Shipping large items like furniture internationally can present a lot of challenges. Fortunately, learning how to ship furniture internationally isn’t as complicated as you might think.
Whether you’re moving overseas or shipping your handmade artisan furniture to customers in countries around the world, this guide contains everything you need to know about shipping furniture internationally.
International furniture shipping involves moving home or office furniture across borders, which includes customs clearance. This is significantly more difficult than shipping furniture inside the country, where transit times are much faster and you don’t have to worry about customs.
Shipping furniture internationally involves a lot of separate parties. Owners, freight forwarders, and customs brokers all play a role in the process. There are also different service models, including door-to-door and port-to-port.
There are several reasons a person might ship furniture overseas. If you’re relocating to another country, you can ship the furniture you currently own to your destination country so you can have it at your new home.
International furniture shipping is also common when selling antique or designer furniture to foreign buyers. Furniture that’s in high demand can attract buyers from across the globe, and it’s often significantly cheaper to ship furniture overseas than to buy equivalent quality furniture in other countries.
Some people even ship furniture overseas to send family heirlooms as gifts. Careful handling is especially important when dealing with priceless family heirlooms.
Before we focus on how to ship furniture internationally, let’s talk about some of the key factors you should consider before getting started.
Full container load (FCL) shipments involve booking an entire shipping container to one consignee. FCL shipments can be a safe and timely way to transport large volumes of furniture, but the flat rate is higher.
Less than container load (LCL) shipments allow you to split a shipping container with other shippers. This is more cost-effective if you’re shipping smaller pieces of furniture, but it increases the risk of damage.
Choose the right container type based on the volume of furniture you’re shipping and your budget.
Ocean freight is the most economical option for heavy or bulky items. Ocean freight is cost-effective, but transit times can range from weeks to months and port handling fees can increase shipping costs.
Air freight is the fastest international shipping method, but it’s not as cost-effective as ocean freight. Fast transit times make air freight ideal for urgent or high-value pieces, but there are stricter weight and dimension limits.
Courier services like DHL and FedEx offer door-to-door services for small parts or disassembled items, but the per-kg cost is significantly higher than other options and there are strict size restrictions.
Every furniture item needs to have an appropriate Harmonized System (HS) code to determine duties and restrictions. These codes vary by material, such as wood, metal, and upholstery.
Check the destination country’s import regulations for prohibited materials and required fumigation or phytosanitary certificates.
Shipping furniture internationally may also involve additional paperwork, such as a commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, and special licenses in some cases.
When choosing a freight forwarder, look for someone who handles booking, documentation, and coordination with carriers and customers. Working with a local customs broker in the destination process can help you speed up the customs clearance process and minimize unexpected duties and fees.
Compare factors like service reviews, response times, and fee structures to find a reliable and transparent partner.
International furniture shipping requires high-quality packing materials like plywood, custom wooden crates, and double-wall corrugated boxes. Foam corner protectors, bubble wrap, and stretch film can help protect furniture during transit.
Professional crating services are the way to go when you’re shipping antique or expensive furniture. Custom-built crates perfectly fit the shape of your furniture to provide premium shock absorption.
Use “fragile” and “this side up” labels, and seal packages with tamper-evident seals to protect your furniture.
There are different types of coverage you can purchase when shipping furniture internationally. Carrier’s limited liability insurance typically pays cents per pound, meaning you only recover a small portion of your loss. All-risk marine insurance covers theft, damage, and total loss.
It’s important to accurately value furniture for insurance purposes, using the replacement cost rather than the depreciated value. Review policy exclusions to make sure you know what is and isn’t covered under your policy.
Now that we’ve got some of the important considerations out of the way, let’s take a closer look at how to ship furniture internationally.
Start by measuring your furniture and recording the length, width, height, and weight of each item, including bulked-up dimensions for crated items.
Photograph your furniture from every angle to get a clear picture of its conditions. Take close-up pictures of existing scratches and other damage, and label images to match item descriptions for insurance and customs inspections.
Use an online calculator to estimate shipping costs using the volume and weight of your furniture. You’ll also need to choose between ocean, air, and courier options at this stage.
Once you’ve determined your expected shipping costs, you can start submitting requests for quotes to freight forwarders and couriers. When submitting these requests, make sure you specify pickup and drop-off locations, the service level, and your insurance needs.
Now that you’ve got a handful of quotes to compare, you can choose a freight forwarder or courier service that matches your budget and needs. Confirm pickup dates, transit times, and cut-off deadlines for documents and packing.
You’ll also need to secure a booking reference or a Bill of Lading number, and verify responsibilities for inland transport to the port or airport.
Once everything is booked and in order, you can start preparing and packing furniture. Disassemble large items when possible, and wrap fragile surfaces in protective layers like bubble wrap or foam. Minimize movement inside crates or boxes to prevent damage.
Seal and label each crate with shipping marks, HS codes, and handling instructions.
Fill out a commercial invoice showing item descriptions, HS codes, values, origin, and consignee information. Attach a packing list detailing quantities, dimensions, weights, and crate numbers.
If required, include certificates of origin or wood treatment.
Send all necessary documentation to your insurer, including the valuation, packing photos, shipping route, and estimated transit time.
Once you’ve provided these documents, your insurer will provide you with your policy that includes clear coverage dates, claim procedures, and contact information for claims handling.
Use online tracking with your Bill of Lading or airway bill numbers to monitor the status of your shipment. Keep in touch with the consignee about arrival alerts and arrange pickup or delivery times.
Ensure all customs duties and local delivery fees are paid to avoid delays in transit.
Now that you know how to ship furniture internationally, here are some common mistakes you’ll want to avoid to minimize costs and ensure your shipment arrives on time.
Missing dimensions or weight inaccuracies can lead to quote revisions, surcharges, or rejected bookings that impact your bottom line.
Take detailed photos of the furniture you’re shipping, and match photos to descriptions for smoother claims.
Flimsy boxes and unbraced crates can increase the risk of transit damage, which can also result in additional handling fees and rejected claims.
Oversized crates can also result in space-use penalties, so your international furniture shipment may end up costing more than you anticipated.
When you’re shipping anything overseas, you need to be aware of customs duties and HS codes. Overlooking customs duties or using the wrong HS code can result in additional fees and delays, so make sure you verify the destination country’s duty rates and exemptions for household goods.
Relying solely on carrier liability can land you in hot water if something goes wrong with your shipment. Compare policy limits, deductibles, and exclusions to the actual value of your furniture to make sure you have enough coverage.
There are several potential hidden fees when shipping furniture internationally, including port handling charges, terminal storage fees, local delivery surcharges, and customs inspection costs.
Make sure you understand these fees and how they’re structured upfront so you’re not surprised by the cost of your shipment.
International shipping costs vary depending on the freight method you choose and the weight and volume of your furniture.
Overseas delivery can take anywhere from weeks to months via sea freight, while air freight can arrive in a matter of days at a higher cost.
Larger furniture should be disassembled before shipping if possible. Separate disassembled parts into clearly marked boxes to avoid confusion.
Customs clearance requires a commercial invoice, Bill of Lading or air waybill, and a packing list. Additional documentation may be required depending on the product and destination country.
Yes, you can ship furniture door-to-door using door-to-door courier services.
Working with a local customs broker is one of the best ways to make sure you’re not paying any unnecessary duties or taxes.
If you plan on shipping furniture internationally, it’s important to understand customs requirements, potential fees, and common mistakes with international furniture shipping.
At Eurolog Packing Group, we develop shipping solutions that help you protect your precious cargo for the long haul. Check out our shipping solutions or contact us about custom solutions for your next shipment.
Sandra Malouf is the President of Eurolog Packing Group and has spent her career focused on Industrial Packaging. With a proven track record of helping businesses avoid supply chain disruptions, Sandra’s visionary leadership elevates the industry. She’s committed to developing sustainable practices and continues to shape the future of industrial packaging by listening to the customer and offering unique solutions applicable to various industries across the world. The company’s main focus is temperature stabilization and moisture damage prevention in exports affected by extreme variations in global temperatures.
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