How to ship furniture
The right mode, how to prepare it, what drives the price and the mistakes that cost money. Best modes: White glove / final mile, LTL, Truckload.
Short answer: Ship one to a few pieces of furniture to a home with white glove or threshold final-mile delivery, which carries it inside and can unpack and assemble it. Business-to-business furniture on pallets ships LTL; a full store or warehouse order of 10+ pallets ships by truckload. Crate or blanket-wrap anything with glass, and get a quote with the right delivery service level, not just curbside.
Updated November 3, 2026 · By the GetShippingRates team at Armstrong Transport Group
Preparing furniture for shipping
- Measure each piece in its packaging (length, width, height) and weigh it; furniture is bulky, so dimensions drive the price more than weight.
- Protect corners and legs, wrap upholstery in plastic, and crate glass tops and mirrors.
- For pallets, band or shrink-wrap pieces to the pallet so nothing overhangs the edges.
- Choose the delivery level: curbside, threshold, room of choice, or white glove with unpacking and debris removal.
- Book an appointment with the receiver and note stairs, elevators and narrow doorways when you quote.
What drives the price
- Density: a sofa takes a lot of trailer space for its weight, which pushes LTL freight class up.
- Delivery service level: room of choice and white glove cost more than curbside but avoid failed deliveries.
- Residential delivery, liftgate and appointment charges on LTL.
- Assembly and packaging removal, priced per piece.
Freight class: Upholstered furniture is light for its size, so it commonly estimates at class 150 to 300 by density; dense case goods like solid wood dressers estimate lower. Check yours with the free freight calculators; the carrier’s NMFC item sets the final class.
For real prices see pallet shipping cost, the freight rate index and reefer shipping cost.
Mistakes that cost money
- Booking curbside to a home when the customer expects it carried inside.
- Leaving out stairs or a tight entry, which leads to a failed delivery and a redelivery charge.
- Quoting LTL by weight only: carriers measure furniture and reclass it if it's lighter for its size than declared.
More home and furniture guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to ship furniture?
For one or two pieces going to a business with a dock, LTL on a pallet is usually cheapest. For a home delivery, a final-mile threshold service usually beats LTL once residential, liftgate and appointment fees are added. Compare both.
Can furniture ship without a crate?
Yes, if it's well wrapped and palletized, or moving blanket-wrapped on a white glove service. Crate anything with glass, marble or a fragile finish.
How long does furniture shipping take?
LTL to the delivery area usually takes 2 to 6 business days depending on distance, plus 1 to 5 days to schedule a final-mile appointment.
More shipping cost guides
Get a quote to ship furniture
Pick the mode, enter the lane and freight, and see live rates in seconds where the mode supports it. Armstrong Transport Group's team handles the rest.
Prefer to talk? Call 877-240-1181 or email info@getshippingrates.com. Shipping several modes? Request a free multimodal shipping review.