How to move a heavy safe.

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 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 through 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 doorways and walls.
• Moving straps and/or ropes. Use these to secure your safe to the dolly or hand trucks.
• Protective gear. Wear work gloves, steel-toe boots, sturdy jeans or work pants, etc.
• 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 ensuring 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 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 will also 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 everything in a safe shifting to one side and tipping 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 figure out the path you’ll take. Measure the safe and all the doorways and hallways in your path to ensure 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 yet, 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 a faster and safer process. 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,” as 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.