How to Move a Refrigerator Safely and Easily

The refrigerator is one of the heaviest, bulkiest items in your home. It’s a challenge to pack it up and move it, to say the least. Not only do you want to protect your fridge during the move, but you want to keep yourself free from injury as well.

The good news? Moving a fridge can be done with ease. All it takes is a few tools, recommended moving supplies, and the proper technique. As the experts in do-it-yourself moving, we’ve put together this guide to help you move a refrigerator like a pro!

Recommended Supplies for Moving a Fridge

• Furniture Pad/Moving Blanket
• Appliance Dolly (or Forearm Forklift Moving Straps)
• Plastic Mover’s Wrap
• Tie-Down Gear
• Measuring Tape
• Gloves
• Empty Cardboard Boxes

Step One: Preparing the Fridge

Measure

Your first step will be to take measurements of your refrigerator. Take note of the height, width, and depth. These measurements are crucial in ensuring your refrigerator can pass through the doorways of both your current and future home. You should also compare the measurements to any stairways, hallways, and other narrow areas in your path.

Disconnect

Be sure your refrigerator is disconnected from both the power outlet and water supply line. Check the owner's manual for detailed instructions on how to disconnect it properly. Also, be sure to secure the cords so they don't get in the way while you're moving the refrigerator.

Clean

Remove all the contents from your refrigerator and freezer. If you want to keep any perishable items, pack them in a cooler with ice. Otherwise, it's best to toss or give away any food so your fridge is all clear.

You should also clean the fridge thoroughly with a soft cloth and gentle cleaning solution. Try your best to remove any stains and stuck-on food to prevent odors from forming while the fridge is powered off. After wiping it down, leave the doors and drawers open for a few minutes to allow the fridge to dry completely.

Disassemble

This step is optional, but if you want to give your fridge the best care during transport, we suggest taking out the shelves and drawers and moving them separately (especially if they’re made of glass). You can wrap them in packaging material and pack them in moving boxes or move them on their own.

Step Two: Preparing Your Home

Clear a Path

Now that your fridge is clean and ready to be moved, it's time to start the moving process. Before you start hauling it anywhere, make sure you can do so safely and efficiently by clearing a path from your kitchen to the door. You might not have the best visibility while moving the fridge, so it's a good idea to check for any steps or inclines in your way beforehand. Also, be sure to remove any tripping hazards from the path.

Protect Your Floors

Now that you have your path planned out, it's a good idea to lay down some protective materials to prevent damage to your flooring. This is especially important if you're using a dolly to move heavy items, which feature wheels that can put a lot of concentrated weight on carpet and tile. Flattened cardboard boxes work great for protecting floors, but you can also use blankets or towels as an easy alternative.

Step Three: Securing the Fridge

Slide it Out

Before you can wrap and secure the fridge, you'll need to slide it out and away from the wall. How you do this will depend on your fridge. If yours is on wheels, you can gently slide it away from the wall. If it's not on wheels, "walk" it out with the help of a partner by gently tilting it side to side.

Secure with Furniture Pads

To properly secure your fridge during transit, start by placing a furniture pad on top of it. Make sure the pad covers all sides evenly. Then, tightly wrap the pad in plastic wrap, starting from the top and working your way down. Leave some overlap with each pass to ensure the wrap sticks to itself and stays in place.

By wrapping your refrigerator, you'll keep the doors closed and protect it from dents and scratches. For extra protection, consider using a Quilted Pad instead of a Furniture Pad.

Step Four: Loading the Fridge into Your Moving Truck

With the help of a partner, tilt the refrigerator slightly forward and slide the appliance dolly underneath the center. Use the straps to secure the refrigerator onto the dolly.

Tilt the refrigerator back no more than 45 degrees, then begin rolling the refrigerator out of your home and toward your moving truck or portable storage container. Use your partner as a spotter while you maneuver around corners, doorways, and steps. If you need to traverse steps, take them one at a time, with the partner gently guiding the fridge up or down each step from below the refrigerator.

When loading the refrigerator into a moving truck or trailer, use the EZ Load Ramp. Pull the refrigerator up the ramp while walking backwards, rather than push it up the ramp. Again, have your spotter here to make sure you’re on track and loading safely.

Use ratchet straps or nylon rope to secure the refrigerator in your truck. If it’s a moving truck, use the rub rails. If it’s a trailer or pickup truck, find a secure piece of steel to fasten your steps. We always recommend using bulky items – like a refrigerator – to pin and secure smaller, fragile items in the back of your truck, like a TV moving box.

Moving a Fridge: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Lay a Fridge on Its Side?

You can lay a refrigerator on its side, but only for a short time. However, you should never lay it on its back. This will put too much weight on the important engine components and potentially damage the refrigerator for the long term. Try your best to keep your fridge upright as much as possible throughout the move.

Can I Move a Fridge by Myself?

Generally, it’s best to have a helping hand when moving a refrigerator. Moving a refrigerator by yourself is more likely to result in injury or damage to the fridge due to the massive size and cumbersome shape of most modern refrigerators.

If you don’t have anyone you can call for help, consider hiring helpers. Moving Help® powered by U-Haul is a network of local laborers that makes it easy to find someone to help you move a refrigerator and anything else you might need help transporting.

Additional Refrigerator Moving Tips

• Consult your owner’s manual before using your refrigerator again – some require a waiting period of up 72 hours prior to plugging in.
• If you’re moving your refrigerator to a store unit, consider storing it with the doors open to avoid musty smells while it’s not in use.
• If you do lay your fridge on its side during your move, keep it upright for about 24 hours to allow the fluids to settle back into place before plugging back in.

Ready to get started? Visit uhaul.com to reserve a truck, shop for moving supplies, and more!