There usually comes a time when many different people need to ship furniture to a customer. Whether you make and sell handmade furniture as part of a small business, resell items such as antiques, or have sold a preloved piece online, understanding how to package furniture for shipping is essential if you want it to arrive safely.
When I ran my own furniture shop selling rustic tables and benches, shipping was a daily part of life. My furniture was sent to customers all over the UK, and through experience, I quickly learned how to ship large pieces of furniture, which courier services could be trusted, and which packaging methods worked best. I also discovered the most reliable and cost-effective furniture packaging and furniture packing materials to keep items protected during transit.
In this blog post, I will share practical tips based on real experience to help you understand how to package furniture, improve your packaging of furniture, and feel confident when shipping your own furniture to customers.
This picture shows an example of how I used to ship my fully assembled furniture. The legs were protected with bubble wrap, and the table tops were wrapped in shrinkwrap (stretch film) and cardboard corner protectors.
Table of Contents
Never Trust the Couriers Completely
When shipping furniture, never assume couriers will handle your parcel with care. Writing “fragile” on the box is rarely enough and often makes little difference to how it is treated.
While many courier services are reliable, our experience shipping large pieces of furniture has shown that some well-known companies can be surprisingly rough. This is why choosing the right courier is just as important as knowing how to package furniture for shipping.
If your furniture is valuable or fragile, research couriers carefully and select a service that offers adequate compensation cover. Always photograph items before dispatch so you have proof of their condition, and check the courier’s terms and conditions, as claims usually must be submitted within a short timeframe.
Even when damage is caused by the courier, customers often blame the seller. Poor courier choice or inadequate furniture packaging can lead to refunds, negative reviews, and lost repeat business.
I made the mistake of using UPS for one of my fragile mid-century desks, which was a huge mistake. The table’s value was near £800, and it arrived damaged, despite having used excessive protective packaging. By combining reliable couriers with strong furniture packing and protective furniture packaging, you can reduce damage, protect your reputation, and create a better experience for your customers.
Package According to the Courier
How far you need to go with your packaging efforts will depend on the type of courier you use. If you use the popular and well-known couriers and postal services, then package well as learnt in the last point!
How to Package Your Furniture Well? Here are Some Tips:
- Flat pack if you can. If the furniture can be flat packed and it won’t damage it, then flat pack and wrap each part sufficiently. Bag up all screws and fittings in a well-sealed bag within the main package.
- Protect corners with cardboard and extra padding. If the furniture has corners or any sticky-out bits then make sure you protect these with extra padding and stiff cardboard protectors to ensure they aren’t easily damaged or broken in transit.
- Wrap the entire piece of furniture. Once sticky-out bits and corners have extra protection, it’s time to wrap the entire piece of furniture for safe travels. Use bubble wrap and foam to cushion the furniture and add a layer of soft protection against damage. You can also use a cardboard wrap as the final layer. Wrap and wrap some more!
- Use a stiffened cardboard box. Once wrapped, use an appropriately sized stiff cardboard box for the furniture. Make sure the box is cushioned and the furniture is not loose. It needs to be a snug fit to prevent the furniture rolling about and breaking as it travels through the couriers shipping process.
- Secure the box. Finally, add several layers of packaging tape to secure the box and ensure it does not open during transit.
Some independent and specialist furniture couriers are a much better choice for furniture shipping. They often take greater care and will take your furniture in one piece. I’ve been using Proovia for years now, and they’ve never let me down. They specialise in bulky items and will handle items with care. They don’t even require you to package the furniture at all, instead covering it with blankets and the appropriate wrap they provide.
With many independent couriers, they will literally pick the item up from you and deliver it to the customer the same day. This means it’s only in their van for a few hours and not going through any sorting centres or being unloaded and loaded onto several vans, again reducing the likelihood of any damage.
Keep it on Brand
If you are sending furniture as part of a business and you consume large amounts of packaging, then it’s worth researching your options for bespoke packaging with business branding or even getting boxes made to your product’s measurements for a snug fit.
Branded packaging and the right size packaging will help your business to appear more professional when customers receive their goods. Having your logo on packaging is also a great marketing technique to raise more awareness of your brand.
Think Green
Finally, try to make eco-friendly choices wherever possible when packing your furniture for shipping.
During my time running a furniture shop, I quickly realised that sustainable packaging is not only better for the environment but often more cost effective too. Today, there are plenty of green packaging options available, including recyclable cardboard boxes, compostable packing peanuts, plastic-free bubble wrap, paper wrapping, and paper packing tape made with natural adhesives.
Another simple habit that saves money and reduces waste is reusing packaging from your own ecommerce deliveries. I’ve reused multiple pieces of bubble wrap, cardboard, and protective inserts, which can all be stored and reused rather than going straight into landfill or recycling.
By choosing sustainable materials and reusing what you already have, you can reduce your environmental impact while still providing excellent protection for your furniture.
Conclusion
Knowing how to package furniture for shipping properly is essential for protecting your work, your reputation, and your profits. Whether you are shipping handmade furniture, selling antiques, or shipping your own furniture to customers, careful preparation makes all the difference.
Here is a quick summary of the most important points covered in this guide:
- Never rely solely on couriers to handle items carefully
- Research and choose reliable courier services
- Photograph furniture before dispatch
- Ensure courier compensation covers the full value of the item
- Read courier terms and claim time limits
- Use strong, protective furniture packaging materials
- Wrap surfaces to prevent scratches and scuffs
- Protect corners and edges with cardboard or foam
- Use bubble wrap or padded alternatives for cushioning
- Secure everything tightly with stretch wrap or tape
- Consider disassembling furniture where possible
- Label parcels clearly
- Reuse packaging materials whenever you can
- Choose eco-friendly packaging options
By following these steps, you greatly reduce the risk of damage in transit, improve customer satisfaction, and build a more professional and trustworthy furniture business.
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