You don’t have a lot of stuff, but you know you need to take your things with you when you leave!

You’re planning to pack it all up in your car during your long-distance move. What are you supposed to do with the furniture?

That’s where a shipping service comes in!

Shipping furniture is a little more involved than dropping a package off at the post office. We’ve put together this guide to teach you how to ship a single piece of furniture across the country.

When Should You Ship Your Furniture?

You can ship furniture for a few different reasons.

For example, shipping furniture is a helpful option if you have a long-distance move coming up. It means you don’t have to transport all your furniture yourself and you don’t have to worry about finding a reputable moving company.

You may also want to ship furniture if your child is moving into a dorm at college. If your child is going to college in a different state, transporting everything by plane can be a challenge. Shipping makes the process much easier.

You can also ship a piece of furniture to a family member who doesn’t live in your area. It might be a birthday or Christmas gift you can’t deliver in person.

Why Shipping Furniture Is a Good Option

If you’re moving across the country, you might want to skip the mover or shipping costs and transport all your furniture yourself.

This isn’t a good idea for several reasons.

First of all, the furniture is heavy. If you don’t have the right tools, you might end up hurting yourself. Trying to squeeze a big piece of furniture into the back of your car can also damage it.

On top of that, it’s illegal to drive with a load that is improperly secured. And trying to secure furniture to the roof of your car is a challenge, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing.

How to Ship a Single Piece of Furniture

Shipping furniture is easier than trying to move it yourself, but there are a few things you have to do first.

Here’s how to ship a single piece of furniture to a residence.

1. Take It Apart (If You Can)

Start by taking the piece of furniture apart first (if you can). For example, you can take the legs of chairs and tables. You may be able to take your couch apart as well, especially if it is an L couch.

Make sure you keep all the pieces—and screws or nails—together so you don’t lose anything during the shipping process. If you decide to separate the screws, put them in a labeled container so you know what they go to when you’re trying to put everything back together.

2. Protect the Corners

Shipping your furniture is a safe and secure process. But you should still take precautions to protect your furniture.

Wrap the edges and any other fragile part with bubble wrap. You might want to add a second (or third) layer if the bubble wrap is thin.

3. Protect Any Glass Parts

Are you shipping a coffee table with a glass top? You’ll need to take extra care to secure the glass.

Cover the glass with cardboard then wrap it with a layer or two of bubble wrap.

You can also tape a giant X over the glass if you aren’t concerned about leaving any residue behind. This will prevent the glass from shattering if it does crack.

4. Wrap It Up

Once you’ve taken care of the glass or any delicate corners, wrap the entire piece of furniture in moving blankets. Use packing tape to keep the blankets in place, but don’t tape directly to the furniture!

Then wrap your furniture in a layer of plastic wrap. This will keep everything in place during the shipment.

It’s a good idea to poke a few small holes in the plastic wrap so it doesn’t trap moisture and promote mold growth.

And make sure you don’t put the plastic wrap directly against your furniture. If it gets hot during the shipment, the plastic might melt to your furniture and damage it.

5. Talk to Your Shipping Company

Ask your shipping company about their oversized shipping policies. Depending on how big your furniture is, you may not need to put it in a box.

Make sure you understand the shipping regulations before you start packing.

How to Ship a Rug

If you need to ship a large area rug, start by rolling it around a piece of PVC pipe. This will prevent folds and creases from forming during the shipping process.

Next, wrap the rug in a layer of plastic wrap. Put it in a box for extra protection if you can find one that’s big enough.

How to Ship a Mattress

Before you can ship your mattress, you need to put it in a plastic bag. You can buy plastic bags big enough for any mattress size online.

Then wrap it up in moving blankets and put it in a mattress box. Again, you can order mattress boxes online.

The Benefits of Shipping Furniture Long-Distance

Learning how to ship a single piece of furniture long-distance will make the moving process much easier.

Don’t overlook the packing. If you don’t package your furniture properly, they might not make it through the shipment without damage.

Remember, talk to your shipping company before you bust out the packing tape and bubble wrap. They will tell you about any packing regulations you need to meet before you can send your furniture off.

Looking for someone to ship your furniture for you? Make sure you click here to get a quote with us today to see how we can help!