The weight of a dining room set will depend on its size and what it is made from (wood, aluminum, wrought iron, glass etc.). When hiring professional movers, you may want to attempt to
calculate the weight of your furniture and belongings to get an idea of what your move will cost. Additionally, if you are renting a truck and transporting your own goods, you will need to determine the cubic footage of your possessions to know what size trailer you will need.
| Type | Average weight (in pounds) | Cubic Footage |
|---|
| Dining Chair |
70 |
10 |
| Dining Room Table (Small) |
252 |
36 |
| Dining Room Table (Medium) |
315 |
45 |
| Dining Room Table (Large) |
385 |
55 |
Packing a dining set
Dining room sets can be very fragile and easily damaged, especially if they are made from wood or glass. Glass table tops can become easily scratched, chipped or cracked, and the slightest bit of moisture can ruin a wooden table. Using the proper packing materials and measures to wrap your dining set will protect it from harm and ensure that it arrives at your destination intact.
- If possible, disassemble your dining room table and chairs to make them easier to transport and fit onto the truck. Remove the table's legs and leaves to be wrapped separately. If you can, remove the legs from your dining room chairs as well--chairs can be difficult to load onto a moving truck because of their unusual shape.
- Keep track of any nuts or bolts you have removed so reassembly is simple. Place them in a small plastic bag and tape it to the underside of the table to avoid losing them.
- To wrap a glass tabletop, wrap it with furniture pads and secure with packing tape. Take care not to allow the tape to come in direct contact with the glass--it can leave behind remnants of unsightly adhesive. Next, wrap the table with bubble wrap to protect the fragile glass from scratches or cracks. Never put bubble wrap directly against the glass--the air bubbles can leave behind impressions on the surface. You can also purchase large, flat specialty boxes (called mirror boxes) to pack your glass table top.
- Wrap wooden or other types of table tops with furniture blankets and packing tape as well, making sure to cover all corners and edges. Never use shrinkwrap or any plastic covering directly on the wood's surface--it can trap moisture and cause severe water damage to your wood. You can also apply wax to the wood before packing to help protect the surface.
- Wrap all chair and table legs with furniture blankets, bubble wrap or stretch wrap, making sure to wrap them with paper before applying any plastic covering. Do the same for the body of the chairs, wrapping any bars, rails or extensions with bubble wrap for protection.
Moving a dining set
Whenever you are carrying bulky items such as furniture, it is important to plan thoroughly, lift slowly, and carry carefully. You can prevent costly damage to your pieces as well as painful injury to your body by following the proper procedures.
- Plan your route. Take note of all corners, doorways, and tight or awkward spaces your table will have to fit though. You may have to reposition the table while carrying it.
- When carrying the dining room table, have a helper hold one end while you take the other. If you were able to remove the legs, it is simpler to carry the table-top vertically. This way you can easily fit through hallways, doorways and other tight spaces.
- If the legs were not removed, carry the table horizontally to avoid bumping the legs into walls and doorframes. This can cause scratches, dents and chips not only in your table, but your walls as well.
- Carry your chairs by the seat, never by the back or the legs.
Loading a dining set
Proper loading methods ensure that you make the most out of your space (and your money), as well as keep your items safe and protected from damage during the trip.
- Carry the table-top into the trailer, using the ramp if you have one. If not, have a friend stand in the truck to help you safely lift it inside.
- If you were able to remove the table's legs, position the table-top against the wall of the truck and secure it to the trailer with bungee cords to keep it stationary during transit.
- If the legs were not removed, you may either stand the table on its legs or lie it upside down, depending on how full your truck will be. If your truck will not be packed to the brim, an upright table may slide around the back of the trailer and sustain damage. To prevent an upright table from moving, you can set boxes underneath it to help hold it still. Additionally, don't set very heavy items on top of the table or near its legs if you place the table upside down.
- Stack your chairs on top of one another in an upright position. Secure them with straps or bungee cords to keep them stationary during transport.