You may wish to transport your mattress for a variety of reasons. You might be relocating to another state and have no intention of replacing your bedroom furnishings.
You may have just purchased a luxurious new mattress for yourself, but you have a loved one, perhaps a college relative, who would prefer your old mattress to the creaky one in the dorm.
Whatever your reason, this article will walk you through cost-effective and stress-free ways to ship your mattress safely. You’ll be able to ship your orders more smoothly this way.
How Can I Ship My Mattress Safely?
A huge mattress is more difficult to ship than a small package. This is because goods that surpass the maximum weight and dimension limits are subject to surcharges. Aside from the additional cost, preparing and packaging a mattress for shipping can be difficult. However, you can follow these steps to ship your mattresses successfully.
1. Remove the bedding and disassemble your bed frame.
To begin with, take everything off the mattress that isn’t the mattress. There are sheets, bed skirts, comforters, pillows, blankets, and plush animals included. Put them aside to box separately if you’re shipping them as well.
Disassemble your bed frame if you’re shipping it as well. Put all of the nails and hardware in a bag. If you snap pictures while disassembling, you will be able to quickly reassemble it when you get there.
2. Wrap Your Mattress
It’s critical to know how to wrap a mattress appropriately to guarantee that it arrives at its destination safely. Start by wrapping your bed and box spring in several layers of bubble wrap or padding foam. Then, as an extra protection measure, put it inside a mattress protector.
The cases are normally made of vinyl or cotton and fasten with a zipper, much like a mattress covering. You may get one at Levarark Stores on Amazon or from most bedding stores in person.
3. Select the Appropriate Shipping Box
When shipping mattresses, it is not proper to use any old box. Your best choice for moving mattresses safely is to invest in a large, sturdy cardboard box. Corrugated boxes provide strength and stability to your mattress, so this step is vital.
Mattress shipment boxes are available from companies like ULINE or Ecobox. So whether you’re shipping a king-sized mattress or a twin-sized mattress from one state to another, ULINE mattress boxes can help.
4. Take A Measurement Of Your Mattress.
The next step is to determine the weight and size of your mattress. Begin by determining the size. Measure the height, length, and width of your mattress with a measuring tape.
You might be able to discover this information on your initial packing slip or order form. Alternatively, if your mattress is still on the market, you can get this info on the company’s website and spare yourself the work. If a new model has been released, just check with customer service to make sure that the sizes haven’t changed.
The usual dimensions for today’s mattress sizes are as follows:
| MATTRESS SIZE | LENGTH X WIDTH | AVERAGE WEIGHT |
| Crib/Toddler | 28” x 52” | 15 to 25 pounds |
| Twin | 38” x 75” | 45 to 55 pounds |
| Twin XL | 38” x 80” | 45 to 60 pounds |
| Full/double | 54” x 75” | 55 to 70 pounds |
| Queen | 60” x 80” | 70 to 110 pounds |
| King | 76” x 80” | 90 to 125 pounds |
| California King | 72” x 84” | 90 to 125 pounds |
5. Packing Materials Can Be Used To Fill In Any Gaps.
Before you seal the box shut, it’s advisable to fill any empty area with packing materials. Packing peanuts and other cushioning items keep your cargo from moving around or becoming damaged.
Mattresses can be safely shipped using Bubblefast packing peanuts, available on Amazon. The rates for buying packing peanuts are listed below.
6. Get Shipping Quotes
Now that you know the precise measurements of your mattress, it’s time to switch gears and go looking for quotations. Many shipping companies and third-party websites can give you an estimate for transporting your mattress. You can get quotations from USPS, FedEx, UPS, and other shipping agents.
You’ll need to input the following information to get a quote for the cost of delivering your mattress:
- The nature of your mattress
- The weight of the mattress
- Dimensions of the mattress
- Information about the sender (address and contact information)
- Information on delivery (address)
- Pick-up and delivery dates
7. Make Arrangements For Pick-Up.
Once you’ve decided on a courier service to use, you’ll need to either schedule for curbside pickup or plan for a delivery site where you may drop off your mattress. Some companies offer White Glove Delivery, which means they will have to come into your home, wrap your mattress, and put it into their vehicle without you lifting a finger. It’s much more expensive, but it’s an excellent choice for those who want or need additional assistance.
What Is the Cost of Shipping a Mattress?
When it comes to shipping mattresses, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all price. Mattresses range in weight from 50 to 150 lbs. and are available in a variety of sizes. As a result, the price will vary according to the size of the mattress.
The cost of shipping mattresses is determined by the following factors:
- Distance
- Mattress Weight
- Mattress dimensions
- The Shipping Company
- Speed of Delivery
You can learn precisely how all these factors play a role in the cost of shipping from our article on the Cost of Shipping a Package.
USPS Options
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is a cost-effective option to ship most things, including mattresses. If the weight of your mattress exceeds 70 pounds and is longer than 108 inches, you’ll have to pay a $100 fee. To acquire a quote for your big package, contact USPS directly.
Consider shipping a 70-pound mattress from New York to Los Angeles. The following are the USPS services that are available:
- Priority Mail Express1-Day: $482.10
- Priority Mail 2-Day: $181.15
- USPS Retail Ground: $150.35
As we can see, shipping a mattress via USPS Retail Ground is the most cost-effective option. This service will cost $150.35 and will take 2 to 9 working days to complete. Priority Mail Express, on the other hand, can deliver your package in a matter of hours if you need it urgently.
FedEx Options
FedEx, unlike USPS, is much more flexible with regard to size and weight constraints. Customers, for example, get an extra 80 lbs before being billed an extra $100 for an excessive package. Instead, FedEx stipulates that your shipment cannot exceed 150 pounds in weight or be longer than 108 inches in length.
Let’s say you’re sending an 80-pound mattress from New York to Los Angeles through FedEx. This will be the possible rate for your package :
- FedEx Standard Overnight: $738.98
- FedEx 2Day: $593.78
- FedEx Express Saver: $474.32
- FedEx Ground: $161.54
FedEx Ground is the most cost-effective means of transporting with FedEx, and it can get your package in 2 to 7 business days. Furthermore, FedEx permits you to ship up to 150 lbs, which is 80 pounds higher than USPS.
UPS Options
Your shipment, like FedEx, cannot weigh more than 150 pounds or be longer than 108 inches. Items that exceed the maximum limit are also charged $100.00 by UPS.
Let’s say you are trying to ship an 85-pound shipment via UPS from New York to Los Angeles. The following are the rates for shipping your mattress:
- UPS Next Day Air: $779.41
- UPS 2nd Day Air: $563.76
- UPS Ground: $166.64
Even if you don’t have to pay any additional costs for this 85-pound package, you’re still spending a lot on delivery. Connecting with a reputable shipping platform, on the other hand, can help you save a lot of money on shipping.
Is Shipping a Mattress Worth It?
Whether or not shipping a mattress is worthwhile is ultimately determined by the value of your mattress. Let’s assume your mattress is still pretty recent and cost you more than $750. It’s a better value than purchasing a new mattress if you just have to spend $400 for shipping.
On the flip side, if your mattress is shabby, it may not be worth more than a few hundred dollars. In such a situation, you’d be spending more than the bedding’s value just to ship it.
The typical useful life for mattresses is between 5 to 9 years. If you’ve been using your mattress for at least that long, you might be due for a replacement. If this explains your situation, you could use your relocation to order a new mattress from a bed-in-a-box retailer and have it delivered to your new home.
Finally, if you’re planning to hire a moving truck for the rest of your belongings, it might be more cost-effective to simply get a larger truck and fit your mattress inside alongside the other items. You might also want to see How To Pack For Moving Houses.
