How to Send Furniture UK
Guide to shipping furniture across the UK. Pallet couriers, man-and-van services, packaging tips, and price comparison.
Quick Price Check
Enter your postcodes to see live prices from 20+ couriers.
Your Options for Shipping Furniture
Sending furniture is one of the trickiest shipping challenges. Items are heavy, bulky, awkwardly shaped, and often fragile. The right service depends on size, weight, and whether you need help loading. Here are the main options available in the UK.
Option 1: Pallet Courier
Best for: heavy items like wardrobes, dining tables, sofas (flat-packed). Pallet couriers collect items strapped to a standard pallet (120cm x 100cm). Prices start around 40-60 GBP for a quarter pallet and go up to 100-150 GBP for a full pallet. Services like PalletOnline, Palletways, and TNT Pallet Express are popular choices.
Option 2: Man-and-Van
Best for: assembled furniture that cannot be flat-packed, or multiple items going to the same place. AnyVan, Shiply, and local operators charge 50-200 GBP depending on distance and number of items. They handle loading and unloading, which is essential for heavy pieces.
Option 3: Standard Courier (Small Items)
For smaller furniture like bedside tables, chairs, or flat-pack boxes, standard couriers work fine. DPD, UPS, and Parcelforce all accept items up to 30kg. Prices range from 10-30 GBP depending on size and speed.
Packaging Tips
Disassemble where possible — remove legs from tables, take shelves out of bookcases, separate bed frames. Wrap in furniture blankets or thick bubble wrap, paying extra attention to corners and edges. Use corner protectors made from cardboard on all exposed edges. Tape drawers shut and remove any glass doors or mirrors to pack separately.
Price Comparison
| Item | Pallet | Man-and-Van | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookshelf (flat) | 45 GBP | 60 GBP | 15 GBP |
| Sofa | 80 GBP | 90 GBP | N/A |
| Dining Table | 65 GBP | 75 GBP | N/A |
| Wardrobe (flat) | 55 GBP | 70 GBP | 25 GBP |
Insurance and Claims
Furniture is expensive and easily damaged. Most pallet couriers offer basic cover of 50-100 GBP per consignment — nowhere near enough for a 500 GBP sofa. Always add enhanced cover. Take photos of the furniture from multiple angles before wrapping, and photograph the final packaged state too.
Top Tips
Measure your items carefully including packaging — couriers charge based on volumetric weight, not just actual weight. Book ground floor collection and delivery if possible — stair charges add 20-50 GBP. Ship midweek for the best rates and fastest delivery times.