White Glove vs. Freight Delivery: What’s the Right Choice for Outdoor Furniture?

Ordering luxury outdoor furniture isn’t like ordering décor or accessories. Large pieces often arrive partially assembled, packaged in oversized crates, and require thoughtful placement to ensure both safety and aesthetics.

Delivery affects:

• How quickly you can enjoy your furniture

• Whether assembly and placement are handled for you

• How much effort (and coordination) is required on your end

• The overall cost of your order

Choosing the right delivery method upfront helps protect your furniture and your peace of mind.

White Glove Delivery is a comprehensive, elevated delivery service. Designed for large, premium outdoor furniture, it offers a truly turnkey experience from arrival to final placement.

With White Glove Delivery, a professional service team will:

• Schedule a delivery appointment

• Carefully unpack and inspect each item

• Assemble furniture when applicable

• Place pieces exactly where you’d like them

• Remove and dispose of all packaging
  
  

Because of the added care and coordination involved, White Glove Delivery may add 2–3 weeks to standard delivery timelines. This is due to an additional step where your order is shipped to a local receiving agent who completes the final delivery.

White Glove Delivery is especially well-suited for:

• Sectionals and multi-piece seating layouts

• Dining tables or sets

• Fire pits and larger lounge pieces

• Patio umbrellas

• Homes where furniture needs to be brought to a specific location

Note: White Glove Delivery does not include installation of gas lines, electrical hookups, cantilever mount kits, or sand for umbrella bases.

Pros

• Stress-free experience from start to finish

• Professional handling of premium materials like teak, aluminum, rope, and stone

• Immediate usability - no boxes or assembly left behind

• Confidence in placement, especially for larger patios or multi-piece layouts

Cons

• Higher cost than freight delivery

• Requires scheduling a delivery appointment during weekday business hours
  
  

For many customers, White Glove Delivery feels less like an add-on and more like a natural extension of investing in high-quality outdoor furniture.

Freight Delivery is a more standard option designed for larger items shipped curbside or to the end of a driveway.

With standard freight delivery:

• Items are delivered curbside only

• No assembly, placement, or packaging removal is included

• Customers are responsible for unloading, moving, unpacking, and assembling furniture

Someone must be present at delivery to inspect the shipment and sign for it. Freight carriers schedule delivery appointments in advance, typically offering a 2–4 hour weekday window.

Freight delivery works best when:

• You have adequate help and tools available

• Access to the delivery area is straightforward

• You’re comfortable handling heavy boxes and assembly

Pros

• Lower cost

• In some cases, faster fulfillment

Cons

• Heavy lifting and assembly required

• Bulky packaging to manage and dispose of

• Increased risk of damage if items are mishandled

• Less flexibility for placement in complex spaces

Outdoor furniture presents unique considerations that make delivery especially important:

• Larger scale and heavier materials

• Partial assembly required for many pieces

• Precise placement impacts comfort, flow, and usability
  
  

If you’re furnishing a full patio, investing in a statement dining table, or ordering multiple large pieces, White Glove Delivery typically provides the smoothest experience. Freight delivery can be perfectly suitable for smaller setups or customers with the space, manpower, and flexibility to manage delivery themselves.