How to Dismantle & Move an Ottoman Bed

Yes — ottoman beds can be fully dismantled, and doing it in the right order makes reassembly much easier when you arrive at the new room. Allow 30–45 minutes and plan on two people. The frame is manageable alone; the headboard and base panels are not.

What you'll need

• Allen keys (usually supplied with the bed) and an adjustable spanner
• A flat-head screwdriver for the strut spring clips
• Labelled freezer bags or small boxes for fixings
• Moving blankets and tape for upholstered panels
• Your phone — for photographs as you go

Before you start

Empty the storage well completely. Then photograph every strut, bracket and bolt position before you touch anything. Struts often look symmetrical but mount at different angles top and bottom, and the photos settle every argument at the other end.

Step 1: Remove the mattress

Lift the mattress off first so the base is light enough to work on safely. Stand it on its long edge against a wall rather than flat on the floor — it takes far less space and won't get walked on.

Step 2: Detach the gas struts

With the base fully down or properly supported, release the spring clip at each strut end with a flat-head screwdriver and lift the strut off its ball joint. Take both struts off together. Keep left and right paired and labelled — if they have different Newton ratings, swapping them means the base won't balance when rebuilt.

Step 3: Separate the headboard

Undo the headboard fixing bolts and lift it away from the frame. This is usually the single heaviest piece and the most awkward to hold — get help rather than walking it out on your own. Bag the headboard bolts separately; they are often a different length from the frame bolts and mixing them up is the most common reassembly hold-up.

Step 4: Break down the base frame

Unbolt the side rails from the end panels, following the reverse of the assembly order. Support each panel as the last bolt comes out so nothing drops. Keep all bolts, washers and fixings together in a labelled bag per section — "headboard", "side rails", "struts".

Packing and moving it

• Wrap upholstered panels in a moving blanket — fabric bases mark easily against a van wall
• Tape the fixings bag to the panel it belongs to, not to a box that might travel separately
• Carry the base frame flat and never drag it, which racks the joints and is a common cause of a base that won't close afterwards
• Load panels upright against the van side rather than flat under other items

Reassembling at the other end

Build in reverse: frame first, then headboard, then struts last with the base held down, then the mattress. Do not fully tighten the frame bolts until every bolt is started — tightening as you go pulls the frame out of square, which is the usual reason a rebuilt bed won't shut properly. See how to assemble an ottoman bed.

Can you move an ottoman bed assembled?

Small single frames sometimes move as one piece through wide doorways, but most double, king and super king frames need dismantling to get around stairs and corners safely. Measure the narrowest point on the route before deciding — usually a stairwell turn or a landing doorway, not the bedroom.

How long does it take?

Around 30–45 minutes to dismantle with two people, and a little longer to rebuild. Taking photographs first is what makes the rebuild fast.

Do I need to replace the struts after moving?

Not usually. Struts only need replacing if they've lost pressure or a bracket was bent in transit. If the base won't hold up or won't close after the move, see why an ottoman bed won't close and our gas strut replacement guide.

Related reading

Rebuilding at the other end? See how to assemble an ottoman bed. New room might mean a new size — check our small double, double and storage bed ranges, or shop the full ottoman storage bed collection.