It's best to keep a refrigerator upright while transporting it, but if that's not possible, laying it down for a short trip is generally acceptable as long as you take precautions and let it rest upright afterward before plugging it in.
Why upright is preferred: Most modern refrigerators use a compressor lubricated with oil that sits at the bottom of the compressor housing. When the fridge is tipped or laid on its side, this oil can flow into the cooling lines (coils). If the unit is then plugged in and run before the oil has had a chance to settle back, it can cause blockages, reduce cooling efficiency, or in rare cases damage the compressor.
If you must lay it down:
- Lay it on its side, not on the front, back, or upside down — the compressor and coils are usually positioned so that lying on the side (avoiding the side where the compressor is closest to hoses/vents) minimizes oil migration. Check your specific model, but sides are generally safer than front/back/upside-down.
- Use moving blankets or padding to protect the exterior and cushion the fall onto that side.
- Secure it so it can't shift, slide, or tip during transport.
- Keep the transport time as short as reasonably possible (many guides suggest under a few hours, though there's no universally agreed strict cutoff).
After transport — the important step: Once the fridge is back in an upright position, let it stand vertically for a period before plugging it in — commonly recommended as several hours (a frequently cited range is 4–24 hours, with longer rest times for older or longer-transported units, sometimes even longer at the manufacturer's discretion). This allows any oil that migrated into the coils to drain back down to the compressor.
Best practices:
- Check the manufacturer's manual or website for model-specific guidance, since recommendations can vary.
- Use an appliance dolly and moving straps designed for this purpose.
- Empty and defrost the fridge, and secure doors and shelves beforehand.
When possible, dollies designed to move fridges upright (even up stairs) are the safest option.