Money Research Collective’s editorial team solely created this content. Opinions are their own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear. Many featured companies advertise with us. How we make money.
How to Ship a Flat Screen TV
By chiara MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
If you’re moving to a new home and want to take your flat panel TV (or TVs) with you, you can investigate the best way to package it for safe transport. We’ve studied the subject for you and can offer our best advice on protecting your TV in transit. We’ve also looked at some of the best TV shipping services to help you reduce your moving checklist.
Table of Contents
- How to Package and Ship a Flat-Screen TV Properly
- How to Ship a Flat-Screen TV FAQs
- How We Chose the Best Ways to Ship a Flat-Screen TV
How to Ship a Flat Screen TV Properly
Step 1: Remove all peripherals
Nowadays, we have all kinds of other devices attached to our TVs: smart remotes, game consoles, streaming sticks, souped-up speakers and more. The first step in getting ready to ship your flat panel TV is to disconnect all those goodies. If you can, put them in their original boxes. Pack them all in the same box so you can easily locate them when you want to set up your system again.
Step 2: Find the supplies you’ll need to move a TV
Next, organize the supplies you need to ship your flatscreen TV. If you were thinking ahead, you can locate your TV’s original box and interior packing materials somewhere in your attic or storage room. Original boxes contain styrofoam inserts to keep TVs from shifting while in transit.
Didn’t think to save your original box? That’s alright. There are workarounds. Replacement TV boxes are available, including on Amazon. These moving boxes may come in one piece or two adjustable pieces that you can custom-fit to the size of your TV. If you’re moving with the help of a professional moving company, your movers may also be able to provide an appropriate moving box. Home improvement stores like Home Depot are good places to shop for the right moving supplies.
Step 3: Wrap the TV and place it in the box
If you’re not shipping your TV in its original box, you’ll have to be extra careful to pad your TV to prevent shifting, scratching, dings and dents. You can use foam wrap, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, crumpled paper or a combination to protect your TV. You might also consider putting your TV in a plastic bag before adding other packing materials to your box to further protect its delicate screen. You’ll also need heavy-duty packing tape to securely seal your shipping box for transport.
Step 4: Label the box as “FRAGILE”
Shipping fragile items is a dicey proposition. There’s no guarantee that anything you ship will arrive in perfect condition, but something like a flat screen TV is particularly vulnerable to damage. Alerting your shipping service or mover that the contents of your box are fragile may provide some extra protection. It will also give you greater peace of mind.
You can purchase pre-printed FRAGILE labels at various places, including your local U-Haul store and many neighborhood drugstores. Or you can just get out a couple of magic markers and make your own. Red and black markers are great for getting attention. Put several FRAGILE labels on for good measure.
You may also want to label your cardboard box with “This End Up” instructions. Shipping your flat screen TV upright can help ensure that heavy items aren’t placed on top of it. Put arrows on both sides of the box for greater visibility. Contrary to popular belief, you won’t damage an LCD screen if you turn it upside down. But there are other good reasons to ship it right side up.
Step 5: Choose a reputable shipping carrier
Fortunately, you have several reliable options when choosing a shipping carrier. These carriers have perfected the art of on-time transport and customer service. They’re also a good resource for packing advice, so hit them up if you’re uncertain how to keep your TV safe.
While many services guarantee that your packages will arrive on time, they can’t guarantee that the objects you’re shipping will survive transport unharmed. If you ship through the United States Postal Service, you can purchase shipping insurance up to a declared value of $5,000. FedEx does not offer insurance coverage, but they might assume liability for lost or broken items in transit. However, you’ll have to prove that FedEx is at fault to recover any money. That’s why it’s all the more important to pack your flat screen TV properly and with the utmost care. In any case, the amount you can claim for any item can’t exceed your shipment’s repair cost, depreciated value, or replacement cost — whichever is less.
And what if your carrier fails to deliver the items you’ve left in its care on time? You can apply for a refund of your shipping costs.
Each shipping service has its own way of figuring out the cost of shipping a flat screen TV. Weight, dimensions, distance and time in transit may all be figured into the price. Shipping a 43-inch TV will cost more than shipping one of the monster-size TVs that have become so popular. Here are some estimates of how much you’ll pay with the three most commonly used shippers in the US:
| Company | Type of TV | Estimated cost | Guarantee |
| USPS | 43-inch | $125 with ground shipping | On-time arrival with priority services |
| FedEx | 43-inch | $120 with standard next-day delivery | On-time arrival |
| UPS | 43-inch | $114 with ground shipping | On-time arrival for Next Day Air shipments |
Step 6: Keep track of your shipment
There are various ways to keep track of your flat screen TV while it’s en route. The USPS, FedEx and UPS all offer the option of tracking your package online. You’ll need the tracking number on your shipping receipt to take advantage of that service. With UPS and FedEx, you can sign up for email and text tracking alerts.
It’s a little more complicated if you’re shipping via the US postal service, but it can be done. To track your USPS package via text, you can text your tracking number to 28777 (2USPS) for an update. If you want email alerts from the USPS, you can create an Informed Delivery account online, which involves a few steps.
How to ship with FedEx
FedEx describes its shipping process in eight steps, as follows:
- Plan your shipment based on destination.
- Ensure the item can be shipped.
- Package the item.
- Determine which shipping service best suits your needs.
- Create a shipping label.
- Choose additional shipping options and special services if needed.
- Print and attach the FedEx shipping label.
- Get your item to FedEx.
FedEx gives you many options, including purchasing packaging materials from them, choosing how fast you need something delivered, what kind of delivery signatures you want and whether you’d like your TV picked up at your home. You can also elect to have your TV held at a FedEx location until you can pick it up. That’s a handy feature if, for example, you’re driving cross country and don’t know exactly when you’ll reach your destination.
How to ship with USPS
The US Postal Service rivals commercial carriers when it comes to shipping options and customer service. The good ol’ PO can get your TV to your new home just as quickly as a private shipping company. Priority Mail Express can get it there overnight.
The USPS uses zone-based pricing for Priority Mail Express. According to the service, there are nine zones in the United States. Prices are based on the distance from the original package location to the delivery destination.
The USPS does limit the size and weight of packages they can accommodate. Packages may not weigh more than 70 lbs. and must have a length and width totaling no more than 130 inches. That’s more than FedEx allows but less than UPS’s maximum dimensions. In any case, the USPS has you covered for most popular TVs. But there are certainly outliers. Remember those pricey TVs we mentioned earlier? Consider one of the best moving companies in Florida to ship one of those.
You can schedule your TV for pickup using the USPS Pickup On Demand service. You must be at home for the hand-off. But it’s unlikely you’d want to leave your flat screen on the front porch unattended. Postage must be paid in advance. Figuring out postage is tricky, but you can call your local post office for advice on how to weigh and measure your package and figure out your final cost according to its zone shipping rules. You can make postage payments online using a credit card or Apple Pay.
How to ship with UPS
UPS describes its shipping process in just three steps, with the last being “we’ll do the rest.” But that’s a bit of marketing speak. There are still a lot of blanks to be filled in in that description. Shipping via UPS resembles shipping via FedEx. You’ll need to securely package your flat screen TV, of course. And you’ll need to complete a shipping label. You can pick up a label at a UPS location or access one online.
If you choose the online route, you’ll need to provide your name and contact information, a delivery address, the weight and dimensions of your package and a delivery time frame. UPS ships via ground and air and offers normal or expedited service, including next-day or two-day delivery. UPS Ground is the cheapest way to go. You can then pay for services online using a credit card or PayPal.
The next step is to get your TV to UPS. You can take it to a UPS store yourself, but you can also schedule it for pickup at a convenient time.
How to Ship a Flat Screen TV FAQs
What is the average cost of shipping a TV?
The average cost of shipping a TV depends on several factors. The weight and outer dimensions of your shipping box will influence your final cost as will the speed of delivery you choose. Distance may also play a factor, so keep this in mind if you’re moving out of state. Our estimates are based on a moderately-size 43-inch TV and the least speedy service provided by each carrier.
Is there any risk for my TV when shipping?
Can I get insurance for shipping my TV?
Whether you can get insurance for shipping your TV depends on the carrier. You can purchase insurance from the US Postal Service for up to $5,000. FedEx doesn't sell insurance. But you can purchase third-party moving insurance to protect you when you ship with one of those two carriers.
What is the safest way to ship my TV on my own?
Is it possible to safely transport a flat-screen TV without a box?
How We Chose the Best Ways to Ship a Flat Screen TV
To provide our readers with the most valuable information on shipping flat screen TVs, we consulted various sources. Retailers like Home Depot and Best Buy had some good advice. So did several TV manufacturers. We also checked in with Moving.com, which is a great resource for moving information of any kind.
Finally, we investigated the shipping policies, prices, and restrictions set out by the three most common carriers in the US — the United States Postal Service, UPS and FedEx — to give our readers a jump on finding the best shipping service for their needs.
