Gun safes and heavy safes moved with the same rigging gear as our pianos.
One written number, no walkthrough required.
A loaded gun safe can weigh anywhere from 300 to well over 1,000 pounds, concentrated in a box with almost nothing to grip. Add a rowhome stairwell or a basement with a single narrow entry point, and it’s exactly the kind of job that damages floors, walls, and backs when handled without the right equipment. Universal Moving Services moves safes with stair-climbing hand trucks, rigging straps, and a crew that plans the route before lifting anything.
Most safe moves in Philadelphia involve getting a safe out of a basement or up from a ground-floor closet, often around a tight turn at the bottom of the stairs. We assess the path first – doorway widths, floor type, and any weight limits on stairs or landings – and bring the right equipment for that specific move rather than a one-size approach.
| Safe type | Typical weight | Crew needed |
|---|---|---|
| Small gun safe (single-gun capacity) | 150-300 lbs | 2-3 movers |
| Standard gun safe (10-30 gun) | 300-700 lbs | 3-4 movers, hand truck |
| Large safe / vault door | 700-1,500+ lbs | 4+ movers, rigging equipment |
Dispatch lead Danny Kowalski schedules safe moves with extra buffer time built in, because a careful basement extraction takes longer than the weight alone suggests – rushing a safe down a rowhome staircase is how walls and stair treads get damaged. We’d rather take an extra 30 minutes than patch drywall afterward.
If you’re not certain how much your safe weighs, a rough estimate is enough for us to start planning equipment and crew size. We’ll confirm the details during the walkthrough and adjust the plan if the safe turns out heavier or the access tighter than first described.
Good to know: Safe moving is quoted separately based on weight, stairs, and access difficulty – it’s rarely a simple add-on line item to a general move because the equipment involved is genuinely different.
Ground-floor moves are usually straightforward once the safe is on a hand truck, but stairs change the math considerably. A safe under 400 pounds can often move with two experienced movers and a stair-rated hand truck; anything heavier gets a larger crew and rigging straps so the load is always controlled, never carried on strength alone through a stairwell turn.
Safe moves often happen alongside a full residential move or as a standalone job when you’re reorganizing a home office or gun room without moving everything else. If the safe needs to sit in a secure, climate-controlled space between homes, pair this with our short-term storage. Get a free quote and include the safe’s approximate weight and location so we can bring the right equipment on move day.
One number covers the crew, the gear, and the care — nothing itemized after the fact.
Louis and Ethan we very efficient and professional. Fast, respectful and caring of my items. Their boss Paul met at the storage and helped unload and was very neat loading and unloading. Would definitely use them again and recommend using them. Thank you
This company is a solid 10 out of 10!! Everything from the quoting to booking to moving day was perfect. Highly recommend. My movers Cruz V & Johnny C were phenomenal
Jessica, John, Miguel, Manuel, and Angel were AMAZING! Took care of me and my furniture. Can’t say enough good things!
One honest Philadelphia crew for every kind of move across Greater Philadelphia.
Crews who know Philadelphia's rowhome blocks, narrow streets, and parking permits cold.
Licensed long-haul moves up and down the I-95 corridor and beyond, on our own federal authority.
Full household moves handled room by room, from twin rowhomes to Main Line colonials.
Walk-ups, tight stairwells, and building certificate-of-insurance paperwork, handled routinely.
Every box packed, labeled, and wrapped before moving day even starts.
Upright, baby grand, or antique uprights moved with skid boards and rigging built for stairs.
Send your pickup and dropoff and our Philadelphia office sends back a written flat rate — usually within the hour.