How to ship · furniture
How to ship a desk
Modern desks typically break down into tabletop and legs, both shippable via parcel with surcharges. Standing desks with motorized legs are heavier and usually need freight.
- Typical weight
- 40-120 lb depending on size and materials
- Rate band tracked
- USPS/UPS Ground
- Cheapest option
- UPS Ground for flat-packed under 100 lb, uShip for assembled
Rate guidance
Heavier than our rate tracker goes
At a minimum of 40 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
Original flat-pack box, or separate boxes for top and legs
Tabletop box: 60 x 24 x 4 in typical. Legs box: 30 x 6 x 6 in.
Hardware in a labeled baggie taped inside the tabletop box.
Checklist
- Corrugated boxes (2)
- Moving blanket or bubble wrap
- Corner protectors
- Packing tape
The process
Pack a desk in 4 steps
01 of 04
Disassemble top from legs
Unscrew the tabletop from the leg frame. Bag all hardware.
02 of 04
Wrap tabletop with corner protectors
Moving blanket or 2+ layers of bubble wrap, corner protectors at each of the four corners.
03 of 04
Bundle legs together
Wrap each leg in bubble, tape them together into a single bundle.
04 of 04
Box separately with clear labels
Tabletop and legs in separate boxes. Label each with matching order numbers.
Carrier notes
Which carrier to use
USPS
Ground Advantage if under 70 lb per box. Works for most flat-packed desks.
UPS
Ground up to 150 lb. Standing desks with motors usually fit here.
FedEx
Similar to UPS. FedEx Ground slightly cheaper cross-country.
Insurance + declared value
Protecting the package
Declare value for any desk over $300. Standing desks with motors absolutely insure.
Specialty shippers are usually not worth it here.
Only for assembled desks that will not disassemble.
FAQ
Common questions
Q01 What about an L-shaped desk?
Disassemble into its L components, ship each piece as a separate box.
Q02 Motorized standing desks?
Ship the motor assembly padded separately in its own box, the tabletop in another, legs in a third.
Q03 Glass tops?
Replace the bubble with foam-board sheet protection. Glass cracks are the #1 claim category.