Shipping Furniture from Los Angeles to Chicago via Ocean Freight

Moving Furniture and decorative items necessitates careful preparation. You should Disassemble removable legs, shelves, and hardware, then protect each component separately. Use edge guards on table tops, cabinets, and wall decor panels, then place items in custom crates with Tight internal cushioning. Finally, conspicuously label all packages as “Fragile” and indicate the top orientation.

Large or heavy framed decorative items are usually Better suited to freight services than standard parcel, because freight permits palletization and stable handling. For small, well-padded decorative items under parcel size limits, You can use parcel carriers, but You should add double-boxing and insure for full value. Oversized wall decor panels are best crated and shipped on pallets to reduce conveyor and drop risks.

For moisture-sensitive household furniture and Home decor, shippers should use poly sheeting around each boxed or crated item, then add moisture absorbers inside the packaging. In ocean containers, Avoid pallets directly against steel walls; instead, Leave a small air gap and use humidity absorbers hung from lashing points. Choose covered docks so home decor cartons are not exposed to rain during loading.

International shipments of high-value household furniture and Home decor typically need a full commercial invoice, packing list, and customs classification for each product type. You should clearly describe items (for example, “wooden furniture,” “glass mirrors,” “metal wall decor”) and state materials to avoid customs delays. For designer or branded Furnishings, confirm if any brand documentation or origin statements are required by the destination country.

Standard carrier liability for furnishings and Home decor is usually based on weight, which often understates the actual value of designer pieces, artistic decorative items, or premium home decoration items. We recommend purchasing Separate cargo insurance for high-value or fragile shipments, and confirming that the policy protects against breakage and moisture damage. This helps guarantee you can claim the full replacement cost if items are damaged in transit.

When shipping Furniture & Home Décor, it is important to ensure that items are properly packed and secured to prevent damage during transit. Use cushioning materials and ensure that larger pieces are disassembled if necessary to fit into shipping containers. Additionally, be aware that certain types of furniture may require special handling due to their size or fragility.

Shipping Furniture & Home Décor within the United States does not typically require customs documentation since it is a domestic route. However, proper shipping labels, a bill of lading, and an inventory list detailing the items being shipped should be prepared to facilitate smooth transit and delivery at both the Los Angeles and Chicago ports.

Our team’s ocean freight offering uses deep carrier relationships and the SAMMIE platform to move FCL and LCL containers smarter, with fewer surprises, clearer ETAs, and proactive risk flagging before issues develop.

Our team brings 30+ years of experience with global reach and local touch, using deep carrier relationships to move freight worldwide with precision and white-glove attention at every step.

We rely on in-house customs brokerage with automation to reduce errors and accelerate clearance, rather than outsourcing to third-party brokers with outdated, manual documentation processes.