How to move a mattress without damaging it

How do you move a mattress without damaging it — or your walls? A mattress is light compared with a wardrobe, but it’s big, floppy and surprisingly easy to ruin. Fold the wrong type, drag it across a floor or let it get damp and it may never feel the same again. This guide explains how to move a mattress properly: wrapping, the bending rules for memory foam and pocket sprung, getting it down narrow stairs, transporting it and disposing of an old one.

Before you start: check the type

Different mattresses need different handling. Check the label or the manufacturer’s website before you move it, and look for any care or transport guidance — it varies more than people think.

Strip the bed and wash the bedding first, and remove any mattress topper so it can be packed separately. If the mattress has handles, check whether they’re designed for lifting or only for turning — many are only for positioning on the bed and can tear under the full weight.

How to wrap a mattress

1. Vacuum both sides and let the mattress air if it’s been cleaned recently — never wrap it damp.
2. Slide it into a heavy-duty mattress bag that matches the size: single, double, king or super king.
3. Seal the open end with tape, pressing out excess air so the bag doesn’t balloon.
4. Add a removal blanket over the bag for the carry if the route is tight or the walls are freshly painted.
5. Label the bag with the room it’s going to.

A mattress bag keeps out dust, damp and dirt from the van floor, and it gives you a smoother surface to slide past walls and banisters. Don’t use cling film or sealed plastic for storage of more than a few days; trapped moisture can lead to mould, so use a breathable cover if it’s going into storage.

Don’t forget the bed frame. Most frames are quicker and safer to move dismantled, and divan bases often separate into two halves. Before the day:

• Remove the headboard and unscrew the side rails and slats, bagging and labelling the fixings.
• Tie slats into a bundle with tape or string so none go missing.
• Check divan bases for a central zip or link bar that separates the halves.
• Remove storage drawers from divans and ottoman beds and move them separately.
• Keep the Allen key or tools with the fixings, not in a random box.

If the mattress is going into storage for a while, store it flat or on its side as the manufacturer recommends, in a breathable cover, with nothing heavy stacked on top. Leaning it on a slope against a wall for weeks can leave it permanently misshapen.

Wrap the mattress the night before and lean it against a wall, not the floor, so it’s ready for the crew and stays clean.

Bending and folding: the rules

This is where most mattress damage happens. Folding a mattress in half to get it round a corner can break springs, crease foam layers and void the warranty.

• Pocket sprung and hybrid: don’t fold or bend beyond a gentle flex. The springs and their fabric pockets can be damaged.
• Memory foam: some can be rolled or bent briefly, others can’t — only do what the manufacturer allows, and never fold it tightly or leave it bent.
• Open coil: keep it flat or upright; bending can kink the coils permanently.
• Latex: flexible, but heavy layers can tear if strained at the fold.
• Never tie a mattress folded to make it easier to carry.
• If it arrived rolled in a box, that doesn’t mean it can be rolled again at home.

What we see on real jobs is that the damage is usually done on a single tight turn, when someone bends the mattress to get it round the banister. If it won’t go round without folding, stop and look for another route — an upended carry over the banister, a different staircase or, for very large mattresses, a window.

Carrying a mattress on stairs

Two people are the minimum for anything bigger than a single, and three makes a king or super king far easier on a London staircase.

1. Clear the route: shoes, bikes, rugs and anything on the landing.
2. Carry the mattress on its long side, upright, so it’s narrower and easier to control.
3. The stronger person goes at the bottom on the way down, taking more of the weight.
4. Hold the mattress itself or the bag, not flimsy side handles.
5. Take turns slowly and call out each step.
6. Rest it upright on a landing rather than letting it drop flat on the floor.

Transporting it in a van

In a van, a mattress travels best upright on its side against the wall, strapped so it can’t slide or fall. Laying it flat underneath heavy items will crush it, and leaving it unsupported means it can slump and bend in transit.

• Load it after heavy furniture so nothing is stacked on top.
• Strap it upright to the van’s rails.
• Don’t tie a mattress to a car roof — it can act like a sail and come loose.
• If it’s a short-notice single item, a dedicated delivery is usually simpler than hiring a van.

Our bed and mattress delivery service (from £50) collects, protects and places mattresses and bed frames in the right room, including on walk-ups.

Disposing of an old mattress

Moving is a good time to replace an old mattress, but disposing of one isn’t as simple as putting it out with the bins.

• Council bulky waste collection: most London boroughs offer it for a fee — check your council’s website.
• Retailer take-back: some retailers will collect your old mattress when they deliver a new one, often for a charge.
• Household recycling centres: many accept mattresses if you can transport them.
• Charities: some accept mattresses with intact fire safety labels and in good condition — ask first.
• Never leave a mattress on the street; fly-tipping can lead to a fine.

If you’re clearing more than a mattress, a house clearance can take several items in one visit.

FAQs

Can I fold a memory foam mattress to move it?

Only if the manufacturer says it’s safe, and then only briefly. Many memory foam mattresses shouldn’t be folded at all.

Can a mattress go flat in a van?

It’s better upright on its side and strapped. Laid flat, it tends to get things stacked on top of it.

How many people do I need to move a mattress?

Two for a double, and ideally three for a king or super king on stairs.

Do you move just a mattress?

Yes — single mattress and bed deliveries start from £50 in London.

What if the mattress won’t go up the stairs?

Try carrying it upright on its long side and lifting it over the banister on the turn. If it still won’t pass without folding, don’t force it — a window or balcony lift may be possible. See sofa and furniture hoisting, which also covers mattresses and bed bases.

See bed and mattress delivery or contact us.

About the author

Sameer Ahmad Basra

Writer

Sameer writes practical, no-nonsense moving guides for Londoners — drawn from real jobs across all 32 boroughs, covering vans, packing, permits and fixed-price removals.