Arcade Game & Claw Machine Moving

How an arcade game move works

Send us the machine types, the addresses, and photos if a machine is large or unusual. Our crew protects screens and glass, wraps the cabinet, and loads it upright on a liftgate truck. Larger pieces such as sit-down driving games may be split into their sections for the move and put back together at delivery when they are designed to come apart.

How to prepare an arcade machine

• Empty the coin box, card reader or prize area. Remove plush and prizes from claw machines.
• Unplug the machine and secure the power cord.
• Lock the cabinet doors and remove loose items such as seats or guns that unclip.
• Measure doorways, hallways and stairs. Many cabinets are taller than a standard door when upright.
• Note the model and send photos so we can plan any disassembly.

What is included

• Blanket wrap, screen and marquee protection, and stretch wrap or palletizing.
• Liftgate truck and individual load straps.
• Inside delivery and placement, including stair moves where the route allows.
• Storage if the new venue is not ready.

Domestic and international arcade shipping

Venue openings and route changes often involve several machines at once. We can move a full floor in one trip or stage machines from storage as each location is ready.

For international moves we handle export and import freight in both directions: crating the machine for ocean or air shipment, preparing the commercial paperwork that customs requires, and arranging delivery from the port or airport to the final site. You supply the documents only the owner can provide, such as proof of ownership and any permits your destination requires, and we coordinate the rest.

What affects the cost of moving a arcade game

There is no single price for a arcade game move, because the work changes a lot from job to job. A quote is built from a handful of things you can usually tell us up front.

• Distance. A move across town is usually a dedicated local trip. A move between states can travel dedicated or be consolidated with other freight on the same lane, which usually costs less for a single arcade game.
• Machine type and weight. Upright cabinets, sit-down driving games, claw machines and large multi-player units vary widely in size, weight and how they come apart for doorways.
• Access at each end. Steps, stairs, elevators, narrow halls, tight turns and the distance from the truck to the machine all affect crew size and equipment. A loading dock at both ends is the simplest case.
• Liftgate and inside delivery. Without a dock, a liftgate truck lowers the machine to the ground. Inside delivery brings it to the room where it will run rather than leaving it at the door.
• Storage. If the new site is not ready, the machine can be held between pickup and delivery. Storage time is quoted separately.
• Timing. Fixed delivery dates, after-hours or weekend work, and short notice can change the price compared with a flexible window.

What is included with a arcade game move

• A crew that handles arcade games and knows how to protect the monitors, marquees, control panels, joysticks, light guns and coin doors.
• Blanket wrap and padding for local moves, or pallet and shrink wrap for freight shipments, with crating available for fragile or high-value machines.
• Upright loading, with the machine strapped individually inside the truck.
• Liftgate service when there is no dock, plus stair-climbing dollies and straps when the route needs them.
• Inside delivery to the spot you choose, with packing material removed.
• We set the cabinet in place and level it. Where a game was split into sections for access, we tell you beforehand what will be reassembled on site.

Checklist before a arcade game is picked up

1. Empty all product, coins, cash, tokens or media, and keep the keys with you or tape them to the machine as agreed.
2. Unplug the machine at least 24 hours ahead. Refrigerated or electronic machines should be fully powered down, and any water should be drained.
3. Secure doors, glass and loose parts. Lock or tape doors shut and remove anything that can slide or rattle.
4. Measure the machine and every doorway, hallway, stairway and elevator on the route at both addresses.
5. Tell us about parking, loading dock hours, building rules, certificates of insurance or elevator bookings before the day.
6. Send photos of the machine and the route if you can. They help us bring the right crew and equipment.

How a arcade game is protected in transit

The parts that get damaged in a arcade game move are usually the monitors, marquees, control panels, joysticks, light guns and coin doors. Protection is planned around them before the crew arrives, based on the make, model and photos you send.

The machine is wrapped in moving blankets and stretch wrap, or strapped to a pallet when it travels as freight. It is loaded upright on a liftgate truck, braced against the wall of the truck and secured with load straps so it cannot shift or tip. Keys stay with you unless we agree otherwise, and doors are locked or taped so they cannot swing open.

When the move involves stairs, the crew uses stair-climbing dollies and extra hands rather than tilting the machine further than it should go. Narrow doorways sometimes mean removing a door from its hinges or taking the route through a loading entrance instead, which is why we ask for measurements up front.

Delivery day for a arcade game

The crew calls ahead with an arrival window. Have someone at the delivery address who can open the building and confirm exactly where the arcade game should go, and keep the route from the truck to that spot clear.

We set the cabinet in place and level it. Where a game was split into sections for access, we tell you beforehand what will be reassembled on site. Before the crew leaves, look the machine over together: check the cabinet, glass and screens, confirm loose parts and keys are accounted for, and note anything wrong on the delivery paperwork with photos before signing.

Scheduling a arcade game move

Give as much notice as you can, especially for long-distance moves, fixed delivery dates or several machines at once. A fixed deadline, such as a lease ending or a venue opening, usually means a dedicated truck. When the dates are flexible, a arcade game can often travel with other freight on a scheduled lane, which usually costs less.

If the destination is not ready on the day the old site has to be cleared, the arcade game can be picked up, stored upright and wrapped, and delivered once the new site is ready. Ask for storage at quote time so it is included in the price.

Local, long-distance and international arcade game moves

We move arcade games for arcades, family entertainment centers, bars, game rooms, homes and storage. Local moves are usually scheduled as a dedicated trip with a two-person crew. Long-distance moves cross state lines on scheduled lanes or as dedicated runs, depending on budget and timing.

International arcade game shipments are crated for ocean or air freight. We prepare the commercial paperwork customs requires and arrange delivery from the port or airport. The owner supplies documents only the owner can provide, such as proof of ownership, plus any import permits the destination country requires.

Moving more than one arcade game, or a full route? Multiple machines can be scheduled together, picked up from several sites and delivered in one sequence. That is usually more efficient than booking each machine separately.

Arcade Games moving FAQ

Can an arcade cabinet be laid down for the move?

We keep cabinets upright whenever possible to protect the monitor and internal mounts. If a doorway forces a tilt, we do it briefly and with the cabinet supported.

Do you take machines apart?

Only where the machine is designed to separate, such as some sit-down and multi-section games. We do not repair or rewire machines.

Can you move a whole arcade or game room?

Yes. Send us a list of the machines and the access at both ends and we will plan the truck size and crew.

Do you move claw machines with the glass in place?

Usually yes, with the glass protected and the claw secured. Remove the prizes first so nothing shifts in transit.

How do I get a quote?

Call 866-216-7742 or use the quote form with your ZIP codes, the machine list and photos.

How much does it cost to move a arcade game?

It depends on distance, the machine's size and weight, access at both ends, and whether you need liftgate, inside delivery, storage or a fixed date. Send pickup and delivery ZIP codes, the machine type and photos of the route, and we will quote the move.

Can you store a arcade game between pickup and delivery?

Yes. If the new location is not ready, the machine can be held and delivered when you are. Let us know at quote time so storage is included in the price.