Why Furniture Preparation Matters
Furniture is usually larger, heavier and more awkward than the boxes surrounding it.
A sofa may fit comfortably inside a living room but still be difficult to move through a narrow doorway. A bed may need to be disassembled before it can leave the bedroom. A large dresser may contain drawers, mirrors or removable shelves that need attention first.
Preparing these details before moving day can make loading more organized and prevent avoidable delays.
7 Steps To Prepare Furniture For Moving
Do not spend time preparing furniture you intend to donate, sell or discard before the move.
Record the approximate height, width and depth of oversized pieces that may have difficult access.
Check doors, hallways, staircases and elevators instead of assuming the piece will fit.
Remove loose, fragile and heavy belongings from cabinets, desks, nightstands and other furniture.
Beds, tables and some large furniture may need partial disassembly before transportation.
Label screws, bolts and hardware so furniture can be reassembled correctly at the destination.
Point out glass, mirrors, delicate finishes, loose components and anything requiring extra care.
How To Prepare Different Types Of Furniture
Sofas & Sectionals
Remove loose cushions and detachable components. Measure narrow doors and hallways, especially for oversized sofas and sectional pieces.
Beds & Bed Frames
Remove bedding and personal items. Large frames, headboards and adjustable components may need preparation or disassembly.
Dressers
Remove fragile, heavy and loose drawer contents. Secure or remove detachable mirrors and discuss particularly large dressers with the mover.
Dining Tables
Remove loose leaves and extensions. Depending on the table, legs or other components may need to be detached for transport.
Desks
Empty drawers, remove electronics and cables, and identify removable sections before moving day.
Cabinets & Shelving
Remove loose shelving, glass components and items stored inside before transportation.
Measure More Than The Furniture
Knowing the size of a sofa does not help if you do not know whether it can pass through the building.
Measure The Piece
Check approximate width, depth and height of unusually large furniture.
Measure Doorways
Consider both the doorway opening and the available turning space around it.
Check Stairs & Elevators
Tight stair turns and elevator dimensions can determine how a piece must be moved.
What Furniture May Need To Be Disassembled?
Not every piece should be taken apart. But some furniture cannot safely or efficiently leave the property in one piece.
- Bed frames
- Large dining tables
- Some desks
- Sectional sofas
- Large shelving units
- Furniture with detachable legs
- Pieces that will not fit through doors or stairs
Take Apart Only What Actually Needs It.
Unnecessary disassembly creates more hardware, more components and more reassembly work.
If you are unsure, show the furniture to the moving company and ask what preparation makes sense.
Keep Screws And Hardware Organized
Furniture becomes much harder to reassemble when a handful of unidentified screws arrives in a random box.
- Use small sealable bags
- Label the furniture name
- Keep matching hardware together
- Take a photo before disassembly
- Keep specialty tools when required
A quick phone photo of the furniture before disassembly can help show where components and hardware originally belonged.
Should You Empty Furniture Drawers?
Heavy, fragile and loose belongings should generally be removed before furniture is moved.
Books, glass, electronics and miscellaneous drawer contents can add substantial weight or shift around while the furniture is being handled.
If a drawer contains only lightweight clothing or linens, ask your mover how they prefer it prepared.
Remove Or Identify Fragile Components
Some furniture contains components that are much more delicate than the furniture itself.
- Dresser mirrors
- Glass cabinet doors
- Glass shelves
- Tabletop glass
- Decorative panels
- Loose stone or marble tops
For additional guidance, see our How To Pack Fragile Items guide.
Do Not Experiment With Extremely Heavy Furniture On Moving Day
Tell Your Moving Company About Heavy Or Unusual Items In Advance.
Oversized furniture, safes, specialty pieces, unusually heavy cabinets and other difficult items may require different equipment, manpower or planning. Identifying them before moving day gives the crew a better opportunity to prepare appropriately.
Apartment Furniture Requires An Access Plan
Apartment furniture may need to travel through elevators, tight hallways, staircases and shared entrances.
Before moving day, confirm:
- Elevator dimensions
- Elevator reservations
- Stair access
- Building moving hours
- Truck parking location
- Long hallway distance
See our Apartment Moving Tips guide for a full apartment-access breakdown.
Furniture Preparation Checker
Check each task you have completed before moving day.
Is Your Furniture Ready?
Check everything that is complete.
Start preparing the furniture before moving day.
Prepare The Difficult Furniture Before Moving Day
You do not need to turn your home into a furniture workshop before the movers arrive.
Focus on the pieces that create the biggest logistical questions: oversized sofas, beds, heavy dressers, tables, fragile components and anything that may not fit easily through the property.
Measure early, remove loose belongings and tell your moving company about unusual furniture before moving day.