Can You Send a TV in the Mail (Without Breaking It?!)

Televisions can be one of the most expensive and fragile household items. For this reason, it’s not always easy to move a TV between different locations. Whether you’re an online merchant who needs to get these delicate products to customers or the average punter who needs to move their screen to a new home, if you’re trying to figure out how to ship a TV, there are certain things you should know. Here are a few examples:

• Can the TV be laid down, or does it need to be upright at all times?
• What’s the best way to protect it while moving?
• Do you need a professional moving company, and if so, how much does it cost to ship a TV with them?

We’re pretty clued into moving dangerous and restricted items, and luckily, our expertise runs to dealing with fragile items, too. Here’s everything you need to know the next time you want to ship a TV.

Positioning is Important

If there’s just one thing you should know about how to ship a TV safely, it’s this: positioning is everything. As much as possible, the television should be kept in an upright position throughout the whole process. This is because while it’s in transit, the screen will experience a lot of movement and vibrations; if it’s upright, there’s less chance of any damage.

What Packing Materials Do I Need?

Of course, packing your TV appropriately for shipping means you’re going to need a few materials on hand. Before you start preparing your shipment, make sure you have the following at hand:

• TV box
• Extra sturdy box
• Packing tape
• Marker
• Plastic bags
• Twist-ties
• Padding material like Styrofoam
• Protective material like foam wrap, packing peanuts, or plastic wrap

If you’re like most people, you probably threw out your TV’s original box soon after you unwrapped it. If so, you may be wondering how to ship a TV without a box. Never fear. There are plenty of ways to get free boxes and packing materials, including couriers, grocery stores, or furniture boutiques.

10 Steps for Packing a TV Safely

This is perhaps the most important part of making sure your device arrives at its destination in good condition. Carefully packing your screen will ensure that it doesn’t sustain any damage while in transit.

Here’s exactly how to pack a TV for shipping:

• Gather the necessary packing materials.
• Make sure that the TV box fits your screen snugly.
• Place Styrofoam around the edges of the device to act as a protective barrier.
• Wrap the screen in foam wrap or packing paper.
• Seal the box with packing tape.
• Transfer the sealed box into a second, study carton - if there’s any space between the boxes, fill it with padding material to reduce any movement.
• Tape the second box shut.
• Properly label your package - make sure to use arrows to indicate which way up the package should stand and write “fragile” and “handle with care”.
• Secure the package with twist-ties or ropes to keep it steady while in transit.

How Do I Actually Ship a TV?

Now that you know how to pack your device, let’s talk about which of the major carriers you can use. You want to be sure that you pick one that really knows how to ship a TV carefully and will go to great lengths to keep your shipment safe throughout the whole journey. Here are a few couriers that can do it and what services they offer.

How to Ship a TV with USPS

This carrier offers budget-friendly shipping plans and options which include the following:

• Regular Ground service
• Priority Mail
• Priority Express Mail

Each of these services offers delivery within a few days and has features like tracking and insurance.

What about FedEx?

This major courier offers its customers the ability to ship any type of electronic device. They have a variety of shipping plans and options, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs exactly. Additionally, they also have TV boxes up to 55 inches that you can get for free depending on which of their services you use. Try these:

• FedEx SameDay
• FedEx Express Saver
• FedEx Ground

Does UPS Ship, Too?

This is another customer-centric carrier that is well-known for giving customers excellent options for shipping a variety of electronic gadgets. Many of their services have some level of insurance, but even if not, you can choose to pay an additional charge to increase the declared value of your package to protect yourself if it gets damaged in transit. And, if you want to make sure your TV is packed properly, you can get UPS store staff to do it for you, and rest assured in the knowledge that your device is being handled by experts. If you want to use UPS, you can try these services:

• US Express Critical - Domestic
• UPS Ground
• UPS Worldwide Express Shipping

How Much Does it Cost to Ship a TV?

As with all shipments, the exact cost of mailing your screen will depend on several factors. The package’s weight and dimensions will be factored in with the origin and destination addresses. In addition, you may need to consider additional charges such as insurance, taxes and duties, and fuel surcharges.

Most courier services offer a rate calculator where you can get an accurate estimate of how much your shipment will cost, but you can also use our shipping rate calculator to get accurate rates and see the best options from different carriers in your area.

What if the TV is Going Overseas?

For online merchants who intend to reach customers in other countries, there’s an extra level of consideration to factor in when you’re thinking about how to ship a TV. You should look into any taxes and duties you may have to pay; since you’ll also need to deal with customs, you should also make sure you have the right harmonized code. You should remember to:

• Make sure that all customs clearance papers are properly filled in and readily accessible (Easyship can help by automating this for you).
• Find out exactly what taxes and duties you need to pay in the country you’re shipping from and to.
• Have a detailed discussion with your chosen carrier - they’re probably more experienced than you.

Ensure Your TV Arrives in One Piece

TVs are fragile devices, so shipping them requires more time and effort than your average item. But, knowing how to pack a TV for shipping, what services you can use, and how much it will cost will go a long way to smoothing the process.

Easyship can make it even easier by giving you access to a range of courier options and automating labels and customs forms, so sign up for a free account today, and you’ll no longer have to worry about how to ship a TV.