How to Move or Take Apart a Massage Chair With 2 People and No Damage

Here's how to move a massage chair: unplug it and let it return to its upright position, remove the parts that detach (usually the leg and foot rest, and on some models the side arm panels), wrap the main body in moving blankets, and move it on a furniture dolly with at least two people, three if there are stairs. A full-body massage chair is heavy, often a couple hundred pounds or more, and most of that weight is in the frame and motors, so it's awkward rather than just heavy. Plan the route before anyone lifts.

I help people buy and sell big, awkward things for a living, and massage chairs are one of the trickiest to move well. They look sturdy, but the shell scuffs, the upholstery tears, and the internal rollers and airbags don't like being dropped or tipped onto their face. This guide covers who you need, what tools to have, how to take a massage chair apart safely, how to protect floors and doors, and when it makes sense to hand the job to someone else.

Can you move a massage chair yourself?

Yes, you can move a massage chair yourself if you have two strong people, a dolly and a clear route. Three people is better for stairs. One person should never try to move a full-body chair alone. The weight is top-heavy and off-center, and these chairs tip easily once they're off their base.

Before you commit, look up your exact model's weight and dimensions in the owner's manual or on the manufacturer's site. That tells you two things: how many people you need, and whether the chair fits through your doors once the removable parts are off. Most full-body chairs are wide and deep, so measure every doorway, hallway and stair turn between the chair and the truck.

If you're moving because you're selling, our guide to where to sell a massage chair covers your options, and on Commonplace our drivers do the moving for you.

Tools and equipment to move a massage chair

You don't need much, but you need the right things. A massage chair move goes wrong when people improvise with a kitchen chair and a bedsheet.

• A four-wheel furniture dolly for flat floors, and an appliance hand truck with straps if there are stairs.
• Moving blankets, at least three or four, plus stretch wrap to hold them in place.
• Screwdrivers and a hex key set for the detachable parts. Many chairs ship with the tools you need, so check the original box or manual.
• Zip bags and a marker for bolts and screws, labeled by part.
• Painter's tape to protect door frames and to tape the power cord to the chair.
• Floor protection: cardboard, a hardboard runner, or blankets along the route.
• Ratchet straps to secure the chair in the truck.
• Work gloves with grip.

How to take apart a massage chair safely

Most full-body massage chairs come apart into two or three main pieces, and taking off the removable parts makes the chair lighter, narrower and much easier to carry. The exact steps vary by brand and model, so the owner's manual is your best guide. If you don't have it, most manufacturers post manuals online. The general order looks like this:

1. Return it to upright. Run the chair to its fully upright, seated position before you unplug it. Moving a reclined chair is far harder and can strain the recline mechanism.
2. Unplug and secure the cord. Coil the power cord and tape it to the back of the chair so nobody trips on it or rolls over it.
3. Remove loose items. Take off pillows, headrest pads and the remote or control tablet if it detaches. Pack them separately.
4. Detach the leg and foot rest. On many models it lifts off a bracket or is held by a few bolts and a plug-in connector. Unplug any cables gently at the connector, never by pulling the wire.
5. Remove side arm panels if your model has them. Some chairs have arm sections that come off to make the body narrower. Others don't, and you shouldn't force them.
6. Bag and label every bolt. One bag per part, labeled. Tape the bags to the part they came from.

Don't open the back panel or try to remove the internal roller mechanism. That's not a moving step, and it can void what's left of a warranty or damage the wiring. If a part won't come off with the tools the manual names, leave it on.

How to move a massage chair through doors and down stairs

The safest way to move a massage chair is upright on a dolly across flat floors, and strapped to a hand truck for stairs, with one person below and one above. Never tip a massage chair onto its face or let it rest on the leg-rest end, and avoid laying it flat on its back for long distances, which puts stress on the frame and upholstery.

On flat floors, many chairs have small transport wheels on the back of the base. Tilt the chair back onto them, the way you'd tilt a hand truck, and roll it. That works for short runs on hard floors. For carpet, long hallways or anything outside, use the dolly.

On stairs, strap the chair to an appliance hand truck through the frame, not the upholstery. The person below guides and takes the weight. The person above controls the handles. Take every step one at a time. If the stairs turn, rehearse the turn with the empty hand truck first so nobody is surprised halfway down.

How to protect floors, doors and the chair itself

Protect the route before the chair moves and wrap the chair before it leaves the room. Most damage in a massage chair move happens in the first ten feet and at the door frame.

• Floors. Lay cardboard or a hardboard runner over wood and tile. Keep the dolly's wheels clean, grit scratches floors.
• Doors. Tape the frame, and take the door off its hinges if the chair is close to the opening width. Those extra inches matter.
• The shell. Wrap the whole chair in moving blankets and stretch-wrap them in place. Plastic shells scuff easily on door frames and truck walls.
• Upholstery. Keep straps and tape off leather and synthetic leather. Tape residue and strap pressure both leave marks.
• Weather. Massage chairs are indoor electronics. If it's raining or snowing, wrap in plastic over the blankets and keep the time outside short.

In the truck, stand the chair upright against a wall, strap it at two heights through the frame, and pad the detached leg rest separately so it can't slide into the main body.

What it costs to have a massage chair professionally moved

The cost to have a massage chair moved depends on distance, stairs and who you hire, so get a quote that names the item. Local movers often charge by the hour with a minimum, and a single heavy item can still hit that minimum. Some movers charge extra for stairs or for items over a certain weight. Many massage chair retailers and manufacturers can also refer you to a delivery and setup service, which is worth asking about if your chair is still under warranty.

Whoever you hire, tell them the make, model, weight and the stairs up front, and ask whether disassembly and reassembly are included. A mover who has never handled a massage chair will treat it like a recliner, and that's how leg rests get cracked.

Moving a massage chair vs selling it before you move

Sometimes the easier move is not moving it at all. If you're relocating far, the chair doesn't fit the new place, or you've stopped using it, selling a used massage chair before the move often makes more sense than paying to move it. That's especially true for older chairs, which are worth less than the cost of a long-distance move.

Option	Good when	Watch out for
Move it yourself	Short distance, ground floor, two or three helpers	Tipping, scuffed shell, back injuries
Hire movers	Stairs, long distance, newer chair you're keeping	Minimum charges, movers unfamiliar with massage chairs
Sell before you move	Chair is older, rarely used, or won't fit the new home	Starting too late to sell

On Commonplace, our drivers handle the pickup when a chair sells. They check it against your listing on-site, wrap it and load it, and you get paid when it's loaded. You never meet the buyer. List your massage chair for free, or read how the whole process works on how it works.

Frequently asked questions about moving a massage chair

How heavy is a massage chair?

A full-body massage chair commonly weighs a couple hundred pounds, and some premium models weigh more. Compact chairs are lighter. Your owner's manual or the manufacturer's spec page lists the exact weight for your model.

Can a massage chair be laid on its back to move it?

Briefly, if you have to, but upright is better. Laying it flat for a long trip stresses the frame and upholstery, and it should never go face down or rest on the leg rest. Keep it upright in the truck and strap it in place.

Do I need to take my massage chair apart to move it?

Usually just partly. Removing the leg and foot rest (and the arm panels, if your model allows it) makes the chair lighter and narrower. You shouldn't need to open the body itself.

Will moving a massage chair void the warranty?

Moving it doesn't usually void a warranty by itself, but damage from a move typically isn't covered. Check your warranty terms, and use the manufacturer's recommended delivery service if you want to stay safe.

Can one person move a massage chair?

Not safely. A full-body chair is too heavy and top-heavy for one person, even on a dolly. Plan on two people for flat floors and three for stairs.

Thinking of selling instead? List your massage chair on Commonplace and our drivers take it from there, or start a listing for anything else you don't want to move.

Shopping for one? Our used massage chair guide covers what to check, and you can browse used massage chairs on Commonplace. Each one is inspected at pickup and delivered, and you pay only after it passes inspection.