How to Move a Platform Bed - 5 Pgs. of Tips & Tricks

A platform bed differs from other beds because its box springs are part of the construction of the bed. There are no additional expenses or installations. However, the built-in parts of the bed make it heavier and more awkward to move. Moving it can be difficult, but it’s doable with these useful tips.

To move a platform bed, start by removing anything that’s on top of your bed, like pillows or blankets. Once you’ve finished that, take off your mattress and vacuum seal it. Use a carpet to then pull the bed.

Below is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to move your platform bed.

Step 1. Remove Anything That’s on Top of Your Bed Like Pillows or Blankets

To make the bed lighter and for your own safety, remove everything from the bed. This includes all pillows and decorations. After that, remove any bedding, including blankets, quilts, and sheets. Anything else in your bedroom should be taken out because you’ll need space to maneuver the bed. It’s also for your own safety so that no one stumbles on a loose pillow or sheet while trying to move your bed. We recommend using these bedding bags from Amazon to temporarily store your bedding while you move your platform bed.

Step 2. Take Off Your Mattress and Vacuum Seal It

After you have removed the bedding and pillows, remove the mattress. If you can, pack the mattress in a vacuum bag to protect it from dirt, stains, and physical damage. To move the mattress, fold it in half and tighten it with a strap. This makes it easier to carry. If you’re moving the mattress on your own and need some tips on how to do it safely, check out this article from Amerisleep, a mattress manufacturer. Read our tips and tricks to roll up a mattress topper because the methods can also be used to pack a mattress. Additionally, you’ll find more useful tips in our article should you fold a mattress in half to move it too.

Step 3. Pull the Bed Using a Carpet or Rug

Platform beds are usually heavy, so be careful not to damage the floor when transporting them. If you pull the bed abruptly, you might damage your back. A little trick is to put the bed on the carpet and slowly pull the bed to the door. This way, you don’t have to push the bed, where you might accidentally injure yourself.

It’s even easier if you have a rug underneath your bed. Once the bed is at the door bed, flip it on its side, tilt it and move it through with the rug still underneath it. You can use this to slide your bed down the stairs if you’re on the second floor. If you have access to a small transport trolley or hand cart, it’s recommended to use that to take it to and from your car while moving.

How to Lift a Platform Bed

You must always be careful with this step, especially if the bed has side drawers or storage underneath, in case it flies out or breaks. That is why it is always important to all be on the same page when moving the bed manually. This video from Healthwise demonstrates how to correctly lift objects to prevent back injury.

Always lift with your legs, keep your back straight, and maintain a wide base of support if you are lifting a heavy object like a platform bed. Invite a few friends over to help you pick it up and don’t make any sudden movements while lifting. If you can, it’s safer to use a tool like a hydraulic lift to lift your platform bed.

Platform beds are heavy and can injure your back if you lift them incorrectly. Also, you can damage the bed and the floor below it if you accidentally drop it. If you unexpectedly move a heavy object, it could cause issues with your lower back. To learn more, check out this study from the Journal of Clinical Biomechanics.

Here are some alternative tools that you can use to lift your platform bed and other heavy objects.

Tool	How will this help you lift a platform bed	Price
Forearm straps like these can help lift up to 800 lbs with 2 people.	These straps help you redistribute weight over your entire arm instead of just on your finger tips so that you have much better torque and force.	$20
Use two or more Hydraulic jacks like these which enable you to lift up to 3.5 tonnes.	Simple, cheap tools like these can help lift heavy objects onto rollers that can be pushed around between rooms	$135
A single scissor lift like this can help lift and maneuver heavy objects up to 300 lbs	Scissor lifts can be used for a variety of needs such as moving platform beds or making it easy to work on your motorcycle or dirt bike	$400

To move a platform bed lift with your legs, not your back.

If you’d like to raise a platform bed permanently (for example to raise the height), use a bed riser. Since platform beds are usually low to the ground, you can use a bed riser every day to make more room under your bed for storage. If you are interested in learning more about how to raise your bed, check out our article on how to raise a platform bed and this article from Helix.

Additionally, if you’re thinking about updating your bedroom set, you might find interest in our article comparing sleigh beds vs. platform beds. Take a look to see if a sleigh bed might work well in your home.

How to Get a Platform Bed Through a Door

Maneuvering a platform bed through a door requires careful measurement so that you don’t damage the bed or the door frame. Read our platform bed mattress size guide to see the many size options of platform beds that are available.

To get a platform bed through a door, you need to, measure the dimensions of the bed and the doorframe to make sure it can fit and open the door as wide as possible so there’s space to slide the bed through. Standard doors are 30 to 36 inches wide and 80 inches tall.

Step 1. Measure the Dimensions of the Bed and Doorframe to Make Sure the Bed Fits

First, measure the dimensions of the bed and then the dimensions of the door to make sure you can get it through. In most cases, you’ll need to tilt the bed on its side so that it can pass between the doorposts. Before that, remove everything from the bed, including the mattress, so that the bed itself is as light as possible. If the bed has drawers, remove everything from those as well. If your bed can be taken apart, do that to make it easier to move.

Step 2. Open the Door as Much as Possible And Slide the Bed Through on a Piece of Carpet

After you’ve prepped the bed to move by sliding it onto a rug or piece of carpet, pull it on the carpet to the door and turn it on its side. If your door has two sides, be sure to open both up so there’s as much space as possible to slide the bed through. Use a door stopper to hold the door open so that it doesn’t injure someone or the bed when you’re trying to move your platform bed through.

Here’s a Table of Common Platform Bed Sizes and Tips For How To Move Them Through a Door.

Platform Bed	Platform Bed Size	Door Size	Tip to Move Through Door
Zinus Abel 14 inch Platform – Twin	75” x 38” x 14”	30” x 80”	Lay the bed on its side on a carpet and pull it through. The door is tall enough to accommodate the height of this platform bed (14”)
Allewie Platform Bed with Drawers and Headboard – Queen	65” x 84.6” x 22” (without headboard) 65” x 84.6” x 41.3”(with headboard)	30” x 80”	Remove the headboard and lay the bed on its side. Then pull it through the door. Note that the headboard makes this bed too tall to pull through a standard door.
Zinus Tonja Platform Bed with Headboard – King	81.5” x 75.6” x 24” (without headboard) 81.5” x 75.6” x 39.4” (with headboard)	30” x 80”	Same as the queen bed above, you have to remove the headboard and turn it on its side before moving this bed through a door.

How to Remove a Platform Bed Skirt Before Moving a Platform Bed

The platform bed skirt is an additional cover that hides the sides of the bed. It protects from the accumulation of dust under the bed, hides any secret side partitions, and makes your bed look more elegant. Before moving, it is important to remove the bed skirt so you don’t accidentally tear it or injure yourself. Read our article on platform bed skirts to find out what they are, and how to choose a platform skirt and insert it on your bed platform.

To remove a platform bed skirt before moving a platform bed: lift the mattress off the box spring, slowly remove the bed skirt from one corner at a time, and gently fold it. Before putting the skirt back on, be sure to iron out all the wrinkles for a smooth finish.

Before moving your platform bed, remove any accessories like bed skirts and bedding and store them in storage bags.

How Do I Move A Mattress Up Stairs?

When lifting the mattress and carrying it down the stairs, be careful not to bend over too much or make any sudden movements so you don’t injure yourself. Don’t put too much pressure on the mattress; the person beneath you will feel it and it might make them fall. If the mattress is already packed and tightened with belts as suggested, this will be even easier.

To move a mattress upstairs, first, clean the steps and clear the path. Then, cover the mattress in a plastic cover. Use a pair of forearm straps to lift the mattress safely and coordinate your movements along with a partner or friend.

Casper provides excellent tips to move a mattress with proper body posture and tools like a hand truck or dolly.

Here are some tools to help move a mattress upstairs.

Tool	How will this help you move a Mattress upstairs	Price
Harper Hand Truck & Dolly	A simple dolly will help you prop up your mattress onto a set of large wheels that can be easily pulled upstairs.	$85
Once again, forearm straps like these can help lift even a mattress, with 2 people.	These straps help you redistribute weight over your entire arm instead of just on your fingertips. They give you much more grip on that slippery plastic cover.	$20
Moving blankets are a good alternative to carpets or rugs, to move around mattresses and platform beds	Using moving blankets will protect your mattress and make it easy to pull up and downstairs. You can fold them in your hand to make a lip so your mattress doesn’t tip over and to get you more grip.	$30

Will the Mattress Fit Through Your Door?

Yes, the mattress of a platform bed will fit through the door because if it’s too big, you can always fold the mattress in half using belts.

To make sure your mattress will fit through your door, check out the dimensions below and measure your doorframe to make sure it will fit.

Mattress size	Mattress dimensions	Minimum door size for the mattress to fit through the door (W x H)
Twin	38″ X 75″ X 12”	12″ X 38″ Most doors are 28-30” wide and at least 80” tall.
Full	54″ X 75″ X 12”	12″ X 54″ Most doors are 28-30” wide and at least 80” tall.
Queen	60″ X 80″ X 12”	12″ X 60″ Most doors are 28-30” wide and at least 80” tall.
King	76″ X 80″ X 12”	12″ X 76″ Be extra careful about measuring the door dimensions for King size mattresses.

How to Slide a Platform Bed on Carpet to Move the Platform Bed

A simple rug or carpet can make it easy to move a heavy platform bed over a flat hardwood floor.

In order not to damage the floor or strain yourself, you can drag the platform bed on the carpet to the door, which will reduce the friction and make the job easier.

To move a platform bed using your carpet, first remove anything that is on top of the bed. Then, place plastic pedestals or plastic mats under each foot of the bed. Then, move the mattress onto a piece of carpet so that it does not slip or fall off the carpet. Finally, invite friends over to help you pull the heavy platform bed to reposition it.

Make sure you are all carrying the weight equally so you don’t injure yourself or damage your platform bed. Some platform beds can be disassembled for easy transportation. Read our article on mattress foundations to learn about the types of platform beds and bed frames, and their construction.

In a Nutshell

Some platform beds can be taken apart and moved in sections, while others need to be maneuvered in one whole piece. Either way, taking care to accurately measure the space that the bed needs to fit through will save you time and hassle. If you are planning to move a newly purchased platform bed into your room we recommend that you read our article on mattress sizes for platform beds so that you buy the correct size mattress for your bed.

How to Move a Platform Bed – Step by Step