How to pack furniture for international shipping

Quick Overview

Before shipping furniture overseas, confirm the route, service and destination requirements. Make a measured inventory, photograph each piece, and decide what can be safely dismantled. Protect finished surfaces and corners, use suitable covers for upholstery, and arrange a sturdy box or professional crate for fragile pieces. Label each package and secure it for handling. The best packing method depends on the furniture, transport mode and carrier's requirements.

How to pack furniture in 30 seconds

Choose LCL or FCL for your furniture

Ocean freight is often considered for bulky furniture, but the best service depends on the number and size of pieces, the route, handling requirements, timing and total cost. A small shipment may travel as less-than-container-load (LCL) cargo with other shipments. A larger move, or furniture that needs a more controlled loading plan, may be better suited to a full-container-load (FCL) service. A small, urgent piece may warrant a separate air-freight comparison.

There is no volume at which LCL automatically stops being suitable or FCL automatically becomes cheaper. Ask for both options where available, including packing, collection, terminal handling, delivery and any destination charges. For a fuller comparison, see LCL vs FCL shipping.

How much does it cost to ship furniture overseas?

The quote depends on your route, shipment volume and weight, transport mode, pickup and delivery addresses, handling, packing or crating, insurance and destination services. Ask which items are included and which will be charged separately. Customs duties or taxes, where applicable, depend on the destination and whether the furniture is personal effects or commercial goods.

Measure the outside of each packed piece, box or crate, including its protective packaging. To estimate cubic metres, multiply length × width × height in metres. For example, a packed piece measuring 1.2 m × 0.8 m × 0.7 m occupies approximately 0.67 m³. Sum the packed units for an initial volume estimate; the final quoted volume and handling method may differ after packing.

Packing materials you may need

• Strong cartons or furniture boxes sized to allow cushioning around smaller pieces.
• Clean moving blankets, packing paper or soft foam to protect finished surfaces.
• Edge and corner protectors, corrugated cardboard and suitable cushioning for gaps.
• Protective covers for upholstered pieces; use the material recommended by your mover for the fabric and route.
• Sealable, labelled bags for fittings, plus packing tape and labels for the outer packaging.
• A pallet, stillage or purpose-built crate when required by the carrier or packing plan.

Do not apply tape or bubble wrap directly to delicate wood, leather, polished or painted finishes. Put a suitable protective layer against the surface first. If you are unsure how to protect an antique, a stone top or another valuable piece, ask a professional packer to specify the materials and crate design.

How to pack furniture for international shipping: 7 steps

Each piece needs protection against rubbing and impacts during handling, as well as a package that can be identified throughout the move.

1. Measure, inspect and photograph each piece

List the furniture you plan to send, its material, approximate value and dimensions. Photograph its condition before packing, including existing marks or damage. Empty cabinets and drawers, clean the furniture, and let it dry fully. Confirm with the mover which items it will accept, who will pack them, and whether any pieces need a crate or special handling.

2. Dismantle only what can be safely reassembled

Remove detachable legs, shelves or hardware when the design and manufacturer allow it. Photograph each stage and keep assembly instructions. Wrap each component separately, label it with the parent item, and place screws and fittings in a sealed, labelled bag inside the corresponding package. Leave fragile joints or specialist furniture to a professional packer.

3. Protect hard surfaces, edges and corners

Cover wood and other finished surfaces with packing paper, soft foam or another compatible barrier. Add corner guards and rigid protection where panels or edges could be struck. Cushion components so they cannot rub against one another. Secure the outer wrapping without putting adhesive tape directly on the furniture.

4. Pack upholstery and bulky items to suit the material

Vacuum or clean upholstery as appropriate and ensure it is dry before packing. Protect a sofa, chair or mattress with padding and a suitable cover that keeps dirt off during handling. Ask the mover how it will protect the item from humidity on the selected route; tightly sealing damp upholstery in plastic can trap moisture. Do not assume a bulky piece can be safely palletised or stacked.

Place the replacement sofa image here, if used.

5. Box or crate fragile and high-value components

Remove detachable glass tops, mirrors and other fragile parts when safe. Protect them separately in a correctly sized box or a professionally built crate, with cushioning that stops movement inside. Ask the packer or carrier about required orientation and handling. Antiques, stone, glass and unusually shaped furniture may need a custom packing plan.

6. Label each package and prepare an inventory

Give every box, wrapped item and crate a unique number. Put that number, the destination details and any relevant handling instructions on the outer packaging. Record the contents and material of each package on a matching packing list; include dimensions and weight when requested. For a household move, check the documents required for an international move and any destination-specific declarations before collection.

7. Secure the packed furniture for collection

If the service uses pallets, keep boxes within the pallet footprint, distribute weight evenly, and use suitable strapping or wrapping around the protected packages. A loose or unboxed sofa may need another handling method. Confirm permitted dimensions, height, weight and securing method with the mover; there is no single stacking height that works for every shipment. Photograph the finished packages and their labels before pickup.

Check wood packaging and destination requirements

If solid-wood pallets, crates or dunnage are used, check whether they need ISPM 15-compliant treatment and the official mark for the destination and transit route. Packaging made wholly from processed wood such as plywood is generally outside ISPM 15's raw-wood packaging scope. The furniture itself is a separate item and may have its own import or biosecurity requirements. Check destination rules for used wooden, cane, wicker or outdoor furniture, and make sure items are clean and free of soil or visible pests before packing.