You may have read my articles on size limitations for both UPS and USPS. What should you do when these limits are exceeded? Your local The UPS Store location is one option for obtaining a freight quote.
If your package exceeds 165″ in length + girth (girth = (width x 2) + (height x 2)), or if it exceeds 150 pounds, you will need to ship the item via a carrier. The post office has limits (70 lbs. and 108″ length + girth).
Shippers, like The UPS Store, have access to multiple freight providers. If you’re calling a transportation provider directly, your first question is likely to be, “How many rooms of furniture will you be moving?” If you’re interested in shipping a single item, you may be referred to a shipper like The UPS Store. The reason is that with nearly 5,000 outlets across the country, a carrier can pick up an item at one shipping point, an item at a nearby store, and another part at a nearby location. By the time they pack up a couple of rooms for someone and then stop at a few local shipping points, their truck will be full. Therefore, these shipping points can achieve a good pricing structure for you to move individual items through a carrier, without having to worry about filling the truck like a consumer would.
Whether it’s one piece or multiple pieces, visit your local shipping center for advice and a quote on the best method to pack and ship your oversized items.