One primary concern for people moving is the deconstruction and reconstruction of certain items. Beds, cabinets, wall units, and tables are all things that will most likely need to be taken apart and then reassembled in your new home. Obviously, worrying about this on top of all of your other moving worries is not something you want to be doing. So you ask yourself, “Can the movers do it for me?” This is the ultimate question that we will gladly help you answer.
Basically, yes, they can. But the real question is whether you want them to and what you should expect. Let us break this down in detail so you can make the best decision for your move.
What Furniture Typically Needs Disassembly?
Not everything in your home needs to be taken apart for a move, but certain items almost always require disassembly to fit through doorways, down stairs, or into the truck safely. Here is what movers commonly disassemble:
- Bed frames – Especially queen and king-size frames, which are too wide to fit through standard doorways when assembled.
- Bunk beds and loft beds – These are tall, heavy, and dangerous to move in one piece.
- Large dining tables – Tables with removable legs are taken apart to reduce size and prevent leg breakage during transport.
- Sectional sofas – While not technically disassembly, sectionals are separated into individual pieces for easier handling.
- Desks and office furniture – L-shaped desks and hutch-style desks usually need to come apart.
- Wall units and bookshelves – Tall shelving units are safer to move in sections to prevent tipping and cracking.
- Cribs and changing tables – These must be disassembled for safe transport and to comply with safety standards.
Tools That Professional Movers Bring
Professional movers come prepared with a standard toolkit that covers most furniture disassembly and reassembly needs. Here is what you can expect a well-equipped moving crew to carry:
- Phillips and flat-head screwdrivers in multiple sizes
- Socket wrench set and adjustable wrenches
- Allen key sets in both metric and imperial sizes
- Power drill with various bits
- Pliers and channel locks
- Rubber mallet for gentle persuasion on tight-fitting joints
- Plastic bags and labels for organizing hardware
That said, movers carry general-purpose tools. If your furniture uses proprietary hardware or specialty fasteners, they may not have the exact tool needed. This brings us to an important topic.
The IKEA Furniture Question
IKEA furniture deserves its own section because it presents unique challenges during a move. IKEA products are designed to be assembled once using cam locks, wooden dowels, and particle board connections. These joints are not engineered for repeated disassembly and reassembly. Here is what you need to know:
- Cam locks weaken – The cam lock fittings that IKEA uses grip into particle board. Each time you disassemble and reassemble, the holes widen slightly and the connection becomes weaker.
- Particle board is fragile – Unlike solid wood, particle board can chip, crack, or crumble around screw holes during disassembly. Once the material around a screw hole is damaged, the joint will never be as tight again.
- Missing hardware – IKEA furniture often uses small, specialized fasteners that are easy to lose. If a piece goes missing, finding a replacement can be difficult.
- Movers may decline – Some moving companies have policies against disassembling and reassembling IKEA furniture because the risk of damage is high and it is difficult to determine whether damage was pre-existing or caused during the move.
If you have IKEA furniture that must be moved, consider leaving it assembled if it can fit through doorways. If disassembly is necessary, take photos of each step and keep all hardware in labelled bags. Having the original assembly instructions on hand, which you can download from IKEA’s website, will make reassembly much smoother.
Intra-Provincial Moves and Hourly Rates
For local and intra-provincial moves, most moving companies charge by the hour. The longer the mover is working, the more you pay. This being the case, if you have the movers reassemble your furniture, they will be working longer and charging you for more time. The thing you have to ask yourself is whether having these guys put back together your dining room table is really worth the extra cost.
In most cases, the answer is yes. Professional movers can reassemble a bed frame in ten to fifteen minutes, a dining table in five to ten minutes, and a desk in fifteen to twenty minutes. The additional cost at hourly moving rates is usually quite reasonable compared to the frustration and time of doing it yourself after a long moving day.
Inter-Provincial and Long-Distance Moves
This type of move will usually not be completed on the same day and is charged based on the weight and volume of your belongings. Movers take your belongings to a warehouse, wait until they can fill a truck to be more efficient, then ship out your property. The movers who packed the truck will likely not be the same movers who deliver it. This means that the mover who took apart your wall unit will not be the same person who you ask to reassemble it. So ask yourself if you want a mover who does not know what the piece used to look like putting it back together, or should you just do it yourself.
What Does Furniture Reassembly Cost?
The cost of furniture reassembly depends on how the move is priced:
- Hourly moves – Reassembly is simply included in the overall time. You are paying for the movers’ time whether they are carrying boxes or assembling beds. Most local movers include basic disassembly and reassembly as part of their standard service.
- Flat-rate or long-distance moves – Some companies include reassembly in the quote, while others charge a separate fee. Always ask whether reassembly is included when comparing quotes.
- Specialty items – Complex pieces like Murphy beds, custom wall units, or gym equipment may incur an additional fee because they take more time and expertise.
Questions to Ask Your Movers Before Moving Day
To avoid surprises on moving day, ask these questions during the quoting process:
- Is furniture disassembly and reassembly included in your standard service?
- Are there any types of furniture you will not disassemble or reassemble?
- Do you carry insurance that covers damage during disassembly and reassembly?
- Will the same crew that disassembles the furniture also reassemble it?
- Should I have any tools, hardware, or instruction manuals available for specialty pieces?
One important thing to note is that movers will only reassemble furniture that they disassembled. If you just bought a new table and it is still in the box, they will not put it together for you. Assembly of new, unbuilt furniture is a different service entirely.
So in the end, movers can and do reassemble furniture for you most of the time. It just depends on the type of move and whether the cost makes sense for your situation. At Simple Moves, disassembly and reassembly of standard furniture is included in our moving service. Just let us know what needs to come apart when you request your quote, and we will handle it from start to finish.