Furniture Delivery Upstairs: Walk-Ups, Tight Turns and What It Costs

Most delivery services either refuse stairs, charge per flight, or leave the box at the bottom of them. That is the whole reason people call us for a third-floor walk-up in Pacific Beach or a Craftsman with a tight landing in North Park.

Stairs do not change your price

Our pricing is flat by weight plus $2/mile from mile one — $120 under 100 lbs, $240 for 100–200 lbs, $340 for 200–300 lbs. There is no per-flight fee and no hourly clock running while the crew works a landing. What stairs do change is the crew size we send, which is our problem to solve, not a line on your invoice.

What to measure before you buy

1. The narrowest opening on the whole path — building door, apartment door, and any interior door. Measure the clear opening with the door open, not the frame. 2. The tightest turn — usually a stair landing. Measure the depth of the landing wall to wall. 3. Ceiling height over the stairs if the run is enclosed. 4. The item's diagonal depth, not just width and height.

If the diagonal depth beats the narrowest opening, the piece goes in on its side or comes apart. Sectionals split. Sofa legs unbolt. Dresser drawers come out and cut the weight substantially.

Things that genuinely do not fit

Sometimes the honest answer is no. Long non-splitting sectionals, oversized armoires and some sleeper sofas cannot make a 90-degree landing in an older building at any crew size. Telling you that before you buy is more useful than discovering it at the door — send photos of the item and the stairwell and we will tell you.

Elevators

An elevator makes almost everything easier, but check two things: whether the building requires a reservation or a certificate of insurance, and the depth of the car. A 7-foot sofa needs a car that will take it on the diagonal or a service elevator.

What we bring

Blankets, straps, shoulder dollies, door and floor protection, and enough people. Our crew is W-2 and trained on stair carries — not day labor hired for the morning.

Booking it

Include the floor number and whether there is an elevator when you book so we scale the crew properly. Text photos of the item and the stairwell to 619-738-4540, or book a 2-hour window online.