How to Take Apart and Move a Murphy Bed: 8 Safe Steps

Last updated November 2026 by the Forward Furniture team

Most Murphy beds are built to stay put. Moving one means taking it apart in the right order, keeping the hardware sorted, and fixing it to a solid wall again at the new place.

This guide covers the tools, the steps, the sizes to measure and when to call movers. If you would rather skip the wall work next time, a freestanding cabinet bed like the Olivia cabinet bed needs no wall attachment at all.

In this guide:

• Tools you need
• How to take apart a Murphy bed
• Pistons and springs
• Sizes to measure before the move
• How to pack it
• Hiring movers
• Putting it back up
• Wall bed vs cabinet bed
• FAQ

What Tools Do You Need to Move a Murphy Bed?

Most wall beds come apart with basic hand tools. Gather these before you start:

• A drill with screwdriver bits and a socket or wrench set
• The maker's assembly manual (most brands post a PDF if yours is lost)
• Zip bags and a marker to label bolts by section
• Painter's tape to mark panels: left side, right side, top, back
• Moving blankets, stretch wrap and corner guards
• A furniture dolly and straps
• A second person, because makers ask for two people on install

How Do You Take Apart a Murphy Bed?

Work in reverse of how it went in. Take a phone photo before each step so putting it back is easy.

1. Open the bed. Lower it fully so the pistons or springs are at rest.
2. Take the mattress off. Undo the mattress straps and lift it out. Bag the bedding.
3. Release the lift system. Follow the manual to take off the pistons or springs. Never cut or force them.
4. Remove the bed frame. Unbolt the frame from the pivot brackets on each side of the cabinet.
5. Take off the legs and handle. Bag them with their own screws.
6. Unbolt the cabinet from the wall. Undo the wall brackets or the stud screws. Keep the bracket parts.
7. Take the cabinet apart. Remove the top, then the sides, then the back panel. Label each piece.
8. Patch and check the wall. Fill the screw holes if you are leaving a rental or selling.

Want to know what each part does first? Our guide on how a Murphy bed works explains the pivot, the pistons and the legs.

Is It Safe to Take Apart a Murphy Bed With Pistons or Springs?

Yes, if you do it with the bed down. The lift system holds stored energy when the bed is closed. With the bed open and the mattress off, that load is lowest.

• Never unbolt a closed bed from the wall. It can swing down without warning.
• Remove pistons one side at a time, and only the way the manual shows.
• Old springs that look rusted or stretched should be replaced, not reused.
• If the manual is gone and the springs are large, call a pro for this one step.

Both the Wallie and the Heidi use pistons on both sides of the cabinet, per the maker's spec on each product page.

Will It Fit Through the Door? Murphy Bed Sizes to Measure

Measure doorways, halls and stair turns against the closed size. Width x depth x height, from the maker's spec on each product page:

Prices checked November 2026 from our live catalogue.

The numbers tell a clear story. A Wallie twin cabinet is only 15.75 inches deep but 79.13 inches tall, so it often travels on its side. The Stow queen is 26.4 inches deep, and its cabinet box weighs about 152 lb, so plan for two strong people and a dolly.

How Do You Pack a Murphy Bed for a Move?

• Wrap each panel in a moving blanket and tape the blanket, not the wood.
• Put corner guards on the cabinet edges. Corners chip first.
• Tape the hardware bags to the panel they came from, or keep them in one labelled box.
• Stand panels on edge in the truck, strapped to the wall, never flat under boxes.
• Roll or fold the mattress only if its maker allows it. A tri-fold mattress folds on its seams.

Will Movers Move a Murphy Bed?

Most movers will carry the pieces. Fewer will take a wall bed down or put it back up. Ask these questions when you get quotes:

• Do you take down and reinstall wall beds, or only carry them?
• Do you bring the tools and the wall anchors for my new wall type?
• Is the take down priced per hour or as a flat fee?
• Are you insured if a panel or the wall gets damaged?

For a sense of what pros charge to put one up, see our Murphy bed installation cost guide.

How Do You Put a Murphy Bed Back Up After the Move?

1. Find the studs first. The maker says the Heidi full and queen go into at least two wood studs.
2. Build the cabinet, check it is level and square, then fix it to the wall.
3. Fit the bed frame, then the pistons or springs, with the bed in the open position.
4. Put the mattress back and do the straps up before you close it the first time.
5. Check your mattress still fits the cabinet. Our Murphy bed mattress guide lists the limits.
6. Open and close it slowly three times, and tighten any bolt that moved.

Is a Wall Murphy Bed or a Cabinet Bed Easier to Move?

A cabinet bed sits on the floor like a dresser, so moving it is close to moving any big chest.

If you move often or rent, that gap matters. Our cabinet bed vs Murphy bed guide compares the two in full, and how a cabinet bed works shows the fold out steps.

Murphy Beds and Cabinet Beds We Sell, With Live Prices

Olivia Cabinet Bed
Preorder, charged in full at checkout: see the current price

Freestanding, no wall attachment; queen or double with a tri-fold mattress.

Stow Queen Cabinet Bed
$2,417.99

Freestanding chest that opens to a queen; 6 inch gel memory foam mattress included.

Heidi Horizontal Murphy Bed, Grey
From $1,424.99

Folds down sideways; twin, full or queen; uses your own mattress.

Heidi Horizontal Murphy Bed, White
$1,424.99

The Heidi twin in white.

Wallie Vertical Murphy Bed
From $2,099.99

Vertical wall bed in white, twin or double.

Moving a Murphy Bed FAQ

Do you have to take the mattress off to move a Murphy bed?

Yes. Take it off before you touch any bolts. It is heavy, it changes the load on the pistons or springs, and it can slide out when the cabinet tips.

Can you move a Murphy bed to another room without taking it apart?

Rarely. A wall mounted bed has to come off the wall, and most need the bed frame out of the cabinet to fit through a doorway. A freestanding cabinet bed only needs clear doorways and two people.

Will movers take down and put up a Murphy bed?

Many movers will carry the pieces but will not take down or mount a wall bed. Ask for that service by name, or book a handyman for the take down and the install.

Do you need new wall anchors at the new home?

Often, yes. Plan for fasteners that suit the new wall, and fix full and queen beds into wood studs as the maker says. Keep the original brackets, since they match the cabinet.

How heavy is a cabinet bed to move?

It depends on the model. The maker lists the Stow queen cabinet box at about 152 lb, so plan for two people and a dolly. A cabinet bed has no wall parts to remove first.

What to Do Next

Written By: Christine Ilagan

Meet Christine Ilagan, a vibrant writer hailing from the University of Calgary. With a background rooted in academic excellence and a passion for the written word, Christine has seamlessly merged the worlds of research and storytelling.

Drawing inspiration from her academic surroundings, she weaves narratives that are both enlightening and engaging. Whether it's an in-depth research piece or a light-hearted story, Christine's writings always resonate with authenticity. Dive in to experience a blend of knowledge and creativity, straight from the heart of Calgary's academic world.