How to Move a Murphy Bed: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Should You Hire Professional Movers for a Murphy Bed?

Deciding whether to hire professionals depends entirely on the type of bed and your physical comfort level. If your bed is a basic model, you can usually tackle the project yourself. However, if it's heavy or wall-mounted, it's a safer idea to hire experts.

Consider booking professional movers if any of the following factors apply to you:

• High-end custom models: Expensive or custom-built beds often have intricate parts that require expert handling to avoid permanent frame damage.
• Damaged hardware mechanisms: If the lifting tension feels off or the springs seem dangerous, a professional can safely manage the high-pressure components.
• Personal mobility limits: Moving heavy wooden frames requires physical strength. Book professional labor if you have physical restrictions.
• Tight corners and stairs: Navigating narrow hallways or steep stairs with large wood panels is risky without the right experience.
• Relocating to a new wall: Removing large bolts from studs requires precision to ensure you don't cause serious structural damage to your home.

On the other hand, you might be able to handle the move yourself if you meet these conditions:

• Familiarity with assembly: You feel confident taking furniture apart and putting it back together safely.
• Basic freestanding designs: Your bed is a simpler chest-style model that doesn't require you to drill into the wall studs for support.
• Access to extra help: You have at least one capable friend to help you hold the heavy frame steady.
• Proper equipment on hand: You already own the wrenches, drills, screwdrivers, and moving blankets required for the task.
• Moving a short distance: You're just shifting the unit across the room instead of loading it onto a rental truck.

If the project feels overwhelming, don't worry. HireAHelper's platform makes it easy to find help. You can use our marketplace to compare and book reliable moving companies in your area that have experience with bulky furniture like Murphy beds.

How Much Does It Cost To Move a Murphy Bed?

The total price of relocating your bed depends on whether you handle the work yourself or book local experts. Here's a look at the typical costs you might face:

• Doing it yourself: Expect to pay roughly $50 to $100 for basic packing supplies, such as moving boxes, heavy blankets, and tape. If you need a large vehicle, affordable rental trucks usually cost between $20 and $100 per day, plus extra fuel fees. You might also need to purchase a drill or stud finder.
• Hiring professional labor: Booking movers through our marketplace generally costs between $100 and $300 for a few hours of help. Your final price depends on your specific location, the driving distance, and the physical design of your furniture.

Some companies charge extra for the technical work of disconnecting the springs or pistons. If you're researching moving companies, make sure to ask for a clear quote that covers both the labor and the transport of the heavy frame.

Essential Tools and Supplies You'll Need

To make sure the process goes smoothly, start by gathering everything you need to take your Murphy bed apart. Keeping all the necessary equipment ready will save you time and prevent you from having to stop halfway through because you're missing a specific tool.

Basic Tools

• Screwdriver set: You will need both Phillips and flathead heads to remove screws from the frame.
• Power drill: This helps you quickly unscrew the long bolts that secure the bed to your wall studs.
• Allen wrenches: Some kits use these L-shaped tools for the smaller connecting joints.
• Stud finder: You will need this tool to locate secure spots when you reinstall the bed later.

Packing Supplies

• Plastic bags: Used to keep all your screws, nuts, and bolts in small bags and tape them to the bed parts.
• Packing tape: Use this to mark which board goes where so you can put it back together later.
• Moving blankets: Wrap the wooden panels in these thick pads to prevent scratches during the drive.

Safety and Transport Supplies

• Work gloves: These protect your hands from sharp metal edges and prevent splinters from the wooden frame.
• Furniture dolly: Use it to roll the heavy side panels instead of carrying them by hand.
• Ratchet straps: These ties keep the bed frame from opening or shifting while inside the moving truck.

How To Move a Murphy Bed: Step-by-Step

Moving a Murphy bed usually takes 2-3 hours from first stripping the bedding to loading the disassembled pieces onto the truck.

Don't try to do this alone. You need a partner to hold the heavy parts while you work. If these steps seem too technical, you can consider hiring professional movers. HireAHelper's marketplace lets you compare companies quickly and easily so you can find the best fit.

Step 1: Remove the Mattress and Bedding

To move a Murphy bed, you have to start by clearing off the mattress. Removing this weight allows you to see the frame and reach the mounting bolts easily. Here's what to do before you start on the frame:

• Take off the linens: Remove your pillows, blankets, and sheets. Pack them in a separate box to keep them clean.
• Unclip the retaining straps: Many folding beds use fabric belts to hold the mattress. Unbuckle these straps so the mattress is completely free.
• Lift the mattress: Pull the mattress completely off the wooden or metal base and lean it against a nearby wall out of the way.

Be sure to remove any bedding that is tucked into the corners or pinned to the frame. These items can get caught in the folding joints and jam the metal tracks during the next steps.

Step 2: Disconnect the Lifting Mechanism

This is the most dangerous part of the move. These parts are under a lot of tension and can snap back with force. Stay focused and move slowly to keep yourself and your helpers safe.

Spring systems use tightly coiled metal to help lift the bed. If a spring slips or breaks, it can strike you and cause a serious injury. Follow these steps to disassemble everything properly and keep safe:

• Lock the frame: Move the bed into the position noted in your manual to take the pressure off the metal coils.
• Remove the metal coils: Use a pair of pliers to detach each spring carefully from its metal mounting hook.
• Store the hardware: Place all the springs and metal pins into a labeled bag so they don't get lost or damaged.

Piston mechanisms use gas-filled tubes to control the bed's weight. If you detach them while they're compressed, they can shoot outward with intense force and hit you. For these systems, do the following:

• Open the bed fully: Pull the bed down completely to extend the gas pistons and remove the internal pressure.
• Remove the clips: Use a flathead screwdriver to pop off the small safety clips at the ends of each gas tube.
• Slide the pistons: Gently pull the piston off the mounting stud and compress it slowly for safe packing and storage.

Never work under the bed frame without someone else holding it up. If the mechanism fails, the heavy frame could fall and pin you down.

Step 3: Detach the Bed Frame From the Wall

You can now detach the bed from the house. For this step, you'll have to find the metal brackets that screw into the wall studs. Then, you'll remove these bolts to free the heavy outer cabinet. Here are the steps to take:

• Locate the brackets: Look inside the top and sides of the cabinet for the metal plates that connect the bed to your wall.
• Remove the long screws: Use a power drill to slowly back the heavy screws out of the wall studs and the metal frame.
• Pull the frame: Have your helper hold the cabinet while you pull it away from the wall to make sure it doesn't tip over.

Step 4: Break Down the Cabinet and Frame

Now that the unit is away from the wall, you have to take it apart. This means breaking the large cabinet into flat boards. Doing this makes the bed easier to carry and allows the pieces to fit through standard doorways without getting stuck. Here's how to do it:

• Remove the front panels: Unscrew the hinges connecting the decorative doors or the main sleeping platform to the outer wooden frame.
• Take out the shelves: Slide out any loose interior boards and detach extra storage units connected to the main box.
• Detach the top and bottom: Remove the screws connecting the upper and lower panels of the cabinet to the tall side boards.
• Label the pieces: Stick a small piece of tape on the back of each panel and label it to remember exactly where it belongs.

Step 5: Pack and Protect the Parts

Once your bed is completely in pieces, you need to pack everything securely to prevent damage during the drive. Keep your bed safe by following these steps:

• Wrap the wooden cabinet panels: Cover each large wooden board in moving blankets and secure the fabric with packing tape to prevent scratches. Don't put tape directly on the surface of the board, as it can leave residue.
• Bundle the frame rails: Group the long metal or wood rails together and wrap them in padding so they don't clank or bend.
• Secure the lifting mechanism: Wrap the springs or pistons in moving blankets or other material to protect the finish and prevent grease from staining other furniture.
• Seal all hardware bags: Tape your bags of screws and bolts directly to the corresponding panels so you have them ready for reassembly.

Double-check that no metal edges are exposed before loading. Exposed metal can easily tear through boxes or scratch other items in the truck.

Step 6: Transport the Bed Safely and Securely

A cargo van or a moving truck is usually the best choice for moving a Murphy bed. You need at least 8 feet of length to fit the tall side panels flat. These vehicles offer enough height and tie-down points to keep your bed parts from sliding during the drive.

Follow these tips to load your truck safely:

• Stack panels flat: Place the largest wooden boards on the floor of the truck first to create a solid, stable base for other items.
• Tie down loose pieces: Use ratchet straps to tie the metal frame bundles to the truck rails so they stay put.
• Keep hardware close: Place your bags of screws in the front of the truck or the cab so they're the first things you find and are less likely to get lost.

How To Reassemble a Murphy Bed: Step-by-Step

Reassembling the unit is the final phase of moving a Murphy bed. You will rebuild the cabinet, attach it to the new wall, and reset the lifting springs. This process typically takes about 3–4 hours.

We recommend keeping your original instruction manual nearby for reference. Also, be extremely careful when installing the wall mounts, as weak anchors create serious hazards. Below, we cover the specific steps to put your furniture back together safely.

Step 1: Prepare the New Location

Before you start reassembling, you have to ensure your new wall is strong enough to hold the weight. Even if you're just moving the bed to a different wall in the same room, you need to check for sturdy wood studs. Here's how to find and prepare the new area for your bed:

• Find the wall studs: Use a stud finder to mark the exact locations of the wood beams behind your drywall so you can anchor the bed safely.
• Measure the ceiling clearance: If you switch walls, measure the room height and carefully pry off any thick floor trim blocking the frame.
• Check the wall leveling: Use a simple level tool to ensure your wall is straight so the tall cabinet stands safely upright.

Step 2: Reassemble the Cabinet Frame

For this step, you'll need to stand the panels up and join them together using the original hardware. Work backward using the tape labels you placed on the boards earlier, and don't tighten the screws completely until every piece lines up perfectly.

Here are some more tips to follow when putting the frame back together:

• Connect the outer boards: Lay the tall side panels flat on your floor and screw them securely into the top and bottom pieces.
• Insert the interior shelves: Slide any extra storage boards into their original slots and fasten them tightly to keep the outer frame stable.
• Build the sleeping platform: Reattach the metal hinges to connect your main wooden bed frame directly back to the large outer cabinet.

Step 3: Reinstall the Lifting Mechanism

You should handle the high-tension parts with extreme care to avoid sudden snapping. Refer to your original manual for the exact tension settings needed for your model, and take these steps to complete this part safely:

• Attach spring systems: Carefully hook each metal coil back onto the frame using pliers, ensuring you balance the number of springs on each side for even lifting.
• Connect gas pistons: For this type of system, snap the piston ends onto the mounting studs until you hear a click, making sure the safety clips are fully locked in place.
• Check the alignment: Move the lifting arms slowly to ensure they glide smoothly along the tracks without any grinding noises or sticking points.

Don't try to force anything into place, and make sure you have a friend holding the heavy wood frame steady while you work.

Step 4: Mount the Cabinet to the Wall

Securing the cabinet is the most important safety step. Without strong wall anchors, the bed could tip over when you pull the mattress down. You have to screw the frame directly into the wooden studs you found earlier to keep the unit stable enough for daily use. Use these tips as you go:

• Position the main cabinet: Push the tall wooden box against your wall. Line up the top corners with the stud marks you drew earlier.
• Install the metal brackets: Place the strong metal brackets along the top inner edge of the wooden cabinet. Screw them tightly into the wood.
• Drive screws into studs: Use a power drill to drive long screws through the metal brackets and directly into the solid wooden wall studs.

Step 5: Install the Mattress and Run a Test

The last step is placing the mattress and checking the lifting hardware. You need to ensure the system handles the weight safely before you sleep on it, so follow these steps to finish up the job:

• Place the mattress: Carefully slide the mattress onto the base and secure any straps to keep it from shifting when you fold the bed away.
• Test the movement: Open and close the bed slowly several times to ensure the metal tracks are clear and the mechanism operates quietly and smoothly.
• Check for warning signs: Listen closely for loud metal scraping noises and ensure the wooden frame is properly aligned inside the cabinet when closed.

Common Mistakes When Moving a Murphy Bed

Even if you follow the steps, there may be small errors that can ruin your furniture and potentially lead to injury. Watch out for these common mistakes:

1. Forgetting to label parts: Without clear labels on every board and bag of screws, you will struggle to figure out where things go later.
2. Working without frame support: Avoid detaching springs while the frame hangs loose. Have a helper hold the heavy wood securely so it doesn't fall.
3. Ignoring the wall studs: If you mount the bed only into drywall, the weight of the mattress will eventually pull the unit right out of the wall.
4. Over-tightening the hardware: Using too much force with a drill can strip the screw holes or crack the wooden panels during reassembly.
5. Moving the bed alone: Lifting bulky panels by yourself is dangerous. Bring at least one reliable friend to help you carry the heavy weight safely.
6. Forgetting the safety locks: Many piston systems use small safety clips. If you forget to unclip them, you might break the joints while pulling the cylinders.
7. Piling heavy boxes on top: Stacking items on the thin cabinet panels during the truck ride can cause the wood to warp or snap.
8. Losing the original manual: These beds have unique parts. Throwing away the guide makes it very hard to set the tension correctly at your new home.

Why Trust HireAHelper

Our marketplace connects you with moving professionals who handle complex furniture every day. These experts regularly move wall-mounted items like Murphy beds, armoires, and large built-in cabinets and we work with them regularly, so we know how to handle all aspects of a move. On our platform, you can use customer reviews and star ratings to find a crew in your area that knows exactly how to handle your specific model safely.

Booking on HireAHelper is fast and easy. You just enter your zip code to compare local quotes and see real feedback from other people who moved similar items. Once you find the right team, you can book them instantly and get back to planning the rest of your move.