Gun safes are designed to be strong and sturdy, so they can protect your firearms even if there’s a hard impact or accident. While that’s great for security, it also means they’re really heavy and difficult to move. Because of their size and weight, a lot of people prefer to let professional movers handle it.
If you’re ready to take it on, moving a gun safe by yourself can be done. You’ll just need to plan everything properly, use the right equipment and have a few people to help you out. This guide will show you how to move your gun safe safely and smartly—without making it harder than it has to be.
Get Your Equipment Ready
Even a small gun safe can weigh around 200 pounds. Medium ones can reach up to 1,000 pounds and the largest ones can be even heavier. Moving something this heavy is no joke—you’ll need proper tools to do it safely. Here are some important items you’ll need:
Appliance Dolly
A standard dolly isn’t strong enough for moving a heavy gun safe. You’ll need to use an appliance dolly which is made to handle heavier loads—usually up to 1,000 pounds or more. These dollies often come with straps or brackets, so you can secure the safe tightly and keep it from shifting or tipping over while you move it.
Furniture Sliders
These are small plastic or rubber pads that you place under the corners or legs of the safe. They help you slide the safe across the floor more easily, without damaging your hardwood or ruining your carpet.
Ratchet Straps
These straps are used to keep the safe firmly secured to the dolly. You can tighten them by cranking which locks the safe in place so it doesn’t move or wobble while you’re transporting it.
Moving Blankets
These heavy-duty blankets are used to wrap around the safe to keep it from getting scratched or damaged while you’re moving it.
Plastic Stretch Wrap
Once you’ve covered the safe with moving blankets, you can use plastic wrap to keep them in place. It helps hold everything together and prevents the blankets from sliding off.
Wooden Planks
You can use wooden planks as ramps to help guide the safe over steps or rough spots. They make it easier to roll the safe without getting stuck.
It’s also smart to wear work gloves and steel-toed boots, even if it’s not required. Gloves protect your hands and give you a better grip, while steel-toed boots keep your feet safe if the safe slips or falls.
Plan Your Route
Gun safes are large and heavy which makes them tricky to move through tight spaces. If you don’t map out your path in advance, you could end up scratching walls, damaging door frames or ruining your floors. Check your safe’s size and weight in the owner’s manual. If you don’t have one, you can measure the safe yourself or search for a digital version online.
Keep in mind that the size listed by the manufacturer might not include the handle—especially if it was attached after the safe was delivered. If the handle sticks out, the front of the safe might be wider than the back. Be sure to take that into account when figuring out how you’ll move it through your home.
Measure all your doorways and hallways to make sure the safe will fit through them. Sometimes the most direct path isn’t the easiest. Try to avoid narrow, steep or winding staircases—they’re tough to navigate with heavy items and make it harder for others to help guide the safe. Most stairs can support about 100–200 pounds per square foot which is usually enough. But if you’re not sure your stairs can handle the weight, it’s a good idea to check with a structural expert or review your local building codes.
Get Your Safe Ready
After you’ve figured out the path for moving, start by emptying the safe completely. This will make it easier to handle and keep anything inside from shifting and throwing off the balance. Once all the guns and ammo are out, cover the safe with moving blankets and secure them using stretch wrap. The blankets help in two ways—they protect the safe from getting scratched and also keep your walls and furniture safe if the safe bumps into them.
Lift Your Safe onto the Dolly
Never try to move a gun safe alone. Even smaller ones need at least two people to handle safely. For larger or heavier safes, you might need four or five people to lift, lower and move it without risk. Once the safe is wrapped up and ready to go, carefully lift one end and slide the dolly underneath.
If the safe is in a tight corner, put furniture sliders underneath and gently slide it out to the center of the room. That’ll give you enough room to fit the dolly under it. Once the safe is sitting on the dolly, secure it with ratchet straps. Depending on the size of the safe, you might need two or three straps to keep it steady.
Move Slowly & Carefully
Don’t rush when moving the gun safe. Take it slow and stay in control, even if you’re just rolling it through a hallway. Have someone walk ahead to guide you, keep an eye out for anything in the way and help make sure the safe stays on course.
Clear communication is really important. Go over the plan with your team before you begin, so everyone’s on the same page. If you need to lift the safe at any point, make sure everyone lifts the right way—keep your back straight and use your legs to avoid injury.
Loading It into the Truck or Trailer
While a pickup truck might be able to carry a small gun safe, using a moving truck is usually safer and more practical. These trucks are designed to handle heavy items and often have ramps or lifts that make loading easier. Most moving trucks can hold anywhere from 2,600 to 10,000 pounds and their ramps typically support 2,500 to 4,000 pounds.
That weight limit should work for most gun safes but it’s smart to confirm with the rental company just to be sure. If the safe ends up causing any damage, you might have to pay for it. Once the safe is loaded onto the truck, use ratchet straps to secure it tightly so it doesn’t shift or fall over during the drive.
Moving It into Your New Home
When you arrive at your new home, follow the same steps—just in reverse. Carefully lift the safe back onto the dolly, secure it with straps and roll it in with help from your team. Make sure to measure all doorways and hallways ahead of time to be sure the safe can pass through. Once you get it to the right room, use furniture sliders to move it into the exact spot you want.
Take off the plastic wrap and remove the moving blankets—and you’re done! Since gun safes are hard to move, it’s a good idea to deal with them first. Try to bring the safe in before moving the rest of your boxes and furniture, or at least make sure the way is clear so nothing gets in the way or causes an accident.
Professional Gun Safe Movers
STI Moving & Storage Inc is a full-service moving company that handles everything from planning and packing to loading, transporting and delivering your items. Our team has the training and equipment needed to move heavy things like gun safes safely and efficiently. No matter how difficult the job is, we have the experience and tools to get it done properly.
Get in touch with us today for a free quote!
