A gun safe is usually the heaviest thing in the house, and it is often sitting in the worst spot to move it from: a basement, a back bedroom, or the end of a narrow hall. If you are moving out of a Bridgeville house or anywhere in the South Hills, the safe deserves its own conversation before moving day.
This guide answers the questions people ask most about moving a gun safe. It draws on the safe maker Liberty Safe's own moving advice, Pennsylvania's firearms law and the federal moving rules, so you know what matters and why.
How heavy is a gun safe?
Heavier than most people expect. Liberty Safe says a home-size gun safe with fire-rated insulation can weigh up to 3,100 pounds, and that a loaded gun safe can weigh well over a thousand pounds, often 2 or 3 thousand (Liberty Safe, tips for moving a gun safe).
Look up the model's empty weight before you call a mover. It is usually in the owner's manual or on the maker's website. That number, plus the route out of the house, decides how many people and what equipment the job needs.
Do I need to empty the safe before it moves?
Yes. Liberty Safe says to always empty a gun safe before you even try to shift its position. Guns and ammunition add a lot of weight, and loose contents can shift during the move and make the safe more likely to tip.
Once it is empty, close and lock it so the door can't swing open on the stairs. Keep the combination or key with you, not in a box on the truck.
What do I do with the guns and ammunition?
The simplest answer is to move them yourself. Pennsylvania law generally requires a license to carry a firearm in a vehicle, but it makes an exception for a firearm that is not loaded and is in a secure wrapper while you are moving from one home to another (18 Pa.C.S. § 6106). If you are moving to another state, check that state's rules before you go.
Ammunition needs a mention too. Federal law forbids putting hazardous materials in your household goods without telling your mover, and the FMCSA lists explosives among them (FMCSA, Protect Your Move). Tell us about anything like that when you book, or keep it with you in the car.
Will a gun safe fit through my doors and down my stairs?
Measure before you find out the hard way. Liberty Safe recommends measuring the safe and every doorway, hallway and staircase on the way out, including the depth of the handle and the diagonal for tight corners. A safe that went into a basement before the drywall was finished does not always come back out the same way.
When you ask for a quote, tell us:
- The make and model of the safe, or its height, width and depth
- Where it sits now, and where it is going at the new home
- How many steps there are at both ends, and whether any turn
- How close the truck can park to the door
Our safe and heavy item movers check the stairs, turns and doorways before anything is lifted, and the crew is sized for the weight.
Can I move a gun safe myself?
Liberty Safe's first answer is don't. If you do it anyway, the company's advice is to use a heavy-duty dolly rated for the weight with straps, wrap the safe in blankets, never try it alone, check the load rating of your truck, trailer and ramps, and never lift or lever the safe by its handle. Most quality safes have a handle built to break away under force, and a bent handle or stripped dial needs repair before the safe works again.
Floors are the other risk. A rolling safe can crack tile and dent hardwood, and some floors and stairs aren't built for that much weight in one spot.
What happens once the safe gets to the new house?
It goes where you want it, the first time. Decide on the room and the wall before moving day, so the crew sets it in place instead of moving it twice. Liberty Safe recommends bolting the safe to the floor once it is in its new spot, to stop it from tipping and to make it harder to steal.
A heavy safe also adds to the rest of the move. Our guide to hidden moving costs explains why heavy items are worth mentioning up front, and our post on moving heavy items on Pittsburgh hills covers steep driveways and tight access.
Moving a gun safe in Bridgeville or the South Hills?
We move homes in Bridgeville and across the South Hills, and a safe, hot tub or pool table can go on the same job as the rest of the house. Heavy item moves are priced as a flat job, quoted from the item and the access at both ends. Learn more on our Bridgeville moving page.
Send us the safe's details and both addresses on our quote page, or call (412) 498-5562 to talk it through.
