Finding the best mattress that truly gives you a good night’s sleep is no easy task. If you’re planning to move or store your mattress in another location instead of getting a new mattress, transporting that mattress without damage can be difficult, as well. A mattress can be hard to carry, load, and safely move from one place to another. Luckily, a few tools and the right procedure can make the job a lot easier. Follow these steps to learn how to move a mattress safely and without hassle.
A big part of learning how to move your mattress correctly is discovering what DIY tools you need. Those mattress moving tools and materials include:
- Mattress Bag
- Packing Tape
- Bubble Wrap
- Ratchet Straps
- Cardboard
- Helping Hands (optional but preferred)
How to Move a Mattress: Your Step-by-Step Guide
If you’re taking the time to move your spring or memory foam mattress yourself, keeping it in pristine shape is important to you. If you have time, cleaning your mattress before transport will make it fresh for your new space. Taking certain precautions when you pack and move your mattress will keep it from getting damaged during transport. Following these steps can help you understand how to move a mattress without damage.
1. Create Adequate Working Space
Your mattress is big, bulky, and awkward to move around. Don’t make it the first piece of furniture you move from the room. Move bedside tables, lamps, dressers, and other furniture from the bedroom to provide space to freely move the mattress. You can even lean your mattress against a wall to disassemble and remove the bed frame to provide more floor space.
2. Put on the Mattress Bag
A high-quality mattress bag will protect your mattress from dirt, weather, and other potential risks. Putting on the mattress bag is a bit like packing a giant sandwich. With the mattress lying flat on the floor, simply slide each side up a little at a time until the mattress is fully enclosed. You can take the same steps to protect your box spring. Press any extra air from the bag, then fold over the top and tape the bag securely.
Pro Tip for How to Move a Mattress:
If you’re moving multiple mattresses at once, label the mattress bags for easy sorting and placement when you get to your new home.
3. Transport the Mattress to the Vehicle
This is a great time to have those helping hands we mentioned. Having friends, family members, or neighbors to help you with the heavy lifting is the best way to avoid injury to yourself and damage to the mattress. Clear a wide path from the bedroom to the moving truck before lifting the mattress. With one person at each end of the mattress, turn the mattress up on one side and carry or slide it along your cleared path.
Can I learn how to move a mattress by myself?
If you must move the mattress alone, you should reinforce it with cardboard after putting on the mattress bag to increase stability and make it less floppy. Then, slide the mattress onto a furniture dolly and secure it in place with tie-down straps. Be sure to take your time getting the mattress outside to avoid slippage.
4. Load the Mattress
Getting the mattress into your chosen vehicle may be the most difficult task. For the easiest loading and transportation without damage, a moving van or pickup truck is your best choice. However, it’s possible to move your mattress with your own vehicle.
Van , U-Haul, or Moving Truck
While some larger mattresses won’t fit into a van, many sizes will. If you have the space, you can lie your mattress flat on the floor of the van. However, it’s important to remember not to place any heavy furniture or items with sharp edges or corners on top or against your mattress, especially if it’s a memory foam mattress. Consider protecting it with moving blankets. You can also pack the mattress upright against a vehicle wall.
Pickup Truck
Practically any mattress can be hauled safely in a truck. The mattress should lay flat in the truck bed or on top of the wheel wells. It might be necessary to leave the tailgate down if the mattress is a king-size. Avoid placing anything on top of the mattress. You can safely haul the box spring beneath the mattress, but other items shouldn’t be under the mattress during transport.
Car
Transporting a mattress on the roof of a car should always be a last resort. Many cars are too narrow to support a queen-size mattress or king-size mattress, so measure before carrying the mattress outside. Then carefully place the mattress on the roof of the car to avoid puncturing the mattress bag on luggage racks or other protrusions.
5. Secure the Mattress
Ensuring your mattress won’t slip, shift, or fall during transport is a vital step in the process. If the mattress is laid flat and has no room to shift in a van or moving truck, you won’t need to tie it in place. If the mattress is placed against a wall, a strap must be placed across it to avoid shifting.
Even if your mattress seems secure in a truck bed, it’s always best to place a strap across it. Air can get beneath the mattress during travel and lift the mattress out of the truck. If the tailgate is open, also place a strap over the length of the mattress.
If your mattress is on the roof of your car, then this step is vital. While transporting your mattress on the roof isn’t illegal, it can cause you to break other traffic laws like driving with an obstructed view or exceeding the vehicle length limit. Place straps across the mattress in two places. The straps will need to run through the windows across the inside of the car’s roof. Another strap must be placed over the length of the mattress and tied to the vehicle’s frame. For best results, avoid highways and take side roads for slower travel. It’s also a great idea to have a friend drive behind you to alert you if the mattress begins to slip.
Pro Tip for How to Move a Mattress:
If you’re traveling a long distance, stop regularly and ensure the straps remain tight. As the mattress begins to settle, straps or ropes will likely loosen.
How to Move a Sleep Number Bed
Moving the mattress on a Sleep Number bed is considerably different from moving a regular mattress. To move your Sleep Number bed, you’ll need to deflate and disassemble the mattress. Asking a friend to help can make the process safer and easier, but you can manage the task without professional movers. Learn how to move a Sleep Number bed with these steps.
1. Deflate the Mattress
Use your controller to deflate your Sleep Number mattress. Simply press the down arrow until the display reads zero to remove all air from the mattress chambers. If your mattress has a double chamber, you’ll need to press the right or left side button while pressing the down arrow.
2. Disassemble the Mattress
Unzip the mattress while it’s still in a flat position. Remove the hose by gently pressing the gray tab, then simply pull out the hose. Repeat the process on the other side of the bed. Some beds have two hoses per chamber, so you may need to consult your manual to determine how many hoses your mattress contains.
Remove all internal mattress components. Taking a picture of each layer as you remove it can make reassembly a simple process. Unplug the Firmness Control System from the wall and leave the hoses attached.
3. Securely Pack the Pump
The pump to your Sleep Number mattress is fragile and must be packed carefully to avoid damage. Pack it snugly into a box with packing materials to keep it firmly in place. Make sure the pump cannot move freely inside the box.
4. Pack the Mattress
When the mattress is disassembled into large pieces, packing the components is as simple as folding or rolling the foam pads and mattress cover to fit into your chosen containers. Your mattress parts can be packed into hard storage tubs or heavy-duty moving boxes.
5. Disassemble the Base and Load the Parts
Your Sleep Number bed may have a modular base, a flex-fit base, or no base at all. Disassemble your Sleep Number base according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A modular base is heavy and will likely require help to carry and load into your vehicle. Loose parts of a flex-fit base should be packaged securely and placed in boxes or storage bins.
Loading your Sleep Number mattress is as simple as carrying your chosen boxes to the vehicle and securing them safely for transport. Always be sure to have a helper or furniture dolly to move heavy boxes.
Moving your mattress takes a little effort, but it’s worth your time if you love the surface you sleep on. Once you know all the details about how to move a mattress and find a friend to help, the job gets much easier. Once you have your familiar bed in your new home, you can get a good night’s sleep — you’ll definitely have earned it.
More Moving Resources
Moving and packing guides
- How to Move a Couch
- How to Move a Mattress
- How to Move a Refrigerator
- How to Move a Piano
- How to Move a Pool Table
- How to Pack Shoes for Moving
- How to Pack Dishes and Glasses
Other moving resources
- Ultimate Moving Checklist
- Where to Find Free Moving Boxes
- Tips for Hiring Movers and Packers
- How Much to Tip Movers
- Should you Stage your Home When Selling?
- Change of Address Checklist
- Moving with Kids
- Moving with a Dog
- Ultimate Guide to Unpacking
List Your Space
Find Storage
FAQs
How to Move a Mattress or a Sleep Number Bed - Neighbor Blog? ›
Even though there are more steps to moving a Sleep Number bed versus your traditional bed, Sleep Number bed is overall easier to move. The Sleep Number bed usually weighs less than your average mattress. Simply moving your Sleep Number mattress takes a little planning ahead.
Is it easy to move a Sleep Number mattress? ›Even though there are more steps to moving a Sleep Number bed versus your traditional bed, Sleep Number bed is overall easier to move. The Sleep Number bed usually weighs less than your average mattress. Simply moving your Sleep Number mattress takes a little planning ahead.
How much does it cost to move a Sleep Number bed? ›| SERVICE | COST |
|---|---|
| Disassemble | $249 |
| Reassemble | $249 |
| Relocate | $249 |
Deflate the air chambers
The first step to pack your Sleep Number bed is to deflate it. Press the down arrow on the controller until it reads zero. If there are two air chambers, you'll need to hold down the arrow for each chamber (left and right). Do: use the deflation controller.
- Step 1: Mattress Prep. The first thing you'll need to do is remove all bedding from the mattress. ...
- Step 2: Path Clearance. Once your mattress is ready to be moved, you'll need to plan your path. ...
- Step 3: The Heavy Lifting. ...
- Step 4: To Room or Vehicle. ...
- Step 5: Transport.
Although the Sleep Number® Modular Base (foundation) is very strong, it can be bent or twisted while moving. Completely disassemble and box the modular base for moving.
How many people do you need to move a mattress? ›Step 4: Enlist a helping hand (or two).
Mattresses are heavy, awkward, and love to flop around. If you're trying to figure out how to move your mattress by yourself — don't. Even professional movers use more than one person when moving a mattress. Instead, try to enlist the help of a friend, neighbor, or family member.
Moving Truck/Van: If possible, lay the mattress flat in the cargo space. Be sure not to stack the mattress on top of anything else and vice versa. If standing your mattress up, lean the mattress on its side against the support wall. Use nylon rope or ratchet straps to secure it against the support rails.
Why is my Sleep Number bed sagging in the middle? ›Because most Sleep Number beds come with two air chambers (so each person can adjust their side to their liking), if one side is significantly more firm or soft than the other, the bed is uneven and is susceptible to sag in the middle.
How do I get rid of a sleep number bed? ›Rely on your new mattress company: Many mattress companies, including Mattress Firm and Sleep Number, will take your old mattress away when they deliver a new one and properly dispose of it. Generally, you'll have to pay a small labor fee ($30 on average), but it's the easiest way to free up your space, stat.
Do Sleep Number beds get moldy? ›
Sleep Number doesn't use any organic materials to construct its mattress. But they don't have any toxic chemicals in their mattresses. The problem is that these mattresses are properly aerated, and due to this, mold tends to grow over time, and it becomes a massive problem for people dealing with various allergies.
Can you fold a mattress in half to move it? ›Folding a mattress will probably only work if you have an all-foam mattress that's medium to thin in thickness (8-11” thick). We don't recommend that you try to fold a mattress that's thicker or that has coils. You could ruin your mattress and void the warranty.
Can I move a bed without taking it apart? ›Although you don't have to break your bed down into its barest parts, you may want to separate out the mattress frame from the bed itself or remove drawers. > Dresser/Vanity: Most dressers and vanities can be moved intact unless there is a mirror on top.
How do you move a mattress without a uhaul? ›- Carry the mattress on its side so it's easier to maneuver.
- Use stair rails for support as needed.
- Lift with your legs, not your back, to avoid injury.
- Lean the mattress against a wall on its side if you need to set it down.
Moving heavy furniture can be difficult, especially if it's something like an adjustable bed. Not only is it large and awkward in shape, but it also has mechanisms and components that make maneuvering the size even more challenging.
Does Sleep Number transfer motion? ›The Sleep Number and Air-Pedic both have foam in the layers above the air chambers which helps with dampening the motion transfer. However, we did feel more movement on the sleep number because the air chambers are zipped together.
How hard is it to move a memory foam mattress? ›The next time you're considering throwing away a mattress because you don't want the hassle of moving it, check first to see if you have a memory foam bed. They're surprisingly easy to roll up and transport with a few readily available and inexpensive tools.
Can I put a Sleep Number bed on my box spring? ›A Sleep Number mattress requires a firm solid surface to provide a comfortable sleeping surface. A traditional box spring won't work with a Sleep Number mattress.