Looking for the best dolly for moving? You’re in the right place. Dollies are essential moving tools that come in a variety of designs, each built to handle specific types of loads. Whether you’re relocating an office, moving into a new apartment, or transporting bulky furniture, choosing the right dolly can save time, reduce strain, and protect your belongings.
If you’re preparing for a move and need reliable dollies, BluBox-it offers durable, eco-friendly moving bins and dollies for rent. We make both residential and commercial moves smoother and more efficient, without the hassle of buying equipment you’ll only use once.
In this blog, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to choose the best dolly for your move.
Choosing the Best Dolly Depends on Your Needs
The right dolly for your move depends on several factors:
- Is it a residential or corporate move?
- What items are being moved?
- How heavy and bulky are they?
- Are there stairs, tight hallways, or uneven surfaces involved?
By answering these questions, you can narrow down the best dolly option for your situation.
For corporate moves, you’re often dealing with a mix of heavy office equipment, electronics and large quantities of boxes. In these cases, heavy-duty hand trucks and convertible dollies are excellent choices due to their high weight capacity and flexibility. Convertible dollies can switch from a two-wheel hand truck to a four-wheel platform, making them ideal for moving both stacked boxes and oversized items. The tradeoff is that they tend to be pricier and require more storage space.
For residential moves, moving boxes are almost a given. Pairing these with four-wheel furniture dollies or appliance dollies is usually the most efficient approach. These dollies are built to handle heavy household items like sofas, dressers, refrigerators and washing machines.
You’ll also want to decide whether to rent or buy. Renting a dolly is often the smarter choice for one-time moves—it keeps costs low and eliminates storage concerns. If you move frequently or run a business with ongoing moving needs, purchasing may be more practical.
Hand Truck Dolly
A hand truck dolly—often just called a hand truck—is one of the most common moving tools. It features an upright frame, two wheels, a small base plate, and a tall handle. The design allows you to tilt the load backward, making it easier to transport heavy items with less physical effort.
Hand trucks are ideal for moving appliances like refrigerators, dryers, and washing machines, as well as stacked boxes. Depending on the model, weight capacities typically range from 200 to 600 pounds.
They’re especially useful for navigating narrow hallways, elevators, and doorways, making them a popular choice for both office and apartment moves.
Furniture Dolly – Can You Use a Dolly to Move a Couch?
Yes, a furniture dolly is one of the best tools for moving a couch and other bulky items. Furniture dollies are flat platforms—usually square or rectangular—mounted on four swivel wheels for easy, multidirectional movement. They’re commonly made from reinforced wood or metal and designed to support heavy loads.
Most furniture dollies can handle anywhere from 200 to 2,000 pounds, depending on their construction. This makes them perfect for couches, wardrobes, cabinets, and entertainment centers.
However, furniture dollies are not suitable for stairs and can be difficult to control on uneven ground. Despite these limitations, they are invaluable for moving large furniture across flat surfaces.
Appliance Dolly
An appliance dolly is specifically designed for large, heavy appliances. It typically has a tall steel or aluminum frame, a wide base plate, two large wheels, and built-in straps to secure the load. Most appliance dollies support weights of up to 600 pounds.
What sets appliance dollies apart is their ability to safely strap items in place, reducing the risk of shifting or tipping during transport. Many also feature pneumatic or thick rubber wheels that absorb shock and perform well on uneven surfaces.
The downside is that appliance dollies can be difficult to maneuver in very tight spaces and are less versatile for items without a solid base to strap onto.
Utility Dolly
A utility dolly—sometimes called a utility hand truck—has an L-shaped frame with two wheels and a small platform. It’s designed for stacking items vertically and moving them by tilting the dolly back onto its wheels. Weight capacities usually range from 500 to 800 pounds.
Utility dollies are excellent for transporting multiple boxes at once and can handle smaller furniture or appliances if they’re well-balanced and secured. That said, stability depends heavily on proper stacking, and they’re not ideal for stairs or rough terrain.
Specialty Dollies
Specialty dollies are built for unique moving challenges that standard dollies can’t easily handle.
Stair-climbing dollies use a tri-wheel or similar mechanism to move heavy items up and down stairs, making them essential for buildings without elevators.
Convertible dollies transform between two-wheel and four-wheel configurations, offering maximum flexibility during complex moves.
Some specialty dollies can support loads of up to 1,000 pounds, depending on the design.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Dolly
Before renting or buying a dolly, consider these important factors:
Weight Capacity
Always estimate the total weight of the items you’ll be moving. Choose a dolly with a higher capacity than you think you’ll need to ensure safety and durability.
Size and Dimensions
The dolly should comfortably accommodate the size of your items. Also think about storage—foldable or compact dollies are ideal if space is limited.
Material and Durability
- Steel offers maximum strength but is heavier.
- Aluminum is lighter and easier to maneuver, though often more expensive.
- Plastic is lightweight and corrosion-resistant but best for lighter loads.
Wheels and Maneuverability
- Solid wheels work well on smooth indoor floors and require little maintenance.
- Pneumatic wheels provide better shock absorption on uneven surfaces.
- Two-wheel dollies are ideal for tight spaces and vertical loads.
- Four-wheel dollies provide superior stability for heavy furniture.
Safety Tips for Using a Dolly
Using a dolly correctly is just as important as choosing the right one. Always confirm that the load is within the dolly’s weight limit. Lift with your legs, not your back, and place items centrally on the dolly to maintain balance.
Secure loads with straps or bungee cords, and keep heavier items at the bottom. Avoid stacking too high, as this can make the dolly unstable and increase the risk of injury.
Real-Life Moving Scenarios
A recent apartment move involved a renter handling everything independently to save on costs. By renting a utility dolly for boxes and a furniture dolly for larger items, the move was completed efficiently without professional help.
In another case, a growing office needed to relocate quickly. Using a combination of heavy-duty hand trucks and convertible dollies allowed the team to safely transport servers, monitors, and office furniture—highlighting how the right equipment can make a major difference.
Moving Boxes & Dollies for Rent with BluBox-it
If you’re planning a move and need dependable equipment, BluBox-it provides high-quality dollies and eco-friendly moving bins for rent. From small residential moves to large office relocations, our rental options help simplify the process while keeping costs under control.
Choosing the right dolly—and renting instead of buying when appropriate—can have a huge impact on the success of your move. Contact BluBox-it today and make your next move easier, safer and more efficient.