Moving tips: How to wrap a couch for moving

Excited for the big move? In most cases, you’ll also bring most of your belongings with you, including your valued furniture. It can take a lot of work to wrap a bulky couch, though. So you need to learn how to wrap a couch for moving.

You can always hire a couch removalist, but if you want to do it yourself, you’re in luck! Read on to know  how to pack a couch for moving. 

Before you start

Gather the following materials to wrap the couch using a plastic wrap or other wrapping materials.

• Measuring tape

• Shrink wrap  (amount should cover entire couch)

• Furniture moving straps

• Furniture blankets or moving blankets

• Packing tape

• Furniture dolly

• Marker

• A removal truck, van, or utility vehicle

Tips for wrapping a couch for moving and completion time

To make the task easier, make sure to prepare all the materials, such as tapes, straps, and couch wrap for moving. Have moving boxes ready to store decorative elements or detachable parts, like pillows, arms, and legs. You can use a permanent marker to label these parts so they won’t get lost during transport.

For the whole task, you may need to allot a couple of hours or more, depending on the size and shape of your couch, which floor you live on or where it is located in your house.

Can you wrap and move a couch by yourself? 

It’s not enough to push the couch when moving it; you must also lift or carry it. Unless you are used to lifting heavy objects, it is highly recommended to ask for help, especially in carrying the couch to the moving truck. 

This keeps both you and the furniture safe from accidents. But if you want to do it yourself, always use moving straps to help you or tap someone to help when lifting heavy furniture. 

A guide on how to wrap a couch for moving

Follow these five steps to learn how to pack a couch for moving!

Step 1: Measure the couch

Before packing a couch for moving, you need to measure its dimensions. Using a measuring tape, get the dimensions of your couch and the areas it will have to pass through to get to its destination. 

For example, you must note the measurement of your door frames, hallways, driveways, etc., where your couch shall be carried through. Also, consider the available space of the vehicle you will use for transport. Is it a van or a truck? This is to ensure it can fit in the moving vehicle.

Step 2: Disassemble the couch

Prep your couch before the move by disassembling it as much as you can. Doing this will avoid damage to its protruding parts especially when it passes through door frames or hallways. 

Start by removing cushions, covers, armrests, arms, legs, and the rest of the detachable parts of the sofa, if any. You can try to unscrew the legs, which are commonly screwed tightly on the base. 

Wrap smaller parts together by group using a shrink wrap, place them in a box and label the box clearly. You can also put other parts, such as nails, screws and bolts, in a plastic bag or zip lock and put them in the same box.

If you have a sectional or modular couch, the best way to move a sectional couch is to detach each section from one another. For sofa beds, remove the mattress from the sofa and store it inside a mattress bag. 

Cushions and covers can also be placed in a separate box or moving bag to protect them. If they don’t fit, you can use a shrink wrap to cover them.

Step 3: Wrap the couch

In knowing how to protect the couch during the move, you’ll need to learn how to wrap it properly. First, cover your couch with furniture blankets. These blankets are thick and well-padded enough to help protect your prized furniture from getting torn, scuffed up, or scratched. Ensure that every surface of the furniture is properly covered. Then, securely cover your couch with plastic stretch wrap or bubble wrap. 

For leather couches, cover the leather surfaces first with paper or moving blankets as shrink wrap can cause discoloration when placed directly on top of leather, especially if it sweats during transit.

Do you have a white or light-colored couch? Make sure your furniture blankets are clean. If not, you can use a plastic wrap as the first layer and then proceed with blankets as the second layer. Protect it and keep everything in place by covering it with shrink wrap as the third layer. 

For sectional couches, disassemble the pieces first and then wrap each piece of the sectional couch in a similar way. For the armrests, use extra padding for these parts and on the corners. Do this by using cardboard pieces or furniture blankets. Secure everything tightly with a packing tape. If you ever feel overwhelmed, book a Tasker to get help packing.

☞ Related read: How to wrap furniture for moving

Step 4: Move the couch

Seek help from others to position the couch vertically. Moving it in this position allows for easier maneuvering, especially when it passes through narrow hallways and tight corners. 

In any case, the easiest way to do this step is to use a furniture dolly. They sit low on the ground and have four durable castors. Have a helper tilt the sofa to one side, then slide the dolly underneath the couch. Secure it to the dolly using furniture or moving straps. 

Slowly but surely, push the dolly carrying the couch to the vehicle. While doing so, watch for low-hanging lights, tight corners, and narrow doorways.

Do you need to move the couch upstairs or downstairs? You will need assistance for heavy lifting as the dolly is not fit for stairs. Consider the weight of the couch to estimate how many people you will need as assistants.

Alternatively, you may need to move the sofa through your window or balcony if your staircase is too narrow. This can be very dangerous to do alone, so it’s best to call professional movers.

Step 5: Load and unload the couch

Trucks allow for the easiest loading of bigger items like a couch. Most trucks usually come with ramps or hydraulic lifts, allowing you to wheel the sofa onto the lift straight into the truck.

Use the furniture straps again to tie it down if necessary so that it won’t move around during transport. 

Once you’re in your new place, unload the couch and carry it to its new position. You can measure the pathway where you’ll assemble it to ensure carrying it inside will be a breeze. Then, unwrap and reassemble the sofa for your use! 

To wrap it all up…

With the right tools, approach, and help from a couple of people, you can move your couch by yourself. However, not everyone has the time and strength to do this. Your safest option is to hire a professional such as a couch mover or an expert mover to help move your apartment furniture or house furniture when relocating. 

Are you moving sometime soon? Book a professional mover through Airtasker now!