How to transport a mattress - summary
- Don't do the "mattress on the roof" move. Mattresses can easily get soaked, damaged, or even fly into traffic. It's a safety risk and a fast track to ruining your bed.
- Keep and reuse the original plastic wrap. Save the fitted plastic bag your mattress arrived in, because it's designed to slide on easily and protect against dirt, grubby hands, truck floors, and surprise rain during transport or storage.
- Get help because mattresses are awkward and heavy. Moving solo can be hard, especially with larger or heavier mattresses.
- Match the moving method to the mattress type. Spring mattresses shouldn't be folded or bent because that can damage the internal structure. Foam/latex/memory foam options have more flexibility (they often ship rolled), but if you can, we recommend not folding or rolling the mattress at all.
- Best transport option: inside a truck/van (ideally with movers). A truck/van is the best moving option, keeping your mattress protected from the weather and strapped down safely.
How a mattress is usually transported
I pulled up behind a car recently and noticed a large bulky mattress on the roof of the late model sedan. Ropes had lashed the mattress haphazardly to the roof rack, squishing it so tight that the springs looked poised and ready to exit the bed like a Jack-in-the-box.
That wasn't even the worst of it. Moving day coincided with one very wet Auckland Saturday and the sodden mattress was dripping and spraying water on the motorway like a high-speed sponge. The couple driving the car were blissfully unaware that they'd likely be spending the night on their sofa, presuming that wasn't also in transit exposed to the elements.
Mattresses can be bulky and awkward to transport, rendering them a potential hazard while you personally move them from A to B. Case in point, I once shifted house in Hamilton and a work colleague and myself decided that we'd also try the above method of strapping said mattress to the roof of my old Mitsubishi Lancer.
Weather wasn't a problem on this occasion – but State Highway 1 as it used to veer east of the city – did prove the crucial test.
Airflow over the top of the car was severely compromised – with the front end of the mattress lifting like a tin roof in a tropical cyclone. It was only a matter of time before the flimsy ropes strapping her to the car would be severely tested. As the speedometer ticked over 80kph, my work colleague checked his side mirror then casually pointed out that my queen bed was now providing spring support to hundreds of vehicles blasting along in the middle lane of the country's busiest motorway.
Brakes screeched, horns blasted, traffic was halted and the mattress dragged to the roadside – freshly tattooed with angry tire tracks.
It wasn't just my pride that was damaged: a few wayward springs had not held up to the motorway mattress mayhem.
So, how do you safely move a bed? Here's a guide to doing it properly so you sleep comfortably on your favourite mattress in your new digs.
Note to readers: I'm not writing this so you'll buy a new Sleepyhead mattress. But word of warning – if you choose to transport your bed the wrong way – there's every chance you'll be mattress shopping post moving day.
Save the plastic wrap
Your new mattress arrives, you rip and tear at the plastic to reveal your answer to perfect sleep - but here's where you'll need the foresight for that future moving day.
The plastic wrap on your bed fits it perfectly and is made to slide over your mattress and protect it from grubby hands, dirty moving truck floors or a random rain shower while it's on the trailer. Sure, there's a lot of plastic to store and you swore you'd never move after the last time, but stash it away in the garage and you'll be grateful when the day comes. Even if you're not moving, the bag comes in handy for stashing your bed if it needs to go into storage.
Get help
Moving is never fun and shifting a mattress solo is a tough task. A bed is an awkward household item to shift by yourself because it is BIG and it can be very heavy, especially if it contains layers like memory foam and latex.
Match your move to your mattress
If you have a spring bed, then folding or bending the mattress while moving will damage the structure and could ruin it. But if you have a latex, foam or memory foam mattress, then it can probably withstand a little bend. We don't recommend you reroll or fold a foam mattress while moving, but you'll find it will spring back or regain its shape faster than a spring mattress.
Moving by car
We also don't recommend you move your mattress by car. Why not? The rope or straps securing a bed can damage the foam casing of your mattress or compromise the spring system. Plus, anything bigger than a queen size bed is probably not going to fit on your standard vehicle – SUV or not.
Moving by trailer
A harder option these days as less vehicles come with a tow bar. However, if you do have a tow bar, getting a trailer is easy and a much safer option for transporting your mattress.
Hire one with a high safety railing and make sure it's secured on its side to the railing using straps or rope – but not so tight that you damage the springs or foam. You can also lie your base and mattress flat. If you are shifting other household items, pop your mattress on top rather than under heavy boxes or furniture, then secure it with ropes or straps.
Moving by truck
This is the best option by far because your bed will be secure inside a van or truck and out of the weather. Using a moving company is even better as they do all the heavy lifting and secure your mattress to the side of the truck. And most of them use old rugs or material to protect the mattress from getting dirty. If you didn't stash your plastic mattress bag, leave your mattress protector on the bed because it will help keep the mattress surface clean during transit.
Be warranty wary
Our beds carry a warranty that generally ranges from five to 10 years. Warranties cover any potential manufacturing defects but do not cover any damage incurred when you move your mattress. So be very careful and don't let your mattress get caught in a downpour or fly loose on the motorway!