A courier service for big, heavy and awkward parcels
Our parcel delivery service takes items up to 150kg and 6.5m. Every consignment is priced on its own, from the cost of its journey plus our margin, with fuel included. Any regional surcharge and add-on is shown as its own line before you pay.
Sending regularly? Contracted rates can be up to 80% lower. Apply for an account.
Services
Find the right service
Large itemsBig boxes, cartons and long, heavy or bulky goods up to 150kg, priced on size or weight.
Next day courierCollected from your door, delivered by 6pm on the next working day.
Business courierOne account for your team, weekly invoicing once verified, rate cards and CSV batch.
CollectionLater today, your area day, next working day or any weekday in the next 30 days.
Two-person deliveryTwo crew carry heavy and bulky goods into the room your recipient chooses.
Northern Ireland, Highlands and islandsSurcharge zones, postcodes and extra days for remote areas, set out in full.- Long parcel deliveryTubes, pipes, timber and rolls up to 6.5m long, priced on size or weight.
Heavy parcel deliveryMachinery parts, engines and gym kit up to 150kg per item.
Bike courierBoxed bikes, frames and wheels, collected from your shop and tracked to your customer.
Oversized and awkward itemsDoors, panels, display stands, signs and crated one-offs that won't box neatly.
Service levels
How long delivery takes
Two service levels, both collected from your door and tracked to theirs. Collections run Monday to Friday, and delivery is counted from the collection day.
Next working day
Next working day by 6pm
Remote zones: 2 to 3 working days to or from a remote zone.
Economy
2 to 3 working days after collection
Remote zones: 3 to 5 working days to or from a remote zone.
No timed slots: delivery can arrive any time up to 6pm on the day. Get an instant price to see both side by side before you book.
Economy
Economy, for when a day or two doesn't matter
Economy is delivered 2 to 3 working days after collection, or 3 to 5 working days to or from a remote zone. It costs less than Next working day, and the same limits apply: up to 150kg and 6.5m per item, priced on size or weight, whichever is greater, with fuel included.
Choose it on the booking page and you see it next to Next working day, so you can compare before you book.
Next working day: By 6pm on day 1
Economy: Day 2 or 3
Collection
You choose when we collect
Later today
Costs moreBook before 12 noon on a weekday and we collect between 1pm and 6pm the same day, in mainland Great Britain outside the remote zones.
Your area day
Costs lessThe day we already collect in your postcode district. Choose it for your collection and you pay less.
Next working day or pick a day
Standard priceAny weekday in the next 30 days, between 9am and 5pm. Regular collections can be set up on your account.
Costs more costs moreStandard price standard priceCosts less costs lessThe exact amount is shown in your price before you book.
More on each option in courier collection.
How pricing works
The cost of the journey, plus our margin
We price each consignment on its own. We work out what its journey costs: collection, the trip between the two addresses and delivery. Then we add our margin. Fuel and the handling of heavy or bulky items are included, so there is no fuel surcharge or oversize line.
For each item we work out its volumetric weight: length x width x height in centimetres, divided by 5000. We compare that with its actual weight and use whichever is greater. Heavier and bulkier consignments cost more because they take more space in the van and more handling. One consignment can be up to one van load: 1,000kg and 15 cubic metres.
Then your collection choice adds its premium or saving, any regional surcharge and add-on is listed, and VAT is added at payment. Prices shown exclude VAT unless stated.
Worked example
A 60 x 50 x 40cm carton weighing 8kg
- Volumetric
- 60 x 50 x 40 = 120,000 cm³ ÷ 5000 = 24kg
- Actual
- 8kg
- Chargeable
- 24kg (the greater)
- Priced on
- 24kg, its size and its journey, fuel included
- Then
- collection premium or saving, any regional surcharge and add-ons, VAT 20%
A light but bulky carton is priced on the space it takes in the van, which is why the quote shows both weights.
Surcharges and add-ons
Regional surcharges and add-ons
Some areas cost more to reach. A regional surcharge applies for each end of the journey (collection or delivery) in one of these zones, and shows as its own line in your price before you book.
Highlands
Rate cardIV, KW1 to KW14, and parts of PH and PA
Extra time: 1 to 2 extra working days
Scottish islands
Rate cardHS, ZE, KW15 to KW17, and island districts of PA, PH, IV and KA
Extra time: 1 to 2 extra working days
Northern Ireland
Rate cardBT
Extra time: 1 to 2 extra working days
Isle of Man
Rate cardIM
Extra time: 1 to 2 extra working days
Isles of Scilly
Rate cardTR21 to TR25
Extra time: 1 to 2 extra working days
Isle of Wight
Rate cardPO30 to PO41
Extra time: 1 to 2 extra working days
North-east Scotland
Rate cardAB, DD, PH1 to PH16
Extra time: none
Cornwall
Rate cardTR, parts of PL, EX23
Extra time: none
| Zone | Postcodes | Extra time | Per end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highlands | IV, KW1 to KW14, and parts of PH and PA | 1 to 2 extra working days | Rate card |
| Scottish islands | HS, ZE, KW15 to KW17, and island districts of PA, PH, IV and KA | 1 to 2 extra working days | Rate card |
| Northern Ireland | BT | 1 to 2 extra working days | Rate card |
| Isle of Man | IM | 1 to 2 extra working days | Rate card |
| Isles of Scilly | TR21 to TR25 | 1 to 2 extra working days | Rate card |
| Isle of Wight | PO30 to PO41 | 1 to 2 extra working days | Rate card |
| North-east Scotland | AB, DD, PH1 to PH16 | None | Rate card |
| Cornwall | TR, parts of PL, EX23 | None | Rate card |
If both ends are in the same place in one zone, for example both in Northern Ireland or both on the Isle of Wight, it is charged once. Later today collection isn't available in remote zones: the Highlands, Scottish islands, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly and Isle of Wight. More on Northern Ireland, the Highlands and islands.
Surcharge amounts come with your rate card
Apply for an account and we send a rate card with every amount set out. Booking a one-off? Any surcharge for your postcodes is shown as its own line in your price before you book.
Add-ons and charges
Each has a set charge. Anything you choose at booking is in your price before you pay. A charge after collection only applies for a second failed delivery attempt, or an item bigger or heavier than declared.
Two-person delivery
Costs moreOptional. Two crew carry the goods into the room your recipient chooses, rather than to the door or kerb. It has a set charge per consignment, shown in your price before you book.
Redelivery
Costs moreThe first redelivery is free. A redelivery charge applies from the second failed attempt, and it is charged to the sender, never the recipient.
Re-measure correction
Costs moreIf an item turns out bigger or heavier than declared, the consignment is re-priced at the actual size and weight and the difference is charged. Measure and weigh before you book to avoid it.
Regular senders
Bespoke rate cards
The prices at booking are ad hoc rates for one-off deliveries. If you send regularly, an agreed rate card can be up to 80% lower. Tell us when you apply: how often, the sizes and weights, where it goes and the services you use.
We price a card for each service and distance band: a price per consignment up to a set weight, then a rate per kg and per extra item above that. Regional surcharges are added as normal and fuel is included.
We check your real consignments against what you told us and adjust the card. Price cuts apply at once. Any rise comes with 30 days' notice.
New to Tuffnells?
Apply to become a customer. We review every application and come back with a rate card.
Apply nowAlready a customer?
Apply from Account, then Rates. Owners and admins can apply.
Apply from your accountCover and claims
Cover as standard, claims from your account
Included cover
Included in the priceEvery consignment includes standard cover against loss or damage, with nothing to add at booking.
Enhanced cover
Costs moreDeclare the goods' value when you book to cover more. The charge is based on the value you declare and is shown in your price before you pay.
Making a claim
Raise a claim from the consignment in your account, with photos of the damage, the packaging and the label. You see every update in your account.
Tuffnells accounts are earned, not opened
Get an instant price now, or apply for an account for contracted rates. Customers get labels, templates, an address book and, once verified, weekly invoicing.
Questions
Services FAQ
What is a courier service?
A courier service collects goods from one address and delivers them to another, tracking each item on the way. Ours collects from your door and delivers to the address you give, for single items up to 150kg and 6.5m long, with the price shown before you book.
What does IDW mean?
IDW stands for irregular dimensions and weight. It's what couriers call items too long, heavy or awkwardly shaped for a standard parcel network, such as pipes, timber, furniture and machinery parts. We take them as standard, up to 150kg and 6.5m per item. Our long parcel delivery and oversized item pages cover them in detail.
Which service should I choose?
Next working day delivers by 6pm on the working day after collection and suits most trade and B2B deliveries. Economy is our lowest price when a day or two doesn't matter, delivered 2 to 3 working days after collection. Remote zones take longer on both.
How is my price worked out?
Each consignment is priced on its own, from what its journey costs us (collection, transport and delivery) plus our margin. Fuel and the handling of heavy or bulky items are included, so there are no separate lines for them.
How is chargeable weight worked out?
For each item we take the greater of its actual weight and its volumetric weight (length x width x height in cm, divided by 5000). Heavier and bulkier consignments cost more because they take more space in the van and more handling. One consignment can be up to one van load: 1,000kg and 15 cubic metres.
What surcharges can apply?
A regional surcharge for each end of the journey in some areas, such as the Highlands, the islands, Northern Ireland and Cornwall. Then any add-ons you choose: a later today collection, two-person delivery or enhanced cover. Every line is shown in your price before you pay. After collection, a redelivery charge applies only from the second failed attempt, and the price is corrected if an item is bigger or heavier than declared.
Can I get my own rates?
Yes. Tell us what you send when you apply. We review every application and come back with a rate card for each service and distance band, with every surcharge amount set out. We check your real consignments against what you told us and adjust the card: price cuts apply at once, and any rise comes with 30 days' notice.
What cover is included?
Every consignment includes standard cover against loss or damage, with nothing to add. Declare a higher value when you book to add enhanced cover: the charge is based on the value you declare and is shown in your price before you pay.
How do I make a claim?
Raise a claim from the consignment in your account, with photos of the damage, the packaging and the label. You see every update in your account.
Long, heavy or awkward? See long parcel delivery and oversized and awkward items, or read how to send a large parcel.