How to Ship an Arcade Machine Without Damage: The Complete 2026 Guide

Why Arcade Machine Shipping Requires Specialist Handling

Arcade cabinets are among the most difficult items to ship safely. A standard upright cabinet weighs 250–350 lbs, stands 6 feet tall, and contains a CRT or LCD monitor, PCB boards, power supplies, coin mechanisms, and sometimes cathode ray tubes that are irreplaceable. General freight carriers treat them like any other heavy item — which is why so many arrive with cracked screens, broken joysticks, and water damage from uncovered trailers.

Searches for how to ship an arcade machine, arcade cabinet shipping cost, ship pinball machine, and coin-op equipment transport all lead to the same question: how do I get this thing from point A to point B without destroying it? This guide answers that completely.

Step 1: Prepare the Cabinet Interior

Secure the monitor: If the cabinet has a CRT, this is the most fragile component. Remove the bezel if possible and pad the screen with 2 inches of closed-cell foam, then a moving blanket. If the CRT cannot be removed, wedge foam blocks around it to prevent any movement inside the cabinet.
Disconnect and bag loose components: Coin doors, control panels with detachable wiring harnesses, marquee lights. Bag hardware and zip-tie the bags to the inside of the cabinet.
Lock or secure the coin door: An unlocked coin door swings open during transit and can crack against the side panel. Tape it shut or remove it and pack separately.
Remove the back door: Wrap it separately. Exposed backs are vulnerable to puncture.

Step 2: External Wrapping and Protection

Moving blankets: Wrap the entire cabinet in at least two layers of moving blankets, secured with stretch wrap. Pay extra attention to corners and the control panel area.
Corner protectors: Cardboard or foam corner guards on all four vertical edges prevent impact damage during loading and unloading.
Stretch wrap: After blankets, wrap the entire cabinet in several layers of stretch wrap to keep everything tight. This also acts as a moisture barrier.
Crating (optional but recommended for high-value machines): A custom wooden crate is the gold standard for shipping rare or valuable cabinets. Expect to pay $150–$300 for a custom crate, but it can save thousands in damage prevention on a machine worth $2,000–$15,000+.

Step 3: Loading and Securing on the Truck

Always ship upright. Laying a cabinet on its back or side puts stress on the monitor mount and can shift internal components. The only exception is cocktail (table-style) cabinets, which ship flat by design.
Wheel chock or pallet base: If the cabinet has casters, chock them or remove them and set the cabinet on a pallet. Casters rolling in transit is a recipe for disaster.
Ratchet straps: Minimum two straps per cabinet — one across the lower body, one across the upper section. Straps should be routed over blankets, never directly on artwork or painted surfaces.
Fill gaps: Cabinets should not have empty space around them in the truck. Pack gaps with furniture pads, blankets, or air bags to prevent shifting.

Shipping Costs for Arcade Machines (2026)

Standard upright cabinet, 500 miles: $300–$550
Standard upright, cross-country: $600–$1,100
Pinball machine (heavier, more fragile): add 20–30 % to above ranges
Custom crating: $150–$300 additional
White-glove (pack, crate, ship, deliver inside, set up): $800–$2,000+ depending on distance

Common Mistakes That Cause Damage

Shipping a cabinet on its side — monitors and PCBs shift, wiring harnesses disconnect, and CRT yokes can break.
Using general LTL freight without blanket wrap — the cabinet gets loaded with commercial pallets and forklifts, leading to impact damage.
No photos at pickup — without documentation, damage claims are nearly impossible to prove.
Skipping the coin door lock — a swinging coin door can crack the side panel from the inside.

Ship Your Arcade Machine Safely

Coin Machine Shippers specializes in arcade cabinets, pinball machines, jukeboxes, and all coin-operated equipment. Get a free quote with photos of your machine and we'll plan the safest route and handling for your specific cabinet.