Furniture transport: compare quotes and prices

Kerbside or into the room?

Furniture transport may mean collecting a second-hand item, picking up from a shop or moving several pieces between homes. Specify where the service starts and ends. Home delivery does not necessarily include carrying upstairs or placing furniture in a chosen room.

For a private purchase, coordinate the seller’s collection window with the carrier. The items must be released and accessible. Paying for the purchase and providing collection authorisation are not automatically the carrier’s responsibility.

Check furniture dimensions and the whole route

The furniture must fit the vehicle and every doorway, landing and stairway on the carrying route. Measure large items and narrow passages. A lift only helps if its door, cabin and load capacity are suitable. Assess delivery access separately from collection.

Flag glass, stone, antiques and unusually heavy pieces. Some wardrobes do not tolerate repeated dismantling well. The company needs to assess whether extra staff, disassembly or an external furniture lift are required. Missing measurements can follow the initial enquiry, but confirmed planning requires sufficiently accurate information.

Compare the complete transport cost

Quotes may charge for staff, vehicle and time or give a fixed price for an agreed scope. One published Zurich-area tariff lists CHF 199.80 per hour for two transport staff and a van, excluding VAT and including regional mileage. Three billed hours therefore total CHF 599.40 before VAT. This illustrates one tariff, not a forecast for your sofa or a Swiss market average.

Compare minimum hours, when the clock starts and stops, travel to the job, return travel, waiting and surcharges. A smaller team with a lower hourly rate may need longer. Fixed prices are only comparable when inventory, route, carrying and extras match.

A shared load may suit flexible dates. Ask about confirmed delivery windows and whether items are transferred between vehicles. Any saving needs to be considered alongside timing and handling; available capacity does not guarantee immediate collection.

Agree protection and assembly separately

Empty drawers and cupboards and agree who protects loose parts and delicate surfaces. Keep labelled fittings and screws with their furniture. The quote should state who supplies protective materials and whether packing time is charged.

A new item in its original cartons differs from a fully assembled piece. Specify any assembly, adjustment or wall fixing you need. Model details or photographs can help later with bulky or delicate items; you do not need every detail before making an initial enquiry.

Check condition, cover and cross-border requirements

Record condition before collection, particularly for second-hand or valuable furniture. At delivery, check item counts and visible damage and document any issues together. Transport insurance and liability cover are different; check limits, excesses and packing-related exclusions.

Cross-border journeys also require import arrangements. A newly purchased item does not automatically qualify as used household removal goods. Discuss proof of purchase, the transport purpose and responsibility for customs clearance before collection.