Buying Guide
Shipping Log Furniture in Canada
A $1,200 log dining table can cost $600 to ship from BC to Ontario. Nobody tells you this until checkout. Here's how freight shipping works for heavy furniture, what it actually costs, and how to avoid the most common surprises.
Why Log Furniture Doesn't Ship Like Normal Furniture
A queen log bed frame weighs 150–300 lbs. A dining table can hit 200 lbs.
A dresser might be 250 lbs. These are not Canada Post packages.
Most log furniture ships via LTL freight — Less Than Truckload. Your crated furniture shares a transport truck with other shipments.
It moves through freight terminals, gets loaded and unloaded multiple times, and arrives on a truck with a hydraulic liftgate. The driver drops the crate at your curb (or driveway) and leaves.
That's the default. Everything beyond curbside delivery costs extra.
The Real Cost Breakdown
| Service | Cost | What It Means |
|---|
| Base freight | $100–$1,000+ | Varies by distance and weight. See route table below. |
| Liftgate | $75–$150 | Hydraulic platform to lower the crate to ground level. Required for residential delivery (you don't have a loading dock). |
| Residential delivery surcharge | $50–$100 | Freight companies charge extra for non-commercial addresses. |
| Inside delivery | $200–$500 | Driver brings the furniture inside your house. Most won't go past the first floor. |
| White glove | $500–$1,000 | Into the room, uncrated, assembled, packing removed. The premium service. |
| Rural/remote surcharge | $100–$500+ | Cottage country, northern communities, island locations. Adds up fast. |
A "free shipping" offer that includes only base freight and curbside delivery leaves you with a 300 lb crate on your driveway. Be sure you understand what's included before you interpret "free" literally.
Estimated Freight Costs by Route
| From → To | Single Large Piece | Bedroom Set (3-4 pieces) |
|---|
| Within same province | $100–$300 | $200–$500 |
| BC → Alberta | $200–$400 | $350–$700 |
| Ontario → Ontario cottage country | $150–$350 | $250–$500 |
| BC → Ontario | $500–$1,000 | $800–$1,500 |
| Ontario → Maritimes | $300–$600 | $500–$900 |
| Anywhere → Northern Ontario/BC/QC | $500–$2,000+ | Call for quote (seriously) |
Free shipping deals from Canadian makers:
- Canadian Log Furniture (BC): Free shipping to BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan
- Log Furniture and More (Dundalk, ON): Free shipping on orders over $500 within their delivery zone
Always confirm what "free shipping" includes. Liftgate? Inside delivery? Or just curbside?
How to Handle Delivery Day
Before the truck arrives
- Clear a path from the curb/driveway to the door — wider than you think, because crates are bulky
- Have at least one other person ready to help move things
- Have a utility knife for uncrating and a blanket to protect floors
- If it's a cottage delivery, confirm the truck can physically reach your property — some cottage roads are too narrow or steep for freight trucks
When the truck arrives
INSPECT BEFORE SIGNING. This is the most important thing in this entire article. The delivery receipt is a legal document. If you sign it saying everything arrived in good condition, and then discover damage after uncrating, your claim is vastly harder to make.
- Look at the crate. Is it crushed, punctured, or water-stained? Note it on the delivery receipt.
- If possible, uncrate on the spot and inspect the furniture. Note ANY damage on the receipt.
- Write "subject to inspection" on the receipt if you can't fully inspect immediately.
- Take photos of the crate and any visible damage before the driver leaves.
Five Ways to Reduce Shipping Costs
- Buy from a maker in your province. A local maker can often deliver directly for $100–$200. Cross-country freight is where costs explode.
- Order multiple pieces at once. One shipment of three pieces costs much less than three separate shipments. Most freight costs are per-shipment, not per-pound.
- Ask about pickup. If you have a truck and trailer, many makers will let you pick up directly. This saves $300–$1,000 on larger orders.
- Skip white glove. Standard curbside + two friends with a hand truck gets furniture into the house for free. White glove is nice but costs $500–$1,000.
- Time it right. Freight rates spike in spring (cottage season). Fall/winter orders sometimes get better rates.
Shipping to a Cottage Property
Cottage delivery adds complications that city delivery doesn't:
- Road access: Freight trucks are large. If your cottage is down a narrow gravel road, the truck may not make it. Ask the carrier about road requirements.
- Seasonal roads: Some cottage roads are impassable during spring thaw. Time your delivery for dry conditions.
- Nobody home: If you're not at the cottage full-time, coordinate a delivery window when you'll be there. Freight companies don't re-deliver for free.
- Island properties: Additional barge or ferry costs. Budget $200–$500 extra for island delivery in Georgian Bay, Thousand Islands, or Gulf Islands.