How to ship · furniture
How to ship a couch
Parcel carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx) will take small loveseats under 150 lb if they fit in a box, but the cheaper and far more common answer is a specialty furniture shipper. Once a couch exceeds 70 lb or 108 in length-plus-girth, parcel rates rise faster than freight rates, and freight handles assembly and setup.
- Typical weight
- Loveseat: 60-80 lb, 3-seat: 100-150 lb, Sectional: 200+ lb per piece
- Rate band tracked
- USPS/UPS Ground
- Cheapest option
- Not USPS or FedEx ground, almost always uShip or a freight carrier
Rate guidance
Heavier than our rate tracker goes
At a minimum of 60 lb, this sits above our 20 lb rate band. USPS Ground Advantage still applies (up to 70 lb), and UPS Ground goes to 150 lb. See the carrier notes below for the realistic options and expected cost.
Why no table: we track representative rates at 12 oz, 1 lb, 5 lb, and 20 lb. Anything between 20 and 70 lb would be an extrapolation, not a live quote. Carrier calculators are the honest answer for that range.
Before you pack
The box and materials
Box
Freight palletize; no retail box
Typical: 84 x 36 x 36 in wrapped and strapped to a pallet
Home Depot sells pallets for $15-25; moving blankets available from U-Haul for $10-15 each.
Checklist
- 4x4 ft wooden pallet
- 4-6 moving blankets
- Stretch wrap (large industrial roll)
- Ratchet straps (4)
- Corner protectors (cardboard, from a moving-supply store)
- Shipping label tape
- Freight bill of lading form
The process
Pack a couch in 5 steps
01 of 05
Remove cushions and ship separately
Cushions go in one large box via USPS Ground Advantage at 20 lb or UPS Ground. This prevents cushion damage and reduces the couch dimensions. Tag cushions with the order ID to avoid separation.
02 of 05
Remove legs if the couch has them
Most modern couches have screw-in legs. Remove, bag, label, and tape inside the couch seat pocket.
03 of 05
Wrap the couch in moving blankets
Cover the entire couch with 2-3 overlapping blankets. Secure with stretch wrap. Add corner protectors on all four corners and any exposed wood.
04 of 05
Place on pallet, strap with ratchets
Couch sits on pallet. Run two ratchet straps over the top of the couch anchoring to the pallet slats. Tight enough to prevent shifting, not tight enough to crush cushions.
05 of 05
Label the pallet with shipping details
Attach the freight label on the front face of the couch at chest height. Include bill of lading tucked in a clear envelope on the same face.
Carrier notes
Which carrier to use
USPS
Will not accept anything over 70 lb. Skip.
UPS
Ground accepts up to 150 lb and 108 in L+G. A loveseat might fit. Expect surcharges: Oversize 1 ($25-35), Additional Handling ($10-20). Often $200-350 cross-country for a loveseat.
FedEx
Same limits as UPS. Similar rates. Neither UPS nor FedEx offers setup at destination.
Insurance + declared value
Protecting the package
Freight carriers offer declared-value coverage separately from parcel. For couches under $500, skip declared value (the cost adds 2-5% of value per shipment and claims are painful). For $1,000+ pieces, absolutely declare.
Specialty shippers are worth it here.
uShip auction model typically delivers a couch cross-country for $300-600 including pickup, transit, and setup. That is 30-50% cheaper than UPS or FedEx on anything over 70 lb, plus it solves the assembly problem.
Get quotes on uShipFAQ
Common questions
Q01 Is uShip actually cheaper than UPS for a couch?
Almost always yes. UPS Ground with Oversize 1 and Additional Handling surcharges plus residential delivery on a cross-country shipment runs $250-400 for a loveseat. A uShip auction for the same route wins bids in the $300-500 range but includes pickup and delivery inside the home, which UPS does not.
Q02 Can I ship a couch without palletizing it?
LTL (less-than-truckload) freight carriers will pick up on the curb if you skip the pallet, but damage rates triple. Pallet it; the $20 in materials is the cheapest insurance you can buy.
Q03 What about leather couches specifically?
Leather needs one extra layer: wrap in clean cotton sheets before the moving blankets. Stretch wrap directly against leather can leave permanent marks in hot weather.