How White Glove Delivery Pricing Works (What Affects Your Quote)
Published by Professional Moving Solutions
Ask three companies for a white glove delivery quote and you may get three different numbers. That is not necessarily a sign that someone is overcharging. White glove delivery is priced by the job, and the price reflects how much time, labor, equipment and planning your particular delivery needs.
This guide explains what goes into a quote so you can compare them sensibly and send the details that matter. It does not list prices, because the right price depends on your freight and your site. To get a real one, call 866-216-7742 or use the quote form.
Why there is no flat rate
A flat rate only works when every delivery looks the same. A sofa delivered to a ground-floor house with a wide door is a different job from the same sofa delivered to a fifth-floor walk-up with a tight stairway. Both are white glove, but the second needs more people, more time and more care. Pricing by the job lets the quote match the work instead of averaging it.
The factors that shape your quote
Size and weight
Bigger and heavier items need more crew, more equipment and more space on the truck. A grand piano, a large spa or a commercial copier takes different tools and more hands than a nightstand. Weight also affects whether stairs are safe to use. Send the dimensions and weight of each piece, not just the item name.
Number of pieces
Ten pieces going to the same address are usually more efficient than ten separate deliveries, but they still add up in handling time. If you are shipping a full room, an office or a store fixture set, tell us the complete list.
Distance
How far the freight travels matters, and so does where it starts. A pickup from our Richmond, VA warehouse to a Richmond address is a different job from a cross-country move. Freight that travels long distances goes by truck to the delivery region, where a local crew does the last mile.
Stairs, elevators and access
Every flight of stairs adds time, and some stairways will not take a heavy item at all. Elevators help, but buildings often require a reserved freight elevator and a delivery window. Long carries from a loading zone, gated entrances, narrow doorways and tight turns all affect the plan. Photos of the route are one of the most useful things you can send.
Building requirements
Commercial buildings and many apartment towers have rules: a certificate of insurance, a named delivery window, a reserved dock or a limit on when freight may move. Meeting those rules takes planning, and in some cases a longer window for the crew. Tell us what the property manager requires.
Assembly and installation
Unpacking an item is quick. Assembling a bed frame, a modular sectional or a set of workstations is not. The time depends on the item, and some items need special tools. Send the make and model, or a link to the manufacturer’s assembly instructions.
Crating and packaging
Items can travel blanket wrapped, crated or palletized. Blanket wrap often costs less in packaging, since there is nothing to build or throw away. Crating adds materials and labor but protects fragile or odd-shaped items. See our page on blanket wrap shipping for how we decide.
Storage before delivery
If your site is not ready, we can hold the freight in commercial storage. The quote depends on the number of pallets and how long you need to hold them. Tell us both up front.
Timing and urgency
A flexible window is easier to plan than a fixed date and time. If you need a specific appointment, a weekend or an after-hours delivery, or you need the freight moved quickly, the schedule and the crew availability affect the quote.
Removal of old units
Hauling away an old unit adds handling time and truck space. Tell us what is leaving and how it is attached, so we can plan.
What to send for an accurate quote
- What you are shipping, with dimensions and weight for each piece.
- The pickup and delivery addresses, and whether each is a home or a commercial building.
- Stairs, elevators, doorway widths and any tight turns, with photos where possible.
- Building rules, including dock hours, elevator reservations and insurance certificates.
- Whether assembly, unpacking or installation is required.
- Whether crating or blanket wrap is preferred, or whether you want us to recommend one.
- Whether freight needs storage before delivery, and for how long.
- The delivery date and any time-window requirement.
- Any old units that need to be taken away.
How to keep a delivery cost under control
- Send complete information the first time, so the quote does not need to change.
- Be flexible on the date where you can, since a wider window is easier to plan.
- Consolidate several pieces or locations into one delivery plan.
- Clear the route and have the room ready before the crew arrives.
- Reserve the elevator and dock early and send the building’s requirements.
- Ask which packaging method suits the item before you pay for crating you do not need.
How to compare quotes
When you compare quotes, compare what is included, not just the total. Check whether the price covers a crew of two or more, inside delivery, unpacking, assembly, debris removal and haul-away. Ask whether storage, building requirements and after-hours work are included. Ask who is doing the work. Every Professional Moving Solutions driver and helper is background checked and drug screened, crews are uniformed and supervised, and we answer the phone 24/7.
If you are comparing service levels as well as price, our guide to curbside, threshold, room of choice and white glove delivery shows what each one includes. For a broader overview, see what white glove delivery is.
Pricing in your area
Local conditions affect the quote too, from dense city buildings to long suburban drives. See how delivery works in New York City, Washington, DC, Norfolk and Charlotte, or browse the main white glove delivery page.
Frequently asked questions
Why is white glove delivery priced by the job?
Because two deliveries of the same item can need very different amounts of time, labor and equipment. A ground-floor house and a fifth-floor walk-up are different jobs, so the price follows the job.
What information gives me the most accurate quote?
The item and its dimensions and weight, pickup and delivery addresses, stairs and elevators, building rules, assembly needs, whether old units must be removed and the date you need delivery. Photos of the route help most.
Does storage cost extra?
Storage before delivery is quoted based on the number of pallets and how long you need it. Tell us both when you request the quote.
Is a blanket wrapped delivery cheaper than a crated one?
Often it is, because there is no crate to build or dispose of. Fragile or very heavy items may still need crating, so we quote the method that protects the item.
Can unexpected conditions change the quote?
They can. If the access, the item or the schedule differs from what was described, the work changes. Accurate details and photos at the start are the best way to avoid surprises.
Do you give quotes without obligation?
Yes. Quotes are free and carry no obligation. Call 866-216-7742 or use the quote form.
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Ready for a number? Call 866-216-7742 or send your details through the quote form.