How to Cover a Sofa for Moving

Co-authored by Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO®

Last Updated: October 21, 2021 References

Ah, moving. It’s often an exciting time, but it can also be full of worries and stress about packing and getting everything from point A to point B in one piece. If you’re concerned about packing a sofa for your big move, let us help you worry about one less thing. The good news is that there’s really not much to it. Just gather a few simple packing supplies and moving blankets, then wrap your sofa up nice and snug to keep it clean and protect it during the move. Doing this also reduces the chances of your sofa bumping into and damaging something while you’re moving it into your new place—your new walls will appreciate it!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Choosing the Right Sofa Cover

1
Cover your sofa in microfoam packaging wrap if it is leather. Wrap the entire leather sofa in at least 1 layer of microfoam packaging wrap. This protects the leather and prevents it from getting scratched or dirty during the move.^{[1]
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- Microfoam packaging wrap is a squishy type of wrap used for packaging things. It’s similar to bubble wrap. You can buy rolls of it online or wherever they sell packaging materials.
- As an alternative to microfoam packing wrap, you can use paper packing wrap.
- Don’t wrap leather furniture in plastic wrap. It can trap in moisture, which can damage the leather.
2
Wrap your sofa with plastic stretch wrap if it is upholstered. Wrap your entire sofa in at least 1 layer of plastic stretch wrap.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer & Senior Move Manager
Expert Interview. 6 February 2020.} This protects the upholstery and keeps it from getting dirty during your move.^{[3]
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- You can get plastic stretch wrap for moving online or at a packaging supply store.
- As an alternative to plastic wrap, you could get a slip-on plastic cover that is big enough to cover your whole sofa.
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3
Secure moving blankets on top of the microfoam or plastic wrap. Cover the entire sofa with quilted moving blankets after you wrap it in microfoam packaging wrap or plastic stretch wrap to protect it further. The blankets add another padded layer to prevent damage to the couch as well as to anything it accidentally gets bumped into while you move.^{[4]
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- If you don’t have quilted packing blankets, you can use any type of old, soft blankets instead. Keep in mind they will probably get dirty during the move.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Wrapping Your Sofa

1
Disassemble your sofa as much as possible. Take off any decorative pillows and removable cushions and pack them separately. Take apart large sectional sofas to wrap the different sections individually. Remove any detachable legs or arms and pack them in a moving box.^{[5]
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- For example, some sofas have feet that just screw off or arms that you can detach by flipping over the sofa and removing bolts on the inside.
- Don’t forget to label the box you pack any detachable pieces in, so you can easily find them when you’re trying to put your sofa back together in your new place.
2
Elevate your sofa or turn it up on one end to make it easier to wrap. Lift your sofa up and set it up on a pair of sturdy boxes or something similar to wrap it horizontally. Turn it up on one of its ends to wrap it vertically.^{[6]
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- This just makes it so you don’t have to get down on your hands and knees to wrap the sofa.
3
Surround your sofa with your chosen packaging material. Start at one end of the sofa and start unrolling the plastic stretch wrap or microfoam packaging wrap around the sofa. Walk your way all the way around the sofa to surround it with the protective packaging. Work in sections until you cover the whole sofa.^{[7]
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- You might need someone to help you do this by holding the end of the packaging material at the starting point while you walk your way around the sofa unrolling it and wrapping the sofa.
- If you use microfoam packaging wrap, tape around it with packing tape to secure it in place. Plastic stretch wrap will adhere to itself, so there’s no need to tape it.
4
Cover the sofa with moving blankets. Drape quilted or padded moving blankets over the entire couch.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer & Senior Move Manager
Expert Interview. 6 February 2020.} Flip it over on its side and fold the edges under the bottom of the sofa, so it’s completely covered in the blankets and there are no exposed parts like legs or anything else.^{[9]
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- Try to fold the blankets over as tightly as possible so there’s nothing hanging loose that could get snagged or cause someone to trip when you move the sofa. You can tuck loose ends into creases in the sofa to help keep them snug as well.
5
Tape around the blankets tightly to secure them in place. Wrap packing tape all the way around the blankets and sofa tightly in at least 4 different places. Make sure everything is tight and that the blankets won’t come undone. Use more tape if needed to secure the blankets.^{[10]
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- You’ll probably have to move the couch onto its side or stand it up on one end while you tape around it. Get someone to help you stabilize the couch while you tape if that makes it easier.
6
Carry your sofa to the moving truck when you’re ready. Stand at one end of the sofa and have someone stand at the opposite end to help you carry it. Bend at the knees and pick up the end of the sofa, while your partner does the same, then carry it slowly and carefully to the truck. Load the sofa into the truck horizontally or on its end, depending on how it fits best.^{[11]
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- Never bend over and lift a sofa with your back. This can result in a painful injury!
- If you have heavy furniture, hire professional movers to avoid hurting yourself.^{[12]
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  Expert Source
  
  Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO®
  Certified Professional Organizer & Senior Move Manager
  Expert Interview. 6 February 2020.}

Expert Q&A

Question

What should I use to wrap my couch?

Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer & Senior Move Manager
Marty Stevens-Heebner is a Certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Clear Home Solutions, a home organizing and senior moving management company based in southern California. Marty is the first Certified Senior Move Manager (SMM-C) in the United States and is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) through the National Association of Home Builders. She is the President-Elect and is on the board of directors of the National Association for Senior Move Managers, a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, and has been acknowledged as a Hoarding Specialist and ADHD Specialist through the Institute for Challenging Disorganization.

Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO®

Certified Professional Organizer & Senior Move Manager

Expert Answer

Use a layer of shrink wrap first and then cover your furniture with moving blankets to prevent it from getting damaged.