How to Move Heavy Furniture Safely (Up to 150kg)

TL;DR

• Book a multi-person crew for heavy or awkward furniture when helpers cannot control it safely along the entire route.
• PicUp moves eligible couches, wardrobes, dining tables, coffee tables, entertainment units, cabinetry, appliances, and outdoor items like BBQs weighing up to 150kg per item but does not move pianos or items over 150kg.
• Treat items over 50kg, or items with awkward or large dimensions, as requiring an additional mover or suitable equipment unless a route assessment shows they can be controlled safely.
• Professional crews use straps, dollies, protective blankets, coordinated lifting, and planned loading to control heavy items and protect nearby surfaces.
• Insurance can cover eligible costs under the policy terms.

Why heavy furniture is riskier to move than it looks

Heavy furniture becomes unsafe when each person can no longer control the load through the full route. A 60kg couch shared between two people does not behave like two neat 30kg loads. One person may take most of the weight when the couch tilts around a corner, which can strain the lower back, shoulders, knees, or wrists. If either person loses grip, the falling item can strike a foot or trap a hand.

Items around 50kg or more generally call for suitable moving equipment rather than grip strength alone. Moving a fridge down a stairwell shows why. The person below carries more of the load, while the fridge can pull both people forward as its centre of gravity shifts. A missed step can injure a helper and send the appliance into a wall or railing.

Bulky dimensions create risks even when the item sits below the weight limit. An assembled wardrobe may fit through a doorway but jam when it turns into a narrow apartment hallway. Forcing the turn can chip the wardrobe, scrape flooring, or crush a doorframe. Couches and fitted cabinetry can cause similar damage when their corners extend beyond the movers’ line of sight.

Repair costs can exceed the apparent saving from a DIY move. You may need to pay for plaster repairs, floor refinishing, appliance replacement, or bond deductions after damaging a rental. Personal injury can also bring medical expenses and time away from work.

This guide covers couches, wardrobes, fridges, cabinetry, and similar items weighing up to 150kg each. Check the manufacturer’s specifications where possible, and account for removable shelves, doors, or contents before estimating the load. PicUp does not move pianos or any single item over 150kg, which requires a specialist provider.

How PicUp crews control heavy furniture

PicUp removalist crews plan the route and use suitable equipment throughout the move.  A household trolley or spare blanket cannot compensate for poor handling or an unplanned route.

Moving straps give lifters a secure grip and help them keep the weight close to the body. Better control reduces sudden shifts that can strain the back or pull someone off balance. Once the crew raises the item safely, a suitable dolly transfers much of the load onto wheels. The crew still needs to control the item across thresholds and over sloped or uneven surfaces.

The crew applies protective blankets before moving the item through the property or loading it into the vehicle. The crew wraps exposed corners and finished surfaces, then secures the blankets so they cannot slide away. Padding reduces damage when a couch brushes a doorframe or an appliance moves against the side of a vehicle.

Coordinated team lifting keeps everyone moving together. One crew member directs the lift, and everyone agrees on commands before taking the weight. The crew keeps the load close and avoids twisting, then sets it down together. Coordinated movement helps prevent joint injuries and stops one person from unexpectedly carrying most of the load.

Load planning determines how the crew handles and secures the item. Before lifting, the crew checks whether the item will fit through doorways and around tight corners. The crew plans the route, including safe resting points and the item’s position in the vehicle. Proper placement and restraint prevent heavy furniture from shifting during transport and damaging other items.

What moving insurance can cover

Insurance can limit eligible financial losses when careful handling still results in damage or injury, subject to the policy’s terms and exclusions. During an uninsured DIY move, you may have to pay for scratched timber flooring, damaged walls, a broken appliance, or medical treatment yourself. A friend who gets hurt while helping may also face lost income and rehabilitation costs, and no moving provider will be available to manage the claim.

A professional mover’s insurance policy can provide a formal claims process for incidents that fall within the policy terms. Before booking, review the provider’s full policy terms, including any excess and exclusions. PicUp’s moving insurance guide explains what to check. Home and contents insurance or renters’ policies may offer limited protection, but you should not assume they cover furniture during a move.

PicUp uses a network of background-checked drivers and carries multi-million-dollar insurance. The background checks help screen the people handling your belongings, while the insurance provides financial protection for covered incidents. Equipment and lifting technique reduce handling risks, while PicUp’s insurance may cover eligible accident-related costs under the policy terms.

DIY, a single-person service, or a specialist crew: how to decide

The most demanding part of the move should determine which service you choose. Assess the item in its assembled state, then account for every doorway, turn, stair, and loading point along the route.

Check these four factors

• Item weight. DIY can suit furniture that each helper can control safely. Any item over 50kg should be moved with suitable equipment rather than carried by hand alone. If you cannot confirm the weight, choose the safer service level.
• Stairs and tight corners. A couch may weigh less than a large appliance but still require two people to rotate it through a stairwell. Narrow hallways, low ceilings, and uneven outdoor steps also make single-person handling unsuitable.
• Available helpers. DIY requires enough capable adults to control the item without anyone taking most of the load. A generic man with a van service or PicUp Small Moves typically provides one driver, so it suits items one person can handle.
• Travel distance. A short, ground-floor move may suit DIY when the load breaks into manageable pieces. Longer trips require secure loading and enough capacity to transport the item without shifting.

Choose DIY when the item is light enough for your available helpers, the route stays level and open, and you have suitable transport. For example, a disassembled bed or flat-pack cabinet may be manageable over a short distance because each component can be carried separately. Reassess the move if a solid section remains heavy or awkward.

Choose a single-person service for smaller or lighter loads that one driver can load and unload safely. PicUp’s Small Moves service fits single items and small loads that do not require a large truck or multi-person crew. A compact table, boxed furniture, or a light modular sofa may fit this category.

Choose a specialist removalist crew for large appliances, assembled wardrobes, bulky couches, and other items that need coordinated lifting. Book a crew when the route includes stairs, sharp turns, or an elevator with a raised threshold. An elevator removes some carrying distance, but the crew must still control the item through the doors and inside the confined lift car.

PicUp removalist crews can handle eligible heavy and bulky items weighing up to 150kg each. Pianos and individual items over 150kg require a provider that specialises in heavier loads.

DIY vs a PicUp removalist crew for heavy items

DIY leaves helpers responsible for sourcing equipment, coordinating the lift, securing the load, and paying uninsured losses. A PicUp removalist crew provides the equipment, shared handling, route planning, and commercial cover described in the comparison below.

Booking a PicUp removalist crew for heavy and bulky items

PicUp removalist crews handle couches, wardrobes, dining tables, coffee tables, entertainment units, cabinetry, large appliances, and outdoor items like BBQs weighing up to 150kg per item. When booking, provide each item’s estimated weight and dimensions, photos, stair or lift access, tight turns, parking constraints, and pickup and drop-off details so PicUp can assign the required crew and equipment.

When you book a PicUp removalist crew, you receive a fixed price based on the items, access conditions, distance, and crew required. PicUp supports each booking with background-checked drivers and multi-million-dollar insurance. PicUp’s driver network allows it to reassign a booking when the original crew becomes unavailable due to illness or a vehicle problem.

FAQs

How many people are needed to move a couch or fridge safely?

A safe crew is the number of capable lifters needed to control an item throughout the route, and a heavy couch or fridge often requires at least two people. PicUp uses removalist crews for bulky items that one person cannot handle safely. Choosing enough lifters reduces the risk of injury and property damage on stairs and around tight corners.

What counts as heavy furniture?

Heavy furniture is any item whose weight, size, balance, or shape prevents one person from controlling it safely, including many couches, wardrobes, tables, cabinets, appliances, and outdoor settings. PicUp moves eligible items in these categories weighing up to 150kg per item. Estimating the item’s weight and dimensions helps you choose between Small Moves and a removalist crew.

Does renters’ insurance or movers’ insurance cover damage?

Moving insurance is coverage that may pay eligible costs when property is damaged or someone is injured, depending on the cause and the policy terms. PicUp carries multi-million-dollar insurance, while renters should check whether their own policy covers belongings during a move. Confirming both policies before moving helps limit unexpected costs after an incident.

Can PicUp move pianos or items over 150kg?

Pianos and individual items over 150kg are specialist moves that may require dedicated lifting equipment and handling methods. PicUp does not accept bookings for items in either category. Booking a specialist provider ensures that the item and access route receive an appropriate equipment assessment.

Get a fixed-price PicUp quote for your heavy items

You can request a fixed-price removalist quote online for moving furniture or appliances weighing up to 150kg per item. PicUp crews use moving equipment and coordinated lifting. PicUp’s insurance covers eligible incidents under the policy terms.

PicUp does not move pianos or any single item over 150kg. Please contact a specialist mover for those items.