How to Roll a Rug for Moving (Without Creases, Mildew or Damage)

Rugs are one of the easiest things in a house to move and one of the easiest to damage on the way. The damage is almost always the same handful of mistakes: a fold that leaves a permanent crease, a rug wrapped damp in plastic, a heavy box sitting on a roll for a week, or a fringe dragged along a driveway. Here's how to avoid all of them.

Before you roll

Vacuum both sides

Grit inside a rolled rug acts like sandpaper every time the roll flexes. Vacuum the face thoroughly, flip the rug and vacuum the back, then vacuum the floor it was lying on if you're handing the place over.

Make sure it's dry

This matters more than anything else on the list. A rug that is even slightly damp, from a spot-cleaned spill, a wet mop on the floor beside it, or a humid garage, can develop mildew and odor when it's rolled and wrapped. If you've cleaned a spot, give it a full day to dry before moving day.

Note the pile direction

Run your hand across the rug. In one direction the pile feels smooth; in the other it feels rough and looks a shade darker or lighter. Roll in the smooth direction, so the fibers lie down along the roll rather than being pushed back against themselves.

How to roll it

1. Start at a short end. Rolling from the short end gives you a roll as long as the rug is wide: a 5×7.5 ft rug becomes a 5-ft roll, a 6.5×10 ft rug a 6.5-ft roll, and a 10×13 ft rug a 10-ft roll. A roll from the long end would be 13 ft long, which is awkward in stairwells and doesn't fit many trucks lengthwise.
2. Pile facing in. For a move, rolling with the face on the inside keeps the pile clean and shields it from scuffs. The back, which is tougher, takes the knocks.
3. Keep it tight and even. Check the edges as you go. If one side starts to run ahead, unroll a turn and straighten it. A rug rolled crooked develops a wave along one edge.
4. Tuck the fringes in. Fold the fringe at the starting end back onto the rug before the first turn, and at the finishing end lay it flat along the roll. Loose fringe snags on doors and gets stepped on.
5. Tie it in three places. One tie near each end and one in the middle. Use soft cotton twine, fabric straps or wide moving straps, snug but not cutting into the roll. Avoid packing tape directly on the rug; it leaves adhesive on the pile and can pull fibers when removed.

Wrapping

For a local move, a moving blanket or a layer of kraft paper taped to itself (not to the rug) is ideal. Both protect the rug from dirt and still let it breathe.

Plastic stretch wrap is fine for a move that takes a day or two, and it's useful on a rainy day. It is not fine for long periods. Plastic traps moisture, and a rug sealed in plastic in a hot truck or a storage unit can come out smelling musty. If the rug is going into storage after the move, swap the plastic for breathable wrapping; our guide on how to store a rug long-term covers the details.

Carrying and loading

• Two people for anything 6.5×10 ft and up. Carry the roll at both ends like a log. Don't drag it; dragging wears through the wrapping and then the edge.
• Load it flat. Lay the roll along the floor of the truck or across the top of a flat, sturdy stack. Standing a rolled rug on its end for a short time is fine; for the length of a trip, the weight settles onto one edge and can crush it.
• Nothing heavy on top. A rolled rug under a dresser or a stack of book boxes for a week will flatten into an oval and come out with pressure marks.
• Keep it away from liquids. Load rugs away from plant pots, cleaning bottles and anything that could leak.

Never fold

Folding is the classic moving mistake. A fold concentrates stress along one line, and in a dense, machine-woven rug that line can become a visible crease or ridge. If a rug absolutely must be folded to fit in a car, fold it loosely with the face out along the length, not across, and unfold it the moment you arrive. Better: borrow a bigger vehicle for the rugs.

At the new place

1. Unroll within a few days. The longer a rug stays rolled, the more it wants to curl.
2. Unroll it where it will live, on a clean, dry floor, and let it rest flat for a day before heavy furniture goes on top.
3. Fix curling edges by reverse-rolling. Roll the curled end the opposite way, face out, for an hour or two, then lay it flat again. Our guide to getting a rug to lay flat walks through corners and ripples.
4. Give the pile a quick vacuum in the smooth direction to lift fibers that were pressed during the move.

How much space rugs take in a moving truck

A rolled rug's length is the rug's width, and its thickness depends on how dense the rug is. For planning, think of each rug as a long, narrow item rather than as a box. Runners are the easiest: a 3-ft wide runner rolls into a 3-ft roll however long it is, and fits in the back seat of most cars.

Quick checklist

• Vacuum both sides, and make sure the rug is fully dry.
• Roll from a short end, pile facing in, in the smooth pile direction.
• Tuck the fringes; tie in three places with soft straps, not tape.
• Moving blanket or kraft paper; plastic only for a day or two.
• Carry, don't drag. Load flat. Nothing heavy on top.
• Never fold. Unroll within a few days and reverse-roll any curls.

Moving into a bigger place? Browse our rugs by size, from 5×7.5 ft up to 10×13 ft, plus 3-ft-wide runners for the new hallway. Shipping is free in the US and Canada on orders over $110.

New to Sacramento?

If your move has brought you to the Sacramento area, come and see us at 3423 Watt Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95821. The showroom is open daily 10 AM–7:30 PM, and if you bring the room measurements of your new place, we'll help you work out what fits.