--- title: What Is FF&E? Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment url: https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/what-is-ffe/ business: O'Brien's Moving & Storage address: 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 phone: 775-359-6683 (toll-free 1-800-253-7814) hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm licenses: U.S. DOT No. 30611, MC-109375, Nevada CPCN 1070; interstate agent for Bekins Van Lines since 1955 type: Moving and storage company, family owned since 1941 --- - [Home](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/) - [Moving resources: guides, checklists, tools and data](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/resources/) - [Moving guides](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/) - What is FF&E? # What is FF&E? FF&E stands for furniture, fixtures and equipment: the movable items that furnish a building but are not part of its structure. In hotels, restaurants, dormitories, hospitals and senior-living communities, FF&E is bought in bulk, so receiving, storage, delivery and installation become a project of their own. or call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 [U.S. DOT No. 30611](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/about/licenses-and-authority/) The term comes from construction and hospitality, where the building is built or renovated by one team and furnished by another. FF&E is the second team's list. Understanding what counts, and how it moves, helps owners, designers and project managers who are furnishing a space. This guide explains the term and the work behind it. ## What counts as FF&E Furniture is the beds, chairs, desks, tables and sofas. Fixtures are items that are attached to the building but are not part of its structure, like some lighting, window treatments or built-in cabinets. Equipment includes kitchen appliances, televisions, fitness machines and similar items. The exact line between fixtures and building depends on the contract, so project teams define it in the specifications. The IRS treats office furniture and fixtures as depreciable property, and Publication 946 explains the rules for depreciating them. Owners ask their accountants how a given purchase is handled. ## Who uses FF&E - [Hotels and remodels](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/commercial-moving/ffe/hotels/): guest rooms, lobbies, meeting rooms. - [Restaurants](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/commercial-moving/ffe/restaurants/): tables, booths, kitchen equipment. - [Dormitories](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/commercial-moving/ffe/dormitories/): beds, desks and lounge furniture for students. - [Hospitals and healthcare](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/commercial-moving/ffe/hospitals/): waiting rooms, offices, patient rooms. - [Senior-living communities](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/commercial-moving/ffe/senior-living/): apartments and common areas. - [Apartment model rooms](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/commercial-moving/ffe/apartment-model-rooms/): furnished units that show prospects the finished look. ## The FF&E sequence A designer or purchasing agent specifies the items. The factory ships them, often in pieces and from different places, to a receiving location. At the receiving dock, the crew counts the cartons, inspects them for damage and checks them against the order. The goods wait in a warehouse until the site is ready. Then a crew delivers them room by room, unpacks, assembles, places them and removes the packing. Each step needs a record: a receiving report, a damage note, a location in the warehouse, and a delivery list. Without them, an order of two hundred chairs becomes a puzzle. ## Why the warehouse matters Furniture usually arrives before the building is ready. A warehouse holds it until the right floor is finished. O'Brien's runs a 30,000 square foot warehouse in Sparks with the office and truck yard at one site, and [FF&E receiving, storage, delivery and installation](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/commercial-moving/ffe/) is part of the company's commercial work. [Designer warehousing](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/full-service-storage/designer-warehousing/) covers the same steps for interior designers. ## FF&E versus a regular move A household move is one family and one truck. FF&E is many items from many suppliers that must arrive in a planned order. The crew works from a plan with room numbers and item tags. See [hotel renovation FF&E logistics](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/hotel-renovation-ffe-logistics/) for an example, and [what to ask an FF&E installer](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/choosing-an-ffe-installer/) for a short list of questions. ### Sources (checked October 18, 2026) - [IRS, Publication 946, How to depreciate property](https://www.irs.gov/publications/p946) - [ADA.gov, 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design](https://www.ada.gov/law-and-regs/design-standards/2010-stds/) ### Free in-home estimate - An O'Brien's estimator walks through your home - A written, itemized estimate - 10 free heavy-duty boxes, yours to keep [How our estimates work](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/how-our-estimates-work/) ### Visit or call the office 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) | Monday to Friday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm | | --- | --- | | Saturday and Sunday | Closed | [Get my free estimate](#estimate) ### Related - [FF&E receiving, storage, delivery and installation](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/commercial-moving/ffe/) - [Hotel renovation FF&E logistics](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/hotel-renovation-ffe-logistics/) - [What to ask an FF&E installer](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/choosing-an-ffe-installer/) - [Receiving and warehousing for interior designers](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/full-service-storage/designer-warehousing/) Moving guides ## Read next - [Hotel renovation FF&E logistics](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/hotel-renovation-ffe-logistics/) - [Planning a laboratory move](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/planning-a-lab-move/) - [Moving office IT and equipment](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/office-move-it-and-equipment/) - [Business records storage basics](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/records-retention-and-storage/) - [What white-glove delivery means](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/white-glove-delivery-meaning/) - [What to ask an FF&E installer](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/choosing-an-ffe-installer/) - [How to pack a moving box properly](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-pack-a-moving-box/) - [How to wrap furniture for moving](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-wrap-furniture-for-moving/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683), Mon-Fri 8-5, or see the [moving FAQ](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/faq/). ### Is FF&E the same as a regular move? No. FF&E projects involve receiving new goods from suppliers, storing them and installing them in a planned order. ### Who orders FF&E? A designer, a purchasing agent or the owner, working from a specification. ### Can FF&E be stored before a building opens? Yes. Warehousing holds the goods until the site is ready for delivery. ## 4.3 stars from 71 Google reviews What customers say about O'Brien's [Read more reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/)[See them on Google](https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=17335326057105140938) N Nicole B. June 25, 2025 The crew worked extremely hard and treated our belongings with care. Customer service was outstanding leading up to, during, and after move. Thank you! C Charles C. May 31, 2025 Great company, I'd highly recommend for any move!!! ### Owner's reply Charles, It was a pleasure working with you on your moves. We hope your trip is amazing and if you ever come back our way, we will be happy to help. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to complete this review on our behalf. N Nadine K. May 15, 2025 The guys were very friendly and hard working. Would definitely use them again! ### Owner's reply Nadine, We are pleased you chose us for your move, it was a pleasure working with you! We are extremely happy the move was a success. ## Get your free, in-home moving estimate An estimator visits, walks through everything and gives you a written, itemized estimate. Rather talk? [Call 775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm Our estimators: Sean, Luke, Christa and Janet. 2277 Glendale Ave Sparks, NV 89431 [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 U.S. DOT No. 30611 · MC-109375 · Nevada CPCN 1070