Two Chicks Moving | Serving Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Estero & Bonita Springs | Published October 6, 2026
A mattress is awkward rather than fragile. It is floppy, heavier than it looks, and easy to damage in ways you do not notice until you sleep on it: bent coils, torn foam, a stain from a dirty truck floor, or a musty smell from being sealed in plastic too long. As a mover in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Estero, and Bonita Springs, our crews seal every mattress in a heavy plastic sleeve before it leaves the bedroom. Here is how to move a mattress the right way, whatever size or type you have.
The Short Answer: How to Move a Mattress
- Strip and clean it. Remove all bedding, vacuum the mattress, and make sure it is completely dry.
- Bag it. Seal it in a mattress bag or cover sized to fit, and tape the open end closed.
- Carry it on edge. Two people, one at each end, carrying it on its side with straps or handles.
- Keep it from bending. Do not fold innerspring or hybrid mattresses, and keep any mattress from sagging in the middle.
- Secure it in the truck. Stand it on its side against a wall or lay it flat with nothing heavy on top, and strap it in place.
- Unbag and air it out. Take it out of the plastic as soon as you arrive and let it breathe before making the bed.
Mattress Sizes and Weights
Size and weight decide how many people you need and what vehicle will work. Mattresses have grown thicker and heavier over the years, so check yours before moving day.
| Size | Dimensions | Typical weight |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | 38 x 75 in | 40 to 70 lb |
| Twin XL | 38 x 80 in | 45 to 75 lb |
| Full | 54 x 75 in | 50 to 90 lb |
| Queen | 60 x 80 in | 60 to 120 lb |
| King | 76 x 80 in | 80 to 150 lb |
| California King | 72 x 84 in | 80 to 150 lb |
Hybrids and latex mattresses sit at the top of each weight range; thin innerspring and foam mattresses sit at the bottom.
Choosing a Mattress Bag or Cover for Moving
A mattress bag for moving is the single most useful thing you can buy for this job. It keeps out dirt, moisture, and pests, and it protects the fabric from snags. Use this finder to see what to buy.
Buy a bag labeled for your mattress size and rated for a depth at least as thick as your mattress, plus a second bag for the box spring. Use heavy plastic for the move itself, and switch to a breathable cover if the mattress will be stored for more than a few days in Florida.
bag to buy
minimum depth
bags in total
material
Bag sizing varies by brand; check the package depth rating. Nothing you enter here is sent or saved.
A mattress cover for moving and a mattress bag do the same job; covers with a zipper are easier to reuse, while plastic bags are cheaper and sealed with tape. Skip thin plastic sheeting, which tears on the first door frame. If you would rather not deal with any of it, our packing services include mattress sleeves and wrapping for the bed frame.
How to Move a Mattress by Type
How you carry and load a mattress depends on what is inside it. Choose your type.
Innerspring
On its side or flat, never folded
Coils can bend or pop through if the mattress is folded or sags. Carry it on edge and keep it flat or standing on its side in the truck. Handles on the side are for positioning, not for carrying the full weight.
Memory foam
Flat or on its side, kept supported
All-foam mattresses are floppy and can tear if they are dragged or folded tightly for long. Support the middle when carrying it, ideally with a third person or by sliding it on a sheet of cardboard, and do not leave it bent. Foam is the only type that can be vacuum-sealed, and only for a short time.
Hybrid
Treat it like an innerspring
Hybrids have coils under a foam top, so they are heavy and cannot be folded or rolled. Use at least two people, carry it on edge, and keep it flat or upright in the truck with nothing stacked on it.
Latex
Heavy and floppy: use extra hands
Latex mattresses are among the heaviest and most flexible. Plan on two people for a queen and three for a king, and carry it on a flat support if the stairs or turns are tight.
Adjustable bases and split kings
Mattress and base moved separately
Move the mattress off the adjustable base first and bag it separately. Lower the base fully, unplug it, and pack the remote and power cords in a labeled bag. A split king is two Twin XL mattresses, so bag each one on its own.
How to Transport a Mattress: Will It Fit?
Choose your mattress size and the vehicle you plan to use to see whether it works and how to load it.
A cargo van or moving truck fits any mattress. An SUV with the seats folded fits most twins and fulls and some queens bent gently, but only foam mattresses should bend. A pickup bed fits a mattress at an angle on the open tailgate, strapped down. A car roof is the riskiest option and best avoided.
How to Move a Mattress by Yourself
If you are moving a mattress without a crew, these steps keep it, and you, in one piece:
- Bag it first. A bagged mattress slides more easily and stays clean.
- Stand it on its side and walk it to the door, keeping it upright rather than dragging it flat.
- Use a strap or a moving dolly. A rope or moving strap under the mattress makes a handle; a flat dolly or a hand truck takes the weight on long carries.
- Plan the turns. Clear the hallway and open every door fully. In tight stairwells, tip the top edge toward the ceiling and walk it around the turn.
- Lift with a second person on stairs. One person on each end, the stronger person below, and never carry a queen or king down stairs alone.
- Secure it before you drive. A mattress that can slide will bend or tear.
For a king or California king, or for anything going up or down a flight of stairs, two or three people make the job much safer. When a mattress is part of a full household move, our local moving crews handle the bagging, carrying, and loading as part of the job.
Storing a Mattress in Southwest Florida
Sealed plastic is ideal for the move, but in Southwest Florida's humidity it becomes a problem in storage. Moisture trapped in the bag can lead to mildew and a musty smell. If there is a gap between move-out and move-in:
- Store mattresses flat or on their side in an air-conditioned space, never in a garage.
- Switch from sealed plastic to a breathable mattress cover for anything longer than a few days.
- Keep mattresses off concrete floors and away from exterior walls.
- Do not stack heavy boxes on a stored mattress.
Our article on whether you need climate-controlled storage in Southwest Florida explains when it is worth it, and our storage solutions keep your belongings in a climate-protected space under the same crew.
Local Area Guide: Cape Coral Opens Festival Park
If you are moving to North Cape Coral, there is a big new public space close to home. Festival Park, near Chiquita Boulevard and Kismet Parkway, opened with a ribbon-cutting in August 2026 after being in the works since voters approved the city's Parks GO Bond in 2018. The $17 million park has 10 multi-use sports fields and festival grounds for large community events, along with a restroom and concessions building.
An amphitheater is still to come, with the electrical infrastructure already in place for it. The park is also designed to serve as a storm shelter for Cape Coral residents during hurricane season, which is good to know for anyone new to the area.
See how our Cape Coral movers help households settle into every part of the Cape, from the Yacht Club to the newer neighborhoods up north.
Moving a Mattress: FAQs
Can you move a mattress by yourself?
A twin or full mattress can be moved by one person with a strap or a mattress handle, but anything queen-size or larger is a two-person job. A king or a heavy hybrid is easier and safer with three. Carry it on edge, never drag it, and use a dolly for long distances.
Do you need a mattress bag for moving?
Yes. A mattress bag or cover keeps out dirt, moisture, and pests, and protects the fabric from snags during the move. Choose one sized to your mattress and deep enough for its thickness, and seal the open end with tape.
Can you fold a mattress to move it?
Only some. An all-foam mattress can be folded gently for a short time, but innerspring and hybrid mattresses should never be folded, because the coils can bend or break and the mattress may never lie flat again.
Can you vacuum seal a mattress for moving?
Only all-foam mattresses, and only for a short time. Vacuum sealing an innerspring or hybrid can damage the coils, and leaving foam compressed for long can stop it from recovering. Check the mattress warranty first, since some manufacturers do not allow it.
How do you transport a mattress in a car?
Inside an SUV or van with the seats folded is safest. Tying a mattress to a car roof is risky: it can catch the wind and shift or come loose at speed. If you must, use ratchet straps through the doors and around the mattress, drive slowly, and avoid the highway.
Should a mattress be moved flat or on its side?
Either works for most mattresses, as long as it does not bend. On its side against a truck wall takes the least space; flat on top of other furniture works if nothing heavy goes on it. Never fold an innerspring or hybrid mattress.
Ready to Book Your Move?
Two Chicks Moving is a trusted Mover in Fort Myers, Mover in Cape Coral, Mover in Naples, Mover in Estero, and Mover in Bonita Springs. Every mattress we move goes into a heavy plastic sleeve before it leaves the room, and every bed frame is wrapped. Browse every community we cover on our areas served page.
Get a Free Quote
