What Is White Glove Delivery? A Complete Guide
Published by Professional Moving Solutions
White glove delivery is the most complete way to receive a large item. Instead of a truck pulling up and a driver leaving the box at the curb, a trained crew brings the piece inside, puts it where you want it, sets it up, checks it with you and takes the packing away. This guide walks through what that looks like from the first phone call to the last piece of cardboard leaving the house.
If you would rather get a price than read, call 866-216-7742 or use the quote form. If you want a shorter overview of the service levels, our white glove delivery explainer covers the basics.
What white glove delivery means
The term comes from the idea of handling something so carefully you would wear gloves to do it. In the delivery business it describes a full-service last mile delivery: the crew arrives at a scheduled time, protects the route, carries the item into the room of your choice, unpacks it, assembles it, and removes the debris. It is the top of a ladder that starts with curbside delivery and moves up through threshold and room of choice.
Our white glove delivery service covers furniture, appliances, fitness equipment, medical equipment, office equipment, fixtures and exhibits. The same standard applies whether the job is one armchair in a house or forty workstations in an office.
What a white glove delivery includes
- A scheduled delivery window, planned around your building and your day.
- Pickup from the warehouse, store, manufacturer or port, with the freight checked against the paperwork.
- Blanket wrap or crated and palletized handling, matched to the item.
- Inside delivery to the room of choice, with floors, stairs and door frames protected.
- Unpacking and a visual inspection with you before the crew leaves.
- Assembly or installation of furniture, fixtures and equipment.
- Removal of the cartons, blankets, pallets and other packaging.
- Haul-away of old units when you are replacing something.
How a white glove delivery works, step by step
1. The quote
Everything starts with details. We ask what the item is, how big and heavy it is, where it is coming from, where it is going, what the access looks like and when you need it. Photos of stairs, narrow doorways and elevators help more than any description. The more complete the information, the closer the quote is to the final price.
2. Pickup and storage
The freight is collected from the shipper and brought to our network. If your site is not ready, it can wait in commercial storage. Our Richmond, VA warehouse holds anything from a single pallet to 100 or more, and we have a location in Edison, NJ. Storage is part of the same job, so the same company is responsible from pickup to delivery.
3. Scheduling
We agree on a delivery date and window with you, and the crew calls ahead on the day. If the building needs a reserved elevator, a loading dock slot or a certificate of insurance, this is the stage when that is arranged.
4. Arrival and route protection
The crew arrives in uniform. Before the item comes off the truck they check the route, lay runners and pad door frames and corners. That is how floors stay unmarked and walls stay clean.
5. Carry-in, unpacking and assembly
The item is carried in, placed in your chosen room, unwrapped or uncrated and assembled. The crew checks the item with you for visible damage and confirms everything is in place.
6. Cleanup and haul-away
Packaging goes back out with the crew, and so does any old unit you asked us to remove. You are left with the new item in place and a clear floor.
Blanket wrap, crated or palletized
A white glove delivery can use different ways of protecting the freight in transit. Blanket wrap pads each piece in moving blankets, which suits finished furniture, fixtures and many kinds of equipment. Crated or palletized handling suits fragile, very heavy or oddly shaped items that need a rigid shell or a stable base. We do both, and we help you pick. See our page on blanket wrap shipping for a closer look.
What white glove delivery is best for
- Furniture, including sectionals, dining tables, beds and high-end pieces.
- Major appliances and fitness equipment.
- Medical, dental and lab equipment placed in a clinical room.
- Office furniture, copiers and IT equipment.
- Retail fixtures and displays for store openings and resets.
- Trade show exhibits and demo equipment.
Each of those has a dedicated page: furniture, medical equipment, retail fixtures and trade show exhibits.
What white glove delivery does not include
It is worth being clear about the limits. The crew places and assembles items, but licensed work stays with licensed trades: plumbing, gas, electrical and network connections, and equipment calibration are done by the appropriate technician. Structural changes, such as removing a door or railing, need the property owner’s permission and are discussed before delivery. If something will not physically fit, we tell you before delivery day rather than at the door.
How to prepare for your delivery
- Measure the doors, stairs and turns along the route, and compare them with the item’s dimensions.
- Clear the path and the destination room so the crew can work.
- Reserve the elevator and the dock if you are in a building that requires it.
- Confirm whether your building needs a certificate of insurance and send us the wording.
- Decide where each piece goes, and tell us if any old items need to leave.
- Be available, or have a representative present, to inspect the item when it is unpacked.
What affects the price
White glove delivery is priced by the job, not by a flat table. The main drivers are the size and weight of the freight, distance, stairs and building access, assembly, crating and storage. Our guide to how white glove delivery pricing works explains each factor so you know what to send for an accurate quote.
Choosing a white glove provider
Whoever you choose, ask a few direct questions. Who actually does the delivery: employees or a subcontracted crew? Are drivers and helpers background checked? Is the crew at least two people? Is assembly included? Who takes away the packaging? Can freight be stored? At Professional Moving Solutions, every driver and helper is background checked and drug screened, crews are uniformed and work in teams of two or more, supervisors audit the crews daily, and we are available 24/7.
We deliver nationwide and plan jobs locally. If you are in Virginia, see white glove delivery in Richmond. For the Northeast, see New Jersey and New York City, and for the Carolinas, Charlotte and Raleigh.
Frequently asked questions
What is white glove delivery?
White glove delivery is a last mile service in which a trained crew carries an item to the room you choose, unpacks it, assembles or installs it if needed, checks it with you and removes the packaging and debris.
Who needs white glove delivery?
It suits anyone receiving large, heavy, fragile or high-value items: homeowners, retailers shipping furniture and appliances, offices, medical practices and exhibitors. It is most useful when the item will not fit through a door easily or needs assembly.
Is assembly part of white glove delivery?
Usually, yes. Assembly and installation are part of a full white glove service, but they depend on the item. Send the make and model with your quote request so the crew can plan the tools and the time.
Do white glove crews take away the packaging?
Yes. At Professional Moving Solutions the crew removes the cartons, blankets, pallets and other packaging on the same visit, and can haul away an old unit you are replacing.
Can items be stored before white glove delivery?
Yes. Freight can be held in commercial storage and released on the delivery date you choose. Tell us how many pallets and for how long when you request a quote.
How do I get a white glove delivery quote?
Call 866-216-7742, 24 hours a day, or use the quote form. Send the item, its size and weight, the pickup and delivery addresses, any stairs or elevators and the date you need it.
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Ready to schedule? Call 866-216-7742 or send the details through the quote form.