Moving furniture into an apartment or a tall building can be tricky if you’re not prepared. The key is to plan everything ahead of time to avoid last-minute stress. First, measure the size of all doorways, staircases and elevators to make sure your furniture will fit through. Also, check where you can park the moving truck and ask the building management if there are any rules you need to follow on moving day.
Once you’ve got the basics sorted, here are five useful tips to make your move easier.
5 Tips for Moving Into an Apartment
- Measure Everything First – Before moving, check the size of your furniture and the doors, hallways and stairs in the new place. This helps make sure everything can fit through without trouble.
- Take Apart Big Furniture – If you have large furniture like couch or shelves, take them apart. It makes them easier to carry and move around tight corners.
- Talk to Building Management – Ask your building if you need to book the service or freight elevator. Also, follow any moving rules they have so there are no issues on moving day.
- Protect Your Stuff – Use blankets, pads or covers to wrap your furniture. This keeps your things—and the apartment walls and floors—safe from scratches or damage.
- Get Help – Don’t try to move everything alone. Ask friends to help or hire professional movers to safely handle the heavy stuff.
Plan Ahead
Don’t wait until the last minute to figure things out. Make a plan early so nothing catches you off guard. Check the size of your furniture to make sure it’ll fit and find out where you can park the moving truck. Every small detail can make a big difference on moving day.
Where Can You Park the Moving Truck?
Parking the moving truck in the right spot makes your move a lot easier, so it’s smart to plan it out ahead of time.
Look into local parking rules and see if there are any loading zones nearby. Talk to the building manager to reserve a spot, especially if you’ll be using a freight elevator. Try to move during less busy hours so it’s easier to find parking on moving day.
Disassemble What You Can
Taking apart big furniture can make your move a lot easier. It helps you carry things more smoothly and also protects your items from getting damaged.
Keep screws, bolts and other small parts in labeled bags so you don’t lose them, and putting everything back together will be faster. If it feels like too much work, you can always get help from professional movers.
Measurements Checklist for Moving Furniture Into an Apartment
Before moving day, make sure to measure important spaces in your new apartment so your furniture fits without problems. Here’s what you should check:
Important Areas to Measure
- Main Door Size: Measure the width and height of your apartment’s front door to be sure large furniture can pass through.
- Hallways: Check the width and height of any hallways where your furniture will go. This helps avoid getting stuck when turning corners.
- Stairs (if using them): Measure how wide the stairs are and how high the ceiling is above them. Make sure there’s enough room to lift and turn items.
- Elevator (if available): If your building has an elevator, measure the door opening and the inside (height, width and depth) to know what will fit.
- Room Doorways: Measure all doors inside the apartment that your furniture needs to go through.
- Ceiling Height in Rooms: This is important for tall items like wardrobes, bookshelves or large cabinets.
- Corner Space: Check how much space you have at corners or turns, especially near doorways, to move items without getting stuck.
Common Furniture Sizes You Should Know Before Moving
Before you move, it’s helpful to know the typical sizes of common furniture. This makes it easier to plan how everything will fit through doors, hallways and elevators.
Sofas
- Length: Usually between 72 and 96 inches (the longest side)
- Depth: Around 30 to 40 inches (front to back)
- Height: Normally 30 to 36 inches. If the legs can come off, measure with and without them
Beds
- Headboard Size: For queen or king beds, headboards are usually 60 to 80 inches wide
- Frame Length: A queen bed frame is typically about 80 inches from head to foot
- Box Spring Height: If your bed has a box spring, measure that too—it may need to go through doors separately
Tables (Dining & Coffee Tables)
- Size: Round tables start at about 36 inches across, while long rectangular ones can go up to 96 inches
- Height: Most dining tables are 28 to 30 inches tall
- Legs: If the legs can be removed, it’s easier to move them
Dressers & Wardrobes
- Height: Dressers are usually 30 inches tall, while wardrobes can be over 72 inches
- Width/Depth: Typically 18 to 24 inches deep and 36 to 60 inches wide
- Drawers: Removing drawers can help reduce weight during the move
Desks
- Width/Depth: Most desks are 40 to 60 inches wide and 20 to 30 inches deep
- Height: Around 30 inches tall
- Legs: If the legs or supports come off, that makes moving easier
Bookshelves
- Height: Usually between 60 and 84 inches, depending on the number of shelves
- Width/Depth: Around 24 to 48 inches wide and 12 to 18 inches deep
- Shelves: If the shelves can be removed, it’ll help lighten the load
Appliances (If You’re Bringing Them)
- Refrigerator: Common size is 30–36 inches wide, 67–70 inches tall and 29–35 inches deep
- Washer/Dryer: Each unit is normally about 27 inches wide, 30 inches deep and 38–40 inches tall
Tips for Moving Furniture Into a High-Rise
If you’re moving into a high-rise building, make sure to check the building’s rules about using the elevator. Some places require you to book the service or freight elevator ahead of time.
Try to move during less busy hours—especially if you’re in a downtown area. This can help you avoid long waits and make the move go a lot smoother.
Look for High-Rises With Private Elevators
Moving furniture into a high-rise can be tricky but picking the right building can make things much easier. Try to find buildings that have private freight elevators made for moving large or heavy items.
Before you move, check the elevator’s weight limit, see if there’s a loading dock and ask about allowed moving hours.
Some well-known high-rise buildings in Chicago with private elevators include:
Coeval Chicago
Imprint Apartments
Can You Reserve the Elevator?
Having access to a private freight elevator can really help your move go smoothly—but don’t forget to book it ahead of time.
Freight elevators can get busy especially during peak hours, so it’s best to reserve early. Also, check the building’s moving rules and make sure the elevator can handle the weight of your heavy furniture or appliances.
Coordinate Timing for the Loading Dock
If you’re moving into a high-rise, planning when to use the loading dock is really important. Talk to the building manager to find out the dock’s hours and whether you need to book a time slot.
Try to schedule your move during less busy hours to avoid delays. Also, make sure the path to the dock is clear so moving big items is easier. For very large furniture, you might want to hire pros who offer hoisting services to get things in quickly and safely.
Moving Downtown? Watch Out for Rush Hour
If you’re moving into a downtown high-rise, try to avoid the busy traffic hours. Plan your move during times when the roads are less crowded—like late mornings or early afternoons on weekdays. This will help you avoid delays and make your move smoother.
Protect the Elevator Interior
When moving furniture into a high-rise, it’s important to keep the elevator safe from damage. Wrap your furniture with pads or blankets to avoid scratching the walls.
Check how much weight the elevator can hold and clear the area of anything that might get in the way. Use proper moving tools to load everything safely and keep it steady while inside the elevator.
Ask Your Building Manager for Mover Recommendations
To make your high-rise move easier, talk to your building manager and ask if they know any trusted movers. They usually have a list of moving companies that know the building well and can help with things like elevator bookings.
Getting their advice also helps you follow the building’s moving rules, so you can avoid problems and settle into your new place without stress.
Tips for Moving Furniture Into Apartments Without Elevators
Moving into apartments with no elevator can be tough but a little planning can make things go smoother.
Take Apart Big or Heavy Furniture
If you’re moving heavy or bulky furniture upstairs, it’s best to take it apart first. Break down items like sofas or bed frames to make them easier to carry.
Use tools like furniture dollies to roll things instead of lifting and use lifting straps to keep everything steady and safe while moving.
Make Sure You Have Plenty of Help
If your apartment doesn’t have an elevator, having enough people to help is super important. Ask your friends or family to lend a hand.
Before you start, make sure everyone knows what their job is to avoid confusion. While lifting, remember to bend your knees and keep your back straight to avoid getting hurt. With good teamwork and the right lifting technique, the move will go a lot more smoothly.
Use Stair Rollers & Shoulder Dollies
Moving heavy furniture up and down stairs is tough but using the right tools can help. Stair rollers grip the steps and make it easier to move heavy items without too much effort.
Shoulder dollies spread the weight, so there’s less pressure on your back. Always use moving straps to keep things secure, and make sure you and your helper stay in sync while lifting to avoid accidents.
Experience a Smooth Move
No matter if you’re moving into a high-rise or a small apartment, bringing in furniture takes good planning and teamwork.
Make things easier by measuring doorways and rooms, taking apart large furniture, and using the right tools. Talk to the building manager about any rules and make sure you have enough help on moving day.
With these simple steps, your move can go smoothly and be a lot less stressful.
