Guides
White glove delivery pricing per stop: how to quote it
White glove delivery pricing per stop for U.S. furniture and appliance work runs $60 to $250 before stairs, assembly, and threshold fees. Add-ons are separate.
What to take away
- White glove delivery pricing per stop for U.S. furniture and appliance work typically runs $60 to $250 before stairs, assembly, and threshold fees.
- Delivery-only two-person stops often bill $45 to $120. Add-ons such as stairs, assembly, and threshold placement each add $15 to $75.
- A per-stop quote with capped add-ons beats an hourly quote for most customers.
- Get item count, floor, building access, and assembly details before you quote.
- A fuel or zone surcharge is normal beyond a 25-mile core.
White glove delivery is a threshold service, not a curbside drop. Sample local delivery quotes show a template without the jargon. The crew enters the home, places items in the room, and removes packaging. Two-person teams are the default because furniture and appliances are too heavy for one person. Customers expect a fixed price, not a clock.
What the range covers
A local white glove stop for a sofa, mattress, or standard refrigerator often lands between $60 and $250. The base covers one delivery window, two-person unloading, and placement in the room of choice on the same floor. It does not include stairs, assembly, or haul-away. Carriers that quote below $60 usually limit the service to garage or front-door drop. A $250 stop typically covers multiple rooms, a tight hallway, or a large item.
Line by line
The invoice usually breaks into a delivery base, access fees, and assembly fees. The table below uses illustrative ranges from U.S. independent last-mile carriers.
| Line item | Typical range per stop |
|---|---|
| Two-person delivery only | $45 to $120 |
| Threshold placement (same room) | $20 to $50 |
| One flight of stairs | $15 to $40 per flight |
| Basic furniture assembly | $25 to $75 per item |
| Appliance hookup | $30 to $80 |
| Removal of old item | $25 to $60 |
A customer with a third-floor walk-up, two assembled pieces, and an old sofa removal could see $120 delivery plus $80 stairs plus $100 assembly plus $50 removal, or $350 total.
Not every stop needs every line. A delivery-only sofa to a first-floor apartment may skip assembly and removal. A refrigerator to a third-floor walk-up may carry all six line items plus a long-carry fee.
Labor classification changes the per-stop number. The DOL Wage and Hour Division FLSA page lists overtime and recordkeeping rules that raise labor cost on multi-stop days.
What moves the number
Item count, stairs, and assembly drive most per-stop variation. Weight matters when a crew must carry a 300-pound refrigerator up a narrow staircase. Building access can turn a 20-minute stop into an hour.
- Item count and weight. Each additional piece above two adds $25 to $60 because it extends unload time.
- Stair flights. Interior stairs with a turn add $15 to $40 per flight. Narrow stairs often add a second person or a stair-climbing hand truck.
- Assembly complexity. Bed frames, dressers, and fitness equipment can add $25 to $150 per item depending on parts count.
- Building access. Long walk-ups, small elevators, and tight hallways can force a hallway carry fee of $20 to $70.
- Distance from hub. Stops beyond a 25-mile radius typically add $2 to $4 per mile round trip.
A stop in a building with a service elevator may avoid stair fees but still takes longer if the elevator is slow. Many carriers keep a per-stop labor rate separate from the customer facing fee. That split lets you see which stops actually clear overhead. For the tax side of paying those crews, IRS Schedule C and 1099-NEC shape how you record per-stop labor.
What quotes leave out
Many quotes omit threshold placement and leave the customer with a garage drop. Others fail to cap stair fees, so a third-floor delivery can surprise the customer. A quote should state whether the crew removes old furniture, hooks up appliances, or carries items through a tight hallway.
White glove means inside the home, not curbside. Quote it as a separate service.
A clean quote caps the number of stair flights and the assembly time. Without a cap, a single stop can add three flights and a 90-minute build. State a maximum in writing. Parking tickets, building insurance certificates, and long-carry fees often appear only after the job. Ask for the floor, the item count, and any assembly before you send a number. If you run a small fleet, FMCSA rules explain which stops require a USDOT number.
Example: two-piece bedroom set
A customer orders a queen bed frame and a six-drawer dresser to a second-floor apartment. The base two-person delivery is $90. Threshold placement on the second floor adds $30 for one flight of stairs. Bed frame assembly is $40 and dresser assembly is $60. Removal of an old mattress and box spring is $45. The quoted total is $265.
Training also matters. Local delivery team training checklist owners reuse helps reduce damage claims and rework.
Where people overspend
White glove quotes go wrong when a carrier prices by the hour but pays by the stop. A crew that spends 45 minutes unboxing and assembling loses money on a flat $90 stop. Another common leak is accepting every stop without a zone check. A $50 base cannot cover a 40-mile trip.
If you use independent crews, the IRS independent contractor test shows that misclassification can alter your stop price.
Common questions
What is white glove delivery pricing per stop? It is a per-stop quote for two-person in-home placement, usually $60 to $250 before stairs, assembly, and threshold fees.
How much should I charge for furniture assembly? Basic furniture assembly typically adds $25 to $75 per item. Complex pieces with many parts can reach $150 per item.
Do white glove quotes include old furniture removal? Not by default. Removal of an old item is a separate line item, often $25 to $60 per piece.
When should I add a stair fee? Add a stair fee for any floor above the first, typically $15 to $40 per flight. Narrow or winding stairs may also add a long-carry fee.
