Moving Blankets: Wrap Up Your Move

When moving, you want your belongings to arrive at your new home safe and intact – and the best way to ensure that is to provide them with top-notch protection.

Most of your items will be packed in boxes, so, as long as you know how to pack a moving box correctly, they will be well protected.

Larger household items, however, cannot be boxed up – you need to find another way to keep them safe during the move.

That is where moving blankets come in – they can wrap around any item, regardless of its size and shape, and protect it from damage during the rigorous relocation process. What’s more, they can keep your belongings free of dust and dirt and even help you protect your property on moving day.

All in all, moving blankets are as indispensable for a house move as moving boxes and bubble wrap.

Here is everything you need to know about moving blankets so you can use them to make your next move safer and smoother than ever before.

What is a moving blanket?

Moving blankets, also known as moving furniture blankets or just furniture pads, are heavy-duty cloth coverings typically used to protect furniture, appliances, and other larger household items during a move. The thick fabric absorbs shock and provides excellent cushioning, thus offering optimal protection to the item wrapped in the blanket.

Moving blankets can be placed under, over, and around an object to prevent it from breaking or getting scratched, dented, or scuffed during loading, unloading, and transportation. The padded coverings also act as protective barriers between the items in the moving truck and keep them from bumping into each other during transit.

What are moving blankets made of?

Moving furniture pads are typically made of cotton, polyester, or a combination of the two. They consist of multiple layers of fabric and filler materials, stitched together in a chevron pattern.

Cotton pads are more pliable and easier to work with, but polyester blankets are more durable and less absorbent. Pads made from poly-cotton blends offer the highest level of durability and protection.

Regardless of the material, moving blankets typically come in two-tone blues, browns, greens, or reds – they have a lighter-colored side (the inside side) and a darker side (the outside side). When wrapping items in the blankets, the light (or “clean”) side should be facing the piece and the dark (or “dirty” side) should be facing out.

How does moving blanket weight matter?

When it comes to furniture blankets for moving, greater weight means a higher level of protection.   

The thicker the blanket, the better protection it provides – and quite naturally, thick pads weigh more:

• Lightweight moving blankets (3-3.5 lb.) are non-woven pads, usually made of synthetic materials. They’re thin, so they don’t provide much cushioning – and they’re more vulnerable to rips and tears. This means that lighter pads are less durable and don’t provide as good protection as heavier-duty moving blankets. Yet, they’re much more affordable and can still protect household items from scratches, dirt, and dust. Therefore, lighter pads are a good option for sturdier items – as well as for filling in empty spaces in the moving truck to prevent shifting;
• Heavy-duty moving blankets (5.5 – 6.5 lb.) are made from woven fabric that usually contains both cotton and polyester. They’re multi-layered and very thick, so they’re very durable and offer superb cushioning. Heavy furniture pads provide excellent protection to household items during a move, so they’re the best choice for fragile items, sensitive items, antiques, and other valuable and/or delicate items. Keep in mind, though, that heavy moving blankets add to the weight of the item wrapped in them and increase the overall weight of the shipment.

Lightweight pads may be a bit smaller, but typically moving blankets measure 72” by 80” (other sizes are also available).

What are moving blankets used for?

Moving blankets are extremely versatile and can be used for a number of purposes:

Protecting large items from damage

Moving blankets are great for protecting furniture, appliances, and other large and/or irregularly-shaped household items that don’t fit in a box. The thick, pliable blankets wrap around the item, cushioning it from all sides and enveloping it in a soft protective shell that absorbs shocks and vibrations and prevents breaking, scratches, and dents:

• The padded coverings protect the piece from damage if it is accidentally dropped or bumped against something during loading or unloading or if it topples over or comes in contact with another item in the moving truck during transit;
• The thick blankets protect the delicate surface of furniture, appliances, and other items from scratches, scuffs, and nicks;
• The protective padding prevents protruding parts (such as furniture legs, door handles, etc.) and delicate elements (such as appliance electronic displays, glass doors, etc.) from breaking during the move.

Keeping household items clean and free of dust

Moving blankets fully cover the item they’re protecting, so dust and dirt cannot get to it. The wrapped piece won’t accumulate grime, debris, or dust from the outdoors or from the moving truck and will stay clean regardless of where it is put or what is placed next to it.

Keep in mind, though, that moving blankets are not waterproof. Water (and other liquids) can soak through them, reach the wrapped item, and cause damage to it. Besides, furniture pads absorb moisture, so if they get wet and stay inside the moving truck for several days, it may result in mold or mildew. To avoid such unfortunate scenarios, you need to cover the pads with plastic wrap, especially when moving in the rain (or snow).

See also: Tips for moving in the rain; Tips for moving in the snow

Preventing shifting in the moving truck

In addition to protecting household items from damage, dust, and dirt, furniture pads for moving also reduce the risk of shifting during transport. The padded coverings help make the load tighter, so the items in the moving van don’t have room to move around. Besides, the quilted pads create a protective barrier – and an extra cushioning layer – between the wrapped pieces and any other items and boxes in the truck.

Furthermore, folded moving blankets can be used to fill gaps in between boxes and items in the truck, thus providing additional cushioning and making the pack even tighter so nothing can shift during transit.

Essentially, moving blankets serve as padding in the moving truck.

Preventing property damage

Moving blankets can help you protect not only your items, but your property too:

• Furniture pads will indirectly protect the floors, walls, and doorways of your home. Large and heavy items are difficult to carry, so you can easily drop them or bang them against a wall or a doorframe – if the item is wrapped in moving blankets, however, the thick padding will prevent damage to the floor, wall, or doorframe;
• You can secure moving blankets to doorframes and walls in high-traffic areas to create a protective layer that will keep the walls and doorframes unscathed if you bump a heavy furniture piece or appliance against them. (You can cover the floors with moving blankets for the same purpose, of course, but there exist better – and cheaper – ways to protect floors when moving.);
• You can wrap railings and banisters with moving blankets to prevent them from breaking (or getting otherwise damaged) when moving bulky items up or down the stairs. (See also: How to protect stairs when moving)

Moving heavy items more easily

Last but not least, moving blankets make things easier to move:

• When an item is properly wrapped in thick moving blankets, it will easily slide across hardwood floors, tile floors, laminate floors, and other smooth, hard floors – without scratching them. You may even be able to slide a well-padded piece across carpet;
• You can place a furniture pad under an item and use it to maneuver the piece through the home (just pull the pad forward – it will slide easily (together with the heavy item on top of it) across carpeted floors, hard floors, and even up and down the ramp of the moving truck);
• You can slip a moving blanket under an item and use it as a sling so that you and a helper can easily take the piece to where it needs to go.

Now that you know the answers to the basic questions “What are furniture pads?” and “Why use moving blankets?”, it’s time to find out how to actually use the protective coverings.

How to use moving blankets

Moving blankets are quite easy and straightforward to use – all you need to do is wrap the item you want to protect in the quilted pad. You just need to be careful to cover the piece completely (so it is cushioned and protected from all sides) and secure the pad well (so it doesn’t slip off during the move – or the wrapped item doesn’t start slipping out of your hands while you’re lifting or carrying it).

How to use a moving blanket to protect a smaller item

Smaller items like end tables, nightstands, chairs, bookshelves, microwaves, etc. can be fully wrapped in a single moving blanket:

• Spread a moving blanket on a flat surface (with the lighter side of the pad facing up);
• Place the item you want to protect in the center of the blanket. Position the piece diagonally, so that its top faces one corner of the blanket and its bottom – the opposite corner;
• Fold the bottom corner of the pad over the item, then the two side corners (the corners should overlap over the item);
• Pull the top corner of the pad over the folded overlapping corners. The item should be completely covered;
• Secure the moving blanket in place with tape, rubber bands, or plastic wrap.

When it comes to larger items, however, one moving blanket won’t be enough.  

How to use furniture pads to protect larger items

Large and bulky items like washing machines, dryers, fridges, dressers, and armoires cannot be covered in a single moving blanket – you will need several pads to safely wrap a bigger piece. You will also need someone to help you position and secure the moving blankets.

Here is how to wrap large furniture and appliances for moving:

• Move the piece away from the wall (when applicable), so you have ample space to maneuver around it;
• Secure any appliance cords and cables with tape. It is a good idea to secure appliance doors, furniture doors, and furniture drawers too. (You can use packing tape for appliance doors but furniture doors and drawers should be secured with ropes, straps, or painter’s tape (packing tape can leave sticky residue behind and ruin the delicate wood surfaces). Furniture drawers can be removed to make the furniture piece lighter and easier to move.);
• Unfold a moving blanket and place it against the item. Make sure the bottom edge of the pad is level with the floor and the lighter side of the blanket is facing the item;
• Wrap the front of the item first, then the sides and the back (as far as the blanket goes). Secure the pad with a rubber band;
• If the item is not fully covered from all four sides, take a second blanket and use it the same way, but, this time, start wrapping from the back of the item. The second pad will overlap with the first one at the sides of the item. (For extremely large pieces, like triple dresses and large bookcases, you may need to use three (or more) blankets). Secure all pads with rubber bands or tape them to themselves;
• If there is any excess padding, fold it over the top of the piece;
• Drape a pad (or two) over the top of the piece – the ends of the top blanket(s) will hang over the sides of the item, overlapping with the blankets wrapped around the piece;
• Secure all pads together with rubber bands, tape, or stretch wrap.

When wrapping an extremely delicate and/or valuable item, such as a piano or an antique furniture piece, you need to wrap the bottom of the item too – spread a thick moving blanket on the ground, carefully lift the piece and place it over the blanket (be sure to work with a helper), then fold the ends of the blanket around the item and secure them in place with tape or rubber bands.

See also: How to pack furniture for moving; How to pack kitchen appliances for moving

Good to know: When securing moving blankets around an item, you can use plastic tape, rubber bands, or stretch wrap:

• When using tape, you need to make sure it doesn’t come in contact with the surface of your furniture;
• Rubber bands are more expensive than tape, but they make the securing process easier and much more efficient. Besides, they’re very versatile – and reusable;
• Plastic wrap is the best choice – it not only keeps the furniture pads firmly in place, preventing them from falling off during the move and allowing you to get a good grip on the item, but also provides protection from moisture (especially useful if it’s raining – or snowing – on moving day). (See also: The many practical uses of plastic wrap for moving)

How many moving blankets do I need?

The number of furniture blankets you’re going to need for your move depends on the number and size of large household items you have for moving.

So, when planning your move, go through your home and list the items that will need to be protected with moving blankets. Assign pads to each of these items, based on their size:

• One moving blanket per smaller item, such as a nightstand, a chair, a microwave, a flat-screen TV, etc.;
• Two furniture pads per mid-size item, such as a coffee table or an armchair;
• Three furniture pads per larger item, such as a china cabinet, a dining room table, a washer, a dryer, etc.
• Four moving blankets per big item, such as a refrigerator, a couch, a piano, a wardrobe, a large bookcase, etc.

Extremely large items – such as a hot tub, for example – may require more than four pads.

If you’re not sure whether a piece will require one or two blankets (or two or three, or three or four, etc.), always go for the higher number – it’s better to have too many than not enough.

While this is the most accurate way of determining the number of moving blankets needed for your move, there are other – easier and less time-consuming – methods to get an idea of how many furniture pads you’re going need:

1) Assign 12 blankets per room of your home

You know the size of your home, so you will be able to calculate how many furniture pads you’re going to need within seconds. (A three-bedroom home with a kitchen and a living room – about 60 moving blankets)

Yet, this method is not very accurate, as a room can be smaller or larger, may be full of furniture or minimalistically furnished, etc.  Besides, you may not intend to move all the items in the room.

2) Estimate one dozen pads for every 5 cubic feet of space in the moving truck

This method is quite accurate, as long as you know how much truck space your goods are going to fill. (If your stuff fits in a 16 ft. moving truck, for example, you will need 38-39 moving blankets in order to safely wrap your items and make the load tight enough so nothing shifts during transit).

Bonus tip: When tallying up the number of furniture blankets for moving you’re going to need, always add a few extra pads – you may very well end up needing more moving blankets than you thought.

Where to find moving blankets

Moving blankets are available everywhere you can find moving supplies – online retailers, home improvement stores, moving companies, truck rental companies, etc.

You can either rent or buy the pads you need for your move:

Option 1. Rent moving blankets

Renting moving blankets is your better option if you don’t want to keep the pads after the move.

Why is it a good idea to rent moving blankets?

• It will be much cheaper to rent furniture pads than to buy them;
• You won’t have to store a bunch of moving blankets in your new home (and mind you, furniture pads take a lot of space);
• You will avoid investing in something you may never use again.

When renting furniture pads, you will get the protective materials you need for your move at an affordable price and won’t need to worry about what to do with them after the relocation – it’s a win-win situation, so many people choose to rent moving blankets instead of buying them.

Where to rent moving blankets?

If you’re renting a moving truck for your relocation, the easiest way to get moving blankets is to rent them from your chosen truck company.

Even if you don’t plan to rent a moving truck, you can still rent furniture blankets from reputable truck rental companies such as U-Haul, Penske, and Budget.

Alternatively, you can check out local moving companies or moving pod companies – many of them have furniture pads available for rent.

Some home improvement stores also rent out moving supplies, including furniture pads.

Option 2. Buy moving blankets

Purchasing furniture blankets is the better choice if you move often or intend to use the pads in your new home.

Why is it a good idea to buy moving blankets?

One of the best things about furniture pads is that they’re reusable. Thick and durable, moving blankets can be used over and over again – and not only during house moves, but for various other purposes as well.

If you purchase your quilted pads, you will have them at hand for your next move. Meanwhile, you can use them to protect items in storage, soundproof rooms, black out window, or – if the pads are already old and worn out – to protect floors under heavy equipment, items with sharp edges, messy items, etc. Needless to say, the protective pads can be very useful during renovation and repair works.

Moving blankets can also be used as outdoor blankets, seat covers in cars, pet beds or pet blankets, meditation mats or exercise mats, etc.

Good to know: How to clean moving blankets?

If you purchase blankets for moving and intend to repurpose them and use them in your new home after the move, you will want to clean them after unpacking.

But can you wash moving blankets? Yes, furniture pads are machine washable, so you can easily keep them clean.

Where to buy moving blankets?

You can purchase moving blankets from home improvement stores (such as Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Walmart, etc.), specialized moving supply stores (like New Haven), or online retailers (like Amazon).

You can also visit a local moving company or a truck rental company and purchase the quilted pads you need for your move directly from the pros.

Good to know: How much are moving blankets?

The cost of moving blankets starts at about $10 a piece and can go up to $20 (for high quality pads). When purchased in packs, the price can go down to $6-$8 per pad.

Needless to say, if you hire full-service movers – or request a packing service – the pros will bring all the necessary moving blankets with them and will use them deftly and efficiently to ensure the safety of your belongings – and you won’t need to worry about a thing.

Moving blankets alternatives

If you can’t afford professional packing supplies or if it turns out that you need more protective pads than you thought, you can use alternatives to moving blankets:

• Old blankets – Thick and large, regular blankets offer almost as good protection as professional furniture blankets;
• Large towels – Towels provide good cushioning, but they’re usually not large enough to cover a furniture piece or an appliance – you will have to use several towels to wrap a single item and it won’t be easy to keep them securely in place;
• Bed sheets – Sheets are large enough to fully wrap a big household item, but they’re very thin, so they don’t provide much protection against damage;
• Old clothes – You can easily wrap an item in old clothes, but they will not cover the piece well and won’t protect it properly;
• Pieces of cardboard – You can break down large cardboard boxes that you don’t need and use them to protect furniture and appliances. Keep in mind though that cardboard is not pliable and can’t fit around irregularly shaped items. Besides, securing cardboard pieces around a large household item is quite difficult;
• Paper pads – Paper pads are cheap and easy to use, but they provide very limited protection;
• Foam sheets – Foam padding offers excellent protection, but it’s quite expensive.

See also: Alternative packing materials

When it comes to ensuring the safety of your belongings during a house move, moving blankets are your best bet. They provide the ultimate protection to furniture, appliances, and other large household items and significantly up the chances of a smooth and successful relocation.