Moving

How to Move an Arcade Cabinet Safely: Room, Stairs and Truck

Arcade cabinets are tall, top-heavy and often heavier than they look. Most damage happens in the few minutes it takes to get one through a doorway or into a truck. This guide covers how to move one across the room, up or down stairs, and to a new home without hurting yourself or the machine.

If you're receiving a new cabinet by freight, start with our freight and stair access guide. This article is about moving one you already own.

Gear you will want

Browse appliance dollies on Amazon

See heavy-duty moving blankets on Amazon

Before you move: prep checklist

• Power down properly, unplug, and let the machine cool
• Remove anything loose inside the cabinet: manuals, spare parts, keys, coin box contents
• Lock or tape the coin door and back door shut
• Remove the marquee glass or bezel glass if it's easy to remove; otherwise tape across it in an X and pad it
• Remove or protect the control panel, since joysticks and buttons stick out and snap easily
• Remove leg levelers or casters if they'd catch on stairs or truck ramps
• Photograph wiring and connections if you must disconnect anything
• Measure the cabinet and every doorway, turn and stairwell on the route
• Clear the route of rugs, furniture and pets

Moving across a room

For short moves on a level floor:

1. Use sliders or casters if the cabinet has them, pushing low and steadily. Don't push high on a tall cabinet, because it can tip.
2. Have a spotter on the other side to steady it.
3. Avoid rocking the cabinet on one corner to "walk" it. This strains the joints and risks tipping.

If your cabinet doesn't have casters and you move it often, see our guide to casters and leg levelers.

Dolly technique for uprights

1. Wrap the cabinet in moving blankets and tape or strap them in place.
2. Decide which side goes on the dolly. Most people put the back of the cabinet against the dolly so the screen and control panel face outward and are visible. Some prefer a side. Choose the orientation with a flat, strong surface against the dolly and nothing protruding.
3. Slide the dolly plate under the cabinet while one person tilts it slightly.
4. Strap the cabinet firmly to the dolly before tilting back.
5. Tilt back slowly to the balance point, where the dolly carries the weight and the handler just steers.
6. Move slowly, with a spotter guiding and watching corners and door frames.

Stairs: the danger zone

Stairs are where cabinets and people get hurt. If the stairway is steep, narrow, has a tight turn, or the cabinet is very heavy (especially CRT cabinets), seriously consider professional movers who handle pianos or appliances.

If you do it yourself:

• At least two people, ideally three. One handles the dolly from above. One or two control and support from below.
• The heavier person or the dolly goes uphill. Nobody should be below a cabinet that could slide down onto them. The downhill person guides, they don't brace the full weight.
• One step at a time. Stop on each step and communicate clearly: "step," "hold," "go."
• Use stair-climbing dolly rails if your dolly has them.
• Protect the walls and banister with blankets.

Loading and transporting in a vehicle

Upright vs on its back

Transporting upright is generally preferred. It keeps loads on the cabinet the way it was designed to carry them and reduces stress on the monitor mounts. Some manufacturers have specific guidance, so check your manual. If you must lay a cabinet down, lay it on its back, never on its front where the control panel and screen are, and pad underneath.

Securing it

• Use a ramp or liftgate. Don't deadlift a cabinet into a truck bed.
• Position it against the front wall of the cargo area if possible.
• Strap it to anchor points with ratchet straps at more than one height.
• Pad all sides so it can't rub or shift.
• Don't stack anything on top of it.

Driving

• Brake and corner gently.
• Avoid bumpy shortcuts.
• Stop and check the straps after the first few minutes.

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How the process differs by machine type

If you aren't sure about a specific machine, the service manual or the manufacturer's support page usually has a moving or shipping section. Read it before you start unscrewing things.

Moving to a new home

• Tell professional movers in advance that you have arcade machines, and ask whether they'll handle them. Some moving companies have special policies or exclusions for electronics or high-value items.
• Check your insurance. Ask your mover and your insurer how the machines are covered during the move.
• Move cabinets last onto the truck and first off, if possible, to reduce handling.
• Climate: if the cabinet has been in a cold truck or storage, let it reach room temperature before powering on to avoid condensation. Our cold garage guide explains why.

After the move

1. Inspect for damage: cabinet edges, T-molding, glass, control panel. Our T-molding guide helps with damaged edges.
2. Reinstall anything you removed, using your photos as reference.
3. Level the cabinet on its new floor.
4. Power on and test every control, sound and lighting.
5. Check connections if anything doesn't work. Connectors can work loose in transit.