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Moving a china cabinet or hutch cabinet is not for the faint of heart; the large size, fragile nature, and expensive price tag revolving around fine china cabinets can make moving it quite stressful. Regardless of if you’re moving to another state or just rearranging a dining room, properly moving a china cabinet the first time is essential. Here are some steps to follow to help smooth out said moving process when dealing with a large, unruly china cabinet.
Need to hire a local mover? Contact CT Best Movers to get started!


1. Formulate a Plan and Measure

Especially with large furniture like china or hutch cabinets, creating a plan is the perfect place to start. A part of this plan is understanding where the china cabinet needs to go and how it will get there. To do this, you’ll want to:
- Measure every dimension of your cabinet
- Formulate an idea of where it will be moved to, will it fit there? Measure
- Measure door frames, hallways, staircases, and any other chokepoint that could prevent the movement of your china cabinet to the destination
To measure and plan for your china cabinet move beforehand can save a ton of time and stress by ensuring your china cabinet isn’t stuck halfway through the dining room door.
2. Ensure the China/Hutch Cabinet is Empty

Before any movement of a china cabinet, truly make sure it’s empty. China left inside will undoubtedly break during the moving process, which can also cause damage to the cabinet itself as well as put you at risk. Plus, china cabinets are already heavy enough without a stack of extra ceramic plates sitting on the shelf inside.
Once emptied, don’t forget to tape or tie down any doors, drawers, and other loose pieces that are a part of the cabinet to prevent these areas from opening up or sustaining damage during the move.
3. Disassemble What You Can

Depending on your specific hutch cabinet, there may be opportunities for you to disassemble this huge piece of furniture into more manageable pieces. Whether this entails pulling drawers completely out or unscrewing glass doors, anything that can be removed from the cabinet makes it easier to move.
When disassembling, it’s absolutely essential you keep track of all screws, nuts, bolts, brackets, and anything else that came out from the china cabinet. We recommend taping a sealable plastic bag to your china cabinet with all small corresponding pieces inside to keep things organized.
4. Protecting the China Cabinet While on the Move

Often featuring some form of glass windows, china cabinets are a fragile move. Protecting these areas is truly essential for the well-being of your cabinet as well as the walls around you. Regardless of if you remove all pieces from your china cabinet, consider these techniques for some form of protection:
- Furniture blankets – thick, protective furniture blankets provide a buffer layer between your cabinet and the outside world
- Bubble wrap – A staple in the moving industry; great for protecting glass and delicate trim
- Floor protection – Cardboard and thin blankets can protect the floors from harsh scratches
- Corner protection – padding on stairwells, bannisters, and corners of walls can prevent dents and scratches while navigating tighter spaces
China cabinets are heavy and oddly-shaped; these extra protections go a long way to help with this unruly move.
5. Get the Right Moving Equipment

Some china cabinets are unrealistic to effectively move without extra help from tools. Here are what the experienced movers use when dealing with a large china cabinet:
- Dolly – Extremely helpful when moving large objects across longer distances, a dolly can be quite effective with a china cabinet. Just ensure the cabinet is properly secured to the dolly before moving it.
- Forearm straps – Can give you move power and control over the cabinet when navigating tight stairs and tough corners.
- Sliders – A smaller, easier tool that can be great when moving a china cabinet across the floor of a room
6. Get Some Help

Whether it’s a friend, family, or a professional moving outfit, getting help with larger items like a china cabinet is hugely important. Moving heavy objects can be dangerous to an individual while also increasing the chances for the cabinet to sustain damages.
Hiring a professional can bring even more positive benefits than just an extra set of hands. Professional movers have experience navigating tight spaces with large objects and come with the proper tools for the job making the whole process that much easier. Never moved a china cabinet before? An experienced mover could have moved hundreds already this year.
7. Load Last, Unload First

For larger scale moves, having your china cabinet packed last and unpacked first is a great improvement for quality of life. This practice helps by:
- Minimizing cabinet movement to get to new location
- Doesn’t get in the way while packing other smaller objects
- Can quickly be moved at the destination to free up space

Recent Moves
CT Best Movers is proud to offer service to all of Connecticut and the Continental United States.

New Haven to Boston

Residential Move
2 Professional Movers and a Truck
Wallingford to Nashville

Residential Move
2 Professional Movers and a Truck
Branford to Providence

Residential Move
2 Professional Movers and a Truck
Fairfield to Miami

Residential Move
2 Professional Movers and a Truck
Let CT Best Movers Handle It!
Equipped with the right tools, the proper experience, and the muscle to move almost anything, CT Best Movers is the ideal outfit for moving in and around Connecticut. Regardless of the size and shape of your china cabinet, you can rest easy that the gentle, yet firm hands at CT Best Movers will safely, efficiently, and effectively move your cabinet and any other belongings to a new location.
Moving is already stressful enough; get some piece of mind back by opting for CT Best Movers for all your moving needs. Why risk damaging your cherished fine china cabinet when CT Best Movers are only a quick call away!