How to Move A Heavy Bathtub in 4 Steps

Moving a bathtub upstairs or downstairs can seem like a monumental task, but with proper research, it’s much more simplistic than you think. We will show you how to transport a bathtub into your home without any fuss and what you should consider before moving a bathtub so to protect your home and health.

Moving heavy furniture can be tough on your home, your back, and furniture, so it is important that you understand how best to approach it with these steps:

1. Prepare for the Move 

As discussed previously, measure your bathtub and the surrounding environment such as entry and exit points, hallways, and stairs. A clear understanding of your install space will help you shop for a bathtub and quickly weed out what you don’t want for your home. Afterward, you want to have a clear understanding of your existing plumbing and how to configure it for a new bathtub.

With this knowledge, you will now be able to choose a bathtub of a certain weight and size that fits your home. Now you have the choice of installing this bathtub yourself or hiring movers.

2. Gather Tools – Protective Materials and Dolly

Before you install or move your bathtub, you first want to prepare your home. This means placing moving blankets at key points to help protect the bathtub from scratches and any heavy impacts. Moving blankets are heavy-duty cloth coverings that are designed to absorb shock and provide cushioning to furniture as they are being moved.

Additionally, you will need moving straps to secure the bathtub with the use of both furniture dollies and appliance dollies to help move your bathtub. You will need anywhere from 2-4 furniture dollys to help transport your bathtub. 

3. Create a Ramp to Transport in or out of the House

With your tools gathered and the rest of your home prepped, you will now need to create a transport ramp that runs through your home. This is to create an efficient road of sorts that will allow you to move your bathtub through your house without having to physically lift it. To do this, you will need to make your ramp out of plywood or any light material that can be placed and constructed easily.

The general requirement for your ramp is that it needs to be able to reach from your intended install point-your bathroom, to an exit/entry point of your home seamlessly. Other install methods include multiple individuals lifting the bathtub with the use of multiple styles of dollies.

There are more install methods as listed here, so you are free to experiment and explore what options are best for you as every home is different, just be careful as injury is a high possibility with heavy furniture. 

4. Moving the Tub Safety

With the infrastructure complete, you are ready to move your bathtub. You will first wrap the bathtub in a light layer to protect it from superficial damage. Then, place it on its side, onto a dolly, and use the ramp to gently move it from your entry point into your bathroom.

When moving a heavy object such as a bathtub, you want to take care to move slowly to avoid damages to your wall and risk injury to yourself. Take as many breaks as possible as this is a marathon and not a sprint. With time and persistence, you will move your bathtub into your bathroom, so take your time. . 

What to Think About Before Moving a Heavy Bathtub

Before you go about moving a heavy bathtub, there are a few aspects you should consider which will drastically impact your ability to move your bathtub: namely the dimension and weight of your existing bathtub, your existing plumbing, and whether you will be moving the bathtub yourself or hiring professional assistance.

The Bathtub and Surrounding Environment Dimensions

Before you begin, you will need to measure the exact dimensions of your bathtub, your bathroom, and the surroundings. This includes the hallway, stairs, entry, and exit points. This step is crucial as you need to know exactly what size bathtub your home can handle.

To accommodate a large bathtub, you may need to remove doors from hinges or move it through a window if available. If you don’t go about measuring your space out, you could easily end up with a bathtub that is entirely too big for your home. 

Evaluate The Existing Plumbing

It is important you understand your existing plumbing infrastructure as it will determine how easy or difficult it is to uninstall your old bathtub and install your new one. In either case, if your plumbing is incompatible with your new bathtub, you will need to determine what is causing the problem and correct it. If you are inexperienced with plumbing setups, it is best to consult a plumber to determine how best to proceed to avoid any long-term damages to your home. 

The Weight of the Bathtub

The weight of your bathtub will impact your ability to move the bathtub both for installation and uninstall. Weight will largely be influenced by the material of the bathtub with acrylic and fiberglass being the lightest and natural stone and cast iron bathtubs being the heaviest. So, depending on the dimensions of your bathtub, you can easily determine if you can move it yourself or hire professionals to move your bathtub for you.

If you have a plastic bathtub, it can weigh as little as 50 pounds, but if we’re talking about a cast-iron bathtub, it might easily go over 1,000 pounds. Make sure to check the weight of your bathtub to not only know if you need an extra pair of hands but also to get an idea on how to move the bathtub. 

Moving the Tub Yourself (DIY)

There are a few benefits of moving the bathtub yourself, mainly that it is much cheaper than hiring movers. Since you are not paying for someone else’s time, you have a more relaxed window to take your time and take the proper precautions. That being said, you want anywhere from 3-4 people, depending on the weight of your bathtub. You may require more if your bathtub is quite heavy.

The drawback to DIY however is that you need to consider the health of these individuals and if they have any existing back pain issues. Accidents can and may occur during a move and there may be potential medical bills that may arise, so that should be considered. Additionally, as you are not professional movers, you are not privy to many specialized tools that assist with the moving process, so there is a high chance that potential damage will occur to the home during the move process.

Hiring Movers

Hiring movers provide some positives, mainly that you get efficiency and less potential damage to your property at a cost. Movers are professionals, so their experience is invaluable in helping to determine the scope of a job and if it is feasible. Lastly, you do not have to risk injury on yourself as the movers will handle all aspects of the bathtub move and replace any damages. The tradeoff to hiring movers is as expected, which is the cost-movers are quite expensive, and often, the cost of hiring them can be close to just buying a new bathtub, so consider this option carefully. 

As we discussed today, it is important that you measure everything first, sort out your plumbing and determine if you need to hire professional assistance. Procuring the right equipment can protect your equipment, your health, and your home. Moving a heavy tub can be a daunting task, but with proper preparation and research, anyone can do it