How to Ship a Rug: A Few Helpful Tips
Whether you’re mailing a rug is a gift or moving to a new home and shipping some of your belongings, including rugs, ahead, preparing a rug or carpet for shipping can be a tricky task. Here are some tips for preparing your rug for shipping and choosing the best shipping option.
First things first: If you’re shipping a used rug, you should clean it before packing. Most rugs can be cleaned by vacuuming or washing with carpet shampoo, depending on how much cleaning they need. However, some rugs (woven, braided, natural, handmade, antique) may have specific care instructions. If you are not sure you can clean your rug yourself without damaging it, take it to a professional carpet cleaner. After washing your rug with shampoo, wait until it’s completely dry before packing it.
Since shipping costs depend on the size of your package, make it as compact as possible. Since a folded rug takes up too much space and may wrinkle or crease, it is best to roll it up tightly. Lay the rug out with the pile facing up, cover it with acid-free paper or a thin cotton sheet to protect the pile, and roll the rug in the direction of the pile, not against it. The paper or cotton will protect your rug from moisture and attracting moths. Do not use plastic as it will prevent the rug from breathing. If the rug is large, gently fold it into three layers before rolling it up.
Once the rug is tightly rolled, hold it in place by tying twine around the center. Do not apply too much pressure when tying, as this can leave marks on the rug; if you want to be sure the rug is tied securely, tie two additional pieces of twine around each end of the roll.
The next step is to measure your rug a) to determine what size box you will need and b) to calculate shipping costs and compare shipping options. Using a tape measure, measure the length, width and height of your rolled-up rug. Add 3-4 inches to each of these measurements and you will know the size of box you need (the extra space is for packing materials).
Pad the ends of the rug with cotton to protect them during shipping and tape the padding in place. For extra protection, place the rug and some mothballs in a plastic sleeve and tape the sleeve shut.
Take an appropriately sized corrugated box, line the bottom with bubble wrap or other cushioning material, and place the rug inside. Fill the remaining space with more cushioning material, close the box, and tape it down with heavy-duty packing tape.
Now it’s time to find out how much it will cost you to ship your rug. Carriers will charge you by either the actual weight of your package (gross weight) or its dimensional weight, whichever is greater. To determine the actual weight of your package, simply weigh it on a scale. To calculate its dimensional weight, multiply the package’s length by its height by its width (in inches) and divide the result by the dimensional factor (166 for USPS and UPS retail rates, 139 for FedEx). You must use the dimensions of the box, not the rug itself!
Now that you know the gross and dimensional weight of your package, you can compare the rates offered by different carriers by looking them up or using a shipping calculator. If your package is large, keep in mind that most shipping carriers apply surcharges to bulky packages whose dimensions exceed the carrier’s size limits. For example, the USPS applies an oversize surcharge to packages with a combined length and girth between 108 and 130 inches; packages that exceed 130 inches in combined length and girth or 70 pounds in weight are considered nonmailable.
Once you’ve selected the carrier and shipping service, you can purchase and print a shipping label. Using a shipping platform such as PostageMaker will help you reduce shipping costs because these platforms typically offer shipping discounts - which is great because shipping large items such as rugs is quite costly. Print the label and attach it to the package with clear tape, making sure not to tape over the barcode. If your rug is expensive, consider purchasing additional insurance on top of the standard coverage included in the shipping cost.