White Glove Delivery in the US: What It Is, When to Use It, and How to De-Risk It
White glove delivery is the premium end of last-mile logistics. Instead of a curbside drop, trained two-person teams bring items inside, place them in the room of choice, assemble or install them, test basic functions, and remove all packaging. It’s designed for bulky, fragile, or high-value products—furniture, fitness equipment, major appliances, medical devices, artwork—where a standard handoff isn’t enough.
What a white glove job actually includes (US specifics)
A well-scoped US white glove delivery typically covers:
- Scheduled delivery window with pre-call and live ETA updates
- Two-person crew with the right gear (straps, blankets, floor/wall protection)
- Room-of-choice placement, including stairs if specified
- Uncrating/unboxing, assembly or installation, power-on and basic checks
- Debris removal and recycling, with photo proof at handoff
Common US add-ons:
- COI (Certificate of Insurance) naming the building/HOA as additional insured (often required in NYC/Chicago/SF)
- Freight elevator reservations and delivery within building-approved time windows
- Haul-away of old items, door removal, tight-turn navigation in walk-ups/union buildings
When it makes sense for US shippers and merchants
Choose white glove when any of the following are true:
- The item is heavy, delicate, or awkward (sectional sofa, 300-lb treadmill, panel refrigerator, glass tabletop, framed art)
- On-site setup and customer education reduce returns/support tickets
- A failed delivery is costly (re-delivery fees, damage risk, reputation impact)
- The receiving building has strict requirements (COI, time slots, dock rules)
Cost and service tiers (realistic US ranges)
White glove sits above “threshold” and “room-of-choice” tiers:
- Threshold (inside first dry area): baseline price
- Room-of-choice (no assembly): typically +10–30% vs threshold
- White glove (assembly/installation): typically +30–100% vs threshold, driven by stairs, assembly time, and crew size
Illustrative example (Los Angeles → New York):
- Threshold: $150–$250
- Room-of-choice: +$40–$80
- White glove (carry upstairs, assemble, test, debris removal): +$120–$220
Expect surcharges in dense metros (NYC/SF), for tight windows, difficult access, or specialty handling (art crates, marble tops).
Insurance and liability in the US: what to check
Even great crews and checklists won’t eliminate risk. Confirm that coverage matches your exposure:
- Cargo insurance for loss, theft, or damage door-to-door
- General liability (GL) to cover accidental property damage or injury during in-home service
- Full replacement value on high-value goods (avoid weight-based limits)
If your shipment crosses state lines with a household-goods mover, be aware of federal rules:
- Released Value Protection defaults to $0.60 per pound—not nearly enough for premium items
- Full Value Protection (or equivalent third-party coverage) is recommended for actual replacement value
Operational safeguards that help claims:
- Photo-based condition reports (at pickup and at placement)
- Signed checklists for assembly/testing
- Clear claims SLA (documents required, decision timelines, payout method)
- No unattended delivery unless you explicitly accept that risk
If you insure shipments yourself, consider dedicated shipping insurance to bridge gaps left by carrier limits, building exclusions, or installation activities.
How to choose a provider (US checklist)
- Scope clarity: Crew size, stairs, room-of-choice, assembly steps, haul-away, time on site
- Building compliance: COI sample, experience with HOAs/property managers, elevator/dock procedures
- Protection & training: Floor/wall protection, rigging for heavy/fragile pieces, background-checked techs
- Visibility & proof: Real-time ETAs, photo documentation, digital sign-off
- Claims performance: Current cargo/GL certificates, recent damage rate, average claim resolution time
- Right-size the tier: If no assembly is needed, room-of-choice may suffice; reserve white glove for items needing setup or precision handling
A simple US example
You’re delivering a $7,000 sectional to a Manhattan walk-up. Standard delivery leaves cartons at the threshold and the customer handles stairs, assembly, and debris. With white glove, a two-person crew books a building-approved slot, provides a COI, protects floors, carries pieces up, assembles/levels the sofa, photographs the result, and hauls away all packing. If a scuff or loose bracket is found, photos and checklists speed remediation—and your insurance backstop keeps the customer whole.
Bottom line
White glove delivery is a strategic upgrade when value, fragility, and experience matter. Specify the scope, verify insurance, and use photo-driven proof. You’ll reduce damage, cut support costs, and turn delivery day into a “wow” moment customers remember. For shipments where failure is expensive, pairing white glove delivery with solid coverage is simply smart logistics.
