Is it cheaper to ship a TV or buy a new one?
Specialty TV shipping boxes and packing materials frequently fail to prevent transit damage, while the high cost of freight often matches or exceeds the price of a replacement television. This financial and logistical risk leads many movers to leave their TVs behind or sell them rather than attempt long-distance transport.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- People have been saying this in most months since August 2026.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Selling the TV locally before moving and buying a replacement at the destinationDid this help you?
- 2Leaving the TV behind or leaving it mounted for the new home buyersDid this help you?
- 3Saving the original manufacturer box and packaging for future movesDid this help you?
- 4Shipping inside a portable moving container (pod/U-Box) instead of standard mail carriersDid this help you?
- 5Purchasing shipping insurance or specialized heavy-duty TV boxesDid this help you?
- 6Selling the old television locally and purchasing a new one at the destinationDid this help you?
- 7Using professional packing services at shipping centers like UPS or FedExDid this help you?
- 8Utilizing adjustable painting cartons or custom-made boxesDid this help you?
- 9Transporting the television personally in a rental truck or vehicle rather than shipping via courierDid this help you?
- 10Removing the feet/stand before transportDid this help you?
- 11Wrapping the TV tightly in moving blankets and scrap cardboard instead of expensive bubble wrapDid this help you?
- 12Securing the TV perfectly vertical against a wall, avoiding any lean that puts uneven pressure on the screenDid this help you?
- 13Lifting by the frame edges or attaching a short bolt to the VESA mount holes for a grip point, rather than pinching near the glassDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“i had it in one of those large boxes with foam and the pads around the corners and a whole bunch of wrapping. it did NOT work at ALL.”source ↗
“the amount i spent on shipping could have just got me another TV.”source ↗
“When we moved 5 years ago, I decided it would be less stressful (maybe cheaper) to just leave the TVs mounted for the new buyers (they were very happy to have them) and just buy new when we got to our destination.”source ↗
“We learned the hard way as well, so my advice to everyone: IF you have the space, always save the box your tv came in.”source ↗
“My TV is currently sitting in a Penske outside ready for a cross country move. I'm already looking at the sales at Costco 😂. If she makes it that's great but I'm not banking on it.”source ↗
“I had two friends try two different packing styles and both didn't make it.”source ↗
“My concern is that the TV will get damaged during the part of loading,offloading and on the road. (Background is that I previously also moved a 55 inch TV and it was not secured corrected in the van and it fell off, face down when making a turn, and it arrived with the screen totally wracked).”source ↗
“For the loading and offloading part: What should I pay attention to? Where should I put my hands on, assuming there is a 2nd person helping? I am worried that holding the edge of the TV can damage the screen.”source ↗
“Anyone have any experience shipping a 65 inch tv across states through UPS or something?”source ↗
“I don’t have a truck/uhaul and it’s not an option I want to go down.”source ↗
“Hoping to find a box for the tv that works while it’s wrapped in bubble wrap.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2Why won't companies ship specialized products to Alaska?
- 4Why is it so expensive to rent a van one way internationally?
- 3How to package and ship an office chair to another state
- 6Why is my domestic order shipping from overseas and clearing customs?
- 4How do you plan a first-time long distance move?
- 11How to find reliable long distance movers without getting scammed