Even if you know your mattress’s standard size (twin, double, full, queen, or king), knowing the exact dimensions is still helpful to the moving process. Depth especially can vary for mattresses, though most are between 8 inches (20 cm) and 14 inches (36 cm) thick.
If you’re moving the mattress yourself, consider double-bagging it. You’ll likely end up dragging the mattress at least part of the way, which can erode a mattress bag. If you have a box spring, wrap it up the same way. Most mattress bags come in packs of 2, so you should have enough for both. Mattress bags are typically sold according to standard bed sizes, but it’s still important to know your mattress’s depth to ensure it’ll fit in the mattress bag.
Prepare your vehicle, too. If you’re going to put the mattress inside the car or truck, clear enough space inside the vehicle, open the doors, and push down seats for additional space if applicable. Make a note of any obstacles you’ll have to get the mattress over, too, like a curb, porch, or doorstep.
If you can’t get someone you know to help, you can always hire hourly professional movers or freelance helpers through services like TaskRabbit and Handy. If you choose to move a mattress without help, ensure you have either a dolly or several large pieces of cardboard to help you along the way. You can rent a dolly from most hardware stores or moving truck rental companies.
If you have a soft memory foam mattress less than 11 inches (28 cm) thick, fold it in half and fasten it in place with ratchet straps before loading it onto the dolly. Be sure to keep the side you sleep on inside the fold.
Secure your mattress if you use this method as well. Support a floppy mattress by fastening pieces of cardboard to either side or fold a memory foam mattress in half before sliding it out to the vehicle.
If you stand up and lift with your back, you could strain your muscles and hurt yourself. Before walking, figure out who will move backwards and will go forward—and be sure you’re stable before taking a step! Communicate verbally with your helper to ensure you both stand and lift the mattress simultaneously. That prevents one of you from picking up more weight than the other.
If you’re using a dolly, lift the mattress off of it before navigating down the stairs. Don’t use the dolly on stairs—it’s easier to control the mattress by simply sliding it.
If you’re working with someone else, coordinate with them so that whoever is facing forward alerts the person moving backward as they’re about to reach the first stair. While moving a mattress upstairs by yourself, don’t stand behind it as you move it for your safety. Pause and rest when you need to while holding the mattress in place or leaning it against the wall.
If you have a pickup truck, lay the mattress in the truck bed as flat as it’ll go and fasten ratchet straps to the truck’s D-rings. Wrap them over the mattress and tie them to the truck’s other slack to hold it in place.
To secure the mattress to the roof of your car, wind the straps through the passenger door and back windows, then back up to the roof. Double-check for tears in the mattress bag after you lift it onto the car roof. Feel free to set the mattress down to rest at any point on your way out to the car if you get tired! Communicate with any helpers before stopping. Transporting a mattress inside the car or using a moving van is best, but this method works if you have a bigger mattress and there’s no room in the car.
If you need to stand the mattress up sideways in the moving truck, lean it against a wall and fasten it in place with ratchet straps. If you’re using a moving truck, you might have access to a loading ramp that allows you to slide the mattress into the vehicle. Moving vans and pickup trucks are ideal for transporting mattresses because they offer more space (although you can use any vehicle when necessary).
Be sure to unwrap your mattress as soon as possible. Don’t let it sit in the mattress bag for hours after moving it to its new home!
As you sprinkle on the baking soda, inspect your mattress for any pests (bugs, for example) that may have gotten onto the mattress during the move.
If you plan to keep the mattress in storage for a long time, invest in a mold and water-resistant mattress bag for safety.
If you have to store the mattress on its side, rotate it to a different side roughly every month to protect it as much as possible.
