How To Move A Mattress

Last Updated: May 16, 2025

Fact Checked by: Zoe Rice

Introduction to Mattress Moving

Ever wrestle? Well, that's what it can feel like when moving a mattress, especially a memory foam mattress. Mattresses are big, bulky, and can have the rigidity of Jell-O. While the idea of having to move your bulky mattress may seem impossible, we're here to make it easy. As long as you prepare correctly, moving the large items in your home is nothing to stress about.

Planning will help move a mattress more easily, keep you safe, and keep your mattress free of dirt and damage. The first things to do for a successful mattress move are to determine the following:

Understand what your mattress is made of (memory foam, coil spring, Sleep Number, etc.)
Measure the size of your bed; don't simply assume that the bed being a king or queen-size determines those measurements.
Does the bed have a box spring as part of the set?

Choosing the Right Supplies

Now that you understand your mattress's size, shape, and materials, you can determine what supplies will be needed to pack the mattress for transport. What you need will be different, but here's a list of items and tools to have on hand to ready your mattress for a move:

The Mattress Bag

The slip-on protective mattress bag is the key to a successful mattress move. It keeps the mattress safe from dirt and damage. These bags are available on Amazon.com or at Home Depot and cost between $12 and $20, depending on size and whether they're a single or two-pack.

Other Mattress Moving Supplies

The moving supplies can be purchased at most home improvement stores, Walmart, or Amazon.com. These supplies include:

Moving tape- You'll need it for sealing the bag and taping ends.
Scissors or utility knife- For cutting tape and/or wrap.
Ratchet straps or rope- This is used to secure the mattress to the side wall of your truck.
Bungee cords- Another means to secure things.
Shrink Wrap- Can be used for the mattress instead of a mattress bag, as well as frame parts.
Moving blankets- Useful for headboards and frame parts.
Mattress dolly or hand truck- Useful for transporting to the truck, and if moving the bed by yourself.
Screw driver, Drill, or Allen head wrenches (depending upon frame type) for frame disassembly.

Preparing the Bed Frame

A lot of the disassembly steps for preparing the bed frame for moving will be dependent on what type of bed set you have, but here are some universal steps in preparing for disassembly:

Strip the bed of all bedding, sheets, and bed skirts and pack them into a well-labeled box. This will be one of the first boxes that need to be unpacked at your new location.
Disassemble the bed frame using the necessary tools. Store the necessary hardware in a Ziploc bag, label the bag with a Sharpie and tape, and store it in the box with your bedding for storage.
If you have a Hollywood bed frame, use packing tape to hold the pieces steady.
Wrap the headboard/footboard and side rails with blankets to protect from scratches during transport.

Protecting the Mattress

Because many other people have used the moving truck or your rental truck before you, you're going to want to ensure that it isn't exposed to any dirt/contaminants while also preventing any snags or tears by following these steps:

Once you have the frame disassembled, lean the mattress on its side edge.
Slip your mattress bag over the mattress with the help of a friend and seal the end with packing tape.
Since most mattress bags are sized king/queen or twin/full, tape down any excess plastic edges to make it easier to move.
Apply tape to the top, middle, and bottom sections of the mattress over the plastic mattress bag. This will help keep the plastic steady and provide extra protection.
If you have a box spring, wrap it similarly, and set the mattress and box spring aside until ready to move and load them.
A mattress bag isn't your only option. With the help of friends, you can stand the mattress up on the side edge and wrap it with several layers of stretch wrap, making sure to encase the whole mattress and taping the end of the wrap.

Moving the Mattress from the House to the Truck

The ease and safety of moving a mattress start with planning ahead. A lot is going on during a move, so take note of what path you'll use, any tricky stairs or hallways to navigate, and game plan how you'll get from house to truck. Start by:

Move any obstructions from the path out of the way for the safety of walking the mattress out.
With your helper, each person grabs one end of the mattress with a firm grip, holding it relatively low and on its edge.
If the flooring is smooth or carpet, you can slide it; just remember to look out for thresholds and transitions so you don't snag the protective bag.
If you're attempting to move a mattress by yourself, rather than the end, position yourself in the middle of the mattress, and use a dolly or slide the mattress.
Guide the mattress down the hallway or entrances, with the front person calling out any steps or upcoming turns until you arrive at the truck or staging area.
If and when you go downstairs, the person at the top should provide support, and the person on the bottom side should guide the mattress around corners. Gravity can do much of the heavy lifting.
Going upstairs, the order is in reverse, with the person at the bottom supporting while the other is guiding for turns.
Perform the same steps for the box springs and bed frame parts.

Moving a Memory Foam Mattress

Memory foam mattresses provide some unique challenges since the thickness can be either a benefit (you can roll up thinner ones) or a disadvantage (they are heavier than many coil spring mattresses.

Many protective measures are the same, but moving the thicker ones requires more effort due to the extra weight. They are easier to get around tight corners (with help).

Finally, loading a memory foam mattress requires different planning; you should lay the mattress flat in the truck.

Moving a Box Spring Mattress

Your box spring mattress should be bagged and protected in the same manner as the mattress itself, and can moved on its edge, taking care to not snag the protective film or bag.

Hiring Professional Mattress Movers

If you're hiring out your move, professional movers will perform the same steps. When you're booking your move, be sure to ask the following questions:

How will they protect your mattress, and do they provide the protective materials?
How do you handle specialty bases, like adjustable head/foot bases?
Do I need to disassemble the bed, or will they?

Moving an Old Mattress

Sometimes, it might be better to start fresh. If you have the budget and have been thinking about a new mattress set, perhaps this is your chance to not only get a new mattress, but save cargo space on the truck. Just make sure you dispose of the old mattress in a responsible way.

Loading the Mattress

When you're ready to load the mattress, you're going to need the help of at least one other person to load your mattress into the truck. If you're moving your entire home, we recommend putting your mattress in the truck before your bed frame and keep your bedding box as close to the frame as possible. Doing so will allow you to unload and set up the bed first and then bring your mattress in and set it on top!

Loading a Coil Spring Mattress

When you're ready to load, typically boxes go in the nose of the truck box, followed by furniture and any appliances. Coil spring mattresses should be loaded in the following manner:

Load and rest the mattress inside, against the wall of the truck, taking care not to snag or tear the protective bag
Properly secure the mattress with rope or ratchet tie-down straps tightly to internal rails inside the truck box.

Once secured, coil spring mattresses can create their own protective padding for other tall pieces of furniture, just take care to not snag the bag with items next to the mattress.

Loading a Box Spring Base

Load your box spring base in a similar manner to the coil spring mattress, and secure to side rail. Avoid placing items on top of the box spring base, as heavy items could compromise the base's internal framing.

Loading a Memory Foam Mattress

Loading a memory foam mattress is different, so plan. It should be loaded in the following manner:

Stage it for loading later than a coil mattress would be.
Lay the mattress flat on top of other stable items.
And finally, make sure nothing is resting on top to prevent tears in the memory foam.

Loading the Bed Frame

Of all your bed's parts, the frame should be loaded last, and come off first so you can assemble it and then you can place the mattress set directly onto the completed frame.

If you plan ahead, the frame and bedding/parts box will be close enough together for ease and speed of assembling the frame.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

If you want to remain safe and keep your bed safe and clean there's a few things to avoid. We have all seen someone doing these things, so avoid the following pitfalls.

Using the Wrong Vehicle

Don't strap a mattress to the top of car. We've all seen someone doing this and it's really dangerous. Mattresses tend to catch air easily and can fly off if not properly strapped down. At a bare minimum, use the bed of a pickup truck, but we recommend in a moving truck.

Not Bagging or Wrapping the Mattress

Mom always said "don't touch that, you don't know where it's been" and that's true for the inside of moving trucks or rental trucks. It is incredibly hard to keep bugs out of a truck, so an unprotected mattress is going to be exposed to insects. The box of a moving truck is going to be dusty and your mattress will get dirty.

If you absolutely have to move it unprotected, consider buying disinfectant spray and spraying the mattress thoroughly and allowing it to air dry before replacing bedding.

Not Labeling and Storing Bed Frame Parts Correctly

There's nothing worse than going to reassemble something and you can't find the parts, especially after a long, tiring day of moving. Prevent this by planning, labeling, and storing your bed frame parts together with the bedding in one clearly labeled box.

Tips for a Successful Move

Plan ahead and plan some more. Spending a little extra time to protect and properly stage for loading will save time and hassles and prevent dirt. Buy your mattress bag early and have it ready.
Inventory your furniture and determine how you will "Tetris" everything on the truck. This will help you determine order, and when to load up the mattress and frame.
Use the right equipment. The right vehicle, a dolly or hand truck, mattress bag, proper tape and shrink wrap, and methods of securing your mattress will keep the mattress clean.
Arrange for helpers to help protect, move, and load your mattress, and make sure you communicate with them while doing so.

Conclusion and Final Check

Moving a mattress is a pretty simple process but our expert recommendations will help you safely protect, lift, load, and transport your bed. Even better, these tips will help you safely and easily unpack your mattress easily and make reassembly quick so you can get to sleep at the end of a long day. For more tips on how to properly pack a truck for moving check out our guide. Good luck with your move and don't forget you can leave it to the professionals if you'd like.

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