Highlights
There are multiple ways to ship your bedroom furniture, including freight shipping.
You’ll need to include the pick-up and delivery addresses and the furniture measurements in the shipping request.
Shipping a queen-size mattress and box spring costs $500 to $850 for a cross-country move.
It might be less expensive to buy new bedroom furniture in your new location.
Once you find the perfect mattress, you’ll do just about anything to keep it, including shipping it to your new home when you move. While it may seem stressful to pack up and ship your bedroom set, don’t worry; the moving process is easier than you think. Use this guide to help you prepare to ship your bedroom furniture so you can catch up on much-needed sleep after the move.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship Bedroom Furniture?
The cost of shipping your bedroom furniture varies widely from $500 to $4,500, depending on the distance it travels and its size. There are three standard questions every furniture shipper will ask to help you add up the shipping costs:
What is the pick-up address?
What is the delivery address, including international details?
What are the weight and dimensions of the bedroom set?
After the shippers calculate this information, they’ll probably discuss add-on options like disassembly and assembly services, specialized packing, and white-glove service. However, you can estimate the cost of shipping based on whether it’s heading to a domestic or international location.
Overseas Shipping
Most people ship their furniture overseas by sea-freight because it's more affordable than air-freight, which adds thousands of dollars to your bill. The average price range for international shipping is about $1,000 to $4,500, depending on your delivery address, the size and weight of your bedroom set, labor costs, duty taxes in the receiving country, and insurance.
If you need to ship your bedroom furniture overseas, start the planning process as early as possible. It takes time to research and interview experienced shippers who can handle international logistics, as well as determine the best price for your shipment.
Cross-Country Shipping
Shipping your bedroom furniture cross-country costs between $500 and $1,000. However, that figure does not include shipping insurance, which usually costs 1% of your total costs for complete coverage. When you're discussing rates with your shipper, keep in mind that professional moving companies typically define a cross-country move as more than 400 miles.
Cost Breakdown for Shipping Your Bedroom Furniture
Some shipping details like pick-up and delivery addresses and measurements span international and domestic shipping. However, overseas shipping requires more hands-on details like customs paperwork and port-to-port transportation that can drive up the costs.
Cross-Country Shipping Costs
For a better idea of what cross-country shipment costs, take a look at these price ranges that estimate the cost of an East Coast to West Coast delivery.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Bookcase (medium size) | $475 – $1,000 |
| Dresser | $475 – $1,000 |
| Headboard or footboard | $475 – $850 |
| Queen-size mattress or box spring | $475 – $850 |
| Rug (medium size) | $475 – $850 |
Overseas Shipping Costs
For an accurate breakdown of your international shipping costs, talk with your shipping company directly about the fees. There may be charges or shipment details you weren’t considering before deciding to ship your bedroom furniture.
Pick-up and delivery options
Air and sea freight differences
Taxes, fees, and duty payments
Customs documents
Insurance
Tracking details
Specialized packing materials for mattress and box springs
What Factors Influence the Cost to Ship Bedroom Furniture?
You can count on the size of the furniture, the number of pieces, custom add-ons, and move distance to calculate your estimate, but there are other factors, like moving during the high or low season, that shape your final costs.
Pre-Packing
Some shipping companies might give you the option to pre-pack your bedroom furniture yourself, saving you money. If you choose to pack your furniture by yourself, you’ll need to budget for the cost of the following supplies:
Cardboard boxes
Packing tape
Packing paper
Bubble wrap
Moving blankets
Mattress and box spring moving boxes
Sheet of plastic (to roll up rugs) or area rug bags
Time of the Year
If you ship your furniture during the peak moving season, you could pay more for a cross-country shipment and international shipping services. In the United States, the traditional moving season is during the summer months. International peak season hits in August, September, January, and February.
Shipping Bedroom Furniture as Freight
If you ship your bedroom furniture as small load freight, you’ll save money because it's packed as part of a larger cargo load. Shippers that manage less-than-truckload deliveries aim for cost-effectiveness by combining customers’ shipments along the way, which means your bedroom furniture will probably ride in multiple trucks to maximize efficiency. Unfortunately, the additional transfers sometimes lead to damage.
You’ll also save money on freight shipping because the deliveries normally stop at the curb. So, you’ll need to navigate getting your bedroom furniture up the stairs and into your new room.
International Freight Shipping Differences
If you choose the more affordable option of sea-freight shipping, your bedroom set will probably ride in multiple modes of transportation before it gets to you. The set will likely start in a crate to withstand the ocean waves, but it might need new packing once it hits land. Shippers will uncrate and rewrap or box your furniture to fit into smaller delivery trucks and protect it from damage.
Independent Furniture Shipping Carriers
Another option is to ship your bedroom set via an independent carrier that costs more but provides individualized service. Your bedroom set probably won’t mix with other customers’ furniture, have fewer transfers, and you’ll have access to direct customer service if you have questions about pick up and drop off.
White-Glove or In-Home Furniture Delivery
For some bedroom furniture, like family heirlooms, you’ll have to pull out all of the stops to cut down on the chances of damage. A white-glove delivery service will take care of the essential details, such as point-to-point pick-up and delivery and customized packing materials. You can even pay for professional movers to unload your furniture and place it perfectly in your bedroom.
FAQs About Bedroom Furniture Shipping
Should I even bother to ship my bedroom furniture?
The answer depends on your priorities, but it can be hard to decide. You should ship your bedroom furniture if the pieces have sentimental or antique value and if it will make you happy to have them in your new home. But if your mattress or box spring is worn out (the average lifespan of a bed is seven to ten years), it's probably not worth the money or effort to ship if you’re moving somewhere where bedroom furniture is readily available.
How do I find a reputable bedroom furniture shipper?
To find a reliable furniture moving company, start with online searches for long-distance and international furniture companies. You’ll find client reviews, testimonials, and customer service contract information to ask questions and discuss quotes. But don’t forget about tapping into your friends and family for sources of recommendations.
What else should I consider when I ship my bedroom furniture?
You should consider the time needed to clean and prepare your bedroom set for transit. A few days before moving, vacuum, dust, and clean your furniture with a mild cleaning solution. Depending on the movers and the services you pick, you might need to pre-pack the mattress and box spring in boxes designed for beds and disassemble some furniture by removing doors and hardware. Finally, don’t forget to take plenty of pictures documenting the pre-move condition in case you need to file a claim.
