How to Move a Gun Safe

Gun safes are specialized secure containers that hold belongings such as firearms, archery equipment, important documents, and priceless valuables.

Moving these large lock boxes requires at least two people, knowing the weight of the safe, planning the route of the move, and specialized moving equipment.

Here is the equipment you need to get started on this move:

Appliance Dolly (Rentable at U-Haul locations) OR Forearm Forklift
Mover’s Wrap (15” or 20”)
Ratchet Straps
Furniture Pads (Rentable at U-Haul locations)
Furniture Sliders

Getting Started

The weight of a gun safe depends on the materials used to construct the safe and how large the safe is.

• Small entry-level gun safes weigh around 200-600 pounds
• Medium-level safes weigh around 600-1,000 pounds
• Top-end personal safes weigh from 1,000 to 1,600 pounds
• Commercial safes weigh from 2,000 and can go up to 5,000 pounds

Knowing the weight of your gun safe is crucial to moving it safely. Supporting moving equipment, such as the Forearm Forklift, is only able to handle up to 800 pounds.

If you are unsure of the weight of your gun safe, newer residential gun safes have the serial number on the inside of the door. If you are unable to open the safe, the serial number may also be located on a tag on one of the top corners or on the back of the gun safe. Measuring the length, width, and height of your gun safe will also make it easier to calculate the weight if you need to call the gun safe brand.

Now that you have the weight down, it's time to start preparing the move!

Prepare the Safe

Remove all belongings from the gun safe before attempting to move it. This will remove excess weight and make moving a gun safe much safer. Unplug the gun safe if your safe comes with one. Secure all your firearms and belongings in gun cases and smaller lockboxes.

Like most homeowners, your safe is most likely against multiple walls or inside a closet. This is where furniture sliders come in.

Have one person tilt the safe forward and place a furniture slider underneath the back two corners. Then tilt the safe

 back and place the other two furniture sliders underneath the two front corners.

IMPORTANT!  Specific furniture sliders are designed for particular floor materials.

• ONLY use plastic furniture sliders for carpets and rugs.
• 
  ONLY use felt sliders for laminate/wood/tile materials to reduce the risk of damaging your floor.

These Furniture Sliders offer more flexibility by providing both plastic and felt options in various sizes.

Wrapping the Safe

Take a furniture pad and drape it completely over the top of the gun safe. Don’t be afraid to place more than one furniture pad over the gun safe; this will help protect against potential damage.

After the furniture pads are on the top of the gun safe, take the Mover’s Wrap and wrap it around the safe separately, wrapping the top, middle, and bottom of the safe as tightly as possible. This will secure the furniture pads to the gun safe and provide a non-slick surface for the ratchet straps or your hands if using the Forearm Forklift.

Transporting the Safe

For transporting with an appliance dolly, tilt the safe on one side and slide the appliance dolly underneath the safe. Take two ratchet straps and secure them around the appliance dolly to the gun safe on the top and bottom of the safe. Then take the provided ratchet strap on the appliance dolly and wrap it around the gun safe, and secure it.

If your appliance dolly doesn’t come with a provided ratchet strap, place a ratchet strap around the middle of the gun safe.

Have one person tilt the gun safe towards the person holding the dolly. Lower it slowly to maintain complete control. The person who tilted the safe will now act as a guide for the person moving the safe. The guide must communicate with the safe mover constantly and stick to the planned route.

Always transport the safe by pulling the appliance dolly. This gives move control and makes it much easier to transport.

For moving the safe with the Forearm Forklift. One person will tilt the safe away from their body, while the other places the Forearm Forklift straps underneath. Once the straps are underneath, cross one side of the straps so that they make an X on the bottom of the safe. Slide your arm into the provided loops of the straps and place your hands chest level on the safe. With a straight back, both people will lift the safe at the same time. Maintain constant communication and stick to the planned route.

Moving a Gun Safe on Stairs

Moving a gun safe up or down any stairs should always be done by professionals. There are motorized appliance dollies specifically designed for moving heavy items up and down stairs.

Unloading the Gun Safe

This is the easy part. Once the safe is in its new location, loosen the ratchet straps and take out the appliance dolly. Take off the Mover’s Wrap and Furniture Pads and place Furniture Sliders back under the safe to easily move the safe to the exact spot it will be in your new space.

How Much Does it Cost to Move A Gun Safe

This is a tall task for many DIY movers, and if it isn’t something you feel can be done safely, hiring Moving Help® is the best way to go about moving your gun safe. With Moving Help Service Providers, you can filter service providers who specialize in moving gun safes.

After booking a gun safe Moving Help Service Provider, confirm with the service provider whether they will bring specialized equipment to complete the job, or if you are the one needing to provide the equipment.

The average to move a gun safe in the United States costs an average of $357. This price will vary based on how far the safe needs to be transported, total number of Moving Help Service Providers needed to move the gun safe, and how much time it will take.

Why wait? Go with Moving Help today!