How to ship · furniture
How to ship a mattress
A mattress is the single hardest household item to ship. Between USPS weight caps at 70 lb, UPS dimensional-weight penalties on anything floppy, and FedEx surcharges for odd-shape packages, the tool you pick matters less than the box and the prep. This guide covers memory-foam mattresses shipped in a vacuum-seal bag (the only realistic option for a solo seller).
- Typical weight
- Twin: 35-45 lb, Queen: 50-80 lb, King: 80-150 lb
- Rate band tracked
- USPS/UPS Ground
- Cheapest option
- USPS Ground Advantage (sub-70 lb memory foam); UPS Ground otherwise
Rate guidance
Heavier than our rate tracker goes
At a minimum of 35 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
Compressible mattress box + vacuum bag
42 x 18 x 18 in (Queen memory foam after compression)
Spring mattresses cannot be compressed; price out freight or uShip for those.
Checklist
- Mattress vacuum-seal bag sized to match (U-Haul and Uline both sell these)
- Shop vacuum with hose attachment
- Corrugated double-wall mattress box (42 x 18 x 18 in for Queen memory foam)
- Ratchet strap or heavy-duty packing tape
- Fragile labels (mattress has corners that tear)
- Moving dolly (you will not pick this up solo otherwise)
The process
Pack a mattress in 6 steps
01 of 06
Remove all bedding and strip the mattress to bare foam or coils
Do this the night before. Bag and ship sheets, mattress protector, and pillows separately in a USPS Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate box.
02 of 06
Slide the mattress into the vacuum bag, sealing one end
Work on the floor. Align the foot of the mattress with the sealed end; fold the open end over the valve. Air-tight seal is mandatory, if it leaks during transit the mattress re-expands and bursts the box.
03 of 06
Vacuum down to ~30% original thickness
Run the shop vac for 3-5 minutes on the valve. The foam compresses from ~12 in thick to ~4 in thick. Spring mattresses stop here, do not try to compress them further or the coils snap.
04 of 06
Roll and strap the compressed mattress
From the foot, roll toward the head. The vacuum keeps it rolled. Cinch with a ratchet strap at three points (foot, middle, head). Verify the bag has not lost seal, if it has, reroll.
05 of 06
Slide into the mattress box
The compressed roll should drop into the box with 1-2 in of clearance on each side. If tighter, the box is undersized; if looser, pad with scrap cardboard. Tape all box seams with 3-in packing tape, two strips per seam.
06 of 06
Label with orientation arrows and the carrier SmartLabel
Arrows pointing up (the compressed mattress can handle some horizontal tilt but not full inversion). Add fragile tape on both short ends.
Carrier notes
Which carrier to use
USPS
Ground Advantage accepts up to 70 lb. For Queen memory foam under that weight, USPS wins on cost over UPS/FedEx by $10-20 typically. Above 70 lb, USPS refuses and you must use UPS or FedEx.
UPS
Accepts up to 150 lb, no special surcharges for mattress-dimensioned boxes if you stay under 108 in (length + girth). Queen boxes run ~96 in L+girth, inside limit.
FedEx
Same limits as UPS but typically $15-30 more expensive on mattress-shaped packages. Consider only if UPS and USPS are both declining the package.
Insurance + declared value
Protecting the package
Declare value for replacement cost, not purchase price. A used $1,000 mattress has a $300-500 resale value; declare accordingly. USPS Ground Advantage includes $100 insurance free; UPS includes $100; anything over that is $1.75 per additional $100 at UPS, slightly cheaper at USPS.
Specialty shippers are worth it here.
For spring mattresses, king-size, or any mattress over 70 lb, a specialty shipper like uShip will route it with a moving carrier for less than the parcel-carrier surcharges. Post the listing with dimensions and accept bids.
Get quotes on uShipFAQ
Common questions
Q01 Can you really vacuum-compress a mattress without ruining it?
Memory foam and gel foam, yes. They rebound fully within 24-48 hours at the destination. Innerspring (coil) mattresses, hybrid mattresses with coils, and latex mattresses cannot be vacuum-compressed and should be freighted.
Q02 How long can a mattress stay compressed before damage?
Memory foam manufacturers generally cite 30-45 days as safe. Past 60 days the foam can take a permanent impression and lose thickness. Ship fast; do not sit on inventory in compression.
Q03 What about bed-in-a-box mattresses I ordered online? Can I ship those compressed?
Yes, but only if they are still sealed in the original bag. Once opened, the foam has started rebounding and the compression window has closed. Do not try to recompress an opened foam mattress with a home vacuum.
Q04 Is mattress shipping even worth it for a used one?
Shipping a $300 used Queen from Chicago to Phoenix runs $45-70 by USPS. At that gap, yes, it is usually worth it. For anything under $200 of mattress, check Facebook Marketplace locally first.