How To Ship A Mattress? And How Much Does It Cost?

You may be looking into shipping a mattress due to a move. Or maybe you just want to ship a mattress to a friend or family member. 

Shipping a mattress can be expensive. Mattresses are some of the biggest items you can ship through a courier, so they can incur some of the biggest shipping fees. 

In this guide, we’ll cover things to consider when sipping a mattress. These will include how to ship your mattress safely, how much it costs, and whether it’s even worth it to ship your mattress to a new location.

How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Mattress?

It can cost anywhere from $160 to over $900 to ship a mattress. The cost of shipping a mattress depends on a number of factors, and can vary greatly between different courier services. Here are some of the factors that can affect your shipping quotes:

• Shipping distance: The larger the distance between your pickup and delivery points, the more shipping will cost.
• Mattress weight: Mattresses can weigh anywhere from 50 to 150 pounds. The heavier a mattress is, the more it will cost to ship. Beware of oversized package fees if your mattress exceeds the maximum weight allowed by your courier.
• Mattress dimensions: Generally, the larger a package is, the more expensive shipping rates will be. Mattresses are some of the biggest packages you can ship, so be careful not to exceed the size limits of your courier.
• Courier service: Different courier services will get your package to its destination for different prices. Compare the cost of shipping your mattress between courier services to get the lowest shipping rate possible.

Shipping A Mattress With USPS

The United States Postal Service is a budget-friendly courier service that does allow you to ship mattresses. However, be prepared to pay an extra $100 fee if your mattress exceeds 70 pounds in weight and 108 inches in length. 

When shipping through USPS, you have a few options when choosing which service to use. The cheapest option is USPS Retail Ground delivery, but if you need expedited shipping, you can pay extra for Priority Mail 2-Day delivery and Priority Mail Express 1-Day delivery. You can calculate your USPS shipping costs with their online Retail Postage Price Calculator.

Shipping A Mattress With FedEx

FedEx has a higher weight limit when it comes to shipping large packages. This shipping company allows customers to ship packages weighing up to 150 pounds as long as they don’t exceed 108 inches in length. However, if your mattress is heavier than 150 pounds, there is a $100 oversized package charge.

FedEx’s shipping services can be a bit expensive but the most budget-friendly one is FedEx Ground delivery, which can deliver your package within two to seven business days. FedEx also has more expensive options like FedEx 2Day delivery and FedEx Standard Overnight delivery, in case you need a package shipped as soon as possible. Check out FedEx’s shipping rate calculator to get an exact quote for your specific package.

Shipping A Mattress With UPS

Like FedEx, UPS allows its customers to ship packages that weigh up to 150 pounds and measure 108 inches in length without incurring an oversized package fee. However, UPS has a huge fee of $920 if your package is above the maximum limits of weight and size.

UPS Ground delivery will be your cheapest option and can deliver your package within five to seven business days. If you need shipping to be expedited, UPS also offers UPS 2nd Day Air and UPS Next Day Air, though you should expect these options to be several times more expensive than UPS Ground. Fortunately, UPS has an online shipping calculator that can tell you exactly how much each service would cost.

Is It Worth It To Ship A Mattress?

It’s not always worth it to ship a mattress. The shipping fees that you may incur from shipping a mattress can often be as much as or even more than the original cost of your mattress. However, shipping a mattress might be worth it if you’re shipping some of the biggest bed sizes, like a California king-sized mattress. 

There are a few factors that can affect whether or not it’s worth shipping your mattress:

• Mattress age: Most mattresses have an average lifespan of five to nine years, depending on build quality. If your mattress has been in use for at least five years, paying to ship it might not be worth it.
• Original price: Depending on how much you bought your mattress for, the shipping fee may be worth even more than a new mattress. Ask yourself if it would cost you more to ship the mattress rather than replace it with a new one.
• Personal compatibility: Your mattress should be meeting all your personal sleeping preferences. Consider whether your mattress is conforming to your ideal comfort and support levels. If a new mattress would give you better support and more comfort, it might not be worth it to ship your old mattress.
• Wear and tear: Check your mattress for bent or exposed springs, torn foam, and other signs of damage. If you’re not comfortable with the amount of wear that your mattress has sustained, it may be worth it to replace it with a new one. Look out for signs of a bad mattress to determine whether or not you should get a new one.

How To Ship A Mattress

Package your mattress: To ship a mattress, you’ll need to first package it in a sturdy cardboard shipping box. You can buy mattress shipping boxes online, but be aware that they can be much more expensive than a regular cardboard box. 

When packing your mattress, try to keep as little empty space in the packing box as possible. Empty space means that your mattress has room to move around, which may damage it.

Select a courier to ship: You can use the above mentioned pricing calculators to see which courier will work best for you

Ship the mattress: Get your mattress picked up by the courier service you’re using. Depending on the courier service, you can either bring the package to a local office, or schedule to have it picked up from your home or business address. Take note of how fast you need your mattress to be shipped and shop around for the courier service that meets your time and budget needs.

Once you’ve handed the mattress over to the courier service, all that’s left to do is wait for the package to arrive. Most courier services will give you a tracking number you can use to track where your package is in the shipping process. You can also opt for scheduled delivery to get your package to its destination on the exact day you need it.

Things To Consider When Shipping Mattresses

The larger your package, the more it will cost to ship. Depending on how big your mattress is, you may even run into problems like needing a bigger packaging box or being restricted to a certain courier.

Here are a few things you should keep in mind when shipping a mattress.

Additional Shipping Fees

You can expect to pay additional shipping fees when shipping your mattress, depending on how big and heavy it is. Because mattresses are prone to getting damaged during transport, you’ll also need to buy proper packaging for them.

There are other factors that can affect your total shipping fee, like:

• Pickup and delivery conditions
• Distance between the origin and destination of your package
• Specific courier handling requirements
• Holiday shipping
• Fuel costs

Establish A Return Policy

If you’re selling mattresses online, customers are more likely to buy your mattresses if you have a clear and detailed returns policy. By establishing a return policy, you eliminate potential late returns and other surprises.

Most companies will give their customers a 90-day return policy on their mattresses. This time frame allows customers to test out the mattress without risking it being damaged from regular wear and tear.

How To Pack A Mattress For Shipping

To pack a mattress for shipping, you need to purchase strong and durable cardboard boxes and a lot of cushioning material. It’s crucial to pack a mattress in a way that minimizes the risk of damage during transportation. The same applies to putting your mattress in storage. Here are a few steps you can take to pack your mattress the right way.

Choose The Correct Shipping Box

You can’t just shove your mattress in any box and call it a day. While it does add an upfront cost, buying a large and durable shipping box can save your mattress from getting damaged during shipping. The sturdier your cardboard shipping box, the stronger and more stable your mattress is while it’s being shipped.

You can buy cardboard boxes specifically made for shipping mattresses but they can cost between $30 and $50 depending on the size of the mattress you’re shipping. With a proper mattress shipping box, you can go from unpacking your mattress to making your bed in minutes.

Cover Your Mattress With Bubble Wrap

Bubble wrap is essential when you’re trying to ship anything, mattresses included. Wrapping a mattress in bubble wrap before shipping will keep your mattress from taking direct damage from transport. Bubble wrap also protects your mattress from getting dust on it. The thicker you wrap your mattress, the less damage it will sustain, though you should ensure that it can still fit into your shipping box.

Fill In Any Extra Space With Packing Materials

It’s important to keep your mattress from moving around too much inside the box. By filling in any extra spaces in the box with packing peanuts, foam cushions, or other packing materials, you protect your mattress from potential damage from moving around.

Best Practices For Shipping Mattresses

To ship your mattress safely, securely, and cheaply, there are certain precautions you must take. Here are a few of the best practices for shipping mattresses.

Compare Shipping Rates

Depending on the size of your mattress and where you’re shipping it to and from, different delivery services can have vastly different prices. When deciding on which delivery service to use, always check if they have an online shipping calculator. You can use these shipping calculators to save money by comparing the prices between different shipping services.

You should also be aware of the weight and dimensions of your package. Keeping your package within the limits of size and weight will save you from paying an extra fee for oversized packages.

Consider Shipping Insurance

Shipping insurance can be a good idea when shipping large packages such as a mattress. By taking out shipping insurance, you are protected against lost, damaged, and stolen packages.

USPS, FedEx, and UPS offer basic shipping insurance for every package that can cover up to $100. However, if you want to insure a large package like a mattress, you may need to pay extra for additional coverage. While opting for more insurance can add to your upfront costs, it pays off if your mattress gets lost, damaged, or stolen.

Opt For A Scheduled Delivery

If you don’t know when to expect a package, you risk having your package stolen by porch pirates. By scheduling your delivery dates, you’ll know what day to expect the package, reducing the chance of someone stealing it from your porch.

Major courier services like UPS, FedEx, and USPS offer a scheduled delivery option and package tracking, assuring you that your package gets to its destination when you need it to.

Alternatives To Shipping A Mattress

If shipping your mattress is not a good option for you, there are a few alternatives you can consider.

If you’re trying to ship your mattress domestically, you might want to look into renting a moving van or truck. This option makes a lot of sense if you’re also trying to transport other large items, like furniture, along with your mattress. You may also need to drive the moving van yourself, which can save you money over having your mattress shipped separately.

If a moving van isn’t a viable option, you can opt to use a shipping pod. Shipping pods are storage containers that you can rent out, that are then moved by a moving company on an agreed-upon date. Since shipping pods are fairly large, this option makes sense if you are looking to transport other items with your mattress, such as moving boxes or furniture.

If the cost of transporting your mattress is just too much, you may find more value in buying a new mattress. We have a large range of high-quality mattresses that offer varying levels of support, comfort, and air circulation. If you decide to buy a new mattress, you can either sell your old mattress to recoup some of the cost or donate it to a local charity.

Key Takeaways

Shipping your mattress to another location can be an expensive process but by following a few simple practices, you can significantly reduce both your shipping rates and the risk of damaging your mattress. Packing your mattress properly and adding cushioning material can drastically reduce the damage your mattress can take during transportation. Comparing shipping prices for your specific package between different couriers can keep your shipping costs down.

Depending on how old your mattress is, it may not be worth it to use a courier to ship it. Moving vans and shipping pods can be great options if you’re moving your mattress along with other items. However, if your mattress is a bit old or worn, it may be worth it to replace it with a new mattress instead.

Shipping A Mattress FAQs

Can UPS package a mattress?

No, UPS cannot package a mattress, but they can ship it. You’re responsible for packing a mattress into a properly-sized package, but once you’ve packed it, you can call your local UPS branch to pick it up from your location.

Can I ship a mattress through FedEx?

Yes, you can ship a mattress through FedEx. FedEx requires you to pack your mattress in a proper mattress shipping box before having it shipped. FedEx allows large packages of up to 150 pounds to be shipped. If your package exceeds the weight limit, FedEx will charge a $100 oversize package fee.