Shipping antiques can be a complex process — you want to take every measure possible to ensure your items remain protected from the moment they leave to when they arrive at their destination. If you're shipping antique furniture, the process can be even more tedious without the assistance of an antique shipping company.
Whether you’re moving an entire household, distributing an estate, or shipping one or two antiques on their own, TSI makes it easy to ship antiques across country or long distances. With our nationwide network of professional antique shipping partners, TSI’s expert problem solvers specialize in creating customized plans for moving or shipping antiques.
All of TSI’s antique shipping solutions include professional packing and preparation to ensure your pieces arrive undamaged, including custom crating and climate-controlled trucks if needed. Need to move or ship antiques from multiple origins to a single destination, or from a single origin to multiple destinations? We can help with that too. Request an antique shipping quote for more information. We can move or ship antiques across country or any distance longer than 150 miles, including:
Wood cabinets, glass cabinets, fragile cabinets, and more.
Grandfather clocks, grandmother clocks, restoration clocks, and custom clocks. Learn More ›
Chairs, tables, couches, desks, rugs, and more. Learn More ›
Paintings, prints, sculptures, heirloom art, and more. Learn More ›
Small or large heirloom items with financial and/or sentimental.
Ship antiques from one location to multiple destinations. Learn More ›
They help us serve you better. See what our customers have to say about our services below. You can read more reviews here.
AJ Lutz, The New School and Parson School of Design, Director of Housing
Lisa S. - NH
Bob C.
At TSI, we make it easy to understand how to ship your antique furniture or other fragile antiques. We have more than one shipping service available to meet your unique needs. Whether you need to transport an object across the state or have to ship several valuables to the other side of the country, you can rely on our team to find the most suitable solution. If you need to ship antiques across country or long distance, our White Glove Consolidated shipping service is often the best option. If you need a faster delivery or have an entire home’s worth of stuff to ship (in addition to your art collection), our live shipping experts may recommend our Full Service Expedited moving service. The exact cost of your shipment will depend on the size and number of items, the distance, and any special considerations such as glass or delicate components.
"I used TSI to move several pieces of fragile antique furniture and several boxes of antique collectibles from California to North Carolina. The TSI packers showed up when they said they would and securely and professionally packed all my goods, which exceeded my expectations. It only took about 6 weeks for the delivery of all my goods (met the estimated time for delivery). When it was time for delivery the movers came on the day and time they specified. Upon arrival of all my goods, I was extremely impressed by how everything was packed. All my furniture was handled with the utmost care, it was all boxed and crated and carefully handled. This is the second time I used TSI. Moreover, working with Kathy T. In customer service exceeded my expectations, she was highly Informative and clear on what to expect. Overall, TSI did an awesome job handling my move. I would not hesitate to use TSI again and/or recommend."
- Antique Shipping Customer, 4/25/2024.
Depending on the item or items you plan to ship, you have numerous shipping options available to you. Some of the most common ways to ship antiques include using regular package delivery services, hiring movers, and renting a truck to move the articles yourself. However, these solutions can put your valuable pieces at risk — without the proper packaging, care, and knowledge, antique items can end up damaged or missing.
Shipping antique furniture and other delicate items through a specialized company is the best approach. Antiques are often highly unique, with various intricacies and features that make them a valuable part of your belongings. While traditional shipping options might be suitable for common household items, antiques require a more specialized approach to keep them as secure as possible.
TSI facilitates a variety of specialty shipments on a daily basis, and we'll dedicate a high level of attention and expertise to help ensure your antiques arrive at their destination safely. By working with TSI to ship anything from your centuries-old dining table to your prized collection of antique trinkets, you can take the necessary steps to safeguard your valuables during shipping.
How does TSI transport antique furniture?
All antiques shipped by TSI are transported using our white glove service. We’ll start with a full assessment of your items, including details about the piece, final destination requirements, pick-up conditions, and more. Our logistics specialists will then make recommendations about the best way to package, insure, and transport your antiques. Once you find the right antique shipping solution, TSI will oversee the execution of the job, from packing to pick up to transport and delivery.
How do I pack my antique and fragile furniture for shipping?
Every antique item is unique and will require different packing considerations. Generally, there are three ways to pack antiques: blanket wrapping, boxing, and crating.
All antique shipments carried by TSI include expert preparation and packing to ensure that your antique items are properly packed for safe and seamless transport. Depending on the item, we may recommend having your item(s) custom crated on-site for additional protection. For step-by-step instructions on how to pack and prepare your antiques for shipment, read our “How Do I Ship Antiques?” guide.
How do I ship a large antique?
The safest way to ship large antiques is to pack them in a properly sized and fitted crate. At TSI, we offer custom crating options for fragile or large antique items. If our logistics specialists can’t find a crate that is the perfect size for your item, we will have one built on-site. We take extra care to secure your valuables so that small, moving, or decorative parts will not be damaged. Different items may have different requirements or recommendations so be sure to ask your logistics specialist. Clocks, for example, must have the inner workings removed and packed separately before being crated.
How is antique shipping insured?
All of TSI’s white glove shipping services include federally mandated limited liability coverage, which pays out at 60 cents per pound. For all antique pieces, we highly recommend purchasing additional insurance to cover the value of the item(s). Insurance costs $6 per $100 worth of value.
How much does it cost to ship an antique?
Pricing varies based on location, item details, access limitations at pickup or delivery, and more. To ship an antique grandfather clock 1,000 miles with custom crating would be approximately $1600 and without custom crating but blanket wrapped would be approximately $1250. To ship an heirloom chest with blanket wrapping would range between an estimated $640 and $839 to go long distance depending on the destination.
Request an antique shipping quote online to see your moving options and get instant pricing for shipping antiques. One of our logistics experts will reach out to get all the details about your antique shipment, including details about each piece, final destination requirements, pickup conditions, and more.
At TSI, our goal is to provide you with a personalized shipping solution that works best for your schedule and protects your possessions. Since our beginnings in 1989, we've become a leader in the moving and shipping industry, partnering with an extensive network of carriers to create logistics partnerships that get your specialty shipments from point A to point B.
When it comes to shipping antiques across the country, you want peace of mind that your items will remain protected and secure through the entire journey — and we're dedicated to making that happen. The TSI team understands that antiques are often more than just high-value objects. For many people, art pieces, custom clocks, and other unique items are also sentimental, and you want to keep the items you love most in perfect condition during shipping.
With decades in the business and millions of miles traveled, we can put together a customized shipping plan backed by a wealth of expertise to help ensure the smoothest shipping experience possible for your prized antiques. When you choose us, shipping fragile, valuable items becomes a simple, convenient process.
