How to Ship Mattresses via LTL Freight
Complete guide to shipping mattresses and box springs on pallets via LTL freight. Covers freight class, packaging against soiling and crushing, residential accessorials, and tips to avoid damage claims on low-density bedding shipments.
Quick reference
Recommended packaging
Seal every mattress and box spring in a heavy-gauge plastic mattress bag before anything else. Carriers deny soiling and moisture claims when the bag is missing. Slide each bagged piece into a double-wall corrugated mattress carton or wrap it in cardboard sheets so the edges and corners cannot be crushed at a terminal. Lay pieces flat and stack them on a 48x40 pallet rather than standing them on edge, which lets the springs sag and the foam crease. Shrink-wrap the full stack with at least four layers of film and mark "Do Not Stack" on every face since bedding cannot bear weight on top.
Accessorials you may need
These are the most common accessorial services for mattresses shipments. Declare them at booking time — carriers that discover them on arrival bill more and back-date to the invoice. With Warp, every accessorial below is already included in the per-pallet rate.
Need to price a different combination? Use the accessorial fee calculator to see what accessorials add to any base rate.
Shipping tips for mattresses
- Bag every piece in a sealed plastic mattress bag before palletizing. A torn or unbagged mattress that arrives soiled is the most common denied claim in bedding freight.
- Compress and roll foam mattresses if the manufacturer ships them that way. A rolled bed-in-a-box hits a higher density and drops from class 175 toward class 100, which can cut your rate substantially.
- Lay mattresses flat and stack them, never stand them on edge. Pieces shipped vertically sag, crease, and pick up edge damage as the load shifts between terminals.
- Request a delivery appointment and residential delivery for any home address. Most mattress deliveries go to houses, and unscheduled walk-in attempts to residences fail on the first try.
Common mistakes to avoid
Mistake 1: Mattresses are low density and ship at a high freight class. A king mattress measures around 3 to 4 lbs per cubic foot, which puts traditional innerspring sets and box springs at class 250 while compressed foam can reach class 100.
Mistake 2: Residential delivery and liftgate fees add $75-150 each, and a single oversize mattress often triggers two-man delivery on top. Budget for all three when the destination is a home without a dock.
Mistake 3: Signing the delivery receipt without opening the bag means you waive most soiling and damage claim rights. Always inspect the surface and seams before you sign.
Why mattress freight class runs high
Mattress freight class is driven almost entirely by density, and mattresses are some of the least dense freight on the road. A standard king mattress is roughly 80 inches by 76 inches by 12 inches but weighs under 100 pounds, which works out to about 3 to 4 lbs per cubic foot. That low density lands traditional innerspring mattresses and box springs around class 250. The exception is compression: a foam mattress rolled and vacuum-sealed by the manufacturer packs much tighter, raising its density past 7 lbs per cubic foot and dropping it toward class 100. Boxed mattresses that fall between the two extremes commonly classify at class 200. Carriers classify on what they measure at pickup, so if you declare a low class but ship a piece that measures bulkier, the carrier reclassifies and bills the difference plus a fee.
Packaging mattresses for LTL
An LTL mattress gets loaded, unloaded, and reloaded at multiple terminals alongside hundreds of other shipments, and bedding is unusually vulnerable to two things: moisture and crushing. Start with a sealed heavy-gauge plastic mattress bag on every piece. This is the single packaging step adjusters look for, and a missing bag is grounds to deny a soiling claim outright. Then protect the structure: slide each bagged piece into a double-wall mattress carton or wrap it in cardboard sheets so corners and edges survive forklift contact. Lay pieces flat on a 48x40 pallet and stack them rather than standing them on edge. Shrink-wrap the whole stack with at least four layers of film and mark every face Do Not Stack, because a mattress crushed under other freight is a total loss.
Choosing the right accessorials
Most mattress deliveries go to homes, apartments, and small retail stores without a loading dock, so the accessorial list runs long. If the destination has no dock, you need liftgate delivery to lower the pallet to ground level. If the bedding has to go past the threshold, you need inside delivery. If it is a home address, you need residential delivery, and a single oversize mattress above 150 pounds or an awkward two-person carry often triggers two-man delivery as well. Add a delivery appointment so someone is present to inspect and receive. Missing any of these causes the carrier to charge it anyway at a higher rate or refuse the stop entirely, so list every accessorial upfront on the BOL and the quote.
Mattresses shipping FAQ
What freight class are mattresses?
Mattresses typically ship between class 100 and class 250 depending on density. Compressed and rolled foam mattresses are denser and ship at the lower end (class 100-175). Boxed mattresses usually land around class 200, and traditional innerspring mattresses and box springs are the least dense and reach class 250. The exact class depends on the weight and dimensions measured at pickup.
How much does it cost to ship mattresses LTL?
LTL mattress shipping costs $150-500 per piece or pallet depending on distance, freight class, and accessorials. Short-haul shipments under 500 miles with no accessorials are on the lower end. Cross-country shipments of bulky innerspring mattresses with liftgate, residential, and two-man delivery are on the higher end because of the high freight class. Get an instant per-pallet rate on Warp to see exact pricing for your lane.
Do I need liftgate delivery for a mattress?
Yes, if the delivery location does not have a loading dock. Most homes, apartments, and small stores require liftgate delivery so the carrier can lower the pallet to ground level with a hydraulic lift on the back of the truck. Failing to request liftgate upfront results in a failed delivery or a surprise accessorial charge. Add it on the BOL when you get an instant per-pallet rate on Warp.
How do I avoid damage and denied claims when shipping a mattress?
Seal every piece in a heavy-gauge plastic mattress bag, then wrap or box it so the edges cannot be crushed, lay it flat on the pallet, shrink-wrap with four or more layers, and mark Do Not Stack. The sealed bag is what protects you against soiling claims, which adjusters deny most often on bedding. At delivery, open and inspect the surface and seams before signing the receipt and note any damage on the BOL.
Should I compress a foam mattress before shipping?
Yes, if the manufacturer packages it that way. A compressed and rolled foam mattress packs far tighter, which raises its density past 7 lbs per cubic foot and can drop it from class 175 toward class 100. That lower freight class can reduce your shipping cost meaningfully versus shipping the same mattress uncompressed at full size. Never compress an innerspring mattress, though, since the coils will not recover.
Ship mattresses with Warp
Warp gives you instant per-pallet rates with no hidden fees. Enter your origin, destination, and pallet details to see transparent pricing across LTL, FTL, box truck, and cargo van. First shipment gets $50 off with code WARP2026.