TL;DR: How to Offer Shipping on Facebook Marketplace for Large Items
Wondering how to offer shipping on Facebook Marketplace for large items? Facebook’s default labels max out at 150 lbs, so you need a workaround to ship oversized goods nationwide:
- Skip Prepaid Labels: Choose “Shipping” but select “Use your own shipping label” to set a custom flat rate or roll the shipping cost into the item’s price. Use uShip to do the heavy lifting.
- The “Local Pickup” Hack: For massive freight, list as “Local Pickup Only” but state in your description that you offer nationwide delivery. Have buyers message you their zip code for a quote.
- Get a 3rd-Party Quote: Use a freight marketplace (like uShip) to quickly estimate shipping costs based on the item’s size and the buyer’s location.
- Update & Ship: Add the agreed-upon shipping cost to the listing price, have the buyer pay securely via Facebook Checkout, book your carrier, and manually enter the tracking details.
You’ve listed a beautiful mid-century modern credenza on Facebook Marketplace. It’s priced right, the photos are crisp, and you’re ready to sell. But after a week, the only messages you’ve received are from local low-ballers asking if you’ll take $50 and deliver it for free.
Meanwhile, there is likely a buyer three states away who would happily pay your full asking price if only they could get it to their living room.
Most sellers assume that shipping on Facebook Marketplace is strictly for small items like clothes or electronics that fit in a USPS box. They think their only furniture option is “Local Pickup Only.” This is a mistake that massively limits your potential buyer pool.
You can offer shipping for large items, but you have to know how to bypass Facebook’s default settings. Here is your step-by-step guide to unlocking a nationwide audience for your heavy and oversized listings.
The Problem: Facebook’s “Shipping” Button – How to Offer Shipping on Facebook Marketplace for Large Items
When you create a listing, Facebook makes it easy to select “Shipping.” However, their built-in system is designed exclusively for parcels; you know…the things that fit into a box or envelope and don’t weigh a million pounds.
- Weight Limits: Native labels usually cap out at 70–150 lbs.
- Size Limits: If the combined length and girth exceed the carrier’s standard limits (usually 108-130 inches), the carrier will refuse the package or charge you a hefty fee that the prepaid label doesn’t cover.
- Packaging: You are expected to box the item yourself.
If you try to ship a sofa using a Facebook prepaid UPS label, it will not work. You need a different strategy… unless you can fold the sofa into an envelope.
Step 1: Choose “Use Your Own Shipping Label”
When setting up your listing, you will reach the Delivery Method section.
- Toggle Shipping to “On”.
- Do NOT select “Use a Prepaid Shipping Label”.
- Select “Use your own shipping label”.
This tells Facebook that you will handle the logistics yourself. It allows you to enter a custom shipping price.
- Option A: Flat Rate Shipping. If you know exactly how much it costs to ship your item (e.g., a set of ottomans that fit in two large boxes), you can enter a flat price here (e.g., $150).
- Option B: “Free” Shipping (Price Inclusive). You can mark shipping as “Free” and increase your item’s price to cover the estimated delivery cost.
The “Local Pickup” Workaround (Best for Freight)
For truly massive items (like a sectional, a pool table, a motorcycle, or a black hole), even the “Use your own label” option can be tricky, since shipping costs vary widely by buyer location. A flat rate rarely works here.
In this case, the professional move is to list the item as “Local Pickup Only” but use your description to offer shipping.
Add this to your description:
“Nationwide shipping available! I can help arrange third-party delivery to your door. Please message me with your zip code for a shipping quote before purchasing.”
This signals to serious buyers that you are willing to work with them, without locking you into a shipping price that might be too low.
Step 2: How to Get a Quote
When a buyer messages you with their zip code, you need a quick, reliable number. You cannot take a dresser to the post office to weigh it.
Instead, use uShip.
- Measure and Estimate Weight: You don’t need to be perfect, but get the dimensions (L x W x H) and a weight estimate.
- Get a Quick Quote: Get free uShip quotes to see the current rate for that distance (e.g., “Austin to Seattle”).
- Quote the Buyer: Reply to the buyer: “A blanket-wrap carrier would cost about $300 to ship to [Zip Code].
Step 3: Closing the Deal
Once the buyer agrees to the price + shipping:
- Payment: You can adjust the price of the listing to include the shipping cost so they can pay via Facebook Checkout (offering them purchase protection).
- Booking: You (or the buyer) book the carrier. If you book it, you simply input the buyer’s address as the delivery location.
- Tracking: Once the carrier picks up the item, mark the order as “Shipped” in Facebook and manually enter the carrier’s name and tracking/reference number.
Why This Effort is Worth It
By offering shipping on large items, you stop competing with your neighbors and start selling to the whole country. A vintage armoire that sits for months locally might sell in two days to a designer in New York.
Don’t let the logistics scare you. The “Shipping” toggle is just a setting; the real power is in your willingness to facilitate the move.
Want to know exactly what to charge?
Stop guessing. Get a free shipping estimate with uShip. Whether you are selling a sofa or a sedan, uShip connects you with feedback-rated carriers who specialize in moving large items safely and affordably.
