Tips for Shipping Large Items

Large items can pose a problem for inexperienced movers. They are often too bulky to move on your own securely and without causing harm to either you or the item. Or they are packaged incorrectly which leads to damage.

Large items such as appliances, furniture, pianos, and TVs are cumbersome to ship and cumbersome to package. We recommend getting in touch with your chosen shipping company earlier on in the process rather than later.

You will need to provide the shipping company with the accurate weight of the item, all of the dimensions, the total value, and the contents.

Certain moving companies will have limits on weight and volume. Others will have limits on the total value that their insurance covers. And yet others will have limitations on what types of contents they can ship such as bans on liquids, gases, or produce.

Once you have confirmed with your shipping company you can get to packaging.

Always use new packaging crates or containers to ship your large items. Make sure that the crates or containers stitch or staple closed. This is more secure than seals that are glued together.

Make sure that the container is only slightly larger than the item and any open-spaced is packed with cushioning material to absorb shock and the slight bit of wiggling that will happen.

It is impossible to guarantee that your item will not be jostled, dropped, or inappropriately stored so you must make sure that every precaution has been taken to take care of your items.

A good practice is to double-box the item. This will provide even more stability and structural integrity to the item and prevent any damage resulting from the vibrations experienced during a move.

Once you have decided on the type and amount of packaging that your item requires, you will need to factor in its weight and dimensions in your communications with the shipping company to ensure that weight and space limitations have not been exceeded.

Make sure you have researched all the legalese surrounding shipping your large item. Certain wooden items may not be allowed into countries if they pose a health hazard or have started to rot in transit.

Document and label your large item appropriately. Large items must have the proper labels to get in and out of countries and through customs safely. If they do not have the appropriate labeling and documentation they can be confiscated and lost for good.

The last thing you want when shipping a large item is to lose it or to have it damaged due to incorrect documentation, weight limits, or packaging. Maintain communication with your shipping provider to have the most relevant information for your item.