How to Move Furniture Up Stairs: Process, Best Practices, and Practical Tips

Moving furniture upstairs is something that sounds easy, something that you can just wing when the time comes. But, without proper planning and without proper knowledge, you can end up with damage to the furniture, to the stairs, to the walls, and a little bit to the home sapiens involved.

In this post, we’re going to walk you through the process of how to move furniture up a series of stairs. Then, we’ll talk about some of the best practices, as well as some practical pointers to keep in mind.

Let’s get started.

The Process of Moving Furniture Upstairs

Here is a breakdown of the process in the form of easy steps.

Step 1: Measure Everything First

Before you touch the furniture, measure it. Length, width, height, and any weird protruding parts. Then measure your stairway. Width between the walls or railings, ceiling height above the stairs, and the dimensions of any turns or landings.

If your couch is 85 inches long and your stairway only allows a 75-inch diagonal clearance at the turn, it's not going to fit. You'll find that out now with a tape measure or later when you're stuck and sweating.

Step 2: Prepare the Stairway

Clear everything out of the way. Shoes, décor, display pieces, etc. You need maximum space with zero obstacles.

You also need to take some measures to protect your walls, railings, and floors. Here are some things that you can do:

• Use moving blankets or cardboard on wall corners - Tape them in place to create a buffer against bumps and scrapes
• Add foam corner guards to furniture edges - Protects both the furniture and your walls when you inevitably make contact
• Cover railings with padding - Pool noodles sliced lengthwise work great, or wrap moving blankets around them
• Put down temporary floor protection - Cardboard or drop cloths on landings prevent scratches from furniture being set down
• Secure loose carpet or add non-slip mats - Hardwood and tile stairs are slippery; a runner or mats improve grip and safety

If you have carpet on the stairs, that's actually helpful for grip.

Step 3: Prep the Furniture

Remove anything that comes off easily. Furniture legs, cushions, drawers, etc.

Lighter pieces are easier to maneuver, and you're less likely to break removable parts during the climb.

Also make sure to wrap the furniture for grip and protection. You can use moving blankets for this purpose.

They give you something to hold onto that isn't slippery, polished wood, and they protect the furniture from scrapes. Secure blankets with tape or stretch wrap so they don't slide off mid-lift.

Step 4: Plan the Lift and Path

Walk through the route before you start lifting. Figure out where you'll need to tilt, turn, or pause. Decide what angles will work at tight spots like doorways and landings.

If you're working with another person, assign roles. Who's on the bottom (bearing more weight)? Who's on top (guiding and stabilizing)? Talk through the plan so nobody's surprised when you need to pivot halfway up.

That’s basically it. That’s the entire process.

The Best Way to Move Furniture Upstairs

The best way to move furniture upstairs depends on what you're moving and how heavy it is, but some methods are universally better than winging it.

Using Proper Equipment

Using proper equipment can make a lot of difference in how easy the moving process is.

• Furniture straps (also called lifting straps or moving straps) distribute weight across your shoulders and core instead of just your arms and back. They make heavy items way more manageable and reduce injury risk. You can pick up a set for $20-$30.
• Dollies designed for stairs have a triangular wheel configuration that grips each step. They're not useful for every piece of furniture, but for boxes, appliances, or stackable items, they're a lifesaver. Regular flat dollies don't work on stairs; don't even try.
• Moving blankets aren't just for protection. They also give you better grip and prevent the furniture from sliding out of your hands on slick surfaces.

Team Lifting Techniques

If you're lifting with someone else, positioning matters. The person on the bottom (lower on the stairs) bears more weight because of gravity. They need to be the stronger lifters. The person on top guides and stabilizes but isn't doing as much of the heavy work.

Communication during the lift is critical. Call out each step. "Lifting in three, two, one!" "Tilting left." "Pause"—don't assume the other person knows what you're doing. Most accidents happen because people aren't coordinating.

Move slowly. Stairs aren't the place to rush. Take one step at a time, pause between steps if you need to, and don't try to power through if something feels off.

When Professional Movers Make Sense

If the furniture is extremely heavy (like a solid wood dresser or a heavy antique table), hire professionals. Same if your staircase is narrow, has multiple tight turns, or you're going up more than two flights.

High injury risk situations (moving alone, bad knees, previous back problems) are also good reasons to just pay someone. A moving company charges $100-$300 for stairs, depending on difficulty. That is, in most cases, a less hefty charge to pay instead of the ER fee.

Practical Tips to Keep in Mind When Moving Furniture Upstairs

Now that we’re done talking about the process and best practices, here are some practical tips to keep in mind:

Use easier methods when possible:

• Slide instead of lifting - Use furniture sliders or cardboard on carpeted stairs to push furniture up one step at a time with less strain
• Break furniture down further - Even after removing legs and cushions, see if bed frames, bookshelves, or other pieces can separate into smaller sections
• Label disassembled parts - Use Ziplock bags for hardware and tape them to the corresponding furniture piece so you're not hunting for screws later
• Take pauses and rest on stair edges - You don't have to carry everything in one go; break the climb into short movements
• Use leverage - Tilt furniture so the bottom edge acts as a pivot point and you're not supporting the full weight at once

Lift with proper posture:

• Use your legs, not your back - Bend your knees, keep your back straight, and let leg muscles do the work
• Keep furniture close to your body - The farther it is from your center of gravity, the harder your muscles work and the more likely you are to lose balance
• Support from below, not the sides - Get your hands underneath where you can actually lift and control, not just barely grip
• Avoid sudden weight shifts - Communicate before adjusting your grip and do it slowly; jerky movements cause drops and injuries

Handle awkward items correctly:

• Couches - Stand them on end (vertically) like a giant letter L and hook the top over your shoulder for control
• Dressers - Remove all drawers entirely and carry the frame separately; move tall dressers on their side or back for stability
• Mattresses - Fold slightly (not memory foam) and use a mattress bag for grip, or slide them up on their edge with someone stabilizing

Avoid common mistakes:

• Don't rush - Slow and steady prevents dropped furniture and injuries
• Don't skip measurements - "It'll probably fit" isn't a plan; measure or risk getting stuck halfway up
• Don't underestimate weight - Solid wood furniture is heavier than it looks; if you're unsure you can handle it, assume you can't
• Don't use loose straps or grips - Everything should be secured tightly; double-check before you start climbing
• Don't ignore warning signs - Pushing through pain or instability is how serious injuries happen

Wrapping Up

And that’s pretty much it.

If you follow everything that we’ve described in this post, you will be able to get your furniture upstairs without a lot of trouble.

I know it’s a lot to read, but do it once. You’ll be glad.

Thanks a lot for reading, and make sure to check the other resources here on Dumbo Moving to make your move a breeze. And as always, if you’re in our area (NYC) and you need help moving furniture, just give us a call.