Got plans to move into a second story building? Are you sweating over how to tackle a multi-story move? No worries. With the right mover behind you and a solid plan, you can do it.
When moving into an apartment or condo on the second floor or higher, the big worry is usually the same. How do you get that huge couch up two flights of stairs without wrecking it?
Carrying boxes and furniture up several flights is hard on your furniture and your body. Here is what you need to know to move into a second story building without damage or injury.
Measure the Stairwell, Doorways, and Furniture First
Do this before you touch a single box. Most stair disasters are measurement problems, not strength problems.
Grab a tape measure and write down:
- Furniture dimensions: length, width, height, and the diagonal measurement.
- Stairway dimensions: width, ceiling clearance, and the turn radius at each landing.
- Doorways at both the bottom and the top of the stairs.
- Elevator dimensions, including the door opening and the inside depth.
Compare the numbers. If the sofa’s diagonal is wider than the stairwell turn, it is not going up that way, no matter how many people you have. Better to know now than halfway up.
Note your stair type too. Straight runs are simple. Switchbacks with a landing are harder. Spiral stairs are the worst case for anything bulky.
Buy the Right Supplies
Purchase quilted moving pads to drape over banisters at the turns. This keeps your furniture from getting scratched and protects the railing. If the budget is tight, use old household blankets, as long as you do not mind them getting dirty.
You will also want:
- A hand truck or stair-climbing dolly for boxes and heavy appliances.
- Moving straps or a shoulder dolly to shift weight off your arms and back.
- Stair edge guards or floor runners to protect the treads.
- Work gloves for grip and splinter protection.
- Painter’s tape to hold protective coverings in place.
One safety warning. Never leave loose blankets or rugs lying on the stairs. They slip, and a fall on stairs while carrying furniture is how people get badly hurt.
Disassemble Everything You Can
Every piece you remove is weight and bulk you do not have to fight around a corner.
- Take the legs off tables and sofas.
- Break down bed frames completely.
- Empty dresser drawers, and remove them if they slide.
- Separate sectional sofas and move each section on its own.
- Take doors off wardrobes and cabinets.
Photograph each piece before you take it apart, and bag the hardware with a label. Reassembly gets much easier.
Create a Plan
Have a plan with your team before moving day starts. Someone stays at the bottom to unload and hand off. Another carries partway up. A third brings items into the apartment.
Sound tiring? It is. Hiring movers saves you the time and hassle, but you still need a plan. Tell them ahead of time about cramped spaces, tight hallways, and narrow staircases. They should also know the layout of your current home so they can plan the load-out.
This is why an in-person quote matters. It lets your movers take measurements and build their own plan before the truck shows up.
Use the Right Carrying Technique on Stairs
Technique beats strength on a staircase.
Carry high and low. On stairs, the person below holds the bottom of the item, and the person above holds the top. This keeps the load level and puts the pivot point near the center. Put your strongest person on the lower end, because they carry most of the weight.
A few more rules that prevent injuries:
- Lift with your legs. Back straight, knees bent, item close to your body. Do not twist while carrying.
- Communicate every step. Agree on simple calls like “step,” “stop,” and “turn.”
- Move the heaviest items first, while everyone is fresh.
- Rest between flights. Fatigue is what causes drops.
- Slow down at corners. You may need to tip, pivot, or angle a long piece to clear the railing.
For the two hardest items: stand a sofa on its end to shrink its footprint in the stairwell, and expect a mattress to flop, so use two people and grip it at both ends.
Reserve the Elevator and Confirm Building Rules
Many apartment buildings let you reserve an elevator for your move. Ask about it early, since it makes the day faster and you are not sharing the car with other residents.
Get the reservation in writing, and while you are talking to the building manager, confirm:
- Whether the building requires a certificate of insurance (COI) from your movers. Many do, and without it, your crew may be turned away at the door.
- Approved move-in hours and days.
- Where the truck can park and whether you need a permit.
- Which entrance and elevator the movers should use.
Weekdays are usually easier. Fewer residents are in the halls and elevators.
Wear Comfortable Shoes
Wear shoes you can stand all day, especially if the building has stairs and no elevator. Pick sneakers with good tread so you do not slip while carrying heavy items. Skip open-toe shoes entirely.
Ask About Stair Carry Fees Before You Book
Here is the cost question most people miss until the bill arrives.
Many movers charge extra when they have to carry items up stairs. It is not a scam. Stairs add real time, labor, and risk to the job. The pricing varies a lot by company:
- Some charge per flight, often with the first flight included in the base rate.
- Some charge per step.
- Some bill hourly, so the stairs simply show up as extra time instead of a separate fee.
- Some do not charge for stairs at all.
Definitions vary too. One company may count a staircase with a landing as one flight. Another may count it as two.
So ask three questions before you book:
- Do you charge for stairs, and how do you calculate it?
- Is the first flight included in the base rate?
- What counts as a flight?
Tell your mover about the stairs upfront. If you leave it out, the fee gets added later anyway, and you lose the chance to budget for it. An honest mover will raise this at the estimate, not after the truck is loaded.
The Bottom Line
The best thing you can do for your furniture, your back, and your sanity is to hire a moving company for a second-story move. Pros bring the dollies, straps, and technique, and they carry the risk instead of you.
If you want to keep costs down but still get the muscle, moving labor is a good middle path. You handle the truck, we handle the stairs.
Contact Big Lake Movers
Big Lake Movers handles apartment and condo moves across Grand Rapids, Holland, and Kalamazoo. We will walk your stairwell, measure the tight spots, and give you a quote with no surprise fees on moving day.
Contact us at one of our three locations or request a free moving quote today. You can also see how to prepare for apartment movers before the truck arrives.
