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Armchair
How to pack an armchair
Without suitable packaging, even if the courier is careful, transport can cause damage to your armchair. This page outlines the steps to protect an armchair before transport.
Why packaging is essential
An object that’s not well protected can arrive scratched, damaged, or broken, even if the carrier is as careful as possible.
With Cocolis, your items travel with individuals or professionals on journeys they're already making. They are handled during loading, in transit, and unloading—each a moment where good packaging makes all the difference.
An object can arrive scratched, broken, or incomplete. These situations are rare but avoidable and almost never happen when an item is properly packed from the start.
Prepare your armchair before packing
Remove any removable cushions and pack them separately in bags or paper. Inspect the fabric, leather or velvet: delicate materials and light colours are especially sensitive to scuffing and dirt. If your armchair has an exposed wooden frame, identify the most fragile parts — carved legs, wooden armrests — for extra protection.
This is also a good moment to gather your materials and plan the right protection for each part. Good packaging preparation happens before you start, not as you go along.
Steps to pack an armchair
- Protect the armrests and legs first, as these are the most exposed areas during handling. Wrap them with bubble wrap secured with tape placed on the wrap, never directly onto the fabric, leather or velvet.
- Cover all surfaces with a protective cover, stretch film or moving blankets—whether it’s a club armchair, a Scandinavian armchair, a rattan armchair or a designer armchair.
- Reinforce the corners and the legs with pieces of cardboard held in place with tape stuck onto the cardboard.
- If the legs can be unscrewed, remove them and keep all the screws in a bag attached to the whole.
- Make sure all surfaces are protected and nothing is sticking out before transport.
Good habits to know
The essential points to avoid problems during transport
Adapt packaging to the item
Packaging isn’t universal. Take into account the fragility, weight, and shape of your armchair to choose the right protection – the main thing is that the item is well protected during transport.
Don’t seal the packaging too soon
Leave your armchair visible when the courier arrives. They must be able to check its condition before taking charge and take photos with and without protection. Seal the packaging only afterwards.
Take photos before shipping
Photograph your item before and after packing. In case of a problem, these photos are your only evidence of its initial condition.
Inform about special requirements
Some items have specific requirements: must be kept upright, particular handling direction, extra fragility. Clearly inform the courier about these before departure.
Never stick tape on surfaces
Brown tape can leave marks or damage finishes. Never stick it directly to an item – always use an intermediate layer.
Frequent mistakes & things to watch out for
Some mistakes happen regularly and explain most damage on arrival.
Just like with a sofa, tape placed directly on the fabric or leather of an armchair can leave permanent marks or pull out fibres. Always use an intermediate layer before securing anything. For velvet or delicate fabric armchairs, stretch film is the safest solution to hold protection in place without contact with the material.
Transporting armchair with Cocolis
Simpler, more human transport
With Cocolis, your item doesn't go through a warehouse, isn't passed from hand to hand and doesn't endure multiple re-loadings. It's delivered directly from point A to point B, in a single trip, by an individual or professional already making the journey.
In reality, it’s often someone like your neighbour or cousin making the trip for their own reasons who takes special care of what they're carrying. It's not a courier under pressure to deliver dozens of parcels a day. This difference means a lot in how your item is handled.
Fewer handlings also means less risk. But your item will still be loaded and unloaded, and a sudden brake can happen: correct packing is still essential to protect sensitive areas at these key moments.
Practically, packing doesn't need to be designed to withstand a whole logistics chain. It just needs to provide effective protection for a single journey—which is achievable by everyone.
Frequently asked questions
Other packing guides
For further advice, you can review packing guides for different types of item.
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