How to Get Large Furniture Up to a Flat

The furniture hoist pulley will be our salvation when we move into a flat, since the heaviest items such as a sofa or a fridge are not easy to carry up the stairs, and in many older buildings the stairwells are narrow.

In many cases, such as when trying to carry a fridge up the stairs, the problem isn't really about weight, but about there barely being enough room to manoeuvre when two people are holding the appliance and need to turn corners on the stairs, which are not designed for this purpose but only to allow people to pass through.

Alternatives for getting furniture up to a flat

Fortunately, there are now many alternatives, such as a rope for lifting furniture, something a company like Canarias Horizont Atlantic can help you with, since they specialise in removals and, once hired, take care of finding the best way to lift your furniture.

Using a pulley

The most traditional option has been to use a rope to lift furniture. It used to be done manually, and now an electric pulley is used to lift furniture.

To get furniture into a flat this way, there needs to be a large window or a balcony facing outside, which is where the pulley is anchored and through which the furniture enters the home; this whole operation must be carried out with safety measures in place.

How much does it cost to lift a sofa through the window?

The cost of lifting a sofa through the balcony can be around 600 euros, which gives us an idea of the budget for getting large furniture into the home this way, although what really drives up the cost are the council fees and setting up the pulley.

Once everything is set up, the budget for the other large pieces of furniture doesn't increase much, so it's worth taking the opportunity to bring all the heaviest items into the home.

The lift

When the building's lift is large, we can use it to lift some large pieces of furniture. Removal companies usually line the lift to avoid damaging it, turning it into a lifting platform without it suffering any kind of damage.

It's not the best option, because lifts are almost never the right size, or at least not for furniture like sofas.

A lifting platform

Lifting platforms are the most widely used option nowadays for getting a sofa up through the balcony, as they are safer than pulleys.

They look a lot like fire engine ladders, but instead of a basket they have a platform on which the furniture is placed to lift it up to the balcony or the largest exterior window of the home.. These machines allow the lifting operation to be carried out completely safely, without the items being lifted suffering any damage.

Sometimes there's no choice but to use the stairs

There are times, when the home has no balconies or exterior windows, when everything has to be carried up the stairs.

The best option is to call a removal company, since in these cases it's a matter of skill rather than strength, and the staff know their job very well.

Staircases have landings and bends, where manoeuvring large furniture is not easy if you don't know how to do it.

Nowadays it's possible to get large furniture into a flat without effort, thanks to the use of pulleys and lifting platforms. If you call a removal company, they will get straight to work planning how to do it and requesting the necessary permits from the council.

Frequently asked questions about getting large furniture up to a flat

How do you get a large sofa up a narrow staircase?

Professional techniques: 2-3 movers minimum, padded blankets wrapped around the sofa, the "tilt" technique on landings (turning it 90° to fit around bends), if the staircase is very narrow removing the legs and any detachable covers, as a last resort dismantling the sofa completely. If nothing works: an external crane. More detail: moving to a flat with no lift.

When is an external crane necessary?

When: the item physically doesn't fit through the staircase or lift (dimensions too large), the staircase is a spiral one (impossible to turn long pieces of furniture), a high floor (above the 4th floor) with very heavy furniture, or the home is only accessible via a balcony or window. Crane cost: 200-500 € depending on height and time. Prior municipal permit (OVP) required.

How much weight can 2 movers carry up a staircase?

Professional ergonomics: a maximum of 30-40 kg per person for continuous transport up stairs. For heavier furniture (an American-style fridge, a 3-seater sofa full of padding, a top-loading washing machine filled with concrete) you need: a hydraulic stair-climbing trolley, 3-4 people, or an external crane.

Does my insurance cover damage to walls or floors when lifting large furniture?

Yes, if the removal company is a professional one, its public liability insurance covers accidental damage to the property (paint, floors, doors). If you do the move yourself with a rented van, there is no cover, and you pay for the damage. A visual inspection before and after the operation, with a dated photo, is good practice.

Do I need to notify the residents' association if I'm going to lift large furniture?

As a courtesy, yes, especially if: you're going to use the shared staircase for several hours, you're going to install an external crane (which may occupy part of the visible façade), or you're going to make noise during extended daytime hours. Some residents' associations require a deposit for possible damage to common areas. Ask the property manager 1-2 weeks in advance.