# How to protect a mattress when moving
1st Choice Packaging · Updated 3 November 2026

A mattress is one of the most expensive things you'll move, and one of the easiest to spoil: dust and dirt from the van, rain between the door and the van, and marks from other furniture. A **polythene mattress bag** costs a few pounds and keeps it clean and dry from one bed to the next.

## Which mattress bag do I need?

| Mattress | Bag |

| Single (3 ft) or small single | [mattress bag, single](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/single-mattress-bag/) |

| Small double, double (4 ft 6 in) or king (5 ft) | [mattress bag, double or king](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/double-mattress-bag/) |

| Super king (6 ft) | [mattress bag, super king](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/super-king-mattress-bag/) |

Our complete [moving kits](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/moving-kits/) include mattress bags for the beds you're likely to have.

## How to bag a mattress

- **Strip the bed** and give the mattress a quick hoover. Make sure it's completely dry.

- **Stand it on its side** against a wall. It's much easier than trying to bag it flat.

- **Slide the bag down over the top** like a pillowcase, with someone on the other side, then tip the mattress and pull the bag down to the bottom.

- **Seal the end.** Fold the open end over and tape it closed so dust and rain can't get in.

**Packing tip:** Bag the mattress on the morning of the move, not days before. You can sleep on it the last night, and a bagged mattress against a wall gets in the way.

## Carrying and loading

- Carry it on its side with two people. Polythene is slippery, so hold it by the sides, not the top edge.
- Don't fold or roll it unless it's a type the maker says can be folded. Most memory foam and pocket sprung mattresses shouldn't be bent.
- In the van, stand it on its side against the wall and use it as a soft barrier for mirrors and pictures. Don't stack heavy boxes on it.

## Storing a mattress

If it's going into storage, the bag keeps dust off. Store it flat or on its side in a dry place, never in a damp garage or shed, and check on it now and then. Pillows, duvets and cushions go in [bedding and cushion bag](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/bedding-bag/) to keep them clean too.

## Questions

**Do I need a mattress bag to move house?**
It isn't essential but it is worth it. A mattress bag keeps your mattress clean and dry in the van and between the house and the van, and costs far less than cleaning or replacing a mattress.

**What size mattress bag for a king size bed?**
A 5 ft bag fits double and king size mattresses. Super kings need a 6 ft bag.

**Can I fold a mattress to move it?**
Most memory foam and pocket sprung mattresses should not be folded. Check the maker's advice, and carry it flat on its side in a bag.

## Shop for this
[Mattress bag, double or king £6.49](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/double-mattress-bag/) [Mattress bag, single £4.95](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/single-mattress-bag/) [Bedding and cushion bag £1.95](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/bedding-bag/)
[Work out how many boxes](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/box-calculator/)

## More moving guides
Guide

### [How to protect floors and carpets when moving](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/protect-floors-and-carpets-when-moving/)
Which protection film goes on carpets and which on hard floors, how to lay it, and other ways to avoid marks on moving day.

Guide

### [How to move furniture without damage](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/how-to-move-furniture-without-damage/)
Taking furniture apart, wrapping it in blankets, protecting edges and corners, and loading it safely.

Guide

### [How to label moving boxes](https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/how-to-label-moving-boxes/)
A simple labelling system (room, contents, number, priority) and the "open first" box.

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Source: https://1stchoicepackaging.co.uk/guides/how-to-protect-a-mattress-when-moving/ · 1st Choice Packaging, 75 Tollerford Road, Poole, Dorset, BH17 9BW · hello@1stchoicepackaging.co.uk