Learn how to move a sectional, daybed, and everything in between
Moving a couch yourself needs at least two people for smaller loveseats and four for larger sofas to prevent injuries during lifting and transport.
Expect to pay $25 to $50 per mover per hour for professional help, while DIY supplies like straps and blankets cost around $27.
Measure your couch and doorways before moving day, remove cushions and legs, and wrap everything with moving blankets to protect against damage.
Hiring a local small moving company takes the strain off your back and handles tricky corners, narrow doorways, and stairs with the right equipment.
Picture this: You’ve spent hours organizing and packing all your things to move into a new home, and now it’s time to tackle the couch. The couch is usually one of the largest pieces of furniture to move, and it’s likely one of the last things on your mind.
While completing a DIY move can feel overwhelming, getting your couch safely to your next place doesn’t have to be difficult. Of course, it’s helpful to hire professional movers to assist with moving heavy furniture items. If you’re intimidated, rest easy—we’ll give you all the know-how to move your couch without breaking too much of a sweat.
Before you move your couch, take a few steps to make the entire moving process easier. Measure the length, width, and depth of the couch to see how much space it’ll take up in the moving truck. It also helps to determine if it will fit through the door and hallways. Once you’ve taken measurements, outline a path that makes the most sense for moving the couch. Also, check the path you’ve drawn to see whether you’ll need to turn the couch on its side.
Couches often make up the heaviest pieces of furniture to move, so ask for help to make the process easy and prevent injuries. Smaller pieces like loveseats most likely only need two people for the job, while larger sofas may need at least four people.
To keep your couch in its best condition as you move, protect it by packing it properly—wrapping furniture for moving is one of the best ways to keep it safe. Remove all the cushions and pillows, and pack and label them in a separate box. If you have a larger couch, disassemble it and store the screws, legs, and other parts in the same box as the cushions. Cover the couch with moving blankets, and starting from the bottom, use the stretch wrap to pack the couch securely. If you find any loose ends, use packing tape to seal them.
With at least one person on either end of the couch, lift the ends. Make sure to communicate so everyone lifts the ends at the same time to avoid injuries. As you lift it, keep the couch closer to the ground and place the weight on your knees and arms.
If you need to maneuver around corners, remove the couch legs. Don’t try to re-configure the couch once you get to the corner; this will only make things more difficult. Instead, use the couch’s built-in padding to push against the wall a bit, squeezing it past the corner.
You may need to rotate and twist the couch as you move it. If there are doors in the area, you can open them and push yourself or the couch into them for extra room. If you can’t maneuver around the corners, find an alternative exit method, including passing it through a window.
It’s tricky to move couches through narrow doors, but not impossible. Start by measuring the door frame to ensure it’s spatially possible to get the couch into the room. If the couch will fit through the door when positioned vertically, carry it diagonally so the top part goes into the room first. If not, remove the cushions from the couch.
You can also remove the door by tapping open the hinges and lifting it out of the frame, giving you an extra inch of space. You can also remove the hinges; this will give you an extra ½ inch of space. If at this point, the couch won’t fit through the door either horizontally or vertically, you can try to move it diagonally. With one mover gripping each end of the couch, tilt it at a 45- degree angle so the front mover can get the couch arm through the door. Now you can move the rest of the couch in by working in a corkscrew pattern.
You’ll need two more helpers or pro movers to move a couch in or out of a window or over a balcony. After you’ve wrapped your couch, secure it with heavy duty lifting straps on each end. The straps should wrap completely around the couch.
Two movers should stand on the balcony (or on the receiving side of the window), and two more people should stay on the ground. Stand the couch up vertically, and the inside helpers should pull the lifting straps so the couch rises to the window or balcony. After the couch is halfway up, the second pair of helpers should go to the balcony to finish hoisting it up.
If you’re using a furniture dolly, have one person stand on each side of the couch and tip the couch vertically onto one side. Slide it carefully and slowly onto the dolly, then use the furniture straps to tie it tightly onto the dolly.
From there, you can transport it to the moving truck. Go slowly and watch out for sharp corners in case you need to adjust your couch to fit. It’s always a good idea to communicate with those helping you, even if it seems obvious—the key is to get the couch out of the house as safely and smoothly as possible.
Depending on the size of your couch, you may need a moving van, pickup truck, or moving truck. If you’re using a moving truck, you’ll most likely be able to use a moving ramp to get it in place. One person should stand on each side of the couch to maneuver it onto the truck.
For moving vans and pickup trucks, have each person lift either side of the couch to load it in. Secure it with straps to keep it in place during the move. Once you’ve gotten to your destination, unload the couch the same way you loaded it.
Before the couch arrives at its destination, determine where you want it to live so you won’t have to move it again. You should clear a pathway so that you and your movers have enough room to walk into your home and place the couch down. Once it is in its new spot, unwrap it and vacuum the surface to collect any bits of dirt or crumbs from the move.
While it’s possible to move heavy furniture with the help of a few people, it requires preparation and still comes with an injury risk. Safety is a priority when it comes to moving, so plan accordingly.
If you plan on moving a couch yourself, the supplies for a DIY move are around $27. If you prefer to let professionals take over, the cost of hiring movers is about $25 to $50 per mover for each hour. You can easily find local movers to help you make the transition to your next home. Plus, the movers can help you quickly transport other pieces of heavy furniture, such as bed frames and bookcases, and save yourself the injury risk.
My furniture was delivered today, and the whole move went smoothly. The final cost matched the original quote with no extra charges. The movers were friendly, professional, and handled everything with care. Even after the long distance, everything arrived in perfect condition. I’m very happy...
Moving of AmericaShowed up on time and cleaned carpets well, but didn?t move furniture.
Voda Cleaning & Restoration of ColumbusA reliable team for moves across state. My switch to a new place needed careful lifting through tight hallways. The movers checked the doorway first, then carried heavier pieces with slow, controlled movements. Their patience helped prevent damage, and I?d choose them again.
**Would rate a 0 if i could** NEVER USE THIS COMPANY!!!!! They shattered my tv console and dresser, lost a mirror, and never finished the move. The broken furniture cost me over $600 to replace. They left me with 6+ hours of personal labor moving my 1BR apartment, when I was quoted a FULL...
All My Sons Moving & StorageI could not have moved without the help of Jen Stover! I was in my house for nearly 20 years, so the thought of clearing it out while working full time was overwhelming. Jen takes great joy in sorting and organizing while asking the hard questions with patience and compassion. Jen is...
Go and Stow Home OrganizingExcellent experience for me! They helped me a lot with my move. very reasonable price. Good communication with the office manager is excellent.
Goodview Moving and StorageI was concerned about my possessions safety throughout the move but Bridge View Van Lines took all necessary security measures to make sure everything arrived in mint shape I am really appreciative of their effort and commitment They made my long distance move seem simple
Bridgeview Van LinesThis moving company is the best in Columbus, Ohio! They rescued me when my movers didnâ t show up. Do not ever use Plane Movers! They never showed up for my move, claiming that I never signed the contract. They didnâ t call me to follow up, communication was awful. The people that work for...
All My Sons Moving & StorageOzie and Tyquese were great and worked fast. It was a good move
All My Sons Moving & StorageJust moved from PA to Columbus in a studio apartment and needed help with some heavy furnitures because I couldn't do it alone. I called Hyremovers and they did a great and timely job and also left my apartment walls intact. Great service!
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Discover the cost to reupholster a couch in 2026, including average prices, key cost factors, and tips to help you budget for your next upholstery project.
Ready to learn how to pack for a move? We’re going room by room in your home with all the top steps on packing up your belongings.
Packing a moving truck doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. If you’re planning to move soon, these seven tips will help you pack your truck like a pro.
Is packing not your thing? Nonsense. You can pack like a pro and keep moving day chaos at bay with these tips to help you efficiently pack your household goods.
You can’t move all furniture alone, but you can pull off a DIY couch move with the right tools and know-how. Follow this guide to move a couch by yourself.
Do carpet cleaning companies move furniture or are you responsible for the heavy lifting? Learn if this is included in the service and if it’s worth hiring a pro.
