How to Get a Couch Through a Door

Moving a couch through a doorway may seem difficult, but with the right preparation and technique, it’s fairly simple - though not always easy. The average sofa weighs 200-350 pounds. Large sofas, such as five-piece sectionals, can weigh more than 1,000 pounds. Even loveseats, which are generally designed for only two people, often weigh over 100 pounds. Because lifting and maneuvering such heavy pieces of furniture is strenuous work, many homeowners prefer to hire professional movers, both for safety and convenience. However, if a moving company isn’t in your budget or you simply prefer the DIY approach, here are a few moving tips on how to get a couch through a door.

Assemble Your Supplies

Getting a couch through a narrow doorway requires a few tools. Depending on the type of sofa you own, you will need:

• Tape Measure
• Screwdriver (Flat or Phillips Head)
• Pliers
• Work Gloves
• Moving Blankets
• Stretch Wrap

Though not strictly necessary, you may want to purchase some furniture sliders and furniture straps as well. Sliders let you move couches without lifting them off the ground or damaging your floors, while furniture straps help distribute weight more evenly, reducing muscle strain.

Break Down Your Couch

Before you start, disassemble your sofa. Remove the couch cushions and unscrew all detachable components, such as legs and armrests. This not only reduces weight, but helps protect your home and upholstery as well. The more streamlined your sofa, the less likely it is to snag anything on the way out. Place small parts (screws, nuts, etc.) in a Ziplock bag, so they don’t get lost on the journey.

Measure Your Doors, Hallways, and Couch

Once you’ve finished breaking down the sofa, measure its height, width, and depth. Use the leading edge as your reference point (i.e. the furthest two possible points for each dimension). Then measure the height and width of the doors you plan to carry it through, to avoid wasting time on entryways that are too slim. Pay attention to tight corners behind the door as well. Otherwise, you might maneuver your sofa into a space too small to maneuver out of.

If you can’t find an alternative route, consider removing your doors. Even when fully open, a door can reduce the size of an entryway by as much as 1.25 inches, which isn’t much, but enough to matter when handling large furniture. Removing a door isn’t complicated. Place a nail against the bottom of the hinge pin and gently tap it upwards with a hammer until it slides out. Then shift the door sideways to pull it off its hinges. After moving your couch through, slide the door back into position and re-insert the pin, tapping it a few times with a hammer to secure it in place. The whole job takes only a few minutes.

Ask for Help

Couches are too big to move on your own. No matter how strong you are, make sure you have at least one person helping you. Large sofas may require three or four people to move safely.

Wrap the Couch

Moving blankets cushion your sofa from impact, protecting it from nicks, dents, and scratches as you carry it through your home. It also protects your walls, molding, and doors at the same time. Depending on the size of your couch, you’ll probably need at least 2-3 blankets to cover it entirely. Drape the blankets over your sofa so every part is entirely covered, then wrap it in 2-3 layers of plastic stretch wrap to hold it in place.

Clear a Path

Once the couch is ready, remove any and all obstacles from your route. Even small items could be a potential tripping hazard.

Use Proper Lifting Techniques

Bend at your knees to avoid straining your back. Grip the couch from the base, not the edges. Communicate clearly with your partner before raising or lowering the sofa. Before starting, announce which direction you’ll be heading in, so you can move together.

Orient as Needed

There are three ways to maneuver a couch through a tight doorway. Depending on the layout of your home, you may need all three.

• Horizontal. Carrying a couch flat is the fastest and easiest way to move it. You might need to turn it on its side when walking down a narrow hallway, but otherwise this is the safest, most stable method of moving heavy furniture.
• Vertical. Because most sofas are wide rather than deep, standing them on one end lets you pivot through narrow doors. After raising the couch upright, rotate the lower end through the door. When you’re halfway, guide the rest of the couch after it in a slow, fluid motion.
• Diagonally. Tilting the couch 45 degrees often provides enough room for you to slide the leading end around a doorway, with the rest following in a twisting motion. To avoid getting stuck, make sure there’s enough space behind the door for its entire length.

Remember to go slow. Rushing leads to accidents. Take breaks as needed to refresh your grip. If you have a furniture dolly, try wheeling your sofa instead. Though you’ll still need at least two people to guide it along, placing your couch on a dolly takes strength out of the equation, simplifying the process.

Reassembly

Once your couch arrives at your new home, repeat the steps above. To minimize risk, move your sofa in before your smaller items. If you have to unload other boxes first, place them off to the side or in a separate room, to avoid unnecessary clutter. Plan your route carefully, measuring the main entrance as well as your interior doors, in order to choose the safest path. After carrying your couch inside, unwrap the moving blankets, reattach the legs and armrests, and put the cushions back into place. You’re done!

Your Trusted Household Moving Company

Allied has been helping Americans relocate since 1928. For over 95 years, we’ve provided quality home moving experiences to people across the country. No matter the size of your household, there’s no challenge we can’t handle. From planning to packing to shipping, storage, and final delivery - we customize our moving plans to fit your needs and budget. Make you move as stress-free as possible. Contact us today for a free quote!