Bunk and Loft Bed Delivery: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Your guide to receiving and setting up bunk beds, loft beds and other Totally Home furniture—including deliveries to second homes and vacation rentals.

Whether you are expecting a bunk bed, loft bed, standard bed or another piece of furniture, a little preparation makes delivery day easier. Confirm where the carrier will leave your furniture, arrange help to move it to the room, and have the correct assembly instructions ready if needed. Delivery, room placement and assembly are separate services, so confirm which ones you have booked before the truck arrives.

Confirm where your delivery stops

Most of our furniture shipments travel with specialty furniture carriers. Sometimes we use less-than-truckload (LTL) freight when needed for your order or destination. Check your delivery confirmation to see which service you have booked, and see our Shipping Information for full details. Here is what to expect from each service:

Specialty furniture carrier: threshold delivery

Our usual specialty-carrier service is threshold delivery to the first dry door or area, such as a garage or an eligible entrance. Threshold delivery includes up to two flights of stairs, with ten steps per flight. Confirm the entrance and access arrangements with us before delivery. Unpacking, assembly and packaging removal are not included. Plan who will move the cartons from the confirmed delivery point to the room.

LTL freight: curbside delivery

When LTL freight is needed, standard curbside delivery takes the boxes off the truck but does not bring them inside your home. Arrange capable help to move them into a dry, protected space, including any stairs or long path from the unloading point. If you need inside delivery, ask before shipment: it may be available in some areas for an additional charge. Confirm any change of delivery service with Totally Home so your moving plan matches what is booked.

Smaller shipments: parcel delivery

Some smaller furniture pieces travel by parcel service, depending on their size and weight. Use the tracking and delivery details supplied for your order. The freight appointment and threshold-delivery arrangements below do not automatically apply to a parcel shipment.

Room placement or assembly

Ask us before ordering if you need help beyond the confirmed delivery point. Additional services depend on your location and the assigned provider. Room-of-choice delivery may bring the packaged furniture into your chosen room without unpacking, assembly or debris removal. Confirm exactly what is included and arrange assembly separately if needed.

If your furniture is going upstairs, confirm who will carry it from the threshold delivery point to the room and handle any assembly. Keep those arrangements with your delivery details so everyone knows what to do.

Prepare before the carrier calls

Check the estimated lead time on your product page and watch for order updates. You will receive an email with tracking information when your order ships. For specialty-carrier and LTL shipments, the carrier will contact you to schedule delivery once your order reaches the destination area. Wait for that appointment confirmation before making plans around a delivery date.

Make sure the phone number and email on your order are current. Respond promptly to scheduling contact: carriers cannot store shipments indefinitely, and delays can lead to storage or redelivery charges. If you will be away, let Totally Home know early and confirm the arrangements before relying on a different date.

• Check truck access. Tell the team about a narrow road, restricted driveway, gate, limited parking or a building loading dock.
• Measure the route. Include doors, hall turns, stairs and elevators. Ask about the largest cartons or components when access is tight; assembled furniture dimensions alone do not describe the shipment.
• Clear a dry staging area. Leave space to inspect cartons and organize components before assembly.
• Arrange capable help. Match the moving and assembly plan to the actual cartons, route and manufacturer’s instructions.

If you live in an apartment or condo, ask management about delivery hours, elevator reservations and any certificate of insurance requirement. Send us the written building requirements early, and use our furniture-delivery COI guide to prepare your request. You will need to arrange building approval and confirm your delivery service separately; a COI does not add room placement or assembly.

Deliveries to second homes and vacation rentals

When furniture is going to a second home, Airbnb or VRBO, plan who will receive it and prepare the room if you are not there. Tell Totally Home about your travel dates, the property’s availability and any guest bookings before shipment.

• Choose an on-site contact. If you cannot be there, arrange a property manager, caretaker or trusted person to receive the shipment. Confirm their role with the team and carrier, including who will answer scheduling calls and provide access.
• Work from a confirmed appointment. Share the dates someone can accept delivery, and treat preferred dates as requests until the carrier confirms the appointment. A shipping estimate alone is not enough to book a trip or an assembler.
• Arrange prompt inspection. Give the person receiving the furniture your order details and the receiving checklist below. Ask them to photograph the packaging and inspect the contents promptly. Report concealed shipping damage within 48 hours of delivery, even if your next visit is later.
• Plan the room setup before guests arrive. Confirm who moves the furniture inside, handles any assembly and removes the packaging. If you will travel to assemble it yourself, ask whether the correct model instructions can be sent ahead of your visit. Leave time for inspection, setup and final checks before the room is needed.

A customer furnishing a rental on a tight timetable described ordering to meet a deadline and praised the team’s responsiveness in their Brockton XL Bunk Beds review. Bring us your timing requirements early so we can discuss what can be arranged for your order.

When the shipment arrives

Shipping damage is uncommon, but it can happen. Have your order information available and compare the cartons received with the delivery paperwork. If the carrier asks you to sign a delivery receipt, note visible damage or carton-count discrepancies before signing. Describe what you can see—for example, a crushed corner or torn carton—and take clear photos. Keep a copy of the receipt. For a parcel delivery without a signed receipt, photograph visible concerns and contact the team promptly.

Open and inspect the furniture promptly after receipt, even if assembly is planned for later. Report concealed shipping damage to Customer Care within 48 hours of delivery. Contact the team as soon as you find a concern, with your order information and photos of the packaging and affected part. A photo of the relevant instructions page, with the part identified, can help explain what needs attention. Retain the packaging while the issue is reviewed and follow the reporting instructions supplied with your order.

To return an item, keep it in new, unassembled condition and its original carton, and get written approval from us before sending it back. Check our Returns, Exchanges and Cancellations policy for eligibility, deadlines and charges before deciding to assemble or return it. If you are unsure what to do, contact us before proceeding.

Turn the boxes into an assembly plan

If your furniture needs assembly, find the instructions for your exact model and selected options. For a bed, this may include separate instructions for stairs, drawers or a trundle. If you want to prepare in advance, ask Totally Home whether instructions are available before delivery. Keep each component’s paperwork with it rather than assuming one booklet covers the entire order.

Compare the parts and hardware with the instructions before starting. Group labeled pieces by assembly step on a protected surface and keep similar-looking fasteners separated. This gives you a clear starting point and makes a question easier to resolve. If a part or instruction is unclear, ask for clarification instead of substituting hardware or adapting a step from another model.

How long does furniture assembly take?

Assembly time depends on the type of furniture, its configuration, the number of components and the assembler’s experience. Unpacking and organizing are part of the job too. Review the model’s instructions for tools, helpers and the assembly sequence before setting aside time or booking an installer.

Where can you find assembly help?

If you prefer to hire an assembler, Totally Home can point you toward national services such as Angi, Handy and LoadUp. You can also look for local furniture assemblers or handymen through Thumbtack, or compare independent and regional services near the delivery address. Availability and the work offered vary by provider and ZIP code; confirm that the selected professional will assemble your exact furniture model and selected options.

An assembly booking is separate from your furniture delivery unless your order confirmation explicitly includes both. Share the product links, instructions when available, and all items and optional components with the assembler. Confirm whether the quote covers moving cartons to the room, unpacking, assembling all ordered components and packaging removal. Ask about experience with the type of furniture you ordered and the people and tools needed.

Coordinate the assembly appointment with the confirmed delivery schedule and allow time to receive and inspect the furniture first. Inspection should happen promptly even if the assembler is coming later. Leave time to check the completed setup together, and keep packaging until inspection is complete and any reported issue is resolved.

Check the setup before use

Use the manufacturer’s assembly and safety instructions as the final checklist for each piece of furniture. Confirm that required components are installed and secured as directed. If an assembly or safety question remains unresolved, contact the team before anyone uses the furniture.

Additional checks for beds

For a standard bed, bunk bed or loft bed, confirm that the mattress supports and any required access components are installed and secured as directed. Check mattress size and thickness against the model’s instructions and labels. Our bunk-bed mattress guide can help you plan the selection for a bunk bed.

For bunk beds and loft beds, install the required guardrails on both sides of the elevated bed, including the wall side, following the model’s instructions. Children under six should not use an upper bunk or elevated loft bed. Allow only one person on the elevated sleeping surface. If you have an unresolved assembly or safety question, contact us before anyone uses the bed.

Save this delivery-to-setup checklist

• Before delivery: confirm the service point, access requirements, appointment contact and help for the remaining move.
• At receipt: compare cartons with the paperwork, record visible concerns before signing and save photos and the receipt.
• Before assembly: inspect promptly and report concealed shipping damage within 48 hours of delivery. Identify the correct instructions and organize parts for the selected configuration.
• Before use: complete the manufacturer’s checks for each piece of furniture and resolve open questions.
• At handoff: keep the instructions, order information and care guidance together so everyone using or maintaining the furniture can find them.

For help planning your order, contact our personal shoppers with the model, delivery ZIP code, access details and the service you need. For an existing order, have the order number ready when contacting Customer Care. A clear plan lets delivery day lead smoothly into a room that is ready to use.