How to Move Gym Equipment Without Breaking a Sweat

Creating a home gym was likely one of the best additions you made to your home, but now that it’s moving day, all of this heavy equipment has suddenly become a headache. 

Some pieces of gym equipment are easy to transport, such as hand weights and exercise bands, but moving large machines like ellipticals and treadmills are a whole other story. If you feel wary about moving heavy gym equipment on your own, don’t hesitate to hire a professional moving team. Read through these handy tips on how to move gym equipment before getting started.

1. Start by Cleaning the Equipment

Before you move anything, you should start with a quick cleaning of the gym equipment. This process usually entails using an all-purpose cleaner with a cloth or paper towel. Your gym equipment likely has years-worth of sweat and dust on it, so it’s essential to give each piece a thorough clean down before moving it.

2. Handle Hand Weights Carefully

Hand weights are a popular home gym accessory, and for good reason. Now that it’s time to move these weights, put that strength to good use.

If you’re moving adjustable dumbbells, it’s best to take them apart and spread the weights out evenly in a moving box. You should make sure you’re using the right moving box to prevent the box from breaking during transport. As you place them in a heavy-duty box, layer the weights with bubble wrap, which should prevent possible damage to the weights themselves.

3. Move the Small Equipment and Accessories First

Now that your home gym equipment is nice and clean, it’s time to pack up the small gym items and accessories first. These items include yoga mats, jump ropes, and exercise bands. You should create a moving box inventory list and split up the items accordingly.

It’s best to use a large rubber band to hold your yoga mat in place. Rolling up your jump ropes and resistance bands will help save space in the moving boxes.

4. Wrap and Secure Equipment

Those big, high-priced items, like treadmills, rowing machines, or exercise bikes, need protection, too—repairs or replacement will be costly. Cover the item in moving blankets or bubble wrap, securing it with moving tape. If you want extra peace of mind, you can also cover it with plastic wrap sheets. 

5. Remove Your Gym Flooring Last

Once every piece of equipment is out of your home gym, it’s time to take the gym flooring with you. This step only applies if you have interlocking tiles that you laid down, such as foam or rubber. It’s best to take pictures of the flooring before removing it so you can recreate the same pattern in your new home.

6. Load and Secure the Truck

When moving your gym equipment into the truck, start with the large, heavy items, such as treadmills and rowing machines. This helps you maximize space and reduce the chance of smaller, lighter items incurring damage during the move.

Unless your treadmill or bike has wheels, using a furniture dolly helps avoid back strain and minimizes the number of helpers you will need to recruit. Don’t forget to tie your treadmill to the dolly to hold it securely.

If you're a gym fanatic with multiple heavy items of equipment, distribute the weight of the items evenly over the base of the truck rather than squeezing them all into one corner. This makes loading and unloading easier, and the truck will be easier to control when driving. Tie down the gym equipment—heavy items sliding around can get damaged, and so can the van.

7. Lift Safely

Using a hand truck or dolly is best for transporting big gym equipment items safely. But even then, lifting a treadmill or box full of hand weights must be done properly and with the right number of people. Bending inappropriately or trying to move heavy items without assistance is a recipe for bad back injuries. 

Just like when lifting heavy furniture, keep loads close to your body and between mid-thigh and mid-chest to minimize exertion. Bend at the knees rather than the hips, keep your feet shoulder-width apart, and try not to twist or reach too far during the process. 

8. Unload and Reassemble 

Once your truck full of gym equipment reaches its destination, it's time to reverse the process. While you might be eager to set up your home gym again, don’t neglect lifting best practices when carefully unloading and reassembling the equipment. 

How to Move Large Gym Equipment

Keep in mind that even if you don’t have a full home gym, you can still hire a mover to help move one large item. Whether moving a treadmill or a multi-faceted weight machine, you’ll want to compact the larger items as much as possible. This step can be as simple as folding up a treadmill, but it also may involve completely disassembling a machine. If you have the machine’s original manuals, consult those to see whether they contain any specific moving instructions. 

We’ve broken down special considerations for moving specific large pieces of workout equipment below.

Moving Treadmills

To make moving a treadmill less taxing, you should plan out the best way to move it. If it weighs more than 50 pounds, get someone to help you move it. And if it weighs more than 100 pounds, use a furniture dolly. Be sure to check for a lock and unlock mechanism, which may be hidden.

Follow these guidelines for transporting a treadmill:

• Fold down the standing section or fold up the belt section, depending on your model.

• Lift with your legs while standing on the opposite side of the treadmill from your moving partner.

• When using a furniture dolly, position the treadmill so it’s centered and able to fit through doors.

• When setting up the treadmill in your new space, test it on low to ensure that it wasn’t damaged during transit.

Moving Ellipticals

While treadmills often fold up, ellipticals are bulkier and awkwardly shaped, making them unwieldy to move in one piece. So it’s often easier to disassemble the hardware to move an elliptical and maneuver through hallways, stairways, and doorways.

To do so, take the pedals and handlebars off the base with a wrench and screwdriver, collect the nuts and bolts in a plastic bag, label them, and attach them to the machine with packing tape. You should be able to carry each piece on your own or with help from another person.

If you’d rather not take your elliptical apart, move it in one piece using these tips:

• Use a furniture dolly regardless of weight, plus tie-down moving straps with ratchet ties.

• To tie down the machine, lift the base on one side and slip the strap underneath, then tighten your ratchet tie until the arms and legs can’t move.

• With a partner, stand on opposite sides of the base and lift with your legs to place it on the furniture dolly.

• If moving the elliptical up or down stairs, have a third person there to spot you.

• When setting up the elliptical, test it on low to ensure that it wasn’t damaged during transit.

Moving Stationary Bikes

Stationary bikes are relatively small and light pieces of exercise equipment. When moving a stationary bike, store the cords in a secure place. Protect your floors from scratches by sliding cardboard, towels, or furniture sliders underneath the bike before sliding it. If you need to lift the bike up or down stairs or onto a moving truck, you may need a partner to help you balance the weight.

Moving Weight Machines

Home weightlifting set-ups consist of several pieces best moved when disassembled. Put nuts, bolts, and screws in plastic bags and secure them to their corresponding pieces with tape to make reassembly easier. If you can’t find the user’s manual, carefully document how each piece fits together. Secure moving parts with tape, bungee cords, rope, or zip ties for safety.

DIY vs. Hiring a Moving Company

Figuring out how to move a home gym can be a big undertaking, depending on the size and amount of machines. Hiring a moving company near you can take away the stress and give you the best results in terms of safety and efficiency. Keep in mind you can also hire movers just to load your moving truck, which is more affordable than hiring a full-service moving company.

Movers often have special techniques for moving heavy pieces of equipment, though you should inform them in advance what they should expect to deal with when they arrive. To avoid incurring hidden moving fees, you may still want to disassemble the gym equipment you’re moving before the movers load it.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire Professional Movers?

While the average cost to hire professional movers is $1,700, this is for a full house move. Expect to pay an average of $100 to $500 for movers to transport your gym equipment. Hiring a mover just to load the equipment onto a truck costs an average of $50 to $200. The exact costs will depend on the weight and quantity of items, the distance they are traveling, and the size of the moving truck you require.