How to move a mattress (by car, truck or up the stairs)
Hi, we’re John and Mimi. Moving a mattress is awkward, not hard: it’s big, floppy and easy to get dirty, and it doesn’t want to bend around corners. With a bag, a helper, a couple of straps and a plan for the stairs, it goes smoothly. Here’s how to do it step by step, plus what to do if you’d rather leave the old one behind.
The short answer
- Measure first: the mattress, the tightest doorway and stair turn on both ends, and the space in the vehicle.
- Strip it and bag it in a plastic mattress bag, taped shut, so it stays clean and dry.
- Carry it on its side with two people, and don’t fold it. Our mattress care instructions say “do not fold or bend for extended periods.”
- Move it in a truck or van, flat or standing on its long edge against a side wall, and strap it down. California law requires a load to be secured so it can’t fall or blow out of the vehicle.
- At the new place, set it on a proper base right away, take the bag off and let it air out.
What you need
- A plastic mattress bag sized for your mattress (moving and hardware stores sell them) and packing tape.
- A helper. A twin or Twin XL is manageable for one strong person on flat ground; a full or bigger is a two-person job, and stairs always are.
- Ratchet straps or rope to tie it down, and an old blanket to protect it from sharp edges in the truck.
- Optional: a hand truck or moving dolly for long hallways, work gloves for grip, and a tape measure.
Step 1: Plan the route and measure
Measure the mattress (width, length and thickness) and then the way out and the way in: the narrowest door, any hallway corner and the tightest stair turn, at both homes. A mattress can tilt and turn on its edge, but it can’t shrink, so the turn at the top of a staircase is usually the problem spot. Our how to measure for a mattress guide walks through every measurement, and the mattress size chart has every size in inches and feet.
Then check the vehicle. A queen, king and California king are all 80" (6'8") long or more, and a queen is 60" (5 feet) wide, so they need a pickup bed, a cargo van or a small moving truck. Measure the cargo floor before moving day rather than finding out in the driveway.
Step 2: Strip it and bag it
- Take off everything: sheets, mattress pad and protector. Wash them and pack them in a box marked “bed,” so the bed gets made first at the new place.
- Vacuum the top and sides and let it dry fully if you cleaned any spots. Never bag a damp mattress. Our how to clean a mattress guide covers spot cleaning.
- Slide it into the bag (it’s easiest with the mattress standing on its long edge and one person pulling the bag down over it) and tape the open end closed.
- Leave the law label on. That sewn-on tag shows the date of manufacture, and removing it voids the warranty.
Why bother with the bag? Moving trucks, stairwells and garages are dusty, and our mattress warranty guide explains that a stained or soiled mattress isn’t covered. A few dollars of plastic protects it.
Step 3: Carry it out
- Stand it on its long edge and carry it on its side, one person at each end. On its side, it stays stiffer and fits through doors more easily than carried flat.
- Don’t fold it in half to get around a corner or into a car. Our listings say “do not fold or bend for extended periods,” and a hybrid’s coils don’t like to be bent at all. A gentle flex for a few seconds to clear a door frame is about as far as we’d go.
- On stairs, the stronger person goes on the lower end and takes most of the weight, the person above guides, and you go one step at a time. Talk before every turn.
- On long hallways or ramps, stand the mattress on a hand truck and strap it on, rather than dragging it on the ground where the bag can tear.
Step 4: Load it and drive
In a pickup, van or moving truck, lay the mattress flat on top of other boxes, or stand it on its long edge against a side wall with other furniture holding it in place. Put a blanket between it and anything sharp, and keep heavy boxes off the middle so it doesn’t take a set.
Then strap it down. California Vehicle Code section 23114 says a vehicle can’t be driven on a highway unless it’s loaded or covered to keep its load from dropping, blowing or otherwise escaping (read the code section). A loose mattress in an open truck bed acts like a sail on the freeway, so run straps over it and tie them to the truck’s anchor points, and check them after the first few minutes of driving.
On the roof of a car? We don’t recommend it. A mattress catches a lot of wind, it’s hard to tie down tight on a roof, and it blocks your view if it shifts. Borrow a truck, rent a van for a couple of hours or hire movers instead.
Step 5: Set it up at the new place
- Get it onto its base the same day. Our mattress listings ask for “a continuously solid surface, an adjustable base, or slats no more than two (2) inches apart.” Leaning against a wall for a week isn’t ideal. Not sure your frame qualifies? See what to put under a memory foam mattress.
- Take the bag off and let the mattress air out for a few hours before making the bed.
- Give it a day. A mattress that rode on its side in a warm truck may feel a little different the first night. Rotate it head to foot now and then, as the care instructions suggest; our how long does a mattress last guide has the other habits that keep a mattress feeling new.
Special cases
| Moving a | What to know |
|---|---|
| Memory foam mattress | Floppy, so it sags in the middle if two people carry it flat by the corners. Carry it on its side, or slide a sheet of plywood or cardboard under it. |
| Hybrid mattress | Pocketed coils make it heavier and stiffer. Keep it upright on its edge and never bend it; plan on two people every time. |
| Two-sided (flippable) mattress | Either side can face up at the new place. Our 12" iSwitch models have a medium firm side and a medium soft side, so note which side you like before you bag it. |
| Split king | It’s two Twin XL mattresses, so it moves as two easy pieces instead of one big king. |
| Box spring or foundation | Rigid and doesn’t bend at all, so measure the stair turn carefully. If it won’t fit and you’re switching to an adjustable base or platform frame, you may not need it at all: see do you need a box spring. |
| Adjustable base | Take the mattress off first, lower the base flat, unplug it and follow the manual for removing the legs and remote. Our e3, e4 and SBKDH listings say those bases fold in half for shipping. Setup at the new place: how to set up an adjustable base. |
Can you roll it back up? Once a mattress in a box has expanded, we don’t recommend trying to vacuum it down or roll it up again yourself. Our care instructions say not to fold or bend a mattress for extended periods, and squeezing it back down isn’t something our listings cover. If you’re thinking about it, text John first.
Leaving the old mattress behind in Los Angeles?
A move is a natural time to replace a tired mattress (our mattress lifespan guide lists the signs). Please don’t leave it on the curb or in the alley: dumping a mattress is illegal, and there are free options.
- City of Los Angeles bulky-item pickup. If LA Sanitation collects your trash, it picks up mattresses and box springs at the curb at no additional charge. Request it at least one business day before your regular trash day, online, in the MyLA311 app or at 1-800-773-2489, and have a list of what you’re putting out. Details on LA Sanitation’s bulky-item page.
- City of LA free drop-off days. Once a month, LA Sanitation opens five yards (Sun Valley, Northridge, San Pedro, West LA and Central LA) from 8 AM to 4:30 PM for residents’ bulky items, mattresses included. The remaining 2026 Saturdays are November 21 and December 12; bring your current LADWP bill and a California ID (drop-off flyer).
- Outside the City of LA? Other cities and unincorporated areas have their own trash haulers and rules. Bye Bye Mattress, California’s mattress recycling program, has a lookup for curbside pickup by address on its California page.
- Recycling drop-off anywhere in California. Bye Bye Mattress lists participating locations that take mattresses at no additional cost. In California, any mattress or box spring can be dropped off regardless of its condition or when it was bought, and it’s taken apart so the steel, foam, fabric and wood can be reused (Bye Bye Mattress FAQ). Unit limits can apply, so call the location first, and don’t leave a mattress outside a closed site.
- Still in good shape? LA Sanitation suggests donating usable furniture to a thrift store or charity first. Call ahead to ask whether they accept mattresses.
Or have a new one meet you there
Our mattresses ship compressed and rolled in a box by FedEx, with shipping included in the price, so a new one fits through a narrow stairwell or small elevator easily and opens up in the room (see how long a mattress in a box takes to expand). Our shipping policy says orders typically process within 1 business day and most arrive within about 3 business days after they ship, so order a few days before move-in and send it to the new address. For example, the 10" Rose is $399 in queen today.
| Pick | Best for | Model code | Twin | Full | Queen | King |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8" Daisy Firm | Firm support on a budget | 8BNV-T |
$249 | $309 | $349 | $399 |
| 10" Gel Comfort Reactive | Gel-infused memory foam | 10ESSCA-T |
$269 | $329 | $399 | $519 |
| 10" Rose Medium | Medium feel, washable cover | 10BNV-T |
$279 | $369 | $399 | $469 |
| 12" Copper Gel Memory Foam | Medium feel, our best-known copper model | 12BNCOPPER-TL |
— | $479 | $519 | $629 |
Prices are today’s prices, read live from our catalog, with free FedEx shipping included. A dash means that model isn’t made in that size.
Every model, side by side, is on the mattress comparison chart.
10" Rose - Medium Firmness - 10BNV
A medium 10" all-foam mattress in every standard size that ships rolled in a box, so it goes up any stairwell.
- 10" tall, medium feel
- Twin through cal king
- Ships compressed and rolled in a box
From $279 (Twin) · Queen $399 · See sizes & details
Express Mattress Foundation with 6" Grey Wood-Style Legs
Left the old box spring behind? A foundation with wood slats on its own 6" legs that can stand alone as the bed.
- Twin through cal king
- 6" legs, wood slats
- No tools to assemble
From $259 (Twin) · Queen $279 · See sizes & details
Shop this guide
Setting up the bed at the new place? These cover most moves.
- 10" Rose - Medium Firmness - 10BNV, from $279. Medium 10" mattress in every standard size, shipped in a box.
- 8" Daisy - Firm Mattress - 8BNV, from $249. Firm 8" mattress for a guest room or kid’s room.
- Express Mattress Foundation with 6" Grey Wood-Style Legs, from $259. Foundation on 6" legs; stands alone, no tools.
- Premium Bamboo Viscose Mattress Protector - Waterproof & Hypoallergenic, from $60. Waterproof protector that fits mattresses up to 16".
Questions we hear a lot
Can you fold a mattress to move it?
Not for long. Our mattress care instructions say do not fold or bend for extended periods, and a hybrid with coils should not be bent at all. Carry it on its long edge, flex it only for a few seconds to clear a door frame, and lay it flat or stand it on its edge in the truck.
Can you move a mattress in a car?
Only if it fits flat inside with the doors closed, which usually means a minivan or cargo van with the seats out. Most mattresses need a pickup, van or small moving truck. We do not recommend tying one to a car roof. California Vehicle Code section 23114 requires a load to be secured so it cannot drop or blow out of the vehicle.
How do you move a mattress by yourself?
A twin or Twin XL can be managed by one person on flat ground: bag it, stand it on its long edge and walk it, or strap it to a hand truck. For a full or larger, or any stairs, get a second person. The stronger person takes the lower end on stairs.
Should you put a mattress in a bag when moving?
Yes. Trucks, stairwells and garages are dusty, and a stained or soiled mattress is not covered by the warranty. A plastic mattress bag taped shut keeps it clean and dry. Never bag a damp mattress, and leave the law label on, since removing it voids the warranty.
How do I get rid of an old mattress in Los Angeles?
If LA Sanitation collects your trash, request a free bulky-item pickup at least one business day before your regular trash day online, in the MyLA311 app or at 1-800-773-2489. Outside the city, check your own hauler. Bye Bye Mattress lists free recycling drop-off sites across California. Please do not leave it on the curb.
Questions about your move?
Text John your mattress size, the stairs or elevator you’re dealing with and your move-in date, and he’ll help you figure out whether to move the old one or have a new one meet you there. Text or call 818-924-3744, 6 AM to 9 PM Pacific, take the 60-second mattress quiz, or read our Shipping Policy and Purchase Policy & Warranty.
Written by John & Mimi Venti, MimiJohn. Care and setup wording is from our product listings; delivery timing is from our shipping policy; the load rule is California Vehicle Code 23114; bulky-item and recycling details are from LA Sanitation and Bye Bye Mattress (Mattress Recycling Council) and were checked October 31, 2026, so confirm dates with them before you go. Prices are read live from our catalog and update automatically.