How to Pack Boxes for Shipping Furniture

Shipping furniture can be a major undertaking, and figuring out what boxes for shipping and other packaging items you might need to get your item to its final destination safely can seem like an impossible challenge. Fortunately, following a few tips can help to guide you through this process and can help to ensure that your furniture arrives to its recipient safely.

Packing the Item

Boxing your furniture will be the easiest way to ship it, and contacting your local shipping supply store, like Instabox, can help you to find the boxes and packaging solutions you will need. Use bubble wrap to ensure the corners and edges of your piece are well-padded, and use loose fill like newspaper or packing peanuts to fill in any empty space between your item and the box. Also consider the following tips when packing up your items:

• If it is possible to take an item apart, do so. For example, take the legs off of your tables or chairs if they are removable.
• Remove loose hardware and store it in a sealed, plastic bag. Make note of where they are supposed to go in order to assist the recipient for when he or she is putting the item back together.
• Use bubble wrap to protect legs and corners so that they don’t rub up against other items inside your package.
• Make sure that all moving parts, such as drawers and doors, are secured. Tape them shut and use folded cardboard to keep them tight. Make sure that glass is removed and packed carefully.
• Look for a box that will fit your item as closely as possible. Choosing a box that is too large can lead to higher shipping and material costs. It also provides extra room for your item to shift and move during transport, which can increase the likelihood of damage.

Dealing with Odd-Shaped and Large Items

If you are shipping a large and strangely shaped piece of furniture, remove any legs and wrap them separately. For items like a couch you may want to use stretch plastic wrap in order to wrap the item into what appears to be a “cocoon.” Also consider wrapping corrugated cardboard around the entire item so that all sides are covered, and packing tape or nylon strapping can be used to secure the wrapping to ensure that it stays in its proper place during transport.

[1/7/2014]