Buying a Couch on Marketplace? Here's How Pickup Actually Works

The Couch Pickup Playbook

A couch is the single most common — and most difficult — Marketplace pickup in NYC. It's heavy, rigid, and the seller usually lives in a walk-up. Here's exactly how to make it work.

Measure the Couch and Both Doorways

Before booking, get the couch's length, height, and depth from the seller. Then measure your own doorway, stairwell, and elevator. A couch longer than 80 inches won't fit in most NYC elevators.

Book the Van, Not a Car

A couch needs a van, full stop. The Marketplace van rate ($99/hour, van included) is the right booking. Tell us it's a couch and we send a van with a driver-pro.

Confirm the Seller's Floor

A first-floor seller is a 20-minute pickup. A fourth-floor walk-up seller can eat an hour of your paid time. Ask before booking — and add an hour to your estimate if it's a walk-up.

We Disassemble if Possible

Many couches have removable legs and, occasionally, a detachable arm. Our pro removes them to fit the van and the doorways, then reattaches at delivery.

Pad the Couch

A couch is the item most often scratched in a van. We blanket and strap it before it leaves the seller's apartment. The $99/hour rate includes blankets.

The Two-Person Question

A large sectional may need two movers. If the couch is over 90 inches or the pickup is a walk-up above the second floor, we recommend a two-person crew — still the same van rate plus a second pro.

Have Cash Ready for the Seller

Sellers want cash, Venmo, or Zelle at pickup. Our pro doesn't pay the seller for you — you pay the seller directly through your app, or send cash with the pro.

Book a couch Marketplace pickup in NYC — measured, padded, and delivered.