How to Move a Refrigerator the Right Way

Empty the Refrigerator

A few days before the scheduled move, empty the refrigerator to reduce weight and eliminate potential spills you’ll need to clean up later. Remove everything from all compartments—even that jar of pickles you’ve had open for five years. Don't forget to clear out the freezer, too. This is a great opportunity to discard all the food you keep, "just in case," but will never actually use. 

If you can’t eat your way through your food inventory, use coolers for temporary storage, or give away what you have to friends and neighbors to reduce waste.

Measure Your Refrigerator

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While your owner’s manual may provide dimensions, it’s a good idea to take measurements yourself and round up to ensure you have enough room to maneuver it. Note the height, width, and depth of the fridge, including bulky parts like door handles.

Keep in mind that not all refrigerators are a standard size, so don’t make assumptions before making hands-on measurements. If you are planning to move the refrigerator to a new kitchen, take time to measure the new space to make sure it will fit.

Plan the Route Out of Your Home

Measure the hallways and doors that the refrigerator will pass through to ensure the route out of the house has enough space to fit the hefty appliance. Make sure the fridge has plenty of room to pass through tight areas. Note that helpers, dollies, and moving straps may need extra space, so be wary of any tight fits. Pay attention to any problem areas like porch steps, loose pavers or dirt, and tripping hazards.

If it looks like the refrigerator won’t fit through a specific spot, consider an alternative route or different positioning. Ensure furniture, vehicles, and other objects are out of the way. Consider removing your front door or taking off the refrigerator door to make more space. You can simply re-attach them after the move.

Disconnect the Appliance and Wait

When you’re ready to get moving, tilt the appliance backward slightly and slide the floor protectors underneath the front legs or casters. You can use felt or rubber pads for this. Once they're in place, you can pull the unit forward away from the wall to unplug it. You’ll also need to disconnect the water line, if there is one. Tape the power cord and water line to the back of the unit with packing tape, so they don't pose a trip hazard during the move. Allow the fridge to come to room temperature before moving to prevent issues with the refrigerant and potential breakdown. Leave the doors open and let the appliance some to room temperature over 24 to 48 hours.

Clean the Refrigerator

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Now you've emptied and disconnected it, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start cleaning your refrigerator. Take this opportunity to clean and sanitize the unit of any bacteria that might have built up over time.

Cleaning your fridge at this step is crucial—especially since the doors are open and bacteria can grow while the fridge is at room temperature. Defrost the freezer compartment and remove any ice chunks. Place towels in front of the open doors to catch any ice that might drip as it melts.

Take care to clean every shelf, tray, drawer, nook, and cranny inside the unit, including the brackets or ridges your shelves rest on.

Behind the unit, exercise caution. Just don't spray any cleaning agent on the motor or coils. Instead, use a lightly dampened cloth to clean that part of the machine. Once finished, let the appliance dry.

Remove Shelves and Drawers

After cleaning every nook and cranny inside your refrigerator, it’s time to remove the shelves and drawers. This step ensures that the removable parts of your refrigerator aren’t accidentally damaged during transport. Take them out slowly, wrap each piece in bubble wrap, and pack them in moving boxes. Don’t forget to label the outside of the box so these fridge components are easy to find and reinstall once your fridge is up and running in your new home.

Wrap It Up

At this point, the appliance should be disconnected, clean, and ready for action. If the refrigerator is too big to fit through your doorways, you might need to remove the appliance doors. Just remember to store the door hardware somewhere safe until it’s time to reattach them.)

Next, grab the moving blankets and the straps. Wrap the front of the unit with the blankets and secure them using the straps. This keeps the doors and drawers shut and helps to protect the fridge. If your move damages the finish, the cost of refinishing an appliance is $150 to $300.

Load it Up

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Put the furniture dolly close to the center of one side of the refrigerator. Tilt the appliance slightly to the opposite side, and slide the dolly base under the unit. Furniture dollies are expensive, but you can rent one for less than $20 a day.

When transporting the fridge, move carefully and slowly, keeping the dolly and appliance at a 45-degree angle. Take stairs one at a time, and have your moving buddy help ease the appliance up or down each step, curb, and crack. 

If the truck you're using doesn't have a tailgate lift or a ramp, you'll need to set up a ramp rather than try to lift the refrigerator into the truck bed. Make sure the ramp is secured properly and that it can hold the weight of you and the appliance. 

Walk backwards up the ramp, pulling the dolly and fridge with you, with your buddy guiding and pushing from the bottom of the ramp. Remember, pulling the unit up the ramp is much easier and markedly safer than pushing it from below.

Strap It Down

Now it's on the truck, you’ll need to secure it in place. If possible, leave the refrigerator on the dolly to make unloading it much easier. 

Ideally, position the appliance at the back of the truck, close to the cap, or in a corner for more stability. Secure the appliance to the truck with more tie-down straps.

Unload It and Place It in Its New Location

Once you reach your final destination, remove the anchor straps and carefully and slowly unload the appliance, pulling the dolly down the ramp with the help of your moving buddy. 

When you get it in place, have your helper tilt the unit while you remove the dolly.

Wait for the Fridge to Settle

Don’t turn on the fridge just yet—practice patience unless you want to buy a new refrigerator. If you moved the refrigerator upright, as in this guide, let it rest for at least four hours. You might need up to eight hours if your journey was especially long—like a four-hour drive. If you had to place your fridge on its side to move it, wait at least 24 hours before plugging it back in.

Letting the appliance sit allows the oil and coolant time to resettle. If you switch it on before this occurs, the oil won't have time to settle back into the compressor and will block the coolant lines, which can ruin your appliance.

Plug It In

Once the allotted time has passed, plug the unit in, connect the water line, and turn it back on. Remember, it might take your fridge 24 hours to cool completely, so give it time before loading it back up with perishables.