Shipping furniture might seem like a simple affair. But in actuality, shipping furniture is a complex and costly proposition that should only be attempted if the piece has significant value—either sentimental or financial—or is priced so low that you could add hundreds of dollars to the cost and still come out ahead.
If the piece in question is being sold by a reputable antiques dealer or furniture store, your best bet is to let the vendor handle the packing and shipping for you. Chances are they’ll already have an arrangement with a trustworthy firm that's experienced at shipping furniture, sparing you the ordeal of trying to separate the pros from the profiteers.
If the seller doesn’t have an arrangement with a shipper, or you found the item at a garage sale or flea market, you need to secure the services of a furniture shipper. If you’re out of town, call a reputable antiques dealer in the area and ask for a recommendation. “A referral is always better than sticking your finger in the yellow pages,” says Mary Maduzia of Bogart Bremmer & Bradley Antiques in Seattle. Be warned: Not all dealers will share their sources. One prominent antiques dealer I contacted sniffed haughtily when I asked for a recommendation and refused to reveal the name of his shipper.
Barring a recommendation, look in the yellow pages under Freight Forwarding, Shipping Services, Movers, and Packaging Service. Before you call, record the dimensions of the item(s) you want to ship, along with the weight, if possible. If you’re shipping furniture to a business address, find out if there’s a loading dock; if it’s a residence, learn if there are stairs. Then be prepared to ask a lot of questions.
Although it will add to your cost, you’re usually better off having the shipper do the packaging, because then they’ll assume the liability for the shipment. Some freight companies will agree to insure a piece that’s packed by the customer, but it has to meet certain guidelines, and the shipper may insist on inspecting your packing job before assuming responsibility. Before you accept the shipper’s insurance, be sure to read the fine print: Some companies will cover the full value of the piece, but others pay a standard fee—often 10 cents a pound—regardless of what the item is worth.
Large pieces of furniture will need to be crated. Smaller pieces can be boxed. If you decide to pack the latter yourself, it’s a good idea to double box, allowing a minimum of two (cushioned) inches between the inner and outer boxes.
The cost of shipping furniture is determined by a number of factors, including size, weight, distance, fragility, insurance and delivery services. I asked two national companies, Craters and Freighters and Box Brothers, for approximate costs for packing and shipping furniture. A buffet or dresser going from Seattle to Florida would cost anywhere from $600 to $900; from Seattle to Los Angeles would be about $300 less. Sending a dining table cross-country would set you back $400-$900; if the same piece was traveling from Seattle to Los Angeles, figure $200-$600. A single dining chair traveling the same routes would cost anywhere from $125 to $400.
But as they like to say on TV commercials, “That’s not all!” Those fees will only deliver the piece to the destination’s curb. If you want the furniture brought inside, unpacked, and the refuse disposed of, you’ll need to ask for White Glove Service. Craters and Freighters charges $200-$300 more for that; Box Brothers usually charges $85 an hour, with a two-hour minimum. Although these charges are steep, they might be worth it if there’s a steep driveway or several flights of stairs at the delivery address, or if the recipient can't lift heavy objects. Depending on your location, you may also get lucky: I’ve had furniture delivered to rural locations on both coasts, and on each occasion the local delivery company brought the pieces inside at no extra charge.
Small pieces can be shipped through couriers such as FedEx and UPS. Those companies require that the final package measure no larger than 165 inches when the length is combined with twice the height and twice the width. (A package measuring 4 feet by 2 feet by 1 foot would total 120 inches: 48 +24 + 24 + 12 + 12.) Packages must be less than 108 inches in length and can weigh no more than 150 pounds. (FedEx can ship larger objects—up to 2,200 pounds—via FedEx Freight.)
Before you ship, antiques dealer Mary Maduzia recommends taking photographs of the item. (As an added precaution, activate the date function on your camera.) That way, if there’s any question about the item’s condition beforehand, you’ve got evidence.
