Shipping chairs is expensive, complicated, and full of hidden fees.
How do we know? We’ve shipped thousands of them.
After a decade as an award-winning fulfillment company specializing in bulky items, we’ve compiled this definitive guide to chair shipping costs. We’ve analyzed real shipments across carriers, distances, and chair types to give you the complete picture.
In this guide, you’ll discover:
Carrier-by-carrier price comparisons
When it’s worth shipping versus buying new
The hidden fees most shippers never mention
Practical strategies to cut your costs by up to 75%
Quick overview of chair shipping costs by size & type
A small dining room chair costs $41.85 to $150.95 to ship disassembled.
A mid-size dining room chair costs $124.40 to $270.11 to ship (without disassembly).
An ergonomic office chair costs $422.19 to $559.96 to ship disassembled.
A high-end office chair costs $509.24 to $652.54 to ship (without disassembly).
TL;DR:
Key takeaways
The cheapest way to ship a rug is by standard ground transport. Depending on the distance, it will cost approximately $40-150 for a small dining room chair (shipped disassembled) and $510-620 for a larger office chair (shipped whole).
The fastest way to ship a chair is by expedited air transport.
Disassembling the chair and packing it into a smaller box will significantly lower the shipping costs.
Do you run an ecommerce store that ships chairs? Let us handle the heavy lifting of your fulfillment operation.
At Red Stag Fulfillment, we specialize in big, bulky, and heavy items, and our specialized handling techniques protect arms, legs, and backs from damage.
Reach out for a custom quote today.
Is it worth it to ship a chair?
The total cost of shipping a chair may exceed the price of buying a similar chair at the destination.
It comes down to the chair’s value (monetary or sentimental) and the transport distance.
Let’s compare the shipping costs and draw conclusions.
| Chair Type | Price of New Chair* | Local Shipping (LA to LA) |
Interstate (CA to NY) |
International (CA to Canada) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small dining room chair (shipped disassembled) | $20 to $80 | $41.85 | $141.58 | $150.95 |
| Mid-size dining room chair (shipped whole) | $30 to $100 | $124.40 | $230.21 | $270.11 |
| Mid-range ergonomic office chair (shipped disassembled) | $170 to $240 | $422.19 | $545.09 | $451.15 |
| High-end office/computer chair (Herman Miller Aeron, size medium, shipped whole) | $1,415 | $509.24 | $652.54 | $536.36 |
We can make this table more visual/scannable by making illustrations for the 4 chair types. If we do that, these are the chairs to use:
*Price ranges based on the most popular chair models on Amazon.com
Key Takeaway: It makes sense to ship valuable chairs. Shipping a mid-range office chair or one of lesser value will likely cost more than buying a new one.
When you consider the potential added cost (beyond base shipping), things get trickier.
Consider these factors:
Packaging
Insurance/carrier coverage
Enhanced shipping or special handling
Oversized package surcharges (for bigger chairs)
Customs fees
Re-delivery fees
NOTE: The cost of shipping a chair will likely be calculated based on its dimensional weight, which allows carriers to charge based on bulk instead of actual weight. Check the dimensional weight of your chair using our dimensional weight calculator.
Chair-shipping cost basics
It can cost as little as $40 to as much as $675 (or even more for long-distance international shipments) to ship a chair.
The range is wide because it includes different chairs and distances. We’ll break down these costs in the following section.)
Below are the average costs with the major carriers.
| Carrier | Average Cost to Ship a Chair |
|---|---|
| USPS | $141.69 |
| FedEx | $344.46 |
| UPS | $362.00 |
Many chairs exceed USPS size limits
The average cost with USPS is considerably lower because most office chairs exceed their size limits. The maximum combined length and girth is 108 inches–130 for Retail Ground.
The average local shipping price is a better measuring stick for carrier comparison.
| Carrier | Average Cost to Ship a Chair Locally |
|---|---|
| USPS | $100.13 |
| FedEx | $112.55 |
| UPS | $110.22 |
Costs of shipping a chair–by type, size, and shipping distance
| Carrier & Service | Small dining room chair (shipped disassembled) |
Mid-size dining-room chair (shipped whole) |
Mid-range ergonomic office chair (shipped disassembled) |
High-end office chair (Herman Miller Aeron) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | ||||
| USPS Ground Advantage-Retail Zone 1 | Local: $63.55 | Local: $124.40 | Local: too large to ship as a parcel | Local: too large to ship as a parcel |
| USPS Ground Advantage-Retail Zone 8 | Interstate: $159.30 | Interstate: $283.65 | Interstate: too large to ship as a parcel | Interstate: too large to ship as a parcel |
| Priority Mail International | International: $77.55 | International: too large to ship as a parcel | International: too large to ship as a parcel | International: too large to ship as a parcel |
| FedEx | ||||
| FedEx Home Delivery or FedEx Ground | Local: $42.87 | Local: $194.08 | Local: $437.79 | Local: $512.26 |
| FedEx Ground | Interstate: $143.82 | Interstate: $230.21 | Interstate: $545.09 | Interstate: $652.54 |
| FedEx International Ground | International: $150.95 | International: $236.37 | International: $451.15 | International: $536.36 |
| UPS | ||||
| UPS Ground / UPS Standard | Local: $41.85 | Local: $173.90 | Local: $422.19 | Local: $509.24 |
| UPS Ground / UPS Standard (shipped from retail location) |
Interstate: $141.58 | Interstate: $255.76 | Interstate: $559.96 | Interstate: $673.33 |
| UPS Ground / UPS Standard (shipped from retail location) |
International: $147.23 | International: $270.11 | International: $529.81 | International: $619.07 |
How we calculated prices–assumptions made
We aimed to calculate the costs so they’re a helpful reference–for most chairs and distances.
To do that, we’ve made the following assumptions and approximations:
Local shipment is within the LA area–Arcadia to South El Monte.
We used LA to NY as a reference interstate shipment.
International shipment is from LA to Brockville, Canada.
We listed the minimal prices for each carrier, which are base rates for standard shipping.
We chose the box dimensions to allow for a few inches of padding (specifics below).
Small dining-room chair packaging specs–20x20x20” box, 9 lbs, $50 declared value.
Mid-size dining-room chair specs–30x20x25” box, 13 lbs, $70 declared value.
Mid-range ergonomic office chair specs–30x30x25” box, 32 lbs, $200 declared value.
The high-end office chair used as a reference is the Herman Miller Aeron, size B. The packaging specs are–41x28x27” box, 41 lbs, $1,400 declared value.
To get precise cost estimates for your chair and distance, use the carrier calculators:
The total costs will be higher
The overall cost of transporting a chair might be higher than listed in our reference tables.
Important factors to consider include:
Packing materials
Shipping distance
Size/weight of the packaged chair
Number of chairs shipped
Insurance/coverage
Special handling or expedited shipping
Other surcharges (peak season, oversized items, etc.)
Let’s go over the main variables.
Packaging materials
Chairs are bulky and easy to damage/scratch.
Proper packaging is crucial for two reasons:
01
To minimize the damage risks.
02
To get compensation from the carrier if they damage or lose your package. (Improper packaging is a common reason for rejected claims.)
You might need some (or all) of the following packing materials:
Shipping boxes and cardboard sheets. A Grand Wardrobe Box from U-haul combined with some extra cardboard sheets will do the job for most chairs. Estimated cost: $20.
Padding materials (bubble wrap, air pillows, packing paper, etc). Estimated cost: $20-50.
Packing tape. Estimated cost: $5-15.
Special handling stickers. Estimated cost: $5-10.
Estimated added costs: Depending on what you have on hand, packing materials might add $30 to $100 to the total chair-shipping cost. You might save money by going directly to supply distributors like ULINE.
Chair coverage–carrier’s vs. third-party
- Carrier coverage.
Your estimate of the chair’s value is called declared value, and it caps the carrier’s maximum liability.
Estimated added costs: Carrier coverage costs $0-$30, depending on the declared value of the chair. With most shipping companies, it’s free up to $100. For declared values above $100, you’ll pay an additional 1-2.5% of the shipment’s value. Read more and see examples of carrier coverage fees here.
- Third-party insurance.
Insurance is more flexible than declared-value coverage. You and the broker/provider define the terms and the fees. You’re not limited by exceptions. You’re covered even if the damage isn’t the carrier’s fault.
Estimated added costs: Third-party insurance typically costs 0.5% to 4% of the chair’s value, depending on the terms and the provider.
White glove and special-handling services
If you’re shipping a valuable chair, consider adding special handling services for peace of mind.
These might include:
Extra careful handling
Pickup and drop-off
White glove services like (dis)assembly, expert packaging, and transport
Save money on furniture-shipping costs–6 tips
Shipping, packaging, padding, shipping labels–the total costs of transport add up.
Over longer distances, they can be higher than the chair’s value.
Below are 6 money-saving tips.
Make your package smaller
01
Use a shipping box that allows for a few inches of padding. Cut it down to size to avoid paying oversized package surcharges.
Example: Suppose you’re shipping a dining room chair in a Grand Wardrobe Box from U-HAUL (21x24x48”). It has detachable legs, so you’re shipping it disassembled via FedEx Ground from LA to NY.
Cut the box down to size (20x20x20”), and you’ll pay $143.82 for shipping. Leave it as is, and you pay $567.97.
Choose ground transport
02
Ground transport is significantly cheaper than the alternatives, like next-day air.
Example: Let’s say you’re sending an ergonomic office chair from LA to NY. Shipping will cost $545 via FedEx Ground and $2,599 via FedEx First Overnight. That cost difference buys you 10 chairs.
Avoid peak seasons or book in advance
03
Plan to ship your chair outside peak seasons like Christmas, when the fees are higher. If you must ship in peak season, book in advance. It might offset some of the added cost.
Consider local carriers
04
List the job on shipping aggregators* like uShip. A local carrier or moving company might offer better deals for some shipping services.
*Shipping aggregators are platforms or services that connect multiple carriers with shippers.
Use cost-comparison tools
05
Take the time to compare the carrier fees. Use websites like ParcelMonkey.
Ship through accounts (especially if you don’t have one yet)
06
Some carriers offer discounts for new account holders.
Need a trusted partner to ship furniture?
If you’re selling chairs online, consider partnering with a reliable 3PL company.
At Red Stag Fulfillment, we have the know-how, the resources, and the people to streamline your order fulfillment.
We’ve shipped thousands of bulky items for businesses, including furniture.
We won awards for it–multiple years in a row.
We know what a single lost chair means for your bottom line. That’s why we offer a zero-shrinkage guarantee. (If we lose a chair, we pay for it.)
