How to ship · furniture
How to ship an office chair
Office chairs usually ship flat-packed at retail; if you are reshipping a used chair, a partial disassembly (remove the wheels, seat, and armrests from the base) reduces box size dramatically.
- Typical weight
- 25-50 lb (most task chairs), 60+ lb for executive chairs
- Rate band tracked
- 20 lb
- Cheapest option
- UPS Ground with chair disassembled
Live rates
What it costs to ship an office chair, right now
A 20 lb parcel from New York, NY to Los Angeles, CA. Actual cost for your office chair varies by ±10-30% with its specific weight and destination zone.
- 01
Ground FedEx 4d $46.79 +$37.48 - 02
Ground Saver UPS 5d $9.31 cheapest - 03
Ground Advantage USPS 5d $9.65 +$0.34
Close call Only $0.34 (4%) separates the cheapest from the runner-up. Free USPS home pickup or a closer drop-off can erase this gap. Pick by convenience, not price, at this margin.
Sign up & get $100+ in free offers. No coupon code required.
Before you pack
The box and materials
Box
Medium shipping box, 28 x 28 x 12 in
28 x 28 x 12 in typical, or original flat-pack box
The gas-lift cylinder stays attached to the seat bottom; do not remove.
Checklist
- Corrugated box
- Bubble wrap
- Packing tape
- Fragile stickers
The process
Pack an office chair in 5 steps
01 of 05
Pop off the wheels
Wheels pull straight out of the base. Bag them.
02 of 05
Unscrew the armrests
Two screws each, typically. Tape them to the seat bottom.
03 of 05
Separate the seat from the base
Lift the seat straight up off the gas cylinder. The gas cylinder goes with the seat.
04 of 05
Wrap all parts
Seat and back wrapped together in bubble; base wrapped separately.
05 of 05
Box everything together
All parts in one box with packing peanuts in gaps.
Carrier notes
Which carrier to use
USPS
Ground Advantage easily fits most task chairs under 70 lb.
UPS
Ground for heavier executive chairs over 50 lb.
FedEx
Home Delivery works fine for office chairs.
Insurance + declared value
Protecting the package
Skip for anything under $300. High-end chairs ($500+) should declare.
Specialty shippers are usually not worth it here.
Unnecessary for chairs under 70 lb.
FAQ
Common questions
Q01 Can I ship a gaming chair?
Same process as office chairs. Most gaming chairs weigh 35-55 lb.
Q02 What about a Herman Miller Aeron or similar premium chair?
Use the original box if you still have it. Herman Miller boxes have custom foam inserts.
Q03 Do I need to drain the hydraulic cylinder?
No. Gas cylinders ship fine with normal pressure.