How to ship furniture when a normal package won't work

Furniture is a good example of why shipping decisions should start with the finished item. A couch, cabinet, table, or heavy chair may need freight or local delivery depending on its size, packaging, distance, and how it can be loaded.

First decide whether you're shipping or moving it locally

If the buyer or destination is nearby, local delivery may be worth comparing. For longer distances, freight can make more sense once the piece is packaged and protected for transit.

Measure the furniture after you decide how it will travel

Do not quote a bare sofa or table if the finished shipment will be wrapped, boxed, crated, or placed on a pallet. Measure the final handling unit: length, width, height, and gross weight.

If the furniture can be disassembled safely, record the dimensions and weight of each resulting handling unit. If it remains one large piece, make sure the final footprint includes every protruding part.

Protect the item before you worry about the rate

Freight carriers handle freight differently from a person carrying a box. Furniture needs protection against movement, contact with other freight, and the normal handling environment of a truck network. Use packaging appropriate to the item and carrier requirements.

Think about pickup and delivery equipment

A residential destination without a loading dock can be very different from a commercial dock. Ask whether the pickup and delivery locations have the equipment needed to load and unload the finished shipment. If they don't, a liftgate or another service may be needed.

If you sold it online

Get the buyer's address before promising a delivered price. Shipping cost and service requirements can change substantially with the destination and the conditions at each end. Build the shipment from the final dimensions and actual weight, not an optimistic estimate made before packaging.

What Rate Farm can do

Once you have the final dimensions and weight, Rate Farm can help you determine whether the shipment looks like freight, estimate density-based class when applicable, identify common service considerations, and organize the details into a Shipment Brief.