Tips for Moving IKEA Furniture
Fact Checked by: Here’s the quick answer: When you’re moving IKEA furniture, you should disassemble large pieces like beds and wardrobes to avoid damage. Use a screwdriver, rubber mallet, or similar tool to remove panels.
Keep your hardware in labeled bags, and snap pictures of the process to make reassembly easier. If smaller pieces will fit through the doorways, you can keep them assembled. Just be sure to wrap them in moving blankets.
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Here’s how to keep your IKEA furniture (and your sanity) intact, with tips from real movers and a checklist to streamline your move.
Should you move or disassemble IKEA furniture?
Weighing the pros and cons
Before you start, it’s smart to weigh your options. Here’s how moving IKEA furniture assembled compares to taking it apart first.
| Option | Pros | Cons |
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| Move assembled |
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| Disassemble first |
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Is it worth it to move IKEA furniture?
With IKEA furniture, cost is a big factor. Sometimes it’s cheaper to replace than move, but there’s more to consider than the price tag.
- Financials: Compare moving costs vs. buying new. It could be more worthwhile to keep your IKEA furniture if you’re moving locally than if you’re hiring interstate movers.
- Emotional value: If you love a piece or it perfectly fits your space, that utility matters even if it isn’t an heirloom.
- Environmental impact: Reusing or donating beats dumping. Many IKEA locations have recycling or buy-back programs. Check with your location.
- Donation and upcycling: If you leave it behind, donate, resell, or upcycle. Many charities offer free pickup and you may qualify for a tax deduction. See our donation pickup guide.
How to prep for your IKEA move like a pro
Measure everything
Start by measuring your furniture and your new space. Don’t forget doorways, hallways, elevators, and stairwells. Nothing’s worse than carrying a MALM dresser only to realize it can’t make the turn into your new bedroom.
Tip: Snap photos or jot down dimensions in your phone for quick access and share them with helpers or movers.
Create a moving checklist
Staying organized makes the process smoother. An IKEA-specific checklist keeps you on track from first screw to final shelf.
- Measure furniture & access points: Record dimensions of pieces, doorways, elevators, and stairs to avoid surprises.
- Decide what to keep/donate/sell: Trim your load early to save on time, materials, and transport costs.
- Gather tools & supplies: Confirm you have hex keys, screwdrivers, bags, labels, and padding before you start.
- Recruit help: Line up friends, family, or pros for lifting and steadying large panels.
- Disassemble as needed: Prioritize large, heavy, or wobbly items that would be risky to move while they’re assembled.
- Pack & label all parts: Use Ziploc bags and panel labels so reassembly is as easy as possible.
- Load & secure for transport: Build tight tiers and strap bundles together so nothing shifts.
- Reassemble and inspect: Tighten connectors and check to ensure they aren’t wobbly before loading shelves and drawers.
Download our ultimate moving checklist
Recruit help: Why you shouldn’t go solo
IKEA furniture can be awkward and heavy. Trying to move it alone isn’t just hard — it’s risky for both you and your furniture. Ask friends, family, or moving pros for help. If you’re short on muscle, consider hiring moving labor or TaskRabbit for the tough parts.
Tools, equipment, and supplies you’ll need
Having the right tools makes everything easier. Here’s what you’ll want on hand for an IKEA move.
- Phillips and flathead screwdrivers: These cover most standard fasteners you’ll encounter.
- Allen (hex) wrenches: Many IKEA items include these, but spares save time when sizes differ.
- Pliers and a rubber mallet: Useful for stubborn fittings and gentle tapping that won’t mar finishes.
- Zip-top bags for hardware: Group screws and bolts together by item to prevent mix-ups.
- Labels, masking tape, and markers: Mark panels and hardware so their orientation is obvious later.
- Moving blankets or pads: Pad panels to prevent scratches, dents, and damage to corners and edges.
- Bubble wrap: Add protection for glass, mirrors, and fragile inserts.
- Stretch wrap and packing tape: Secure bundles, but never tape them directly to finished laminate.
- Furniture dolly and moving straps: Reduce the strain on yourself and keep panels upright during moves.
- Work gloves: Improve your grip and protect your hands from splinters.
Need more packing materials? See our moving boxes and supplies guide.
Step-by-step guide to disassembling IKEA furniture
1. Prepare your workspace
Set up a large, flat area—your garage, living room, or driveway will work best. Lay down a moving blanket to protect the floors and the furniture itself.
2. Take photos at every step
Photos are a lifesaver during reassembly. Snap the furniture fully assembled, then take shots as you remove drawers, hardware, or panels.
3. Remove drawers, shelves, and hardware
Start with anything removable, like shelves, drawers, doors, handles, knobs, and feet. Store small parts in labeled zip bags. Tape these to the largest panel or keep them in a dedicated “parts box.”
4. Label everything
Use painter’s tape or sticky notes to mark each panel and its orientation (for example, “left side — top”). Only label on unfinished surfaces to avoid damage.
5. Disassemble carefully
Work from top to bottom, loosening screws and connectors a little bit at a time. Avoid excessive force — particleboard splits easily. Ask a helper to steady large pieces for you.
6. Safety first
You should always remember to lift furniture with your legs, not your back. Wear gloves for better grip and to avoid splinters, and keep sharp tools away from kids and pets.
7. Keep hardware organized
Store each item’s hardware in its own labeled bag. Consider color-coding bags to match furniture pieces, and keep everything together in a larger “parts box.”
How to pack and transport IKEA furniture
Packing tips
Take extra care when packing IKEA furniture. Proper wrapping and loading go a long way toward preventing damage.
- Wrap every panel: Use moving blankets or bubble wrap, paying special attention to corners and edges.
- Secure tidy bundles: Use stretch wrap or straps so panels don’t slide, but keep each bundle liftable.
- No tape on finishes: Tape can peel laminate, so you should only secure your furniture with tape over blankets or unfinished areas.
If you still have the original packaging, use it. Otherwise, moving pads and blankets work well for protection.
Loading and securing
How you load your furniture matters, too. These practices will minimize shifting and breakage during transit.
- Stand panels upright: Vertical orientation reduces flexing and helps avoid cracks.
- Stack by weight: Keep lighter bundles on top of heavier pieces to prevent crushing.
- Strap to solid points: Use ratchet straps to tie bundles to wall rails or anchor points.
- Lift, don’t drag: Use a dolly or team lift to protect edges and floors.
Storage advice
Storing IKEA furniture safely requires a bit of planning, especially for longer storage periods.
- Short-term storage: Keep bundles upright, off the floor, and away from moisture to avoid swelling.
- Long-term storage: Use climate control to prevent warping, delamination, or peeling edges.
- Keep parts together: Store hardware and instructions with the furniture so nothing gets separated.
Reassembly and post-move checks
Step-by-step reassembly
Reassembling your furniture is easier when you set the stage and follow a consistent order.
- Stage in the destination room: Move all the parts to the space where the furniture will live to avoid having to carry it later.
- Lay out parts and photos: Reference your pictures and arrange the panels and hardware before you start.
- Build from the base up: Tighten cams and screws gradually so the joints seat evenly.
- Add components last: Install shelves, drawers, and doors after the frame is solid.
- Don’t force it: If something doesn’t fit, re-check the labels and photos rather than muscling parts together.
After assembly: Tighten and troubleshoot
Once your furniture is reassembled, inspect everything to make sure it’s stable and working properly.
- Re-check fasteners: Confirm all screws, bolts, and cam locks are snug to eliminate wobbling.
- Fix stripped holes: Insert a wooden dowel or toothpick with wood glue, let it set, then reinstall the screw.
- Replace missing parts: IKEA sells replacements, and many generic hardware items will work in a pinch.
Item-specific moving tips
MALM dressers
MALM frames can twist if you move them while they’re assembled. A little prep goes a long way.
- Empty all drawers: Weight shifts strain the frame; remove the contents to keep panels square.
- Disassemble when possible: Breaking down large dressers prevents racking and cracked joints.
- Label drawer order: Mark left-to-right order so aligning the drawers to glide right in is easy.
BILLY bookcases
These bookcases are lightweight but fragile, and the thin back panel is the weak link. Here’s how to move them:
- Remove shelves and pins: Loose shelves can gouge sides if left inside during transport.
- Protect the back panel: Keep it flat and padded to prevent creases or tears.
- Reinforce on rebuild: Corner brackets can help make these shelves more stable if the unit feels wobbly.
KALLAX shelves
These units are great for storage, but cube joints don’t handle movement under their load very well. Here’s what you can do to securely move them:
- Disassemble them to panels: Moving these shelves whole can stress the connectors, while flat panels travel safer.
- Unload cubes first: Transport cubes empty to avoid bowing and cracked dividers.
Bed frames
Multiple parts and hidden connectors make beds the trickiest IKEA items.
- Remove slats and rails: Bundle slats and store them with clearly labeled hardware.
- Photograph supports: Capture center beam and leg placements to speed reassembly.
- Bag hardware per section: Tape bags to the headboard or footboard so nothing wanders.
When to hire professional help for moving IKEA furniture
Professional moving services can be a lifesaver for complicated or heavy IKEA pieces. Here are common ways to get support.
- TaskRabbit: Book experienced “Taskers” for disassembly, moving, and reassembly. Expect roughly $40–$100 per hour depending on location and scope.
- IKEA assembly services: Many stores coordinate in-home assembly/disassembly for a fee — policies vary by market.
- Specialized movers: The best full-service carriers train their crews on best practices for moving IKEA furniture.
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Pros and cons of hiring professional movers
- Pros: Saves time, reduces damage risk, and cuts down on heavy lifting so you can focus on the rest of the move.
- Cons: Adds cost, may require advance scheduling, and some movers won’t reassemble certain IKEA models.
For help choosing vetted pros, see our guide to the best interstate moving companies.
FAQs
Can I move IKEA furniture without taking it apart?
It’s possible for small, sturdy pieces, but larger or heavier items often crack or rack when you move them while they’re assembled. Disassembly is the safer choice for anything you want to keep in great condition, especially pieces that are built from particleboard.
What tools do I need to disassemble IKEA furniture?
Keep Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, a set of hex keys, pliers, and a rubber mallet handy. Most IKEA items include basic tools, but having extras speeds things up and prevents delays if the sizes vary.
Is it worth moving IKEA furniture long distance?
It depends on the piece’s quality, condition, and value to you. For sentimental or high-quality items, moving makes sense. For low-cost or easily replaced pieces, compare move costs to replacement costs before deciding.
What’s the best way to store IKEA furniture?
Disassemble, wrap panels in blankets or bubble wrap, and store them upright in a climate-controlled unit. Keep hardware and printed instructions with the furniture so you’re not hunting for parts later.
Where can I find assembly instructions if I lost them?
IKEA offers free instruction downloads — search your product name on the official instructions page. Save a PDF to your phone for easy access on move-in day.
Additional resources
- Plan costs: Moving cost calculator to compare options.
- Hire smart: Best long-distance movers vetted by our team.
- Compare containers: Best moving container companies for flexible timelines.
- Stock up on supplies: Where to buy moving boxes without overspending.
- Get the big picture: Relocation guide from planning to delivery.
- Declutter responsibly: Donation pickup guide with charities that come to you.
- Store with confidence: Best self-storage companies for short or long term.
Move your IKEA furniture like a pro
Moving IKEA furniture doesn’t have to be a nightmare. With some planning, the right tools, and a system for labeling and organizing parts, you can move your favorite pieces with confidence.
When things get complicated, don’t hesitate to call in pros — or at least a few friends. Ready to see what your move might cost? Get personalized price estimates with our moving cost calculator and take the guesswork out of your next move.
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