How to move a heavy safe
By Evan Crowther•Last updated Mar 8, 2024
Last updated Mar 8, 2024
Table of Contents
- Can you move a safe yourself?
- Supplies and equipment for moving a safe
- Step 1: Get your equipment ready
- Step 2: Empty your safe
- Step 3: Plan your path
- Step 4: Wrap the safe in moving blankets
- Step 5: Lift the safe onto the appliance dolly
- Step 6: Use the right vehicle for transport
- Step 7: Move the safe to its new destination
- Step 8: Bolt down your safe for installation
- Tips for safely moving a safe
- Will a moving company move a safe?
- How much does it cost to hire a pro to move a safe?
- Hire a professional mover today
- FAQs
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Moving a safe — particularly a heavy-duty safe — can be a daunting task for the average homeowner. You may need to move your safe because you're moving to a new home, or you may simply want to rearrange your space. Either way, it takes careful planning and the proper equipment to move such a heavy item.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to move a safe. We’ll explore the necessary equipment and safety precautions needed to move a safe, including a gun safe (which tends to be heavier than a regular safe due to its additional layers of protection).
Can you move a safe yourself?
Yes, you can move a safe by yourself. However, most safe manufacturers strongly discourage homeowners from attempting to move a heavy safe on their own. Even if you’re only moving a safe from one end of a room to another, a large gun safe can weigh more than 3,000 pounds. If it falls on you, it could cause injuries.
It’s best to have three or more strong helpers on the job to help prevent injury and damage. You can also consider hiring a moving company that specializes in moving safes.
Supplies and equipment for moving a safe
We can’t stress enough that transporting a safe is best left to a professional mover. If you’ve carefully read your owner’s manual and feel up to the task, this is the equipment you’ll need to move your safe:
- Appliance dolly, ideally with motorized stair climbers if you need to get the safe up or down stairs.
- Heavy-duty hand truck. This is useful for navigating tight corners and narrow spaces. Make sure it can bear your safe’s weight.
- Moving blankets. These will help prevent your safe from getting scratched or dented, as well as protect doorways and walls.
- Moving straps and/or ropes. Use these to secure your safe to the dolly or hand truck.
- Protective gear. Wear work gloves, steel-toe boots, sturdy jeans or work pants, and similar gear.
- Bubble level to ensure the safe is aligned and even.
Step 1: Get your equipment ready
First, make sure you have all the necessary equipment. This also means making sure any dollies or hand trucks you plan to use are rated for your safe’s weight. Check your owner’s manual for the safe’s empty weight.
Before handling your safe, put on your protective gloves and footwear. Your boots should have a steel toe and strong tread to help prevent slipping.
Step 2: Empty your safe
Remove the contents of your safe and place them out of the way. Not only does this make your safe lighter and easier to move, but it also helps prevent your valuables from getting damaged during the move.
In addition to reducing the safe's weight, emptying it makes it less likely that the weight of the contents will shift. The last thing you want is for everything in a safe to shift to one side and tip it over.
Put the belongings, especially valuables, in a secure bag or box. Keep those items close to you throughout the move.
Step 3: Plan your path
Before you load your safe onto the dolly, it's a good idea to map out the path you’ll take. Measure the safe and all the doorways and hallways in your path to make sure you’ll have enough room.
This will help you avoid having to figure out a new route while holding up a safe mid-move or, worse, getting your safe wedged somewhere. You can even use cardboard to replicate the size and shape of your safe so you can see how it fits around turns and through doorways.
If your safe’s handles are too wide, you may need to remove them to fit the safe through narrow spaces.
Step 4: Wrap the safe in moving blankets
This step is more to protect your home than the safe, although it can help you avoid scratching the paint. Moving blankets give your safe some padding to prevent scratches and dents on your walls and door frames. The blankets also soften the impact if your hand gets caught between the safe and a wall.
Step 5: Lift the safe onto the appliance dolly
Anytime you tip over something as heavy as a safe, you should have some helpers on hand. Before this step, make sure you and several others are ready to keep your safe stable.
Carefully tip the safe to one side, just enough to get the dolly underneath it. Avoid tipping the safe too much, or you could lose control of it. Once you have the safe on the dolly, use your straps to secure it tightly in place.
Step 6: Use the right vehicle for transport
This step only applies if you want to move the safe out of your home. If you aren’t using a moving truck, make sure the vehicle you plan to use can support the weight of your safe. If you plan to use a pickup truck or van, it’s often safer to connect a trailer than to load it directly into the vehicle.
Use a ramp to roll the safe up into the moving truck, truck bed, or trailer. As with stairs, have some helpers keep the safe steady as you load it.
Step 7: Move the safe to its new destination
This is the toughest step, but having several people help can make it faster and safer. While pushing the safe on the dolly, move it to its new destination. Have your helpers steady the safe, and don’t go too fast.
If you have to get up or down a staircase, have several people at the bottom of the safe to guide it. A motorized stair climber dolly can make it easier to traverse stairs.
Step 8: Bolt down your safe for installation
Once you have your safe in its new spot, you should secure it to the floor. Most safes come with pre-drilled holes in the bottom for anchoring. Make sure the safe is level and any shipping pallets have been removed before securing it.
Use an anchor kit to drill into the concrete or wood. Many safes come with an anchoring kit, so follow the owner’s manual for specific instructions.
Tips for safely moving a safe
As you move your safe from one location to another, keep the following in mind:
- Only use approved equipment. If you can’t find the weight limit for a piece of equipment, you shouldn’t trust it. You may have heard of people rolling safes on golf balls or pipes, but this method can be unreliable and dangerous.
- Don’t overexert yourself. Pushing yourself beyond your limits can lead to muscle and back strain. If something doesn’t feel right, take a break. Lift with your legs and avoid bending over while lifting.
- Communicate with your team. As you move the safe, keep an open line of communication. If you feel your grip slipping or your muscles straining, let your team know so everyone has time to set the safe down. Don’t try to “power through,” because it’s much more dangerous to drop the safe without warning.
Will a moving company move a safe?
Not only do many moving companies offer safe moving services, but safe manufacturers recommend hiring a moving company for this project. Some moving companies may not have the equipment to move a safe, so it's best to call and ask first.
How much does it cost to hire a pro to move a safe?
The cost to move your safe depends on several factors, such as how many movers the job takes and how far you plan to move it. For more details on the cost to hire a mover, see our moving cost guide and request estimates from several movers.
Hire a professional mover today
A project as complex as moving a safe is usually best left to the pros. With Thumbtack, you can find a highly-rated moving company in your area quickly and easily. Download the Thumbtack app today to get a free quote on moving services.
FAQs
Can you lay a safe down to move it?
You can usually lay a safe on its back for moving. Check the owner's manual, however. Some digital safes can get damaged if you lay them down.
How much does a large gun safe weigh?
How easy or difficult is it to move a safe?
Moving a safe is a difficult task that you should not attempt yourself. With the cost of renting all the necessary equipment, it’s usually comparable in price to hire a mover.
A note about project costs featured in this article: Figures represent national average cost estimates using data provided by Thumbtack pros and additional research. These figures are provided for educational purposes only and are subject to change at any time due to various factors. Details about your specific project and local rates can impact costs.
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