HOW MANY HOUSEHOLD GOODS CAN FIT INTO ONE WOODEN CRATE (LIFT VAN): 

Most likely, your shipment will go into one or more large wooden crates, termed lift vans. General external dimensions: 197 cubic feet; 7.25 feet long, 3.75 feet wide, 7.25 feet high.  For smaller shipments, the ‘crate’ will often be a couch box instead: 93 cubic feet; 8.5 feet long, 3.3 feet wide, 3.3 feet high. Can fit around 25-30 medium boxes total. 

As you will read below, generally 25-30 items will fit into one lift van, and that is usually around 1000 lbs. As mentioned above, boxes are around 8-12 lbs/cubic foot (book boxes can be 25-30 lbs/cubic foot). Furniture is often only 4 lbs/cubic foot. This will help you be able to calculate if you are over 1120 lbs per crate and may be charged more for a weight overage fee.  What a standard lift van can hold: 

Example 1: 50 medium boxes at 3.0 cubic feet each (18” x 18” x 16”), no furniture --- 150 cubic feet internally, 1500-1800 lbs estimated. Overweight fee generally of $380-680 per crate. Example 2: One queen bed, two end (nightstand) tables, one small two-drawer dresser, one small cabinet, and 20 medium boxes --- 160 cubic feet internally, 1120 lbs estimated 

Example 3: One 2-cushion couch, one 42" flat-screen TV, one recliner / love seat, one coffee table, and 20 medium boxes --- 155 cubic feet internally, 1100 lbs estimated 

Example 4: One large kitchen table, 6 wooden chairs, one small wooden desk, one desk chair, and 20 medium boxes --- 150 cubic feet internally, 1200 lbs estimated. 

LOGISTICAL DETAILS ON THE MOVING DAY: 

Remember that on the moving day, the local crew picking up your shipment is there to load everything in the residence into their truck by default, unless the customer (or whoever is at the residence) specifically tells them not to pack and/or load certain items into their truck. It is the customer’s responsibility to let the moving crew know exactly what is to be moved into the truck, and what is staying. Our company will always try to have a truck come out with the crate(s) on it, so that you can see everything being loaded. Even if the truck does not come with the crate(s), we can still calculate how many crates’ worth of shipment you should have based on the inventory that the driver has you sign on the moving day. That way, you can still take out items from the truck that you can’t afford to move. 

As mentioned above, sometimes the shipment is loaded “loose” directly on the truck, and other times it is put in wooden crates first, and then driven back to the warehouse. Keep in mind that for either pickup method, once the truck leaves your residence or storage unit, the items will then be crated up and sealed. In other words, all parties involved should come to an understanding of what items need to be moved for a certain price before the moving date, not afterwards. Please let us know if you have any questions on the concepts above. 

POTENTIAL EXTRA / ACCESSORY CHARGES AT EITHER END OF THE MOVE: Our company has given you a quote for full services before your moving date; your quote (and subsequent invoice) will include packing, loading, crating, and delivery services. Keep in mind that this first quote and invoice will reflect charges for a base pickup and delivery service, and no special accessory charges. Fortunately, over 90% of smaller moves have no extra charges (besides the possible overweight fee). Special boxes for flat-screen televisions --- Generally $40-150 / box (consider purchasing these items at Home Depot or Lowe’s at a lower price before the moving date). 

Crating fragile items, such as artwork, pianos, large mirrors, pool tables, etc. --- Most small crates cost $100-300, pool table disassembly and crating often costs around $500 at both ends of the transportation, and piano crating may cost over $1000. 

Large/bulky items such as couches, memory-foam mattresses, and kayaks/canoes --- 

These items cannot fit into the crate, due to them being over seven feet long, or because they need to be kept horizontal. 3-4 cushion couches usually need a 100-cubic foot couch box. Memory foam mattresses (like Tempurpedic) will usually be put into a horizontal mattress box; this will probably add 60-90 cubic feet to the shipment. Kayaks and canoes may add 100-200 cubic feet. 

Accessory charges (both at the origin and destination), are very uncommon, and usually occur in very population-dense areas such as Baltimore, NYC, and San Francisco. They often include: 

Long carries of more than 120 steps, stairs, or elevators --- generally $60 to $100 / crate 

Two or more delivery stops --- usually $100 per extra stop 

Large and/or very heavy items such as a 500 lb tool box or a piano --- generally $200-300 

Shuttle service (a large shipment to be picked up or delivered that needs a smaller truck to unload from the larger truck and then physically drive into a very small space) --- min. $300 

For additional questions, please contact us at neena@premiervanlines.com and/or call us at 877.784.2111.