The short answer: curbside delivery brings the sofa to the curb or driveway outside your home, and you carry it in. Threshold delivery brings it just inside the first door. Room-of-choice delivery places it in the room you pick. White glove delivery adds unpacking, assembly and removing the packaging. More service costs more, so the right choice depends on the sofa, your home and who can help you.
Furniture delivery types compared
| Service | Where it is left | Carried inside? | Unpacked and assembled? | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curbside | Curb, driveway or building entrance | No | No | Lowest |
| Threshold | Just inside the first door, garage or lobby | To the entrance only | No | Low to mid |
| Room of choice | The room you choose | Yes | No | Mid |
| White glove | The room you choose | Yes | Yes, with packaging removed | Highest |
What is white glove delivery?
White glove delivery is a full-service delivery: a team carries the furniture into the room you choose, unpacks it, assembles it if needed and takes the packaging away. It suits heavy, fully assembled furniture and homes with stairs, and it is the most expensive option.
What does white glove delivery include?
- A scheduled delivery window, often with a call ahead.
- Two or more people carrying the furniture into the room you choose, including up stairs.
- Unpacking, inspecting and placing the piece where you want it.
- Light assembly, such as attaching legs or joining sectional pieces.
- Taking away the packaging.
Some services also offer removal of your old sofa for an extra fee. What is included varies by retailer, so read the delivery terms before you pay for it.
How much does white glove delivery cost?
It varies widely by retailer, distance and how heavy the item is. Many stores charge a flat fee per order or per item, others charge by weight, and some include it on higher-priced furniture. It is almost always the most expensive delivery level, so compare it with curbside delivery plus a couple of helpers, or a local moving service for the carry-in.
What is curbside delivery?
With curbside delivery, the carrier unloads the boxed sofa at the curb or the end of your driveway, or at the entrance of an apartment building. Bringing it inside, unpacking and assembly are up to you. It keeps shipping costs low, and it works well for sofas that ship in boxes or in separate pieces.
What is threshold delivery?
Threshold delivery brings the item through the first doorway: inside your front door, garage or apartment lobby. The carrier doesn’t take it up stairs or into a specific room, and doesn’t unpack it. It is a middle option when you can move the sofa the rest of the way yourself.
What is room of choice delivery?
Room-of-choice delivery carries the furniture into the room you choose but leaves it boxed. You unpack it, assemble it and dispose of the packaging. It costs less than white glove and suits sofas that need little or no assembly.
How we deliver
Every sofa we sell ships to all 50 states for a flat $20 per sofa by curbside delivery, and most orders arrive within 5-10 business days. If the sofa isn’t right, you have 30 days from delivery to return it for free. See our shipping policy and returns policy.
How to get ready for a curbside delivery
- Measure the route in: doors, hallways, stairs and elevators. Our measuring guide shows how.
- Line up a helper. Most sofas need two people to carry safely.
- Clear the path and protect floors and door frames.
- Have a box cutter ready, and cut away from the upholstery.
- Check the weather, and move the boxes inside promptly.
Sofas that ship compressed or in modular pieces are the easiest to carry in; see couches in a box and modular sofas.
What to check on delivery day
- Count the boxes against the delivery paperwork.
- Look over the packaging for damage before the driver leaves, and note any damage on the delivery receipt.
- Take photos of damaged packaging and of the item.
- Unpack and inspect the sofa soon after, and contact the seller quickly if anything is wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Is white glove delivery worth it?
It can be for heavy, one-piece sofas, upper floors with no elevator, or when nobody can help you carry. For boxed, modular or compressed sofas, curbside delivery usually works well for much less.
Do you tip white glove delivery?
Tipping is optional. Many people offer a small tip per person, or drinks, for heavy carries or long flights of stairs; check whether the company allows tips.
What is the difference between white glove and standard delivery?
Standard delivery usually means curbside or threshold: the item is left outside or just inside the door. White glove brings it to the room, unpacks it, assembles it and removes the packaging.
Will curbside delivery bring the sofa up to my apartment?
No. Curbside delivery stops at the building entrance, so plan how you will get the boxes upstairs.
Do you have to be home for a sofa delivery?
It is best to be there, so you can check the boxes and move them inside straight away.