How do i ship a mattress?

Saying goodbye to your bed when you move a long distance can be harder than dragging yourself out from under the covers on a cold winter morning. Your bed is your sanctuary, and the last thing you want to do is leave it behind, especially when you’re coping with the stress of managing a long-distance relocation. But how exactly do you get it to your new home?

There are several ways to move or ship your mattress across the country. The shipping experts at TSI are here to help. Read our comprehensive mattress shipping guide to learn more about five ways to ship a mattress, or jump directly to special considerations and other important mattress shipping tips and guidelines by clicking the menu below.

1. How To Ship a Mattress Read about five common ways to ship a mattress, including pros and cons and when to use each method.  2. How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Mattress? The cost of shipping your mattress depends on what shipping method you choose. 3. Recommended Shipping Method Moving locally or long distance? Find out which shipping method is best for your move. 4. Special Considerations There are many different types of mattress, and each come with their own unique set of considerations for packing and moving. 5. Mistakes to Avoid Keep your mattress safe throughout the moving process by avoiding these mistakes. 6. How To Pack a Mattress Pack your mattress the right way with our step-by-step instructions.

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1. How To Ship a Mattress

Mattresses are bulky and heavy, and that makes them awkward and difficult to move. If you’re moving long-distance and want to ship your mattress across the country, you have five options:

1. Leave it behind and buy a new one
2. Rent a truck and move it yourself
3. Hire professional movers
4. Rideshare or peer-to-peer shipping
5. Consolidated freight

Let’s take a closer look at each of these methods:

I. Don’t move your mattress—just buy a new one

As much as you love your mattress, if it’s old or inexpensive, you’re likely better off tossing it and getting a new one in your new home. Chances are, it’ll cost you more to ship your old mattress than it will purchase a new one, and many stores will deliver them for free.

How much does it cost to buy a new mattress?

Depending on what kind of mattress you want to buy, the cost of replacing your mattress can range from a little as $250 to as high as $5,000. Most people find a mattress that suits their needs for less than $1,000.

II. Renting a truck and moving your mattress yourself

Renting a truck and packing, loading, and unloading your belongings on your own or with the help of friends and family is a popular choice for local moves, as well as for those who don’t have much stuff to move and are physically able to manage the moving process from start to finish.

Packing your mattress for a DIY move requires more than simply loading it into the back of your truck—you’ll need to acquire specialized packing materials in order to safeguard your mattress, and if you have a king-size mattress. You’ll also need to disassemble it to help get it out of your house and onto the truck.

Loading your mattress onto the moving vehicle

Packing your mattress is fairly simple—loading it onto your moving vehicle is where things start to get more complicated. The best way to load your mattress onto your moving vehicle will depend on what type of vehicle you are using:

Advantages	Disadvantages
Can be cheaper than hiring movers or arranging a consolidated freight shipment	You are responsible for all packing and heavy lifting, as well as acquiring your own packing materials
	Larger mattresses can be especially difficult to move, depending on the size of your moving vehicle
	Can be expensive for long-distance moves, particularly if you are moving lots of stuff

How much does it cost to rent a truck and move your own mattress?

The cost of renting a truck and moving your mattress yourself will depend on the size and distance of your move. You will pay a day rate based on the size of your moving vehicle, plus mileage and other expenses such as fuel, moving supplies, and insurance:

• Day rates typically range between $19.95-$29.95 per day for a 10’-15’ truck, which should be plenty big enough to move mattresses.
• Mileage often ranges between $0.89-$1.39 per mile and can be higher on weekends and during peak moving season.

If you’re moving long-distance, you’ll also likely pay extra to leave your rented moving vehicle in a different city than where you picked it up.

III. Hiring professional movers

Hiring professional movers is ideal for those who have lots of stuff to move, are moving long-distance, need help with fragile or valuable items, or simply don’t want the hassle of loading and unloading your belongings.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Includes professional moving services for the rest of your stuff	Can be expensive, especially for long-distance moves
Some moving companies provide basic packing materials, such as moving blankets and hand trucks, at no cost	Need to pack most things yourself, unless your moving company offers basic packing services (such as wrapping your couch), or you pay for packing services
No heavy lifting
No concerns about vehicle size
Basic moving insurance is often included

How much does it cost to hire professional movers?

According to the Pro Mover Reviews, a local move comes with an average price tag of $2,250 - $4,500, while long-distance moves cost between $4,000 - $10,500.

The exact cost of hiring professional movers depends on how much stuff you have and the distance of your move. Every moving company's price moves differently, so call at least three moving companies to get a quote before you book. Comparing quotes can help you create a moving budget, and is an easy way to reduce your moving costs.

Not sure whether to hire movers or rent a truck and move? Read our guide for our expert advice:

IV. Rideshare or peer-to-peer shipping

When you ship your mattress using rideshare or peer-to-peer shipping services, you are paying someone else who is traveling to your destination with extra space in their vehicle to transport your mattress. You can connect with peer-to-peer shipping partners, including large companies, single-truck owners, and even road trippers, using special online marketplaces.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Can be cost-effective for long-distance moves	You may not be working with a professional—there’s no guarantee of expertise or experience, and there’s less accountability if something goes wrong
Ideal if you are only shipping a few large items and can take the bulk of your belongings in your personal vehicle	Need to pack your mattress yourself
Can be used to ship just about any type of large item	May need to provide loading and unloading assistance
	May not be able to track your shipment
	No insurance if your mattress gets damaged

How much does peer-to-peer shipping cost?

Peer-to-peer shipping costs can vary and are often negotiable. Typically, it will cost between $200-$500 or more to ship your mattress using peer-to-peer shipping services, depending on the size of your mattress and whether you need any additional services, such as packing or loading.

V. Consolidated freight

When you ship your mattress using consolidated freight services such as less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping, your mattress will share space on the truck with other cargo heading in the same direction. Unlike peer-to-peer shipping, consolidated freight services are always provided by licensed and insured professional shipping companies.

Many consolidated freight providers, including TSI, also offer different levels of service if you are looking for help packing or loading your mattress or want to ensure your mattress is protected with insurance.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Safe and convenient—no need to find space in your rented moving vehicle for a bulky mattress	Can be costly—not ideal for old or inexpensive mattresses
Can be cheaper than renting a moving truck, especially for long-distance moves, or if you only need help to ship your mattress	Longer timeframes—you might have to wait for your mattress to arrive if there are delays in transit
Ideal for brand new or expensive mattresses	Does not always include packing and loading services
Easy to purchase additional insurance

How much does it cost to ship a mattress using consolidated freight?

The cost of shipping a mattress using consolidated freight will depend on what level of service you choose. Typically to ship a mattress going this way starts at $1,000 and includes 2-person inside pickup and delivery. 

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2. How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Mattress?

The cost of shipping your mattress will depend on what shipping method you choose:

Method	Cost
Don't—buy a new mattress	Typically less than $1,000
Renting a truck and moving yourself	Depends on the size of the vehicle and distance of the move
Hiring professional movers	Depends on size and distance of move
Peer-to-peer shipping	$200-$500+
Consolidated freight	$300-$700+

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3. Recommended Shipping Method

For short distance or local moves, we recommend moving your mattress yourself or hiring professional movers.

For long-distance moves, consolidated freight is the most reliable option for shipping new, expensive, or top-of-the-line mattresses. These services are always provided by licensed and insured professionals, so you can rest assured that your mattress will receive the care it deserves throughout its journey.

When you ship your mattress using consolidated freight services like less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping, it will share space on the truck with other cargo heading in the same direction. This can help keep your costs low, with shipping rates starting around $300. Consolidated freight providers also often offer multiple service levels, including packing, assistance loading your mattress, and additional insurance. If you need help packing or loading your mattress, or would like the comfort of additional insurance, consolidated freight can cost up to $700 or more. 

If you are moving long-distance and have an old or expensive mattress, your best bet is to toss it and upgrade to a newer model in your new home.

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4. Special Considerations for Shipping a Mattress

There are many different types of mattresses available. Different styles use different mechanisms to provide support, and they each offer a unique set of advantages, from isolating motion transfer or diffusing heat to reducing allergens and relieving back pain. Knowing what type of mattress you have will help you determine how to pack and load it properly and safely, how much it will cost to ship, and whether it’s worth moving at all.

These are some of the most common types of mattresses:

Beyond the challenges posed by their weight and bulk, there are a few other instances when you’ll need to make special considerations for shipping your mattress, including:

5. Mistakes to Avoid When Shipping Your Mattress

• Not packing your mattress properly: Don’t skip bagging your mattress. Mattress bags are inexpensive and easy to find, and they will keep your mattress clean while protecting it from other damage.
• Not properly securing your mattress in the moving vehicle: If you don’t secure your mattress in place in the back of your rented moving truck using rope or ratchet straps, your mattress may shift or fall during transit, which can cause damage to the mattress as well as other nearby belongings.
• Renting the wrong moving vehicle: Nothing can derail your moving day like finding out your stuff won’t actually fit in the moving vehicle you’ve rented. Save yourself the hassle and expense of finding a properly-sized vehicle at the last minute by measuring your mattress before you sign a rental contract. Your mattress may take up more space than you expect—for example, a twin-size mattress will easily fit inside a moving van, but a queen-size mattress won’t fit unless you bend it, which can cause irreparable damage to the support system.
• Storing memory foam mattresses upright: Memory foam mattresses should never be loaded or stored in an upright position for more than a few minutes. This can cause the layers to separate, leading to irreversible damage.

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6. How To Pack Your Mattress

Packing instructions

Once you’ve acquired the necessary packing materials, you can begin packing your mattress. Follow these steps:

1. Remove your mattress from the bed frame and lean it up against a wall. Dismantle your bed frame—this will give you enough floor space to properly pack your mattress.
2. Slide the mattress into a mattress bag, or wrap it securely in heavy-duty plastic. Press as much air out of the mattress bag as you can before you tape it. Air pockets are easy to puncture, and can also lead to condensation, moisture, and damage to your mattress.
3. Seal the mattress bag or plastic with packing tape. Tape all open edges, as well as around the mattress a couple of times (once in the middle, and once more elsewhere). This helps eliminate air pockets.
4. Slide the bagged mattress into a mattress box. Seal the mattress box using packing tape.
5. Wrapped the box with shrink wrap for added protection.
6. Label the mattress. Label the box clearly with the destination address as well as according to what room it belongs in. Label each side of the box, or in at least two locations.

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Conclusion

Mattresses are heavy, bulky, and difficult to move, especially if you’re moving long-distance. If the prospect of leaving your mattress behind is just too painful to consider, you have four options for moving or shipping your mattress across the country:

• Renting a truck and moving it yourself
• Hiring professional movers
• Peer-to-peer shipping
• Consolidated freight

The best shipping method depends on your moving budget, your mattress, and the unique circumstances of your move.

If you’re moving a new or top-of-the-line mattress, consolidated freight is the safest, most reliable method of shipping your mattress. TSI can help—our experienced logistics coordinators and an extensive nationwide network of shipping experts can help you create a shipping plan that works for your schedule and budget.