shifting around and coming in contact with one another during transit;

• Avoid packing other items in the boxes with your collectibles and pieces of art;
• Lay a sheet of packing paper on top of the items, close the boxes, and seal them tightly;
• Label the cartons with their contents and any necessary handling requirements (“This side up”, “Handle with care”, etc.).

See also: How to pack fragile items for moving

4) Decorations – If there are any delicate or valuable decorative items on the bookshelves, pack them the same way as you packed your collectibles and mementos. Inexpensive knick-knacks can be simply put in a box with plenty of cushioning inside.

Once you’ve removed all items from the furniture, dust it well and wipe the surfaces with a damp cloth.

Thus emptied and cleaned, the bookcase is ready to be packed for moving.

How to pack a bookcase for moving

When packing for moving, the goal is to provide your items with maximum protection and make them as easy to move as possible.

When packing a bookcase for moving, you can achieve both objectives by disassembling the bulky furniture piece.

How to disassemble a bookcase

Dismantling a bookcase is not an overly difficult task but, depending on the type of your furniture, some parts of the process may be quite challenging.

If your bookcase came with an instruction manual, be sure to strictly follow the disassembly instructions (or the assembly instructions in reverse order).

In case you don’t have a manual – and can’t find one online – follow the steps below to safely take your bookcase apart:

• If your bookcase has glass doors, remove them first – Undo the screws that hold the hinges together and carefully take down the glass doors. Be sure to provide them with proper protection – place large pieces of cardboard over the glass and wrap the entire doors in bubble wrap (run packing tape around the doors to secure the bubble wrap in place). Consider covering the bubble-wrapped doors in moving blankets for added safety;
• Remove the bookshelves – Depending on the type of the bookcase, you may be able to simply take the shelves out of the furniture or you may need to unscrew them. Wrap each shelf individually in a moving blanket and secure the protective covering with packing tape;
• Remove the furniture legs (if applicable) – If the legs are screwed into the bookcase frame, just undo the bolts or screws that hold them in place. In case the legs are glued to the furniture frame, you will need to break the glue joints between them and the bottom side board of the bookcase. Pack the removed legs in a small moving box with sufficient cushioning inside;

• Dismantle the bookcase cabinet – Detach the top side board of the bookcase (use a screwdriver to undo the screws on either side of the top side board), then disconnect the sideboards by unscrewing them at the bottom. Wrap all furniture boards in moving blankets and use packing tape to keep the wrappings in place.

Bonus tips for disassembling a bookcase:

• Take pictures at every step of the disassembly process so you can easily reassemble the bookcase in your new home;
• Mark all detached pieces so you know their exact position in the bookcase structure (i.e. left sideboard, inner side, upper part);
• Place all shelf pegs, screws, bolts, nuts, washers, and other fastening elements in a sealable plastic bag so they don’t get lost during the move. Attach the bag to one of the larger bookcase pieces or put it in the same box with the furniture legs;
• If the different parts of the bookcase are glued together, it will be very difficult to dismantle the furniture (you will have to slide the blade of a putty knife between the parts you want to disconnect and carefully break the bond) – and it will be very risky to do so (you can easily damage the bookcase while trying to take it apart). In such a case, it may be better to move the bookcase in one piece.

How to wrap a bookcase for moving

If the bookcase is a solid piece that cannot (or should not) be disassembled, the only thing you can do is wrap it safely for the trip to your new home:

• Remove any parts of the bookcase that can be easily and safely removed (doors, bookshelves, legs, etc.) and pack them as described above;
• If your bookcase has doors that can’t be removed, secure them with straps or ropes, so they don’t open during the move (if the doors have latches, all you need to do is lock them);
• If your bookcase has legs that can’t be removed, wrap them in bubble wrap to keep them safe during the move;
• Wrap the entire bookcase in moving blankets and use plastic wrap to secure the protective coverings in place.

Now that you know how to pack a bookshelf – and a bookcase cabinet – for moving, you need to find out how to take the furniture from its current location to your new home.

How to move a heavy bookcase

If you have disassembled your bookcase, moving it to your new home will be a piece of cake – you will be able to simply carry the pieces to the moving truck, load them, unload them at your new home, take them inside, and reassemble the furniture.

If you need to move a heavy bookcase in one piece, however, the process will be much more difficult. It’s best to hire professional movers to take care of your bulky furniture – and all your household items. The experts have specialized moving equipment and rich experience, so they will be able to do the job in the safest and smoothest way possible and deliver your belongings to your new home intact and unscathed – and you will have nothing to worry about.

In case you have decided on a DIY move, though, it will be up to you to take care of your large and heavy bookcase.

Here is how to move a bookcase by yourself in a safe and efficient manner:

Plan and prepare

When moving a heavy bookcase without professional moving help, you need to devise an efficient strategy and prepare well:

• Ask friends for help – You can’t move a large bookcase on your own – you need someone to help you. So, be sure to reach out to your friends in advance and ask them to give you a hand;
• Get appropriate moving equipment – furniture dolly or furniture moving straps;
• Measure the dimensions of the bookcase and the doorways and hallways you will have to pass through when taking the furniture out of your home and into the moving vehicle to make sure the bookcase will fit through;
• Remove any obstacles from the way;
• Cover the floors with old blankets, tarps, carpet film protector, or other protective coverings;
• If you need to take the bookcase up or down stairs, protect the stairs and railings too.

Take the furniture out of your home and load it onto the moving truck

Lifting and carrying a very heavy bookcase from its current location within your home to the moving truck is not a good idea – it may easily result in injuries and damages. You need to use specialized equipment to safely move your bookcase. You have a couple of options:

• Use a furniture dolly – Have someone help you raise the bookcase on the dolly platform (use proper lifting techniques), secure the bulky piece with ropes or straps, and carefully roll the dolly out of your home, all the way to the moving vehicle, up the ramp, and inside the truck. Work with your helper to carefully lower the bookcase to the floor. Keep in mind that a furniture dolly cannot be used on stairs;
• Use furniture moving straps – Moving straps will allow you to lift and carry your heavy bookcase with ease – even on stairs. You can use either forearm moving straps or shoulder moving straps:

1. If you opt for forearm forklifts, place the carrying straps under the bookcase in an “x” pattern (or running parallel to each other between the legs of the bookcase, if the furniture has legs), position the arm loops on your forearms, near the elbows (have your helper do the same on the opposite side of the bookcase), lift the furniture simultaneously with your partner and work in tandem to take it to the moving truck (be sure to balance the piece with your hands while carrying it). Once you get inside the moving truck, slowly put the bookcase down onto the floor, remove the loops from your forearms, and remove the straps from under the furniture;
2. If you opt for a shoulder dolly, put the harness moving straps over your shoulders (your partner should do the same), place the long carrying strap under the bookcase, attach the ends of the carrying strap to the shoulder harnesses, and work in tandem with your helper to lift the furniture and carry it to the moving truck. When you get inside the vehicle, lower the bookcase to the floor, release the carrying strap from the shoulder harness buckles, and remove it from under the piece.

See also: How to move heavy furniture on stairs

Secure the bookcase well in the moving truck (use ratchet tie-down straps) so it doesn’t move around during transportation.

When you arrive at your new home, follow the same strategy to unload the heavy bookcase and take it to its place inside the new house or apartment.

Knowing how to move a bookshelf correctly will allow you to keep your cherished furniture piece safe and sound during the relocation – and your books will keep their loyal guardian. Happy reading in your new home!