Do I Need to Empty Drawers for Movers?

This is one of the most common questions movers get asked, and the answer isn't a simple yes or no. It depends on three things: the type of furniture, what's inside it, and whether the furniture is being carried or dismantled.

The short version

Why it matters: what can go wrong

• Drawers slide out — When a piece of furniture is tilted to go through a doorway or down stairs, the drawers can fly open. If there's anything breakable inside, it's going to hit the floor. Even clothes can fall out and get dirty or snagged.
• The furniture breaks — A chest of drawers that's designed to hold 20kg of clothes becomes a 50kg+ unit when it's fully loaded. The joints, runners and base panel aren't built for that weight to be shifted around while someone carries it. Flat-pack furniture is particularly vulnerable — the cam locks and dowels can pop under the strain.
• Someone gets hurt — A loaded wardrobe or chest of drawers is significantly heavier than an empty one. Movers plan how they'll lift something based on what it is. If it's heavier than expected because it's full, that can cause back strains or the piece to be dropped.
• Doors and drawers warp — Wardrobes with hanging rails and clothes inside put uneven pressure on the frame when the wardrobe is tilted. The doors can buckle and never close properly again.

Furniture type by type

Chest of drawers (solid wood)

You can usually leave lightweight clothes in if the drawers have decent runners and stay shut when the unit is tilted. Remove anything heavy from the top drawers — the higher the weight, the more it strains the frame when carried. If the drawers don't have latches or locks, tape them shut with masking tape (not Sellotape — it leaves residue).

Chest of drawers (flat-pack / IKEA)

Empty it. Flat-pack furniture joints are not designed to carry the combined weight of furniture plus contents while being moved. The cam bolts and wooden dowels can shear under the load. It's not worth the risk — it takes 10 minutes to empty the drawers and you avoid potentially writing off a piece of furniture.

Wardrobes

Always empty them. Even if the wardrobe is solid, it's almost impossible to carry safely with clothes still hanging inside — the rail bends, the hangers slide, and the whole thing becomes top-heavy and unstable. Take everything out, remove the rail and shelves if they come out, and carry the frame separately.

Bedside tables

Empty them. They're small enough that packing the contents takes seconds, and the drawers usually don't have proper runners — just grooves in the wood. The drawers slide out easily when tilted.

Sideboards and dressers

Empty them. These are heavy even without contents, and the doors and drawers are wider, making them more likely to swing open during a move. If it has glass doors, the risk is even higher.

Desks and filing cabinets

Always empty filing cabinets — paper is extraordinarily heavy and the drawers will fall open if the cabinet is tilted. For desks, remove everything from the drawers and any shelves. Keyboards and monitors should be packed separately.

What about the "tape the drawers shut" approach?

Some guides suggest taping drawers shut and carrying the furniture fully loaded. This can work for a solid, good-quality chest of drawers with only lightweight clothes inside — but it's a risk, and most professional movers would rather you emptied them. The tape is fine for keeping drawers from sliding during the van journey (after the furniture is loaded and secured), but it's not reliable for the carrying part of the move.

Tell your mover what you've done

When you submit a move request, mention whether drawers and wardrobes are empty or still full. It helps the mover plan the job properly — they'll know what's heavy, what needs extra care, and whether to bring an extra pair of hands for the larger pieces.