How do I move a mattress safely?

Furniture & Heavy Items

Feb 08, 2026

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and clarity.

How to Move a Mattress Safely

Moving a mattress requires careful planning and execution to prevent damage to the item itself, the property, and avoid personal injury. Mattresses, particularly larger or heavier models, can be awkward to manoeuvre due to their bulk and flexibility. Following industry best practices ensures a smoother relocation.

Preparation and Protection

Effective preparation is fundamental for any move involving a mattress. This initial stage focuses on safeguarding the mattress and creating a clear path for transit.

Clear the Path: Before attempting to move the mattress, ensure the route from the bedroom to the removal lorry is entirely clear. This includes stairwells, hallways, and doorways. Remove any furniture, rugs, or obstacles that could impede movement or cause a trip hazard. If moving to an upper floor, check that staircases are wide enough and landings offer sufficient space for turning.
Gather Essential Materials: A dedicated mattress bag is paramount. These heavy-duty plastic bags protect against dirt, dust, moisture, and potential scuffs during transit. Strong packing tape, moving straps with handles, and a trolley are also highly recommended, especially for larger mattresses. Consider protective blankets or old sheets for added cushioning, particularly if the mattress has a delicate covering.
Clean the Mattress: A quick clean before bagging is advisable. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust, crumbs, and any debris from both sides of the mattress. Spot-clean any marks if time allows, ensuring the mattress is completely dry before proceeding.
Remove Bedding and Accessories: Strip all bedding, including sheets, duvet covers, and mattress protectors. These should be washed and packed separately. Remove any decorative elements, such as headboards or bed frames, that might be attached or adjacent to the mattress.

Protecting the Mattress for Transit

The correct method of wrapping a mattress significantly reduces the risk of damage.

Carefully slide the mattress into its protective bag. Ensure the bag fully encloses the mattress, then seal it securely with strong packing tape. Pay particular attention to the open end to prevent dirt or moisture ingress. For memory foam or hybrid mattresses, sealing the bag also helps maintain their structural integrity by keeping them compressed and protected from sharp edges.

Safe Lifting and Manoeuvring

Lifting a mattress incorrectly is a common cause of injury. How to move a heavy mattress by hand without a dolly outlines key principles, even when a trolley is used.

Team Lift: Always move a mattress with at least two people. For king-size or super king-size mattresses, three or four people may be required. Coordinate movements and communicate clearly to avoid accidents.
Proper Lifting Technique: Bend at the knees, not the back, and use the legs' strength to lift. Keep the mattress close to the body and maintain a straight back. Avoid twisting motions while lifting or carrying.
Using Moving Straps: If available, moving straps can significantly ease the burden by distributing the mattress's weight more evenly across the body. Ensure straps are positioned securely before lifting.
Navigating Obstacles:
- Doorways: Tilt the mattress vertically and angle it through the doorway. One person should guide from the front, another from the back.
- Stairs: One person should lead from the lower end, carrying the majority of the weight, while the other person supports the upper end. Communicate each step carefully. Carrying the mattress on its side (vertically) is often the safest method on staircases, as it keeps the centre of gravity lower and allows for better visibility.
- Tight Corners: Carefully pivot the mattress around corners, again maintaining a vertical orientation if possible. Sometimes, a slight bend (for foam mattresses) or careful manipulation of the corners (for spring mattresses) is required. Be aware that traditional innerspring mattresses should not be folded or significantly bent, as this can damage the springs.
Using a Trolley: For longer flat distances, a heavy-duty trolley or appliance trolley can be invaluable. Secure the mattress to the trolley with straps before moving it, and ensure ramps are used safely when loading into a lorry.

Loading onto the Lorry

Strategic loading within the removal lorry protects the mattress and other items.

The mattress should ideally be transported vertically on its side, pressed against the interior wall of the lorry, and secured with ropes or moving straps to prevent shifting during transit. This orientation saves floor space. If horizontal transport is necessary, lay it flat on a clean, even surface, ensuring it is not underneath excessively heavy items that could cause compression damage. Avoid placing the mattress against sharp edges or unprotected furniture.

Unloading and Inspection

Upon arrival at the new property, reverse the loading and manoeuvring process. Once the mattress is in its designated room, carefully remove the protective bag and inspect it for any signs of damage incurred during the move. Should any issues be noted, document them immediately with photographs, particularly if a professional removal service was utilised and an insurance claim might be necessary. Checking the terms of Full Value Protection or home insurance coverage for moving is a sensible step for all valuable items.