Moving Heavy Furniture Safely: Protect Your Back and Your Furniture

March 6, 2026

Moving a 100-pound dresser wrong can injure you or damage your furniture and floors. Here’s how to do it right.

Part of our Furniture Assembly & Maintenance Guide.

Before Moving: Preparation

Empty all drawers — This reduces weight by 30–50% and prevents items from shifting
Remove drawers completely — For large dressers, take drawers out. Carry frame and drawers separately.
Wrap or protect — Moving blankets or old bedsheets prevent scratches and dings
Clear the path — Remove rugs, shoes, and obstacles from the entire route (including doorways)
Measure doorways — Check that the dresser fits through all doors. You may need to turn it sideways or remove doors.
Protect floors — Put down cardboard or moving blankets along the route

Lifting Technique

Bend at the knees, not the waist. Your legs do the lifting, not your back.
Keep the load close to your body. Arms extended = back strain.
Grip from the bottom, not the sides. Hands underneath or in drawer openings.
Move your feet, don’t twist your torso. Turn your whole body to change direction.
Communicate with your helper. Count “1, 2, 3, lift” so you lift together.

Tools That Make It Easier

Tool	Best For	Cost
Furniture sliders (felt or plastic discs)	Moving across floors without lifting	$5–$15
Moving straps (shoulder or forearm)	Lifting heavy pieces with two people	$20–$40
Furniture dolly	Long distances, loading trucks	$30–$60 (or rent)
Moving blankets	Scratch and ding protection	$10–$20 each

Moving Through Doorways

Measure the dresser width and the doorway width
If it’s close, remove the door from its hinges (3 hinge pins, takes 2 minutes)
Turn the dresser on its side or at an angle to fit through
Never force it — forcing causes damage to both the dresser and the door frame

Moving Up/Down Stairs

Always empty drawers first (critical for stairs)
Heavy end goes down (bottom of dresser faces downhill)
Person below guides, person above controls the weight
One stair at a time — move slowly, rest if needed
If the dresser is very heavy, disassemble if possible

When to Hire Movers

Dresser weighs over 150 lbs
Navigating tight staircases or spiral stairs
Moving to a different home (insurance matters)
You have a back, knee, or shoulder condition

After the Move

Level the dresser in its new position (use furniture pads or shims)
Re-anchor to the wall with anti-tip hardware
Reinsert drawers and check that slides work properly
Inspect for any damage from the move

Frequently Asked Questions

How heavy is a typical dresser?

A 6-drawer dresser typically weighs 80–130 lbs assembled. A 9-drawer wide dresser can weigh 120–180 lbs. Fabric dressers like our 7-Drawer Fabric Dresser weigh only 20–30 lbs.

Can I move a dresser with the drawers in?

Only for short moves (across a room) with a lightweight dresser. For any longer move, always remove the drawers. The added weight strains joints and makes the piece unwieldy.

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