How to Move a Mattress Without Damaging It: A Practical Perth Guide

Bedworld's Verdict

Clean and fully dry the mattress, seal it in a mattress bag, and carry it on its long side with at least two people, gripping the mattress rather than its side handles. Transport it flat, or upright on its side and strapped, with nothing heavy on top. Never fold a spring or hybrid mattress, and avoid tying it to a car roof for anything but a short, slow local trip.

Why you can trust this guide

This guide was written by the Bedworld Sleep & Bedding Team, drawing on more than 20 years of helping Perth customers in our Osborne Park showroom, and reviewed by Anand, Sleep Expert with 25+ years of experience. Product details come from Bedworld's own product pages, and care advice follows manufacturer guidance.

Moving House in Perth? Start With Your Mattress

A mattress is one of the most awkward things to move. It is heavy, floppy, hard to grip and easy to damage, and it is usually one of the last items out of the old house and the first one you need in the new one. Moving it badly can bend springs, crease foam, tear the cover, or leave it dirty and damp by the time it arrives.

Our delivery team handles mattresses every day across Perth, and the same handling mistakes come up again and again. This guide covers what to check before moving day, the equipment that helps, how to wrap, lift, carry and transport a mattress, what you should never do, and how to settle it into your new bedroom. It also covers when moving your old mattress is not worth the effort.

In this guide: whether it is worth moving; what you need; warranty and handles; measuring your route; step-by-step method; car roofs; what not to do; different mattress types; bases and frames; storage; settling in; when to get help; FAQs.

Before You Start: Is the Mattress Worth Moving?

Moving a mattress takes time, effort and sometimes money. Before you plan the move, ask whether the mattress is worth taking with you. If it is sagging, lumpy, stained, or more than about eight to ten years old, moving it may only delay a replacement you will need soon anyway.

Our article on Signs it is Time to Replace your Mattress will help you decide. If it is time for a new one, you can have the New Mattress delivered straight to your new address and the old one collected, which saves you moving it at all.

What You Will Need

• A mattress bag sized to your mattress, to keep out dust, dirt and rain and give a cleaner surface to grip.

• Packing tape to seal the bag.

• Ratchet straps or rope to secure the mattress in the vehicle.

• Moving blankets or old quilts to cushion the mattress against hard edges.

• Work gloves for a better grip on plastic.

• A furniture trolley, if you have one, for long distances or heavy mattresses.

• At least one helper. Queen, king and Super King Mattresses are a two-person job at minimum.

Check Your Warranty and Care Instructions

Before moving the mattress, look at its warranty card and care label. Many manufacturers give handling instructions, and damage caused by mishandling is usually not covered as a manufacturing defect.

One point surprises many people: the handles on the side of a mattress are usually not designed to carry its full weight. Bedworld's warranty information notes that handles are for positioning the mattress only, not for lifting it. Pulling on them to carry the mattress can tear the handle or the cover, so grip the mattress itself instead.

Measure Your Route

Measure the doorways, hallways, stairwells and corners the mattress must pass through at both homes, as well as the inside of the vehicle. Pay close attention to:

• tight turns at the top or bottom of a staircase

• narrow hallways with doors opening into them

• low ceilings over stairs, where an upright mattress can catch

• lift dimensions in apartment buildings, and whether you need to book the lift

Most mattresses can be tilted on their side to pass through doorways. If a route looks too tight, it is far better to know before moving day than halfway up the stairs.

Step-by-Step: How to Move a Mattress

1. Strip and clean the mattress

Remove all bedding, including the protector. Vacuum the surface and sides. If you spot-clean any marks, let the mattress dry completely before it goes in a bag. A damp mattress sealed in plastic, sitting in a hot truck or garage, is an ideal environment for mould and odours. Our Guide to cleaning your mattress at home explains how to do this without soaking it.

2. Bag and seal it

Stand the mattress on its side and slide the bag over it from one end, then lower it and pull the bag over the rest. Seal the open end with tape. A fitted bag protects the mattress from dust, scuffs and rain if the weather turns.

A purpose-made bag such as the Atirss waterproof mattress moving bag has carry handles of its own and a zip closure, which makes the mattress easier to grip and keeps it sealed.

3. Lift with two people

Stand the mattress on its long side. One person takes each end, gripping it from underneath and at the side rather than by the original handles. Lift with your legs, keep your back straight and move slowly. Agree on who is calling the moves, especially on stairs.

4. Carry it on its side

Carrying a mattress on its long edge is easier than carrying it flat. It is narrower, fits through doorways and lets each person keep a firm hold. Walk it rather than dragging it, which wears through the bag and damages the cover and edge.

5. Take stairs carefully

On stairs, the stronger person usually goes at the bottom, supporting more of the weight, while the person at the top guides. Move one step at a time and stop on landings to adjust. If the mattress is very heavy or the stairs are steep and narrow, get a third person or professional help.

6. Load it into the vehicle

The safest position for most mattresses in a truck or van is flat, on a clean floor, with nothing heavy on top. If space is tight, a mattress can travel upright on its long side against the wall of the truck, strapped so it cannot slide or fold. Avoid laying it over uneven items, such as boxes of different heights, which can bend it out of shape.

7. Secure the load

Strap the mattress firmly so it cannot shift. Road rules across Australia require loads to be properly restrained, and a mattress that comes loose is a danger to you and other drivers. Pad the straps with a blanket where they cross the mattress edge to avoid crushing it.

8. Unload and unpack promptly

Carry the mattress straight to the bedroom and take it out of the bag. Let it air for a few hours before making the bed, and check the underside and edges for damage first.

Can You Move a Mattress on Your Car Roof?

It is common to see mattresses tied to car roofs, but it is the riskiest way to move one. At speed, a mattress acts like a sail. Wind can lift it, bend it, or tear the straps loose, and a mattress coming off a roof on the freeway is a serious hazard.

If you have no alternative for a short, slow trip, use roof racks and proper ratchet straps, and drive slowly on local roads. For longer distances or freeway travel, a van, ute or trailer is far safer.

What Not to Do When Moving a Mattress

• Do not fold an innerspring, Pocket Spring or Hybrid Mattress. Folding can bend or break the springs and permanently damage the support system.

• Do not try to roll or vacuum-compress a mattress unless the manufacturer says it is designed for that. Mattresses that arrived rolled in a box were compressed with factory equipment and are not designed to be squeezed again at home.

• Do not lift by the handles. They are usually for positioning only.

• Do not stack heavy items on top during transport. Boxes and furniture can leave permanent dents.

• Do not leave it in a hot vehicle or garage in plastic. Heat and trapped moisture are a bad combination.

• Do not move it wet. If it gets rained on, dry it thoroughly before bagging or sleeping on it.

Moving Different Types of Mattress

Pocket spring and innerspring mattresses

These are usually the heaviest and must be kept flat or upright on their side. Never bend them. They are the type most likely to need two or more people.

Memory foam and latex mattresses

Foam and latex are floppy rather than rigid, which makes them awkward to carry. Latex Mattress in particular can be very heavy for its size. Keep them supported along their length so they do not sag in the middle. Memory foam can feel firmer in cold weather, so allow it time to return to room temperature after the move.

Mattresses that came in a box

Once expanded, a boxed mattress is a full-size mattress and moves like any other. Our comparison of Mattress in a Box and Traditional Mattresses explains how these designs differ.

Moving Bed Bases, Frames and Adjustable Beds

• Bed frames: dismantle them, label each piece, and put screws and bolts in a sealed bag taped to the headboard. Wrap Timber and Upholstered parts in blankets to avoid scratches.

• Ensemble bases: these move as a unit. Remove the legs, cover the base and carry it on its side like a mattress.

• Adjustable bases: lower the base fully flat, unplug it and secure the cables. Adjustable bases are heavy and contain motors and electronics, so follow the manufacturer's instructions closely. Our article on Caring for adjustable bed mechanisms has useful tips.

If your old frame wobbles, creaks or has cracked slats, moving house is a sensible time to replace it. Our article on When to Replace your bed frame instead of your mattress covers the warning signs.

Storing a Mattress During a Move

• Make sure it is clean and completely dry before it goes into a bag.

• Store it flat if possible on a clean raised surface, or upright on its side with support so it does not lean or bend.

• Choose a dry, ventilated space. A climate-controlled storage unit is better than a hot garage or shed.

• Do not place heavy items on top of a stored mattress.

• Check it every few weeks if it is stored for a long time.

Settling Into Your New Home

After the move, unpack the mattress and let it air for a few hours, ideally with a window open. Check that the base or frame is assembled correctly and level, and that slats are evenly spaced, because a poorly supported mattress can sag. Put a fresh Mattress protector on before the sheets, especially if the mattress has been in storage or a moving truck.

Many people find a mattress feels slightly different in a new room for the first few nights. Temperature, The base it sits on and even the floor can affect how it feels, so give it a little time before deciding anything is wrong.

When to Get Help

Moving a mattress yourself is achievable, but some situations call for help:

• A King or Super King Mattress going up or down stairs

• heavy latex or double-sided mattresses

• adjustable bases with motors and wiring

• anyone in the household with back problems or limited mobility

If you are buying a new mattress as part of the move, Bedworld's Perth metro delivery is a one- or two-person service depending on the item, with carrying upstairs available if you arrange it in advance. We can also collect your old mattress and base at the same time for a fee and take them to approved government waste facilities. For moves to regional WA or interstate, see our Shipping policy.

If you are arranging disposal yourself, our guide on How to dispose of an old mattress in Perth explains your options.