The suite is perfect: second floor, big windows, rent you can live with. Then the freight company calls from the street and asks a question you cannot answer. “How wide is the stairwell?” You measure that afternoon. Thirty-one inches. The crate on the truck is thirty-eight. The bed goes back to the terminal, and you spend two weeks learning about hoists and restocking fees.
Access is the cheapest thing to check and the most expensive thing to skip. Before you order a treatment bed, walk the route the crate will take with a tape measure and a notepad. Here is what to write down.
Measure the route, not just the room
- Entry door. Clear width with the door open, plus height. A 36 inch door with a 34 inch clear opening is normal; older buildings are often 30 or 32 inches.
- Stairwell. Width rail to rail, tread depth, number of flights, and the size of every landing. The landing is where a long crate either pivots or gets stuck.
- Ceiling at the turn. Measure floor to ceiling on the landing. A bed tilted on a diagonal needs vertical room as much as horizontal room.
- Hallway corners. Measure the narrowest point and the diagonal at the tightest corner. Handrails, radiators and light fixtures all count against you.
- Elevator, if you have one. Interior dimensions, door width, door height, and the posted weight limit. A freight elevator is a gift; a passenger cab with a 30 inch door is not.
Then add packing. A crated bed carries roughly four to six inches of foam and corner protection on each side, so a 30 inch bed can arrive in a 38 inch crate.
| Measurement | Comfortable | Workable with planning | Stop and rethink |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door clear width | 36 in or more | 32 to 35 in | Under 30 in |
| Stair width rail to rail | 40 in or more | 36 to 39 in | Under 34 in |
| Landing depth | 48 in or more | 36 to 47 in | Under 30 in |
| Hallway narrowest point | 42 in | 36 to 41 in | Under 32 in |
| Elevator door width | 42 in | 36 to 41 in | Under 32 in |
What actually fits: how beds ship and what comes off
A treatment bed is not one rigid box. Knowing which parts come off is the difference between a delivery and a return.
| Bed type | Assembled footprint | How it usually ships | What can come off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 3-motor electric bed | About 72 by 30 in | Crate, frame partly assembled | Legs or base, casters, headrest, armrests |
| 4-motor bed with tilt and heating | About 74 by 32 in | Crate, heavier base | Casters, remote, side rails; frame stays together |
| Portable folding bed | About 73 by 28 in open | One or two flat cartons | Everything; folds to a carry bag |
| Lash or facial bed with storage | About 73 by 26 in | Crate, drawers packed separately | Drawer bank, casters, headrest |
Ask the supplier for the crate dimensions and weight before the order ships. If they cannot provide them, that is a warning sign about how the rest of the order will go.
Stair carries, hoists and what they cost
Standard freight is curbside. That means the driver lowers the crate to the street or driveway and hands you a clipboard. Everything after that is your problem unless you buy a higher service level.
- Inside delivery. Usually $75 to $200, ground floor or elevator building. The driver brings it past the door, not up three flights.
- Stair carry. Commonly $100 to $300, and some carriers charge per flight. Two people minimum, and a bed crate is awkward rather than impossibly heavy.
- Hoist or crane. $400 to $900 in most markets for a second or third floor window delivery. Worth it when the stairwell is 31 inches and the alternative is refusing the shipment.
- White glove. $250 to $600, includes placement, assembly and debris removal. For a heavy bed in a tight suite, usually money well spent.
Book the service level when you place the order, not when the truck is already outside. Carriers will not improvise a stair carry on the day.
Freight timing and the DDP option
Imported beds typically run 10 to 15 days in production, then about 4 to 6 weeks door to door on DDP terms: the seller handles ocean freight, customs and final delivery. Scheduling comes as a call with a four hour window. Take it, and mention the stairs.
Tell the carrier about loading docks, service elevator bookings and permit parking before the window is set.
The fifteen minute inspection before you sign
The driver wants a signature. Give yourself fifteen minutes first.
- Photograph all four sides of the crate before opening anything.
- Look for crushed corners, punctures, water stains and tilted pallets. Note any damage on the delivery receipt before you sign, and photograph the note.
- Open the crate with the driver present. Check welds, upholstery and control housings.
- Power the bed up if you can. Run it through the full height range and listen for grinding or uneven travel.
- Count the boxes against the packing list. Remotes, casters and hardware ship separately more often than owners expect.
Damage found later is a much harder conversation than damage noted at the curb.
Getting it upstairs without hurting the bed
Two people, a furniture dolly, and a blanket under the crate. Never lift an electric bed by the upholstery or the remote cable. If the base detaches, take it off: the base is the heavy part and the top is the awkward part, and separating them usually solves a tight landing. Lock the casters once it is in the room, and give yourself at least 24 inches of working space on the service side so you can reach the client’s head without climbing over the frame. Our beauty bed setup guide covers assembly sequence and placement, and the casters and mobility guide explains wheel choices for different floors.
Where Nova fits
Nova ships electric beauty beds and facial beds factory-direct, with sample orders from one unit, a one-year warranty, CE certified electrics and 110V-240V dual voltage. Frames are rated to 300 kg. Production takes 10 to 15 days and DDP delivery to the USA runs about 4 to 6 weeks. Ask for crate dimensions when you request a quote; it is the number that decides whether your stairwell is a problem.
FAQ
Can a beauty bed be delivered upstairs without a freight elevator?
Yes, if the stairwell is wide enough and the landings let you pivot. Measure first, then book a stair carry or hoist. A crated 4-motor bed is a two or three person job.
What if the crate does not fit through the door?
Ask the carrier to uncrate at the curb and bring the bed in pieces. Most beds lose four to six inches of width without the crate, often enough.
Does DDP shipping include bringing it inside?
DDP covers freight, duties and door-to-door delivery to the address. Inside placement, stair carries and assembly are separate service levels, so confirm what is included at quote stage.
Measure the stairwell before you fall in love with the room. It is a twenty minute job that saves a month of headaches.