How to Move a Refrigerator Without Breaking Your Back

moving a refrigerator

Not sure how to move a refrigerator? Whether you’re planning to bring your fridge to the new house or simply moving it to another room, be prepared for some heavy lifting. Weighing around 300 pounds, the average refrigerator is quite heavy. And if your home is cursed with narrow stairwells and small doorways, you could run into a few problems when moving this large kitchen appliance.

While we certainly recommend hiring professional movers to handle this type of move, we know that this isn’t always a possibility. Fortunately, if hiring movers or labor-only professionals isn’t in your budget, it is possible to move a refrigerator with the right planning, supplies and (of course) an extra set of helpful hands. To ensure a successful move, follow these 10 easy steps to moving a refrigerator without breaking your back.

  1. Find moving supplies and materials

    If you’re planning to move a refrigerator without the help of professionals, you’ll need to gather all the moving supplies yourself. This list should include: cleaning supplies, such as paper towels and all-purpose surface cleaner; a moving dolly; tape measure; moving blankets; a cooler for leftover food; and a strong rope or moving strap. Tip: If you’re not sure where to find a dolly, try renting one from The Home Depot, which offers appliance dolly rentals capable of holding up to 800 pounds – more than enough to hold your refrigerator or freezer.

  2. Enlist help

    Given that the average fridge weighs several hundred pounds, it’s absolutely necessary that you find the right helpers for the job. Finding friends and family members that are able and willing to help with a move can also be tough. For these reasons, I recommend asking for assistance well in advance. The earlier you ask, the more likely you’ll be able to find someone who can help. Recruit at least two friends and be sure they show up on moving day with the right attire and sturdy sneakers. If you’re unable to find friends to help out, try hiring professional labor-only movers though HireAHelper, an online marketplace that helps those moving locate and book moving labor professionals in their area. To find moving labor, check out’s Labor Center, powered by HireAHelper.

  3. Rent a moving truck

    Most refrigerators are too large to fit inside the average size car. So before moving your fridge, make sure you’ve reserved a moving truck or cargo van for the job. Ideally, you should look for a truck rental with a loading ramp. This way you’ll be able to pull the dolly right up to the bed of the truck. Fortunately, there are plenty of moving truck rental companies to choose from when planning your next relocation. Just make sure you choose the one that best fits your budget and needs. If you’re planning to move only a few boxes plus your appliance, you shouldn’t need more than a pickup truck or small box truck. If moving your entire home, I suggest looking at the largest moving trucks available. For more information and discounts on various truck rental companies, check out’s truck rental center.

  4. Measure refrigerator, doorways and stairwells

    Before moving the refrigerator, be sure to measure all doorways and stairwells. Measure the fridge as well to assess how well your refrigerator will fit through these spaces. As long as you can maneuver the fridge and dolly through the doorways and stairwells, you should be good to go. Worried about a tiny front door? If the space is tight, you may need to consider moving your fridge through a large window or alternative door.

  5. Empty the refrigerator

    Finished gathering supplies, finding help, reserving a truck rental and measuring the doorways? Great! Now, it’s time to prepare for the actual move, itself. First, it’s of the utmost importance that you empty the fridge before moving it. Although it may seem like a no-brainer, you’d be surprised how many people don’t clean out their fridge prior to moving. To empty the refrigerator, place any food you wish to take with you into a cooler and toss the rest. Then, wipe each shelf down using an all-purpose surface cleaning spray and paper towels. You may also want to remove the shelving to make your move a bit easier. Finally, don’t forget to toss the freezer’s leftover ice.

  6. Let the refrigerator defrost

    If you plan to let your fridge defrost before the move, you’ll need unplug it the night before. This should give it enough time to defrost. Before unplugging the fridge, don’t forget to place any food you wish to bring with you in a cold cooler.

  7. Close refrigerator doors and secure with a rope

    Moving a refrigerator is hard enough without its doors flying open during the move. So before placing your refrigerator on the dolly, wrap the appliance with either a moving strap or strong rope. Make sure the rope is tied tightly and the doors are securely closed before sliding it onto the dolly. If the fridge has two doors, try tying them together first for extra security. Tip: before closing refrigerator, remove the shelves and drawers inside to lighten your load.

  8. Move refrigerator onto the dolly and carry out

    After the refrigerator is securely tied, slide the dolly underneath. Your helpers may need to move the fridge slightly away from its nook before sliding the dolly under the fridge. Once the dolly is under the fridge, tip it ever so slightly towards you. Keep in mind that the fridge should remain in the upright position for the entire move. Your friends or helpers should be on all sides of the fridge to make sure it doesn’t fall off the dolly. Then, slowly move the dolly towards the door. You should have a helper in front of the fridge the entire time you’re moving it.

    Assuming your truck rental has a loading ramp, carefully push the dolly up the ramp with the help of friends. Once inside the truck, I recommend covering it with moving blankets to prevent it from getting damaged while in transport. You should also prop it up against other furniture or belongings to prevent it from tipping over.

  9. Set it up

    Moved into your new home? Remove moving blankets and untie all straps. Gently lift or push your fridge into its new position in the kitchen. If you removed your shelves and drawers, place them back inside and set the fridge to the appropriate temperature level.

  10. Plug it in and let it get cold

    Then, plug the fridge into the wall and give it time to reach an optimal temperature before reloading your food inside. Keep in mind that while many refrigerators may take only a few short hours to get adequately cold, others could take a few days. Once the fridge and freezer are cold enough, begin placing your food back inside. Finally, take a deep breath. You successfully moved your heavy refrigerator and that deserves a pat on the back.

Prefer to hire professional movers?

If moving your refrigerator sounds slightly more daunting than you originally thought, you may want to consider hiring professionals for the job. To find a capable moving company near you, check out’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers – all licensed and insured. By choosing a mover, you can rest assured that your fridge will be in good hands.