Deciding to move a washer and dryer yourself is possible for some households, but it comes with real risks: water damage from an improperly disconnected hose, a thrown-out back from carrying a 200-pound drum down a stairwell, or a dented dryer that no longer sits flush. Before you rent a dolly and recruit a friend, it helps to know exactly what the job demands and where the line is between "doable" and "call a professional."
This guide walks through the real decision: what DIY appliance moving actually involves, what equipment and help you need, and the specific situations where paying for professional movers saves you more than it costs.
Yes, for most front-load or top-load units in a ground-floor or elevator building, with the right dolly and a second person, DIY is realistic. The risk rises sharply with stairs, tight hallway turns, or a dryer that still has residual gas or electrical connections you are not comfortable handling.
Washers typically weigh 150 to 200 pounds, and dryers run slightly lighter, but both are awkward rather than simply heavy. Their weight sits unevenly, which means two people lifting without a proper appliance dolly are more likely to lose control on a turn than to simply struggle with the load. If your unit needs to go down more than one flight, or if you are moving a gas dryer, that is where most DIY attempts go wrong.
At minimum you need an appliance dolly with a strap, furniture sliders or a hand truck for tile and hardwood, moving blankets, and a second person who can commit to the full day. Skipping any of these is how floors get scratched and backs get strained.
Shut off the water supply valves behind the washer, disconnect the hoses, and let them drain into a towel or bucket before moving anything. For the dryer, unplug the electrical cord and, if it is gas-powered, make sure the gas line is shut off and disconnected properly before the unit is touched.
A few details trip people up here. First, washer hoses hold residual water even after the valves are off, so drain them over a towel rather than directly over flooring. Second, if your dryer runs on gas, this is the one step we'd point you toward a licensed professional for rather than attempting yourself, since a gas line done incorrectly is a safety hazard, not just an inconvenience. Third, tape down the washer drum or use shipping bolts if you have them, since an unsecured drum can shift and damage the unit during transport.
Hiring movers makes sense once stairs, long carry distances, tight doorways, or a tight moving-day schedule enter the picture. It also makes sense if you simply do not want to risk your own back or your security deposit on a job that a trained crew handles routinely.
A few scenarios where paying for help tends to pay off:
If any of this describes your move, our local moving crews are equipped to handle heavy appliances as part of a standard residential move, so you are not carrying a washer down a stairwell on top of everything else.
A professional crew will typically arrive with the dolly, straps, and padding already on the truck, assess the disconnection status of your units, and carry them as part of the broader load plan for the day rather than as a separate project. That means the appliance move gets folded into the same timeline as the rest of your furniture instead of eating hours on its own.
It also means less guesswork about where the washer and dryer sit in the truck relative to everything else, since an experienced crew knows to load dense, stable items like appliances in a position where they will not shift or crush lighter boxes during transit.
Moving a washer and dryer yourself is realistic when you have the right dolly, a committed helper, and a straightforward path from the laundry room to the truck. It gets significantly harder, and significantly riskier, once stairs, gas lines, or tight timelines are part of the picture. If your situation leans toward the harder end, it is worth getting a quote before moving day rather than after something goes wrong.
For help planning the full move, not just the appliances, check out our guide on building a complete moving checklist to make sure nothing else gets left for the last minute.
It is not recommended. Both appliances are awkward rather than just heavy, and their weight shifts unpredictably when tilted onto a dolly. A single person is far more likely to lose control on a turn or a step than to simply struggle with the load, so plan for at least two people.
Yes. Detach the vent hose from the back of the dryer and from the wall duct before sliding the unit out. Leaving it attached can tear the ductwork or pull the vent connector loose from the wall.
Run a quick spin cycle with no clothes to clear excess water, then let it sit for a few minutes before disconnecting the hoses. This reduces how much water drains out when you detach the supply lines.
It is best avoided for top-load washers, since it can damage internal components or cause oil to leak into the drum. Front-load units are somewhat more tolerant but should still be transported upright whenever possible.
If you only have a short, flat path to the truck, a rental dolly for a day is usually inexpensive insurance against a dropped appliance. If your move involves stairs or long carries, that is usually the point where hiring movers outright becomes the more practical option.
It is not recommended. Both appliances are awkward rather than just heavy, and their weight shifts unpredictably when tilted onto a dolly. A single person is far more likely to lose control on a turn or a step than to simply struggle with the load, so plan for at least two people.
Yes. Detach the vent hose from the back of the dryer and from the wall duct before sliding the unit out. Leaving it attached can tear the ductwork or pull the vent connector loose from the wall.
Run a quick spin cycle with no clothes to clear excess water, then let it sit for a few minutes before disconnecting the hoses. This reduces how much water drains out when you detach the supply lines.
It is best avoided for top-load washers, since it can damage internal components or cause oil to leak into the drum. Front-load units are somewhat more tolerant but should still be transported upright whenever possible.
If you only have a short, flat path to the truck, a rental dolly for a day is usually inexpensive insurance against a dropped appliance. If your move involves stairs or long carries, that is usually the point where hiring movers outright becomes the more practical option.
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