How to Move Heavy Furniture Safely: Tools, Tips and Step-by-Step Guide

Moving heavy furniture safely requires planning, teamwork and the right tools. This guide shows you how to prepare, lift, protect floors and move bulky items through tight spaces without injury or damage.

Based on guidance from BIL Group’s materials-handling specialists, the steps below cover homes and offices, ground floors and stairs.

Introduction

Shifting heavy furniture can be one of the toughest parts of any relocation, renovation, or even just reorganising a room. The risks are real: strained backs, scuffed floors, dented doorframes, or damaged appliances. The good news is that with the right approach — planning ahead, using proper techniques, and choosing the right equipment — you can make the process safe, efficient, and far less stressful.

In this guide we bring together expert advice on moving sofas, wardrobes, refrigerators and other bulky pieces. Along the way we’ll show how practical tools like piano dollies, appliance sack trucks, and protective gloves can make all the difference.

Quick Summary

• Best way to move heavy furniture? Plan your route, clear obstacles, and use the right tools such as dollies, sack trucks or sliders.
• Can you move it alone? Small items, yes, with sliders or dollies. Large appliances or wardrobes — always get help.
• What tools help most? Dollies, sack trucks, sliders, straps, blankets, and gloves.
• Any special care for fridges/sofas/wardrobes? Yes. Each has its own steps in this guide.
• Key reminder: Protect yourself first. Gloves, sturdy footwear, and safe lifting techniques reduce the risk of injury.

Tools and Equipment Checklist

Before moving anything, gather the right kit. Here’s a quick guide, ordered from low-cost essentials to higher-investment equipment:

• Protective gloves (£) – improve grip and prevent cuts or splinters.
• Blankets, stretch wrap and tape (£) – protect furniture, walls and floors from scratches.
• Sliders or pads (£–££) – slip under corners to glide furniture across floors. DIY versions (towels, cardboard, magazines) are even cheaper.
• Ratchet straps (£–££) – secure heavy items to dollies or sack trucks so they stay stable during transit.
• Lifting straps or shoulder dollies (££) – these are harnesses that transfer weight to your legs via your shoulder, reducing strain and making stair moves safer. They should only be used by two people working in sync, as poor positioning or miscommunication can cause slips or strain.
• Furniture lifter (££) – a small jack tool to raise one edge so a dolly or slider can be placed underneath.
• Piano dollies (££–£££) – sturdy wheeled platforms for bulky furniture like wardrobes or pianos.
• Sack trucks for white goods (££–£££) – keep fridges, freezers and washing machines upright and secure.
• Stairclimber sack trucks (£££) – specialist sack trucks with assist rails or rotating wheels for safe stair handling.

Pro Tip: Even starting with the low-cost items (£) makes moving safer. If you move heavy items regularly, the higher-investment tools (££–£££) quickly pay for themselves in reduced effort and damage prevention.

1. Plan before you lift

• Measure everything. Check the size of the furniture against doorways, staircases, and hallways. It’s far easier to remove a door from its hinges than to force a sofa through a space that doesn’t quite fit.
• Clear the route. Move rugs, toys, boxes, or anything that could cause a trip. Keep pets and children well away.
• Disassemble where possible. Take off sofa legs, remove drawers, detach shelves. Lighter loads are easier and safer.
• Think about balance and grip. For tall items, use a “high-low” lift – one person holding the top, another the base – for better control.
• Know your limits. According to BUPA, 80% of people suffer from lower back pain at some point. Don’t risk becoming a statistic.

👉 For more on safe preparation, see Top 5 Rules for Safe Manual Handling.

2. Essential Furniture-Moving Tools

• Piano dollies – A stable, wheeled platform ideal for shifting heavy furniture such as wardrobes, sideboards or pianos. Regular movers should invest in a reliable set of BIL piano dollies.
• Appliance sack trucks – For bulky white goods like fridges, washing machines and ovens. Strapping the appliance to a specialist sack truck keeps it upright and controlled.
• Sliders and pads – Place under legs or corners to glide furniture across floors without damage. In a pinch, glossy magazines or old towels can substitute.
• Lifting straps/shoulder dollies – Harnesses that transfer weight to your shoulders and legs, reducing strain and making stair moves safer. They should only be used by two people working in sync, as poor positioning or miscommunication can cause slips or strain.
• Protective gloves – Improve grip, prevent splinters and shield your hands from scrapes.
• Blankets, covers and stretch wrap – Protect both furniture and walls from scratches and dents.

Pro Tip: For very heavy pieces, a small “furniture lifter” (jack with a flat blade) can raise one side just enough to slip a dolly or slider underneath.

3. Techniques for Moving Alone vs. With Help

• Moving alone: sliders, pads, furniture lifter, lifting straps.
• Moving with help: large wardrobes, sofas, fridges always two-person. Use “high-low” technique.
• Protect yourself: gloves, footwear, back braces.

👉 For best practice with trolleys and sack trucks, see Sack Trucks and Trolleys: Safe Handling.

4. Room-by-Room / Item-by-Item Guides

Sofas

Remove legs and cushions, measure carefully, angle vertically or sideways, use sliders or a piano dolly. Use a two-person “high-low” tilt to guide through tight doorways; protect corners with blankets.

Wardrobes

Empty contents, remove shelves and drawers, remove mirrored doors if possible, secure with straps, use a piano dolly. Strap securely to a piano dolly and keep centre of gravity low.

Refrigerators & Freezers

Defrost and empty 24 hours in advance. Remove shelves and drawers. Keep upright to protect compressor. Protect compressor and components with blankets. Strap securely to a white goods sack truck. For stairs, use a stairclimber sack truck. Do not lay flat unless the manufacturer explicitly permits it; in which case, follow the manufacturer’s standing time before powering on when in its final position.

General Heavy Items

Use blankets/stretch wrap, pad corners, stop and reassess if unsafe, call professionals if needed.

5. Protecting Floors and Walls

• Use sliders or pads to prevent scratches on wood, tile and laminate.
• Lay blankets/cardboard or hardboard sheets to shield floors.
• Wrap doorframe corners with cardboard/foam to prevent scuffs.
• Move slowly and communicate to avoid knocks and trips.

💡 Pro Tip: Towels or flattened boxes can also protect floors — but make sure they don’t become a trip hazard themselves.

6. Safety First

• Lift with legs, not back. Keep the load close and avoid twisting.
• Use proper kit: gloves, sack trucks, dollies, lifting straps.
• Dress properly: sturdy shoes (with steel toe caps is best), back braces if prone to strain.
• Work in pairs: use high-low technique for tall items.
• Know when to stop. Take breaks to avoid fatigue.

👉 For more, see Top 5 Rules for Safe Manual Handling.

What’s next?

The right equipment makes all the difference when moving heavy furniture. From piano dollies to sack trucks for white goods, stairclimber sack trucks, and protective gloves, BIL Group offers an increasing range of options designed to help you move safely and efficiently. Explore our full selection of moving equipment to make your next heavy lift a safer one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I move a sofa through a narrow doorway?

Remove legs and cushions, measure carefully, tilt to a vertical “high-low” position, protect corners & legs with blankets and rotate through slowly with a spotter.

What should I put under heavy furniture to slide it easily?

Purpose-made sliders or pads matched to your floor type work best. In a pinch, use towels, rugs or cardboard — and move slowly to avoid snags.

How do I move a fridge without damaging it?

Defrost and empty 24 hours in advance, remove shelves, keep upright and strap to a white-goods sack truck. Protect the compressor and allow any manufacturer-specified standing time before powering on.

Is it safe to move heavy furniture upstairs or downstairs alone?

No. Use two people and a stairclimber sack truck where appropriate. Plan rest points at landings and keep lift heights minimal.

Which tools make moving furniture easier?

Sliders reduce friction; dollies and platform trolleys move weight over distance; blankets, corner protectors and ratchet straps prevent damage and shifting in transit.

Related Articles

• Top 5 Rules for Safe Manual Handling
• Sack Trucks and Trolleys: Safe Handling

Disclaimer

The information in this article is provided as general guidance only. Moving heavy items can be hazardous, and every situation is different. Always assess your own capabilities, use proper safety equipment, and seek assistance where needed. BIL Group accepts no liability for injuries, accidents or damages resulting from the use or misuse of this information. For official advice, please refer to the UK Health and Safety Executive guidance on manual handling.