White Glove or Curbside: How Delivery Options Affect Your Margins

The Hidden Profit Center in Your Delivery Strategy

When a customer commissions a $4,000 dining table, the last thing you want is a scratch during delivery destroying both the piece and your reputation. How you get furniture from your shop to the customer’s home isn’t just logistics—it’s a business decision that directly impacts your bottom line.

Most custom woodworkers default to whatever delivery method seems easiest without calculating the true costs. That’s leaving money on the table—sometimes thousands of dollars per year.

Understanding Your Two Main Options

White Glove Delivery: The Premium Choice

White glove service means your furniture arrives with trained handlers who unpack, position, and even assemble pieces in the customer’s home. They remove all packaging and handle placement down to the inch.

What you can charge: $300-$800 for local deliveries, $500-$2,000+ for regional deliveries depending on piece size and complexity.

Your actual costs:

Two trained delivery staff: $150-$300 (4-hour minimum)
Specialized vehicle with lift gate: $75-$150/day if renting
Blankets, straps, and protective equipment: $20-$40 per delivery in wear
Fuel and mileage: $50-$150 depending on distance
Insurance rider for in-transit coverage: $25-$75

Net margin on a typical local white glove delivery: 40-60%

Curbside Delivery: The Budget Option

Curbside delivery means dropping furniture at the customer’s door or garage. They handle bringing it inside and positioning. This might require a friend or hired help on their end.

What you can charge: $75-$200 for local, $150-$400 for regional.

Your actual costs:

Your time or one helper: $50-$100
Basic truck rental if needed: $50-$100
Basic protective supplies: $10-$20
Fuel: $25-$75

Net margin on a typical local curbside delivery: 30-50%

The Math That Matters

Here’s where most woodworkers get the calculation wrong. They compare the two delivery fees and choose curbside because the margin percentage looks similar. But consider this scenario:

On a $5,000 custom piece:

White glove at $500 with 50% margin = $250 profit
Curbside at $125 with 50% margin = $62.50 profit

That’s $187.50 more profit per delivery—with white glove service. Do 50 deliveries per year, and you’ve added $9,375 to your annual income by upgrading your delivery offering.

The Hidden Benefits of White Glove

Damage Claims Drop Dramatically

Curbside deliveries have a damage rate of 8-12% in the furniture industry. White glove drops that to 1-2%. On a $4,000 piece, one prevented damage claim saves you $400-$800 in repairs, refinishing, or replacement—not counting the lost time.

Customer Satisfaction Translates to Referrals

Customers remember how the experience ends. A beautiful table that arrives with professional handlers makes a stronger impression than one that required the buyer’s brother-in-law to haul it up the stairs. Better delivery experiences mean more five-star reviews and more referrals.

You Control the Final Presentation

With white glove service, you ensure the piece is positioned correctly, the lighting shows it off, and any minor adjustments happen on the spot. First impressions matter, and you want your work presented perfectly.

When Curbside Makes Sense

Curbside delivery isn’t wrong—it’s right for specific situations:

Lower-priced items: On a $500 cutting board order, white glove doesn’t make sense. Ship it or do simple delivery.
Customer request: Some customers genuinely prefer to handle placement themselves. Respect that.
Simple geometry: Small items that one person can easily carry don’t require a two-person crew.
Repeat customers with experience: A customer who’s bought five pieces from you and has a setup for receiving knows what they’re doing.

Building White Glove Into Your Pricing

The most successful approach: include white glove delivery in your base pricing for pieces over a certain threshold. If you’re selling a $6,000 credenza, build in $400 for professional delivery. The customer sees “free white glove delivery” as added value, you’ve already accounted for the cost, and everyone wins.

For pieces below that threshold, offer tiered options:

Shop pickup: No charge (saves you time and money)
Curbside delivery: $X based on distance
White glove delivery: $X+$200-400 based on piece complexity

Logistics Partners vs. Doing It Yourself

If you’re delivering more than 3-4 pieces monthly, consider these options:

Build Your Own Delivery Team

Pros: Complete control, consistent quality, better scheduling flexibility. Cons: Payroll, insurance, vehicle maintenance, liability.

Partner With Specialty Movers

Many furniture moving companies offer white glove services for custom pieces. They’re trained to handle antiques and fine furniture. Build relationships with 2-3 local movers and negotiate rates. Typical partnership pricing: $200-$400 for local white glove, you charge $350-$600.

Use Freight Services

For long-distance deliveries, companies like uShip or specialized furniture freight carriers can handle blanket-wrapped shipping. You’ll want to crate high-value pieces, which adds $100-$300 in materials and time.

Documentation That Protects You

Regardless of delivery method, document everything:

Photograph the piece before loading
Have customers sign acknowledging condition at delivery
Note any access concerns (narrow staircases, tight doorways) before quoting
Keep delivery receipts with timestamps

One detailed photo taken before delivery has saved countless woodworkers from fraudulent damage claims.

The Bottom Line

Your delivery strategy should match your market position. If you’re building premium custom furniture, premium delivery isn’t optional—it’s expected. If you’re producing volume work at competitive prices, efficient curbside might be the right fit.

What matters most is that you’ve calculated the true costs, set appropriate prices, and chosen deliberately rather than defaulting to whatever’s easiest. Your delivery experience is the last touchpoint with your customer. Make it count.