houseofstaunton.com

House of Staunton sells chess equipment across a wide range of budgets, from plastic sets to luxury wooden pieces and heirloom-quality combinations. You can buy complete sets (often bundled with a box and board), individual pieces, boards, and storage boxes, as well as chess tables, travel sets, and chess books and software. The site organizes these into categories such as Trending Products, Newest Arrivals, Must Have Chess Products, and Featured Categories, so you can browse by product type or by collection.

Complete Chess Sets and Combinations

The most direct way to buy a playable setup is a set/box/board combination. These bundle pieces, a board, and a storage box in one purchase.

Examples listed on the site include:

• The Grandmaster Chess Set, Box, & Board Combination — $269.00, marked Free Worldwide Shipping
• The Library Championship Series Chess Set, Box, & Board Combination — listed under Must Have Chess Products with Free Worldwide Shipping

If you want a single purchase that arrives ready to play and store, start with this category. Check the listed king height and board square size before ordering, since combinations pair specific pieces with specific boards.

Individual Chess Pieces

You can buy pieces separately, which is useful if you already own a board or want to upgrade pieces while keeping your current setup. The site's pieces are grouped by series and collection, and listings typically state the king height.

Examples from the homepage:

Several of these carry Free Worldwide Shipping. The Camaratta Collection appears repeatedly as a named line of luxury pieces.

Chess Boards

Boards are sold individually, including premium wooden boards with named materials and square sizes. One example is the Signature Contemporary V Luxury Chess Board — Tiger Ebony / Bird's Eye Maple — 2.5" Squares at $1,049.00 with Free Worldwide Shipping.

When buying a board alone, match the square size to your piece base diameter and king height. A 2.5" square board suits larger pieces; smaller pieces will look and play better on smaller squares.

Chess Boxes and Coffers

Storage is a separate category, including fitted boxes and coffers. Examples include:

• Signature Fitted Coffer Chess Box — Walnut Burl — $795.00, Free Worldwide Shipping
• Premium Chess Box — Brazilian Rosewood — listed under the Premium Chess Boxes collection

If you buy pieces separately, confirm the box is sized for your piece height and count before ordering.

Chess Tables

The site sells furniture-style chess tables, such as The Camaratta Signature Master Chess Table at $795.00. This suits a dedicated playing space rather than portable use.

Travel Chess Sets

For portability, there is the ULTIMATE WOODEN Magnetic Travel Chess Set — 10" at $149.95. Magnetic pieces and a compact board make this the practical choice for travel or playing away from home.

Chess Books and Software

Beyond equipment, the site stocks study and training materials:

• Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual – 6th Edition – HARDCOVER — $49.95
• DOWNLOAD – FRITZ 21 — $80.95 (a software download, not a physical item)

These are useful add-ons if you are buying a set and want training material in the same order.

How to Choose

• Want one ready-to-play purchase: choose a set/box/board combination.
• Already have a board: buy pieces only, matching king height and base size to your board.
• Upgrading storage: buy a fitted box or coffer sized to your pieces.
• Playing on the go: choose the magnetic travel set.
• Setting up a permanent space: consider a chess table.
• Training: add a book or Fritz 21.

Prices shown are those listed on the site at the time of writing; confirm current pricing and shipping terms on each product page before ordering. The site also states it accepts purchase orders, which may matter for institutional buyers.

House of Staunton shows free worldwide shipping on selected products, accepts purchase orders, and lists prices in USD on product pages. Shipping is not presented as a blanket policy for every item, so the reliable check is the product listing itself: the free-shipping label appears on specific pieces, sets, boards, and boxes rather than across the whole catalog.

Free Shipping: What the Listings Show

The free worldwide shipping label appears repeatedly on individual product cards, including:

• The Grandmaster Chess Set, Box, & Board Combination ($269.00)
• The Sultan Series Prestige Chess Pieces, 4.4" King ($1,339.00)
• Signature Fitted Coffer Chess Box, Walnut Burl ($795.00)
• The Zukertort, British Chess Company Imperial, and Congress luxury pieces (each from the Camaratta Collection)
• The Collector Series Luxury Chess Pieces, 4.0" King ($519.00)
• Signature Contemporary V Luxury Chess Board, Tiger Ebony / Bird's Eye Maple, 2.5" squares ($1,049.00)

Not every product carries the label. The Camaratta Signature Master Chess Table ($795.00), the ULTIMATE WOODEN Magnetic Travel Chess Set ($149.95), and the Fritz 21 download ($80.95) are shown without it. Treat free shipping as a per-product benefit and confirm it on the item you intend to buy.

Purchase Orders

The site states "We Accept Purchase Orders!" and maintains a dedicated purchase orders page. This matters if you are buying on behalf of a club, school, or other organization that procures through a PO rather than a card at checkout. The page is the place to start for the process; the site materials do not spell out eligibility terms, so check that page before assuming your organization qualifies.

How Buying Works on the Site

Product cards use two different actions, which tells you something about the item:

If your goal is a quick single-item purchase, items with "Add to cart" are the shortest path. For pieces and boards, expect to open the product page to review options and specifications first.

Prices are listed in USD on the product listings shown, from $49.95 for Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual (6th Edition, hardcover) up to $1,339.00 for the Sultan Series Prestige pieces. The site's own description frames the range as spanning "plastic sets to luxurious heirloom chess sets," so budget and premium tiers sit side by side.

A Practical Ordering Check

Before you commit, run through this on the specific product page:

1. Confirm the free worldwide shipping label is on that item, not just on a neighboring product.
2. Note the listed USD price and whether the card says "Add to cart" or "View details."
3. If paying by purchase order, open the purchase orders page first and follow its instructions rather than the standard cart flow.
4. For combination sets (set, box, and board sold together), check what the combination includes so you are not ordering components twice.

The main pitfall is assuming sitewide free shipping. The evidence supports free shipping on selected products only, so verify per item.

House of Staunton surfaces its featured collections and new arrivals directly on its homepage through several labeled sections: Trending Products, Newest Arrivals, Must Have Chess Products, and Featured Categories. Each section is a horizontal carousel you scroll left or right to browse. Product cards show the item name, price, and either a "View details" link or an "Add to cart" button, so you can move from browsing to buying without leaving the page.

The homepage sections and what each one shows

The homepage organizes products into distinct carousels. Based on the current page content, here is what each section contains:

Many items in these carousels carry a Free Worldwide Shipping label. That label appears on the product card itself, so check each card rather than assuming it applies store-wide.

Named collections to look for

Two collection names appear prominently in the page content and are worth knowing when you browse:

• The Camaratta Collection — a named line of luxury chess pieces. The Killarney Vintage Series (5" King), the Northern Upright (4.5" King), the Zukertort (4.4" King), the British Chess Company Imperial (4.4" King), and The Congress (4.4" King) are all described as coming from this collection.
• The Killarney Vintage Series — a vintage-styled luxury piece line within the Camaratta Collection, headlined by a 5" King set.

If you want pieces from a specific design lineage, start with these names rather than scrolling the full catalog.

How to browse by product type

The site's catalog is structured around four core product types, reflected in its title and category structure: chess sets, chess boards, chess pieces, and chess boxes. The Featured Categories section is the fastest route into each type. From there:

1. Pick the category (for example, chess boxes).
2. Use the collection pages within that category to narrow by style or material — for example, Premium Chess Boxes is a named collection, and individual products like the Premium Chess Box – Brazilian Rosewood sit inside it.
3. Open a product page to see full details, price, and the add-to-cart option.

Beyond the core four, the catalog also includes chess tables (such as The Camaratta Signature Master Chess Table), travel sets, chess software (FRITZ 21), and chess books (Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual).

Reading a product card before you click

Every card in the carousels follows the same pattern, which makes comparison quick:

• Name and series — often includes the king height (e.g., 4.4" King), which is the standard way piece sets are sized.
• Price — shown in USD on the card.
• Action — "View details" for items that need configuration or more information; "Add to cart" for items ready to buy directly.
• Shipping badge — "Free Worldwide Shipping" where applicable.

One practical note: piece sets, boards, and boxes are sold separately in many listings, while some entries are full combinations (set, box, and board together). Check whether a listing is a combination or a single component before buying, since the price difference is substantial — a pieces-only set and a full combination are not the same purchase.

A quick path for different shoppers

• Budget-conscious: start with Trending Products, where the Grandmaster combination ($269.00) and the magnetic travel set ($149.95) sit alongside luxury items.
• Collector or gift buyer: go straight to the Camaratta Collection names and the Must Have section, where pieces run from $519.00 to $1,339.00.
• Just want what's new: the Newest Arrivals carousel is the dedicated feed for recent additions, including non-equipment items like software and books.
• Shopping for a specific component: use Featured Categories to jump to sets, boards, pieces, or boxes, then narrow within that category's collections.

For purchase-order buyers, the site also notes "We Accept Purchase Orders!" — useful if you are buying on behalf of a club or institution.

House of Staunton sells chess products across a wide price span, from a $149.95 wooden magnetic travel set to $1,339 luxury pieces, so the practical way to choose is to set your budget first, then decide whether you want a complete playing setup (pieces, board, and box) or a single upgrade item. Budget buys portability and a complete playable set; luxury buys larger king heights, named piece series, and hardwood craftsmanship meant to last. The store's own catalog shows both ends clearly, and the right pick depends on whether the set will travel, sit in a club, or serve as a display piece.

Start with the intended use, not the price

The catalog is organized around use cases more than around a single "budget vs. luxury" split. Before comparing prices, decide which of these describes you:

• Travel or casual play: a compact set you can pack and carry.
• Regular home or club play: a full-size set with a board you leave out.
• Collecting or display: named series pieces and hardwood boards and boxes.

Each use case maps to a different part of the catalog, and mixing them up is the most common way buyers overspend on the wrong item.

What budget buys at House of Staunton

The lower end of the catalog is still real playing equipment, not a toy tier. Examples from the site:

Two things stand out. First, the $269 Grandmaster combination is the cheapest way on the site to get pieces, box, and board together, and it ships free worldwide. Second, some low-priced items are books or software, so a low price in a search result does not always mean a cheap chess set.

The travel set is the clearest budget pick for portability: 10-inch board, wooden construction, magnetic pieces. It is not a substitute for a full-size set at home.

What luxury buys

Above roughly $500, the catalog shifts to named piece series, larger kings, and hardwood boards and boxes. Examples:

• The Collector Series Luxury Chess Pieces – 4.0" King: $519.00
• The Zukertort Luxury Chess Pieces – 4.4" King (Camaratta Collection): $799.00
• The Congress Luxury Chess Pieces – 4.4" King (Camaratta Collection): $799.00
• The British Chess Company Imperial Luxury Chess Pieces – 4.4" King (Camaratta Collection): $899.00
• Signature Contemporary V Luxury Chess Board – Tiger Ebony / Bird's Eye Maple, 2.5" squares: $1,049.00
• The Sultan Series Prestige Chess Pieces – 4.4" King: $1,339.00
• Signature Fitted Coffer Chess Box – Walnut Burl: $795.00
• The Camaratta Signature Master Chess Table: $795.00

The premium tier also includes the Killarney Vintage Series Luxury Chess Pieces with a 5" king, the largest king height shown on the homepage.

What you are paying for at this level is size (4.0" to 5" kings versus the compact travel set), named designs tied to the Camaratta Collection, and materials such as tiger ebony, bird's eye maple, and walnut burl. Most luxury pieces and boards listed carry free worldwide shipping.

Use king height and series name as your selection criteria

King height is the single most useful number for comparing pieces, because it tells you how the set will look and feel on a board.

• Around 4.0": the entry point to the luxury tier, as with the Collector Series at $519.
• 4.4": the most common luxury size on the site, spanning the Zukertort, Congress, British Chess Company Imperial, and Sultan Series, priced from $799 to $1,339.
• 5": the top of the range, as with the Killarney Vintage Series.

Series names matter because they signal design lineage. Pieces labeled "From the Camaratta Collection" are a distinct family within the catalog, and the same 4.4" king height appears across several series at different prices, so the design and finish, not just the size, drive the cost.

A practical rule: pick the king height that suits your room and board first, then choose the series within that height by design preference and budget.

Match boards, boxes, and combinations for a complete setup

Buying pieces alone leaves you without a board, and buying a board alone leaves you without pieces. The site offers three routes to a complete setup:

1. Buy a combination. The Grandmaster Chess Set, Box, & Board Combination at $269 is the budget route. The Library Championship Series Chess Set, Box, & Board Combination is the luxury route, listed under "Must Have Chess Products."
2. Buy pieces and board separately. For example, the Signature Contemporary V board at $1,049 with 2.5" squares pairs with a 4.4" king set. Check that the square size suits the king height before ordering.
3. Add a box for storage or display. Boxes range from the Signature Fitted Coffer in walnut burl at $795 to the Premium Chess Box in Brazilian Rosewood.

If you want a table rather than a board, the Camaratta Signature Master Chess Table at $795 is a separate option.

A simple decision path

• Under about $300: the Grandmaster combination at $269 if you want a full set, or the $149.95 magnetic travel set if portability matters most.
• Around $500–$900: a 4.0"–4.4" luxury piece set ($519–$899) plus a board, or a luxury combination if you want one purchase.
• $1,000 and up: a 4.4"–5" premium series with a hardwood board such as the Signature Contemporary V, and a fitted box if the set will be stored or displayed.

Common sticking points

• A low price may not be a chess set. Books and software appear alongside sets in the catalog, so confirm the product type before comparing prices.
• Pieces and boards are sold separately at the luxury tier. Budget for both, or choose a combination.
• Free worldwide shipping is marked on many luxury items and the Grandmaster combination, but not on every product. Check the individual product page rather than assuming.
• King height and board square size must agree. A 4.4" king set needs a board with appropriately sized squares, which is why the Signature Contemporary V lists its 2.5" squares explicitly.

For a first set, the Grandmaster combination is the lowest-risk complete purchase. For a set you intend to keep and display, choose a 4.4" Camaratta Collection series and pair it with a hardwood board and fitted box.

House of Staunton is an online chess retailer that sells complete chess sets, individual pieces, boards, storage boxes, and chess-related books and software. Its catalog spans budget-friendly plastic sets up to luxury wooden sets positioned as heirlooms. It is a sensible starting point if you want one store to compare a full range of chess equipment, from a travel set to a display-grade set with a 5" king.

What the store sells

The product mix falls into a few practical groups:

• Chess pieces — sold as standalone sets, often described by king height. Examples on the site include the Killarney Vintage Series (5" king), the Northern Upright (4.5" king), and the Zukertort (4.4" king), several of which are listed as part of the Camaratta Collection.
• Chess boards — including the Signature Contemporary V board in tiger ebony and bird's eye maple with 2.5" squares.
• Complete combinations — set, box, and board bundled together, such as The Grandmaster Chess Set, Box, & Board Combination and The Library Championship Series combination.
• Chess boxes — storage and presentation boxes, including the Signature Fitted Coffer Chess Box in walnut burl and a "Premium Chess Boxes" category.
• Books and software — for example Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual (6th edition, hardcover) and a Fritz 21 download.

The site organizes browsing around sections like Trending Products, Newest Arrivals, Must Have Chess Products, and Featured Categories, so you can start from a price point or a product type.

Price range and what it signals

Listed prices on the homepage give a concrete sense of the spread:

Two things stand out. First, the entry point for a full combination is in the low hundreds, while individual luxury piece sets run into four figures — so "luxury" here is a real tier, not just marketing language. Second, accessories and books sit well below the wooden sets, which makes it feasible to buy a modest set and add reference material separately.

Shipping, payment, and ordering notes

• Free worldwide shipping is flagged on select items, including the Grandmaster combination, the Sultan Series Prestige pieces, the Signature Contemporary V board, and several Camaratta Collection piece sets. Check the individual product page, because the label is applied per item rather than storewide.
• Purchase orders are accepted, according to the site's purchase-orders page. That matters if you are buying on behalf of a club, school, or other organization that pays by PO rather than card.
• The site does not state blanket free shipping or open pricing terms beyond what appears on each listing, so confirm shipping cost and payment method at checkout for anything not labeled.

Named collections worth knowing

The Camaratta Collection appears repeatedly across piece sets in the $799–$899 range and includes the 5" Killarney Vintage Series. The Signature line covers boards and boxes, such as the Contemporary V board and the Fitted Coffer box. If you are matching pieces to a board, these names help you stay within a consistent style and scale — for example, pairing a 4.4" king set with a board whose square size suits it.

How to decide whether to shop here

Use House of Staunton if you want:

• A single retailer covering pieces, boards, boxes, and chess literature.
• A clear step-up path from a $150 travel set to a four-figure wooden set.
• Free worldwide shipping on the specific item you want, or the ability to pay by purchase order.

Look elsewhere first if you only need an inexpensive plastic club set and nothing else, or if you require confirmed shipping terms on an item that is not marked for free shipping — in that case, verify the cost before ordering rather than assuming it is included.