Expert Tips for Hassle-Free Furniture Shipping

Shipping Furniture Without Disaster

I’ve shipped dozens of pieces – from small boxes to large tables. Some arrived perfectly. A few arrived damaged. The difference usually came down to packing, not the shipping company.

Here’s what I’ve learned about getting furniture from point A to point B intact.

Measure Everything First

Before you do anything else, get accurate dimensions and weight. You need this for shipping quotes and to know what size box or crate you need.

Don’t guess. A table that’s “about 4 feet” might be 52 inches, and that matters for shipping costs and box sizing. Weigh on a scale if possible.

Disassemble When You Can

Legs come off tables. Backs come off chairs. Doors come off cabinets. Taking things apart makes them smaller, lighter, and less likely to break.

Bag and label all hardware. I use ziplock bags taped to the piece they came from. Nothing’s worse than reassembling furniture and finding mystery screws in the box.

Take photos before disassembly so you (or the recipient) knows how it goes back together.

Packing That Actually Protects

Cardboard alone isn’t enough for furniture. Use moving blankets or thick foam around the piece first. Then cardboard. Corners get hit hardest – wrap them with extra padding.

Fill empty space inside boxes with crumpled paper or foam. If something can shift during shipping, it will. You want zero movement inside the box.

For valuable pieces, build a wooden crate. Plywood with 2×4 frame, sized to fit the piece with padding. More work, but basically bulletproof.

Shipping Options

UPS/FedEx: Good for smaller pieces under their size limits. Track everything. Insure anything valuable.

Freight companies: For larger items. More affordable than you’d think for big pieces. Delivery to a loading dock is cheapest; residential delivery costs more.

Moving companies: For very large or valuable pieces. They handle everything but cost the most.

uShip or similar: Auction-style shipping where carriers bid on your shipment. Can find good deals, but vet the carrier carefully.

Insurance Is Worth It

Declare the actual value and pay for coverage. Carrier liability without declared value usually caps at pennies per pound – meaningless for furniture.

Take photos of the piece from all angles before shipping. Document the packing. If something goes wrong, you’ll need evidence for a claim.

Receiving End

Tell the recipient to inspect before signing. Once they sign for delivery, it’s much harder to claim damage.

If there’s visible box damage, have them note it on the delivery receipt and photograph everything before opening. If the piece is damaged, file a claim immediately.

Local Delivery

For local sales, delivering yourself is often the best option. You control the handling and can set up the piece properly. A rental van or truck is cheap compared to shipping costs.

The Reality

Shipping furniture always involves some risk. Good packing dramatically reduces that risk but doesn’t eliminate it. Price your work accordingly if shipping is part of what you offer, and be clear with buyers about the process.

Most of the time, well-packed pieces arrive fine. The ones that don’t are usually the result of cutting corners on packing, not bad luck.