Shipping a Household Appliance — safely packed, transported insured
Household appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators, dishwashers or dryers are shipped by Logisticoo upright, palletised and with a tail lift — fixed-price quote in 30 minutes. White goods are heavier and more delicate than they look: a washing machine weighs 60 to 90 kg and must travel with its transport locking bolts fitted, otherwise the drum knocks itself out. Refrigerators and freezers may only be transported upright, so that no compressor oil runs into the refrigerant circuit; after transport lying down, total loss is a real risk. Enamelled and stainless-steel fronts do not forgive strap edges. We palletise every appliance standing, secure it over edge protectors and deliver by tail-lift vehicle to the kerbside — on request with two people up to the point of use. Typical customers are kitchen studios, used-appliance dealers and private sellers via classified ads; for dealers we bundle several appliances per pallet and per run. Collection in 147 German cities, delivery also Europe-wide to 55 countries — and when the new appliance has to meet the kitchen installation date, the express direct transport without transhipment keeps the promised appointment reliably.
Packaging & load securing
Appliances always travel standing, bolted to the pallet or lashed down with straps over edge-protection angles, fully wrapped in stretch film with padding on the fronts. On washing machines the transport locks must be screwed in; doors and drums are fixed with tape, and loose parts (hoses, grilles) are stowed inside or packed separately.
What matters
- Washing machine: transport locking bolts must be fitted, drain residual water
- Refrigeration appliances upright only — after delivery, wait several hours before switching on
- Secure doors; hinges are the most common point of damage
- Check dimensions: standard appliances fit on a Euro pallet, XXL refrigerators need an industrial pallet
- For used appliances, document the condition by photo at handover
Or call us directly: +49 30 346 467 850
White goods — weight, dimensions and vehicle
Household appliances are heavier and more delicate than they look. A washing machine weighs 60 to 90 kg, refrigerators and freezers 50 to 100 kg, XXL side-by-side units more still. Standard appliances fit upright on a Euro pallet, oversized refrigerators on an industrial pallet. Single appliances travel by tail-lift vehicle as general cargo in a Sprinter van or 7.5 t truck, several appliances for dealers as a part load. What is decisive is upright loading with a tail lift to the kerbside, on request with two people up to the point of use. Refrigeration appliances may travel exclusively upright — we choose the vehicle and interior height accordingly, including for American appliances.
Transport locking and tip protection in detail
Appliances always travel standing, bolted to the pallet or lashed down over edge-protection angles and fully wrapped in stretch film with front padding. On washing machines the transport locking bolts must be fitted, otherwise the spring-mounted drum knocks itself out and damages the bearings or housing. Refrigerators and freezers travel upright only, so that no compressor oil runs into the refrigerant circuit. Doors and drums are fixed with tape, and loose parts such as hoses and grilles are stowed inside or packed separately. We protect enamelled and stainless-steel fronts with edge protection, so that no strap edges leave marks. On the load bed, a tight positive fit per VDI 2700 applies.
How to ship a household appliance with Logisticoo
- You tell us the appliance type, dimensions, weight and the unloading situation (kerbside or point of use).
- We select the pallet and tail-lift vehicle and give you the fixed-price quote in 30 minutes.
- Preparation: washing machine with transport lock, drain residual water, secure doors, refrigeration appliance upright.
- Upright loading with a tail lift.
- Secured transport per VDI 2700, for installation dates as an express direct transport without transhipment.
- Kerbside delivery, on request with two people. For kitchen studios and dealers we bundle several appliances per pallet and per run; delivery Europe-wide to 55 countries.
What does shipping a household appliance cost?
You receive a fixed price up front; the rule-of-thumb figures give you a guide (±15%): Sprinter van around €1.10/km (from €89), 7.5 t truck around €1.45/km (from €169). A single appliance runs as a part load as an inexpensive single item. A refrigerator by Sprinter-van direct transport with a tail lift from Berlin to Hamburg (around 290 km) works out at about €1.10/km, so roughly €320. Cost drivers are XXL appliances on an industrial pallet, two-person delivery to the point of use, and time-critical direct transports for kitchen installation. For kitchen studios with regular demand, we set up fixed rates.
Household appliance, vehicle and loading
| Weight | Example | Vehicle | Loading without a ramp |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60–90 kg | Washing machine, dryer | Euro pallet, Sprinter van tail lift | Tail lift |
| 50–100 kg | Refrigerator/freezer (upright) | Euro pallet/industrial | Tail lift |
| over 100 kg | Side-by-side refrigerator | Industrial pallet, 7.5 t truck | Tail lift |
| Dealer batch | several appliances | Part load, palletised | Pallet truck |
Shipping methods compared
| Shipping method | When it makes sense | Transit time | Cost level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part load | one appliance, flexible on timing | a few days (consolidated run) | cheapest option |
| Part load (LTL) | several appliances (dealer) | 1–2 days | medium |
| Direct transport (FTL) | installation date or sensitive | same/next day, no transhipment | higher, but reliable on timing |
| Express Sprinter van | kitchen installation, immediately | a few hours | km-based, from €89 |
Frequently asked questions
Can a refrigerator be transported lying down if it does not fit in the vehicle?
We strongly advise against it: lying down, compressor oil can run into the refrigerant lines and damage the circuit. Instead we plan a vehicle with sufficient interior height — even American side-by-side units travel upright with us.
What happens if I no longer have the transport lock for the washing machine?
Without the transport locking bolts, the spring-mounted drum can knock itself out during transport and damage the bearings or housing. Replacement bolts are available from the manufacturer; as a stopgap we fix the drum with padding material between the drum and housing — but the original lock is safer and is what the manufacturer intends.
What does it cost to ship a washing machine or a refrigerator?
As a part load, an appliance is an inexpensive single item. A Sprinter-van direct transport with a tail lift we calculate from around €1.10/km (±15%); a refrigerator Berlin–Hamburg works out at about €320. The appliance type, dimensions and postcodes are enough for the fixed-price quote in 30 minutes.
Do you deliver the appliance right into the home?
The standard is kerbside delivery with a tail lift. Carrying it to the point of use with two people we offer on request for a surcharge. Tell us the floor, access and any tight spots, so that we can plan the time window and team to match.
Can you deliver appliances on time for kitchen installation?
Yes. For promised installation dates, the express direct transport runs without transhipment and keeps the time window reliably. For kitchen studios we bundle several appliances per run; your dispatcher times delivery and installation together.