Will Your Mattress Fit?
Bringing a new mattress home is an exciting journey, but getting it upstairs can often be challenging. Join us as we share our expert guidance on how to move a mattress smoothly and safely, so you can enjoy that sweet moment of sleeping in your luxurious new bed as soon as possible.
Bringing a new mattress into your home is a moment of quiet anticipation, the promise of elevated comfort, improved sleep, and a beautifully refreshed bedroom. Yet before you can enjoy that first luxurious night’s rest, there’s a practical consideration to address: how to move your mattress safely and smoothly through your home.
From selecting the right size to navigating staircases and architectural quirks, this guide offers expert insight into getting your mattress upstairs with care and confidence, ensuring both your home and your mattress remain in pristine condition.
Before purchasing a new mattress, visualise the space
Envisioning how your chosen mattress and bed frame fit into the desired space can be a challenge. However, before making your selection, it’s essential to consider how your chosen mattress and bed frame will fit within your bedroom, and how they’ll get there.
One of the most effective ways to plan your space is to mark out the dimensions of your mattress and bed frame using masking tape. This allows you to see exactly how much floor space they’ll occupy and how much room will remain for movement and furniture placement.
Ensure there is ample room to move freely around either side of the bed, as well as enough space for any existing or new furniture pieces, such as charming bedside tables and elegant wardrobes. Consider the space needed to open wardrobe doors or access under-bed storage, particularly if you’re opting for a divan or ottoman frame. These practical details will also help when moving a mattress upstairs and into position with ease.
For further guidance on selecting the right mattress and sizing for your needs, explore our expert mattress sizing guide.
What to know before moving your new mattress
Beyond the proportions of your bedroom, it’s important to consider the journey your mattress will take from the front door to the bed frame.
The weight of a mattress can vary significantly, from approximately 35kg for a standard UK single bed to 75kg for a super king size. This crucial detail will help you determine how to carry a mattress safely and whether you can manage the task alone or if you’ll need a helping hand. By following our expert guidance, you can confidently learn how to move a mattress to its perfect position without damage.
Measure the route
Take time to measure the narrowest and lowest points along the way, including doorways, hallways, staircases, and ceiling clearances. Pay particular attention to stairwells with turns or bannisters, as these often present the greatest challenge.
Begin by checking the dimensions of the door frame in comparison to those of your chosen mattress. If the doorway is higher than the width of the mattress, it should fit through with relative ease. As a guide, the height of a standard door in the UK is approximately 200cm, while a standard UK king-size mattress is 150cm wide.
How to get a mattress upstairs
Once your mattress has arrived, the next step is to move it into place. This can be particularly challenging in period properties or homes with narrow staircases and low ceilings.
We recommend enlisting the help of at least one other person. Sharing the load not only makes the process more manageable but also ensures the mattress can be guided safely around corners and through tight spaces.
Before you begin, measure the ceiling height above the stairs, especially at the lowest point. This is not always a vertical measurement from the stair tread, but rather the distance from the lowest point of the ceiling above the stairs, measured at a right angle to the incline. With careful planning and a considered approach, you can carry your mattress upstairs without difficulty or damage.
Top tip: How to carry a mattress safely
If you’re unsure about how to carry a mattress, treat it as you would any heavy object. Begin by bending your knees, keeping your back straight, and lifting with your legs. Avoid twisting or bending your torso and carry the mattress at a low level to maintain control. Never attempt to lift it above shoulder height, as this can compromise both safety and stability.
If your mattress doesn’t have built-in handles, consider using a lifting harness or soft rope system to create temporary grips. This distributes weight more evenly and allows for greater control, particularly when navigating stairs or narrow corridors.
Can a mattress be folded or bent to fit?
When faced with a tight corner or narrow stairwell, it may be tempting to fold or bend your mattress. However, this is strongly discouraged. Mattresses are carefully constructed to provide balanced support and comfort. Compressing or distorting them can damage internal components such as pocket springs, foam layers, or natural fillings, ultimately compromising their structure and longevity.
Rather than forcing a mattress into a space it wasn’t designed to navigate, it’s far better to plan and use refined manoeuvring techniques that preserve both the mattress and your home.
Check the dimensions of your mattress
The size of the mattress you choose will certainly be influenced by your unique sleep needs, but it will also be determined by the space you have available. This includes not just the bedroom itself, but the doorways, hallways and stairways you must navigate when moving a mattress upstairs. Mattresses come in various dimensions, with different width and depth measurements depending on the corresponding bed frame size. Ensure you select a mattress that not only offers luxurious comfort but also fits seamlessly into your home.
In the UK, there are standard dimensions for small single, single, small double, double, king, super king and emperor bed sizes. Explore our essential mattress size guide with its convenient mattress measurements chart to discover the perfect fit for both your sleep preferences and the proportions of your home. Choosing the right size ensures a harmonious blend of comfort and space and makes the journey of moving a mattress to your preferred room a smooth and effortless task.
Negotiating the narrowest points
When considering how to move a mattress through the narrowest points of your home, there are certain techniques you can use to ensure quick and easy manoeuvring. The tightest corners are often on the staircase, particularly where there’s a turn. Measure the width at the corner where two walls meet and where you encounter an obstruction such as a bannister. You may need to raise the mattress into a vertical position to enable you to move through narrow points more easily.
Top tip: How to carry a mattress safely
If you’re unsure about how to carry a mattress, approach it in the same way you would when lifting any heavy object. Bend your knees, keep your back straight and lift with your legs, making sure that you don’t twist or bend your torso. Carry the mattress at low level and do not attempt to lift it above shoulder height.
Use our recycling service to dispose of your old mattress
With your new mattress safely moved to its perfect position, you may need to dispose of your old mattress. We offer a fast, convenient and environmentally friendly recycling service to all Feather & Black customers, whereby mattresses are disassembled, and every part is utilised. For a small fee, we will collect your old bed or mattress from your home when we deliver your new one, moving your mattress from any room.
Feather & Black’s mattress collection
Armed with the knowledge of how to move a mattress safely into your home, you can plan ahead to ensure the process is smooth and stress-free. At Feather & Black, we offer a luxurious collection of high-quality mattresses designed to fit standard UK bed sizes, offering unparalleled comfort and exquisite craftsmanship. Explore our extensive range to discover a mattress that’s the perfect fit for your sleep needs, lifestyle and home.