Planning a Gun Safe Move: Weight, Equipment and Access

A gun safe is dense, top-heavy and unforgiving. Moving one safely is mostly about planning: knowing the weight, clearing the route and using equipment built for the load.

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Gun safes are among the heaviest single items in any home. Even a mid-size safe can outweigh a refrigerator several times over, and nearly all of that weight sits in a narrow footprint with a high center of gravity. That combination is what makes safes dangerous to move. The goal is not strength; it is control.

Start with the weight. The manufacturer's listed weight is usually printed on the paperwork, the warranty card or the maker's website. If you cannot find it, look up the model number, which is often on a label inside the door. Do not guess. The weight decides what dolly you need, how many people are required, whether a floor or deck can take it, and whether the job is even a do-it-yourself project.

Empty the safe completely. Remove firearms, ammunition, documents and valuables and transport them separately and securely according to the law and your own judgment. Remove shelves and door panels if they come out easily. Every pound you take out makes the move safer. Close and lock the door, or tape it shut, so it cannot swing open mid-move and shift the balance.

Check whether the safe is bolted down. Many safes are anchored to a concrete slab or floor through holes in the bottom. Unbolt it before moving day and keep the hardware in a labeled bag.

Walk the route with a tape measure. Measure the safe, then every door, hallway, turn and threshold. Look for soft spots: tile that could crack under point loads, wood floors, and thresholds that need a bridge. Plan to lay plywood or hardboard sheets as a path so the weight spreads out. In a condo, confirm the elevator's rated capacity with the building before you schedule anything, because a heavy safe plus a dolly and two people can exceed it.

The equipment is specific. A standard hand truck is not enough. Safe movers use heavy-duty stair-climbing or safe dollies rated above the load, ratchet straps, and sometimes furniture skates or pallet jacks for flat runs. The dolly is strapped to the safe before it is tipped, and the tip is controlled by more than one person.

Stairs change everything. Many Southwest Florida homes are single-story, which helps, but raised homes, two-story houses and second-floor condos without elevators are common. Taking a safe up or down steps requires a crew that has done it before, a dolly made for stairs, and a plan for each step. If a safe gets away on a staircase, it can seriously injure someone and destroy the stairs.

In the truck, the safe should ride upright against the front wall, strapped in place, with padding between it and anything else. At the new home, set it on a solid surface, level it and re-anchor it if you plan to bolt it down.

When should you hire a specialist? If the safe is large, the route includes stairs or tight turns, or you are unsure of the floor, call a safe moving professional. For many households, the best plan is splitting the job: a safe specialist handles the safe, and a moving crew handles the rest of the home the same week.

Flamingo Moving handles residential and local moves across Charlotte, Sarasota and Lee counties. Call 941-273-6928, tell us the safe's model and weight and the access at both homes, and we will tell you honestly whether it fits our crew or a specialist, with a free written quote for the rest of your move.

Estimating what your safe weighs

Start with the model number and the manufacturer's spec sheet. Fire-rated safes with thick walls weigh more than their size suggests. Remember to count the weight of the dolly and anything you plan to leave inside. If the listed weight is unavailable, a safe dealer or specialist can often identify the model from photos. Treat any number you cannot confirm as a reason to bring in help rather than attempt it yourself.

Protecting floors, decks and doorways

Point loads under a dolly's wheels can crack tile and dent wood. Lay plywood or hardboard along the full route, bridge thresholds with ramps, and remove doors from their hinges when clearances are tight. Avoid rolling a heavy safe across pool decks or pavers that are not designed for concentrated weight. On driveways, keep the path flat and short so the dolly never has to fight a slope.

Preparing the new location

Decide where the safe will sit before it arrives. Confirm the floor can take it, clear the path, and have anchor hardware ready if you plan to bolt it. Placing a safe once is far easier than moving it twice. If it is going into a garage, pick a spot away from where cars park and where storm water tends to collect during heavy summer rain.

Frequently asked questions

How many people does it take to move a gun safe?

It depends on the weight and route. Heavier safes and any safe going over stairs need an experienced crew with safe-rated equipment, not just extra hands.

Should I empty the safe before moving it?

Yes. Remove firearms, ammunition and valuables and transport them separately and securely. It reduces weight and keeps the load stable.

Can a gun safe go in a condo elevator?

Only if the combined weight of the safe, dolly and crew is within the elevator's rated capacity. Check with the building before scheduling.

Does Flamingo Moving move gun safes?

Call 941-273-6928 with the model, weight and access details. We will tell you whether it fits our crew or recommend using a safe specialist, and quote the rest of your move.

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