Buying Guides — Delivery & Set-Up
Getting a new mattress up a flight of stairs is one of the most awkward furniture jobs there is — narrow SE Queensland staircases, low ceilings and 90° turns all make it harder than it looks. This guide walks through measuring, technique and mattress-type-specific tips, so if your stairwell is genuinely too tight, a mattress-in-a-box is worth considering as an easier alternative to a fully expanded mattress.
Before you start: measure everything
The number one reason mattress moves fail halfway up the stairs is skipping the measuring step. Before you touch the mattress, spend five minutes on these dimensions — it can save you hours of frustration later.
Check the clear width between walls or balustrades on your staircase (standard Australian stairs run roughly 900mm–1000mm wide), the floor-to-ceiling height at the lowest point above the stairs, any landing or turning space partway up, the doorway width and height at your destination, and the exact length, width and thickness of your own mattress. Write all of it down and compare it against your mattress before you commit to a move.
As a rough reference, an Australian single mattress (92 x 188cm) weighs about 25–35kg and is manageable for one or two people. A double (138 x 188cm) runs 35–50kg and needs two. A queen (153 x 203cm) is 40–60kg and genuinely needs two people minimum, and a king (183 x 203cm) can weigh 50–75kg and often calls for two to three people. A queen mattress stood on its end is roughly 203cm tall, so you'll want at least that much ceiling clearance above your stairs before you attempt to stand it vertically — otherwise you'll need to angle it diagonally partway up.
Tools you'll need
Having the right gear makes a mattress move significantly safer and easier. You don't need everything on this list, but the more of it you have on hand, the smoother the job.
A mattress bag is essential — it protects against dirt, scuffed walls and moisture during the carry. Moving straps or forearm forklifts are also essential; they distribute the mattress's weight evenly across both forearms instead of your hands and lower back. Work gloves give you a better grip on plastic-wrapped mattresses, rope or cord is handy for cinching a bag closed, and non-slip, closed-toe shoes are critical for stability on stairs — never attempt this in socks or thongs.
A furniture dolly or hand trolley is useful for wheeling a mattress across flat floors to the foot of the stairs, but it isn't suitable for the stairs themselves — leave it at the bottom and switch to manual carrying with straps for the climb.
Step-by-step: getting it up the stairs
Once you've measured and gathered your tools, work through the move in order — don't skip steps, and don't rush.
1. Clear the path completely. Remove every obstacle from the staircase and the route from the front door to the bedroom, including rugs (a serious tripping hazard on stairs), shoes, cables and any furniture sitting on landings. Keep pets and children well clear of the area for the whole move, and double-check you have room to rotate the mattress on any mid-staircase landing or 90° turn.
2. Wrap and protect the mattress. Before moving it an inch, wrap the mattress in a protective mattress bag or thick plastic and seal it with packing tape. No bag on hand? Wrap it tightly in old blankets or moving pads and secure with rope or bungee cords instead.
3. Fit your moving straps. Loop forearm forklifts or moving straps under the mattress so each person carries even weight through their forearms rather than their hands. This cuts the risk of dropping it and takes real pressure off your lower back.
4. Stand the mattress vertically. For almost every staircase, the safest approach is to stand the mattress on its long edge, making it much narrower to carry — sometimes called the "edge carry." One person holds the bottom, the other holds the top.
5. Use proper lifting technique. This step is critical for avoiding injury. Bend at the knees rather than the waist, keep your back straight throughout, lift with your leg muscles, hold the mattress close to your body, never twist your torso while carrying, and avoid lifting above shoulder height.
6. Ascend one step at a time. Communication is everything here — the person at the top guides direction, the person at the bottom provides the power. Count out loud ("ready, step"), never rush, and take a rest on any landing. If the ceiling drops low, angle the mattress diagonally rather than forcing it through flat.
7. Navigate corners and low ceilings with a diagonal pivot. Think of it like parking a car — don't force the mattress straight through a tight corner. Angle it about 45° in the stairwell, have the person at the top lift their end toward the ceiling while the person at the bottom swings their end toward the wall, then slowly work it through in that arc.
8. Place and position in the bedroom. Once upstairs, lay the mattress flat as soon as you can — leaving a foam mattress standing vertically for too long can cause uneven settling. Remove the wrapping, position it on your bed frame, and if it's a new memory foam mattress that arrived boxed, give it 24–48 hours before sleeping on it.
Guide by mattress type
Not every mattress moves the same way — its construction determines what you can and can't safely do with it on the stairs.
Memory foam is medium to heavy and should never be folded — bending it can permanently damage the foam cells and void your warranty. Carry it vertically on its edge only, use moving straps, and lay it flat again as soon as possible rather than leaving it standing.
Innerspring / pocket spring mattresses are heavy. Some king-size innerspring mattresses have a hinge point in the middle, so check with the manufacturer before assuming it can bend — without a hinge, treat it exactly like memory foam and use the diagonal pivot for tight corners.
Latex mattresses are very heavy given how dense the material is, and should never be bent or folded. A queen or king latex mattress may genuinely need three people, so budget for extra breaks.
Mattress-in-a-box is the easiest option for a difficult staircase. While it's still rolled and boxed it's light enough to carry up on your own or with one helper, then unbox it once it's in the bedroom — this avoids manoeuvring a fully expanded mattress through a tight stairwell altogether, which is worth remembering if your access is genuinely tricky.
Hybrid (foam and spring) mattresses are heavy and, thanks to the spring layer, can't be bent — treat them like an innerspring mattress, with two people minimum and extra caution around corners.
Air beds / adjustable mattresses are light once fully deflated, which makes them the easiest of all to get upstairs — deflate completely before moving, then pump it back up once it's in place.
Whatever the construction, never bend or fold a memory foam, latex, hybrid, or hingeless innerspring mattress — doing so can distort the coils, crack the latex core, or permanently compress the foam, and will typically void your warranty immediately.
Guide by staircase type
A straight staircase is the most straightforward scenario — stand the mattress vertically, one person at each end, and ascend steadily. You'll still need two people for queen and king sizes.
An L-shaped staircase with a 90° turn is where most moves get stuck. Use the diagonal pivot: angle the mattress at 45° as you approach the landing and pivot it around the corner slowly, ideally with one person on each side of the turn. It's worth measuring the diagonal clearance of the landing before you start.
A U-shaped or switchback staircase is similar but with two turns — take each section one at a time, and be prepared to manoeuvre around the banister post using the diagonal method at each turn.
A spiral staircase is the most challenging scenario of all. The recommended approach is to lay the mattress flat against the open side of the spiral and use the handrail as a guide, with two or three people helping. If the mattress genuinely cannot navigate the spiral, consider hoisting it via a balcony with a rope-and-pulley system, hiring professional furniture removalists, or opting for a mattress-in-a-box that's far easier to carry up in the first place.
Under Australia's National Construction Code, residential staircases in new builds must have a minimum clear width of 1000mm, though older Queensland homes and apartments are often narrower — always measure before buying a large mattress if you're not sure your stairs will take it.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do measure everything before you start, use at least two people for queen and king sizes, wrap the mattress in a protective bag, carry it vertically on its long edge, use moving straps for weight distribution, wear non-slip closed-toe shoes, take regular breaks at landings, communicate clearly with your helper, clear the entire path before starting, and lift with your legs rather than your back.
Don't try to carry a queen or king mattress alone, bend or fold a memory foam or latex mattress, rush or skip planning the route, carry the mattress flat on the stairs, leave rugs or cables lying on the stairs, twist your torso while carrying, lift the mattress above shoulder height, drag the mattress across floors (it damages the fabric), leave children or pets in the stairwell, or force the mattress through if it genuinely doesn't fit.
When to call the professionals
Sometimes the smartest move is knowing when not to DIY it. Consider bringing in professional help if your staircase or landing is too narrow for the mattress to pass through safely even carried vertically or diagonally, if you're dealing with a spiral staircase the mattress physically can't navigate, if the mattress weighs over 60kg (a latex or king-size) and you don't have two to three capable helpers, if you have a back, shoulder or joint condition that heavy lifting could aggravate, or if access is only possible via a balcony and would require hoisting.
SE Queensland has plenty of reputable furniture removalists who specialise in tricky deliveries. When you buy your mattress from A2Z Furniture, our team can advise on delivery options specific to your address and staircase — visit us in-store across our 5 SE QLD showrooms or get in touch to discuss what's possible for your home.
FAQs
Can one person move a mattress upstairs alone?
It's possible but not recommended. Mattresses weigh between roughly 25kg and 75kg depending on size and type, and moving one solo risks back injury and damage to the mattress. If you must go it alone, use a mattress sling or forearm forklifts, take it one step at a time, and rest often. For queen or king mattresses, always enlist at least one other person.
Can you fold a memory foam mattress to get it upstairs?
No — folding or bending a memory foam mattress can permanently damage the foam layers and void your warranty. Keep it flat, or stand it upright on its edge and slide it up the stairs with two people rather than folding it.
How do you get a king-size mattress up a narrow staircase?
Stand it vertically on its long edge, with one person at the bottom and one at the top sliding it along the stair rail. If the ceiling is too low, angle it diagonally using the pivot method. Some king innerspring mattresses can be gently bent at a hinge point — check with the manufacturer first — but memory foam king mattresses should never be bent.
What tools do I need to move a mattress upstairs?
A mattress bag or plastic wrap to protect it, moving straps or forearm forklifts to distribute the weight, and work gloves for grip are the essentials. A hand trolley or dolly helps across flat floors, but it isn't suitable for the stairs themselves.
How do you get a mattress up spiral stairs?
Spiral stairs are the hardest scenario. Lay the mattress flat against the open side of the spiral flight and use the handrail as a guide, with two or three people helping and going slowly. If it genuinely can't navigate the spiral, consider hoisting via a balcony with a rope-and-pulley system, hiring professional removalists, or choosing a mattress-in-a-box that's much easier to carry up in the first place.
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