Are you tired of struggling to move your heavy and bulky mattress from one place to another? You’re not alone. That’s why we’re here to help. With our tips and tricks, you’ll be able to move your mattress with ease and peace of mind.
Imagine effortlessly transporting your mattress without any physical strain or worries about damaging it. With our guidance, you’ll be able to keep your mattress in top condition while making the process a breeze.
Don’t wait any longer. Take action now and use the info below to guide you through the process of moving your mattress like a pro.
Equipment Needed to Transport a Mattress
We’ve moved hundreds of mattresses during our tests and here are the best pieces of equipment we used:
- Hand Truck or Dolly
- Sandwich Bags
- Mattress Bag or Mattress Protector
- Nylon Rope
- Tape (preferably duct tape)
- Ratchet Strap
- Retractable Blade
- Tool Kit
- Tape Measure
Next are the steps you’ll need to follow to safely move your mattress.
How to Move a Mattress By Yourself?
If you’ve already gathered the equipment and tools you need, it’s now time to start the preparation process.
1. Measure Your Mattress
Using your tape measure, measure the mattress’s width, length, and height. If you already have a mattress bag on hand, check the measurement of the bag to see if the mattress would fit.
If it doesn’t, buy one that suits the size and dimensions of your mattress. You can ask your local mattress store for mattress bags for a quicker and easier buying process.
Additional Tip: If your mattress has a bed frame, disassemble it using tools in your kit and put the screws, bolts, and nuts inside the sandwich bags to secure them.
2. Cover Your Mattress With a Protector or Mattress Bag
Using a mattress bag will help keep your mattress safe in transportation, but you’ll need an extra pair of hands to help you insert it into the bag.
They come in disposable and heavy-duty versions, and some come with handles and zips (which we recommend). Heavy-duty works well for memory foam mattresses and other foam types as it helps protect them from indentations in transport.
Ask your teammate to hold the bag’s opening as wide as possible and slide the mattress in. Once inside, use strong tape like duct tape to seal off the ends of the bag to prevent moisture, dust, debris, and insects from entering.
If you have a zipped version then zip it shut, and you’re good to go.
3. Choose Transportation Method
Once your mattress is secure, it’s time to choose and decide how to move it. You’ll need to select a particular vehicle type to help you out; from a moving truck or van, a pickup truck, a typical car (say sedan, crossover, or an SUV)
It’s best to choose a moving truck or van as your mattress will effortlessly fit inside, but in case you don’t want to, you can use your own car. If your car roof has a luggage rail, securing the mattress would be easier.
However, it’s good to consider the size of your mattress to the vehicle too. For example, a big mattress would be better off with a moving truck or a pickup truck. Smaller ones would be enough for a regular sedan, and so on.
4. Clear a Path
Clear a path first, especially if your home has tight hallways and small doors. That includes small pieces of furniture, any toys on the floor, or anything that’ll obstruct you.
We recommend getting an extra pair of hands again for this.
5. Use a Hand Truck or Dolly to Move
Now that the path’s clear, lift the mattress onto your hand truck or dolly. Using these tools makes things easier, we promise.
Push the hand truck while paying particular attention to the ceiling and adjacent walls so as not to damage the mattress (or lighting fixtures) while you transfer it to your vehicle.
Once you move the hand truck outside, have someone hold onto the mattress, so it won’t fall into the floor while you prepare the ropes, straps, and other securing items.
6. Secure the Mattress Well
To secure your mattress, use the straps and nylon ropes ready, and position the mattress on top of your car or in the moving van.
If you’re using a moving truck, tie the ratchet straps around the mattress and secure it to the rails inside the cabin.
If you’re using a pickup truck, lay the mattress flat and secure it to the support railings with the straps and ropes.
If your car doesn’t have railings, create a loop with the ropes and straps that goes under the roof, making sure to keep the windows open slightly.
Ensure the ropes and straps are tight by nudging the mattress back and forth to test stability. If needed, repeat the steps to make sure the mattress is properly secured.
As an additional tip, use a small amount of tape to secure the mattress, but not too much as it may be difficult to remove later.
Is it Legal to Tie a Bed to a Car?
No specific law in the UK says tying a mattress on the roof of your car is illegal. If it is securely fastened to the roof of your vehicle and is not impeding your vision, you’re good.
An officer may flag you down, but they would most certainly just check if your mattress is actually secure and not impeding your vision and feel while you drive.
7. Drive Slowly
You may wonder why you’d need to drive slowly (since you’re not transporting a cake), but the fact is mattresses are vulnerable in transit. And yes, they are even vulnerable to bumps on the road, especially if you drive too fast.
When you see speed bumps, make an extra effort to slow down as smoothly as possible. And keep watch on road imperfections such as debris, potholes, and uneven surfaces.
Imagine driving like your mum’s in the car—you’ll need to ensure a really smooth ride.
How Can I Move a Mattress Without Handles?
You can use the straps or ropes if your mattress doesn’t have handles. Before you move the mattress outside, use the straps and ropes to create some sort of handle so you can better carry the mattress.
Tug away at the knot you’ve made or the straps, and ensure they can handle the mattress’s weight. Redo the knot or strap installation if necessary.
Should You Hire Professional Movers?
If you have the budget, by all means, hiring professional movers and moving companies is worth it. They handle almost everything; you only need to direct them and pay them once the job’s done.
If you’re not that trusting of professional movers, you can do it yourself and follow the steps we’ve just taught you above.
How Much Does it Cost to Move a Mattress?
There’s no exact pricing when movers move your mattress, as they have different price ranges. However, you can expect to shell off more or less £200. Factors that influence cost are distance, duration, and item weight.
How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Truck and Move Your Own Mattress?
You can expect to pay £80 minimum to rent a truck or van for a day to move your mattress. However, as we mentioned earlier, the distance and duration of the rental can affect the prices.
Can Folding or Bending a Mattress Damage It?
Yes, especially mattresses that are coil-based. Folding and bending the mattress in half can even damage your mattress permanently.
The good news is, if you have a foam-based mattress, you’re good. When storing a latex mattress or memory foam, keep it flat, and it will return to shape within several hours.
Will My Warranty Protect My Mattress?
Unfortunately, no. Your mattress’s warranty doesn’t protect against environmental conditions that can affect your mattress while in transit. User damage due to negligence and improper moving isn’t covered too.
You can also contact your bed manufacturer and ask for further clarifications about warranty coverages.
Can You Transport a Box Spring in a Car?
No, box springs are pretty big and bulky and wouldn’t fit inside a standard car (sedan, hatchback, crossover, SUV, or even pickup). Box springs would be better off in a moving truck.
If your box spring can be disassembled, you can use a bigger car like an SUV or pickup.
How To Store a Mattress After Transportation?
We recommend unpacking it and placing it in a bed frame, but in case you don’t have time to do that, you’ll need to store the mattress in a low-moisture place.
It would be best to place the mattress flat to prevent premature sagging. Ensure that no heavy objects can fall and are placed on the surface of the mattress.
If you intend to store it for extended periods, keep the mattress bag/protector in place and don’t remove the sealing tape.
