How do you move a gun safe?

The short version

Moving a gun safe is a heavy, awkward job, and the makers say so plainly. One manual states that "SAFES ARE VERY HEAVY AND AWKWARD TO HANDLE" and adds that "UTILIZING A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL WITH PROPER MOVING EQUIPMENT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED".^[1] If the safe is small, the route is level and you have helpers, you can do it yourself with the right dolly. If it goes down a flight of stairs, hire a crew.

Plan before you lift

Start with the weight. Look in the owner's manual, on the label or on the maker's website, then add what is inside. A dolly, a ramp and a crew are all chosen from that number.

Then check the route. The manufacturer's own trick is simple: take the empty safe box and see if it will fit all the way through to its final location.^[1] If you no longer have the box, measure the safe's width and depth against every door, hall turn and stair, and remember that a door that opens wide may not clear the safe's depth.

Clear the path. Lift rugs, lay plywood or floor runners over wood, tile and carpet, and pad door frames and corners. Keep children and pets in another room.

Empty the safe completely. Take out the guns, the ammunition and any dehumidifier or desiccant, and keep the firearms secured somewhere else while the safe is away. One maker strongly recommends that you do not store loaded guns,^[1] which is worth remembering whenever the safe is open.

Unbolt, lock and strap

If the safe is anchored to the floor, take out the anchor bolts as your manual describes, with a second person steadying the safe. One maker's instructions say to have a person hold and stabilize the safe to keep it from tipping.^[1]

Before the safe is tipped, close the door and put the handle in the locked position. SentrySafe's manual gives the exact instruction: "Close door and put handle in locked position."^[2] Another maker says to make sure the door is closed and locked, because the door of your safe is heavy and presents a safety hazard until the safe is bolted down or secured properly.^[1]

Tip the safe onto a dolly and strap it on. The same manual specifies using a dolly capable of supporting the size and weight of your safe.^[1] A light hand truck is not enough for a safe of a few hundred pounds, and a rated dolly with straps is cheap to rent.

Moving it

SentrySafe says unbolting its gun safe from the shipping pallet is a two-person operation that should not be attempted without help.^[2] That is the floor, not the ceiling. SA Consumer Products requires a minimum of two people to keep its safe stable during installation,^[1] and a third person to guide the safe at turns and watch the doorways makes the move calmer.

Go slowly, keep the safe upright and stop if it starts to lean. Lean is how safes fall, and a falling safe is not something a person can catch.

Stairs are the point where a household move becomes a crew job. Stair-climbing equipment and trained handling matter more than extra muscle.

Setting it down

Pick the spot with the safe's job in mind. One maker recommends placing it in lower levels in the home, where fire temperatures are lower, and away from highly combustible materials.^[1] On a concrete floor, the same manual recommends a moisture or protective barrier between the safe and the floor.^[1]

Keep it level. If it seems unlevel, you may need to shim the bottom of the safe so the door does not swing open or close on its own.^[1] The manual also warns not to open the door with the safe on an uneven or unstable floor.^[1]

Then secure it. The maker says securing the safe to the floor is recommended,^[1] and SentrySafe strongly recommends this safe be bolted down.^[2] Check the manual first, because only certain types of safes are designed with this in mind.^[3] Use the holes the manual names: Master Lock's rule is to only drill into the area of the safe that is noted in your manual, usually through the feet, and never drill through the back of a fireproof safe.^[3]

Stop and call a pro if

• There are stairs. A safe that has to go up or down a flight, or around a tight turn, needs a crew with the right equipment.
• You cannot find the weight, or it is more than you and your helpers can control on a dolly.
• The safe is a large or fireproof model and the manual says to leave bolting or drilling to the maker or a locksmith.
• The floor is weak, wet or uneven, or the safe has to cross a deck or porch.
• You are moving it between homes. Put the safe's weight and the stairs in writing on the quote. In Virginia, a delivery acknowledgement you sign may not contain language that releases the carrier from liability, other than a statement that the property was received in apparent good condition except as noted on the shipping documents.^[4]

Getting help

Related questions are in how to move a piano safely, how to protect floors and walls on moving day and whether to hire movers or just loading help. Browse more junk removal and moving answers or the moving businesses on Loclis.

When you are ready, describe the safe and the route once and local movers quote it.