Queen Anne Moving Guide
Steep hills, narrow residential streets, and homes with no driveway — Queen Anne moves require a crew that knows the terrain. Here's everything you need.
Queen Anne is one of Seattle's most beautiful neighborhoods — tree-lined streets, stunning views of the skyline and Puget Sound, and a mix of historic homes and modern apartments. It's also one of the most physically demanding places to move in the entire city.
The hills are steep — we're talking San Francisco steep on some streets. The residential roads are narrow. Many older homes have no driveway, no garage, and stairs everywhere. As someone in the moving industry, I can tell you: Queen Anne separates experienced crews from amateurs fast.
Upper vs Lower Queen Anne — Two Very Different Moves
⛰️ Upper Queen Anne
- •Housing: Mostly single-family homes, duplexes, and older craftsman-style houses. Many built in the early 1900s.
- •Challenge: Extreme hills. Some streets have 15-20% grades. Trucks need to park on steep inclines, and crews carry furniture uphill.
- •Parking: Street parking only for most homes. Narrow streets with cars on both sides. Larger trucks may not fit on some blocks.
- •Typical move: 2-4 bedroom house, lots of stairs (inside and outside), heavy furniture, longer load times.
🏢 Lower Queen Anne (Uptown)
- •Housing: Mix of apartments, condos, and mid-rise buildings. More modern construction near Seattle Center and Climate Pledge Arena.
- •Challenge: Dense urban area. Busy streets, limited truck access, and event traffic from Seattle Center can complicate moves.
- •Parking: RPZ zones, metered parking, and loading zones that fill up fast. Temporary No Parking signs are often essential.
- •Typical move: Studio to 2-bedroom apartment, elevator buildings common, building rules and loading dock reservations required.
Key takeaway: When getting quotes, specify whether you're in Upper or Lower Queen Anne. The move difficulty — and pricing — can be dramatically different between the two.
The 5 Biggest Queen Anne Moving Challenges
1. The Hills — Seriously Steep
Queen Anne Hill isn't called a hill for nothing. Streets like Queen Anne Ave N, W Galer, and the Counterbalance (Queen Anne Ave N between Roy and Galer) have grades that affect everything: where the truck parks, how the crew carries furniture, and how long the move takes.
How to handle it: Tell your movers the specific street and cross-street. Experienced Queen Anne crews know which blocks are steep and plan accordingly — they'll bring wheel chocks for the truck, use dollies with brakes, and may send an extra crew member for safety. This isn't the time to hire the cheapest option.
2. No Driveway, No Garage
Many Upper Queen Anne homes — especially the charming craftsman houses — were built before cars were common. No driveway. No garage. The truck parks on the street and the crew carries everything up a front walkway that's often steep with stairs.
How to handle it: Reserve street parking with SDOT temporary No Parking signs ($37 each, 72-hour advance notice). Get the truck as close to the front door as possible. Every extra 50 feet of carry distance adds time and cost.
3. Narrow Residential Streets
Upper Queen Anne's residential streets are tight. With cars parked on both sides, some blocks barely fit a standard moving truck. And if there's no space to turn around, the driver may need to back out — which on a steep hill is a serious skill.
How to handle it: Ask your movers if they'll use a smaller truck (16-20 ft) for narrow streets. It may mean two trips, but it beats a stuck truck or a sideswipe on a parked car. Experienced Queen Anne movers already know which truck size fits which streets.
4. Old Homes with Tight Interiors
Early 1900s craftsman and Victorian homes have narrow doorways, tight hallways, steep interior staircases, and rooms that weren't designed for modern furniture. That L-shaped sectional? Might not make the turn at the landing.
How to handle it: Measure doorways and stairway turns before moving day. Disassemble everything possible. Experienced crews can remove doors from hinges and use specific angles to get large pieces through. But some items genuinely won't fit — better to know in advance.
5. Event Traffic in Lower Queen Anne
Lower Queen Anne sits next to Seattle Center, Climate Pledge Arena, and the Space Needle. On event days — concerts, Kraken games, festivals — the neighborhood becomes a traffic and parking nightmare that can add an hour or more to your move.
How to handle it: Check the Seattle Center events calendar before scheduling. Avoid moving on game days, festival weekends, and major concert nights. If you can't avoid it, start early in the morning before crowds arrive.
Streets & Hills — What Your Movers Need to Know
🔴 Steepest Streets (High Difficulty)
The Counterbalance (Queen Anne Ave N between Roy and Galer), W Galer St near 3rd Ave W, W Highland Dr approaches, and several streets climbing the south face of the hill. These require experienced crews, wheel chocks, and extra care with heavy items on dollies.
🟡 Moderate Streets (Plan Ahead)
Most of Upper Queen Anne's interior residential streets — 4th Ave W, 5th Ave W, W McGraw, W Crockett. Noticeable grade but manageable for experienced crews. Parking can be tight, so SDOT signs are recommended.
🟢 Easier Areas (Standard Move)
Lower Queen Anne / Uptown is relatively flat. Modern apartment buildings with loading docks and freight elevators. Standard urban move logistics — reserve the dock, reserve parking, and you're good.
🔧 Insider tip: When a crew parks a truck on a Queen Anne hill, the angle matters. Loading a truck that's pointing downhill is significantly easier than uphill — furniture slides toward the cab instead of toward the door. Good crews know this and position accordingly.
Moving to or From Queen Anne?
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Insider Tips for a Smooth Queen Anne Move
Specify Upper or Lower when getting quotes
These are fundamentally different moves. A Lower Queen Anne apartment with elevator access is half the difficulty of an Upper Queen Anne craftsman on a steep street. Movers price accordingly — make sure your quote reflects the actual situation.
Move mid-week to avoid street congestion
Queen Anne's residential streets are tighter on weekends when everyone's home and parked. A Tuesday or Wednesday move gives the truck more room and less competition for parking spots.
Hire movers with Queen Anne experience
This isn't a neighborhood where any crew will do. Ask specifically: 'Have you done moves on Queen Anne Hill?' A crew that knows the streets, the grades, and the parking situation will be twice as efficient as one that doesn't.
Consider a smaller truck for Upper Queen Anne
A 16-foot truck navigates narrow streets and steep grades much better than a 26-footer. Yes, it might take two loads. But two smooth loads beat one trip with a stuck truck or a fender bender.
Protect exterior stairs and walkways
Many Queen Anne homes have exterior front stairs — wood or concrete with metal railings. Heavy furniture going up these stairs can chip paint, crack wood, or bend railings. Insist on padding and take it slow.
Check for Seattle Center events (Lower QA)
Kraken games, concerts at Climate Pledge Arena, and Seattle Center festivals create traffic chaos in Lower Queen Anne. Check the calendar at seattlecenter.com before scheduling your move.
What a Queen Anne Move Actually Costs
Queen Anne moves — especially Upper — tend to run higher than Seattle averages due to hills, stairs, and access challenges.
| Move Type | Estimated Cost | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Studio/1-Bed (Lower QA, elevator) | $500–$850 | 2–3 hours |
| 1-Bed (Upper QA, stairs) | $700–$1,100 | 3–4 hours |
| 2-Bed house (Upper QA) | $1,000–$1,600 | 4–6 hours |
| 3-Bed house (Upper QA) | $1,400–$2,200 | 5–8 hours |
| 4-Bed house (Upper QA, steep street) | $1,800–$3,000+ | 6–10 hours |
Note: Upper Queen Anne homes often cost 20–40% more than comparable moves in flatter neighborhoods. The hills, stairs, and parking challenges genuinely add time. For full Seattle pricing benchmarks, see our complete cost guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do movers charge extra for Queen Anne Hill moves?▼
Most do — either through a higher hourly rate, stair surcharges ($25–$75 per flight), or a 'difficult access' fee. Upper Queen Anne moves routinely cost 20-40% more than equivalent moves in flat neighborhoods. Always disclose the hill/stair situation when getting quotes.
What size truck works best for Upper Queen Anne?▼
A 16-20 foot truck is ideal for most Upper Queen Anne residential streets. Full-size 26-foot trucks can work on main roads but struggle on narrow side streets. Your movers should know the right truck for your specific block.
Is Lower Queen Anne easier to move into?▼
Generally yes — it's flatter, has more modern buildings with elevators and loading docks, and is more accessible for larger trucks. The main challenges are urban parking and event-day traffic from Seattle Center.
When's the best time to move in Queen Anne?▼
Mid-week (Tuesday–Thursday), early morning (7-8 AM start). Avoid the 1st/15th of the month and any Seattle Center event days if you're in Lower QA. Off-season (October–February) gives you better rates and more crew availability.
Can movers even get a truck up some of these hills?▼
Yes — experienced Seattle movers handle these hills every day. Their trucks are equipped for grades, and crews know to use wheel chocks and proper parking technique. The key word is 'experienced.' Don't hire a crew that's never done a Queen Anne move.
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Written by the SeattleMoversGuide team
Local moving industry professionals who've navigated Queen Anne's hills more times than we can count. We know which streets are brutal, which trucks fit, and how to get your furniture up safely.