Moving to a new home often brings up one important question: Should I disassemble furniture before moving?
The short answer is—sometimes, yes. You don’t need to break down every piece of furniture, but certain items need to come apart for safe handling and transport. Doing so prevents damage, helps items fit through tight spaces, and makes loading more efficient.
Let’s go over when and why you should disassemble your furniture, how EverSafe Moving Co. handles this process, and how it can affect your time and cost during the move.
When Should Furniture Be Disassembled?
Not every piece needs to be taken apart. But if furniture is bulky, heavy, or oddly shaped, disassembly might be the safest option. Here’s when it matters most:
- Beds, especially those with large headboards or bed frames
- Dining tables with removable legs
- Sectional couches or sofas with loose parts
- Dressers with mirrors
- Desks that won’t fit through doorways
- Large wardrobes or cabinets
You should also consider disassembly if:
- Your home has narrow halls or staircases
- You’re moving items from a tight space like an apartment
- You want to save time during loading
Disassembling furniture also makes the packing process much easier.
What’s Included in EverSafe’s Disassembly Services
Disassembly and reassembly come standard with our moving services. We bring a full toolkit to every job and have experience with many common furniture types.
Typical Items We Disassemble:
- Bed frames
- Dining tables
- Sofas (if needed)
- Desks
- Bookshelves (modular types)
- Dressers with mirrors
- Washer/dryer lid or door (if needed to fit)
We handle these safely and rebuild them at your new home, unless you choose to do that yourself.
A Quick Look at What’s Included vs. Excluded
| Included |
Excluded |
|---|---|
|
Disassembly/reassembly of your existing furniture |
Initial assembly of new, boxed furniture (e.g., IKEA) |
|
Common tools and labor |
Specialty items requiring custom tools or parts |
|
Attempted reassembly of items you disassembled |
Guaranteed success when we didn’t do the disassembly |
|
Bed setup at the new home |
Custom-built or antique furniture requiring a specialist |
Can I Disassemble My Furniture Myself?
Yes, and some people choose to do this to save time. If that’s your plan, just let us know in advance. When we build your quote, we’ll remove the time normally set aside for this.
Still, be cautious. If you don’t label parts or track screws, reassembly can be frustrating. Also, if we didn’t take it apart, we may not be able to put it back together—especially without instructions.
Reassembling Furniture After the Move
We’re happy to put your furniture back together after transport—if we’re the ones who disassembled it to begin with. We also try our best to rebuild items taken apart by you or others, but we can’t guarantee success. Some pieces, like mass-market desks, are simple. Others, like modular office systems or boutique beds, can be hard to figure out without instructions.
Assembly of new boxed furniture (like a dresser from IKEA) is a different task. We can include it in your quote if you ask, but it’s not covered under our price lock guarantee due to time unpredictability.
Time and Cost Factors
Disassembly adds to total move time but is often necessary. For example, removing a dining table’s legs might add 10–15 minutes, while taking apart a king-size bed could take 30 minutes or more. We factor these estimates into your initial quote. You can view our pricing structure and what’s included on our moving prices page.
If you’re asking us to build something new out of the box, expect more time. New boxed furniture takes longer and often comes with unclear or complex instructions.
Prep Checklist: Before Moving Day
Here’s what to check off if you plan to prepare your furniture:
- Decide what you’re disassembling yourself
- Place screws, bolts, or hardware in labeled zip bags
- Tape those bags to the matching furniture, if possible
- Measure doorways and staircases to see if large items fit
- Let your EverSafe estimator know about disassembly plans
Clear communication here helps us plan better and keeps your move on schedule.
Making the Right Move with Your Furniture
Disassembling furniture before a move can save time, prevent damage, and make the process more manageable. Whether you handle it yourself or let EverSafe take care of it, knowing what to expect helps you plan better. Take inventory of what needs to come apart, communicate with your movers, and prepare your items properly. With the right steps up front, your move will be smoother on the other end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should I take apart my bed before moving?
A: Beds almost always need to be disassembled. We can do it for you or adjust your quote if you prefer to do it yourself.
Q: Can EverSafe disassemble IKEA furniture?
A: Yes. We can take apart and attempt reassembly of IKEA items, but we can’t always guarantee reassembly if we didn’t do the disassembly.
Q: What tools do I need if I do it myself?
A: You’ll likely need a Phillips-head screwdriver, Allen wrench (hex key), and a small hammer. Many IKEA items also use cam locks that need simple turning tools.
Q: Will disassembly increase my moving cost?
A: It can add time to your move, which may adjust the quote. We build this time estimate into your quote.
Q: Can I leave everything assembled?
A: You can. But if something won’t fit through a doorway or up a staircase, we may need to disassemble it on-site.
Q: Do you reassemble furniture at the new place?
A: Yes. We reassemble anything we took apart for transport during the move.
Q: What if I lose hardware like screws?
A: That makes reassembly harder. Keep all small parts in labeled bags and tape them securely to the item or keep them in a moving-day essentials box.
Q: Is building new boxed furniture part of the move?
A: We can quote it as an add-on. Just know that it’s not part of our flat-rate time guarantee because the time it takes can vary a lot.