Does a carpet fitter move furniture?

Some carpet fitters move furniture and some do not, so it should be agreed in advance rather than assumed. As a rule, clear small, fragile and valuable items yourself and empty wardrobes and drawers. Heavier furniture can sometimes be moved as part of the job if arranged beforehand. Confirm exactly what is included in your quotation.

A new floor can only be fitted where the room is clear, so furniture is always part of the conversation. Practice varies a lot between fitters and between jobs, which is why it is worth sorting out before fitting day rather than on the doorstep.

Do carpet fitters move furniture?

There is no single industry rule. Some fitters will move larger pieces within the house as part of the job, some charge extra for it, and some expect rooms to be completely empty when they arrive. Insurance, the time involved and the risk of damage to heavy or delicate items all play a part. The only reliable answer for your job is the one written into your quotation.

Even where furniture moving is included, it normally means moving items out of the way within your home, not dismantling, storing or reassembling them.

What you should clear yourself

Whatever is agreed, it helps enormously if you deal with these before the day:

• Small, light and fragile items: lamps, ornaments, plants, pictures leaning on walls, books and anything on top of furniture.
• Valuables and personal items: jewellery, documents, medication and anything sentimental.
• Wardrobes, drawers and cupboards: empty them if they need moving, so they are lighter and do not shed contents or break.
• Electronics: unplug and move TVs, computers, games consoles and their cables. Many fitters prefer not to handle these at all.
• Beds: strip the bedding, and if the bed is large or flat-packed, consider dismantling it yourself.
• Under-bed storage and floor clutter: clear it completely.

Items that need a specialist or extra planning

• Gas appliances. A gas cooker or fire should only be disconnected and reconnected by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Flooring fitters should not do this.
• Plumbed appliances. Washing machines, dishwashers and fridge freezers with water supplies may need disconnecting by you or a plumber before hard flooring goes down in a kitchen or utility room.
• Very heavy or valuable pieces. Pianos, large American-style fridge freezers, solid wood wardrobes, aquariums and antiques usually need specialist handling or a clear plan agreed in advance.
• Built-in or fitted furniture. Fitted wardrobes and kitchen units are normally worked around, not moved, so the floor finishes up to them.

Why it is agreed in advance

Moving furniture takes time, space and sometimes two people. Agreeing it beforehand means the job is quoted and scheduled realistically, there is somewhere to put everything, and nobody is surprised on the day. It also protects your belongings, because you decide what is handled and what you would rather move yourself.

It is also worth asking whether doors will need trimming. A new carpet and underlay are often thicker than the old floor, so doors may need taking off and shortening, and that should be agreed too.

Working a room at a time

In a busy, furnished home, rooms are often done one or two at a time, with furniture shuffled into a room that is already finished or not yet started. This takes longer than fitting an empty house, so it affects how long installation takes. If old flooring is being lifted at the same time, see who removes old flooring.

For a whole house, try to keep at least one room or the garage free as a temporary store.

Common questions

Will carpet fitters move my bed?

It depends on the fitter and what has been agreed. If you want the bed moved for you, say so when you ask for a quote. Stripping the bedding and dismantling large beds yourself makes things much easier.

Should I empty my wardrobes before carpet fitting?

Yes, if the wardrobe needs moving. A full wardrobe is heavy and can be damaged or tip when moved. Fitted wardrobes stay in place and the carpet is fitted up to them.

Can carpet be fitted around furniture?

Not properly. Carpet needs to be stretched across the whole room onto the gripper, so the floor needs to be clear. Hard floors such as laminate and LVT also need clear space to lay full rows.

Next step

When you send your details for an estimate, mention how furnished the rooms are and any heavy, fragile or plumbed-in items. We can then confirm what is included before fitting day. For a broader checklist, see what a flooring quotation should include, or read more about our carpet supply and fit.