Large item courier UK — for everything a parcel network refuses
Parcel networks have a size limit, a weight limit and a conveyor belt. We have a van, straps, blankets and a driver who stays with your item from collection to delivery, with no depot or hub transfers.
That is what makes large, heavy and awkward items work: sofas, wardrobes, appliances, mobility equipment, fish tanks, garden machinery, exercise equipment, display units, machinery parts and the one-off items nobody else will quote for.
Collection and delivery are required — a town, city or postcode is enough.
What counts as a large item
- Sofas, corner suites, armchairs, mattresses, beds, wardrobes and dining tables
- Fridge-freezers, American fridges, washing machines, dryers, ranges and dishwashers
- Mobility scooters, wheelchairs, hoists and riser-recliner chairs
- Fish tanks and aquariums (drained and emptied before collection)
- Treadmills, multi-gyms, spin bikes and weight stacks
- Ride-on mowers, garden machinery, tool chests and workshop equipment
- Shop fittings, display cabinets, exhibition stands and machinery parts
Access is the thing that decides the price
Nearly every difficult large-item job comes down to access rather than weight. Stairs, narrow hallways, tight turns on landings, low ceilings, doors that must come off their hinges, lifts that are out of service, restricted parking and gated estates all change the crew and the time required.
Tell us about the access at both ends when you ask for the price — floor level, number of stairs, doorway widths for the tightest point and where the van can legally stop. If access is worse than described on the day, the driver may not be able to complete the delivery, and a wasted journey is chargeable.
One person or two
As a rule of thumb, anything over about 40kg, anything that cannot be carried by one person safely, and anything going above ground floor level needs a two-person crew. The uplift is quoted based on the specific job requirements.
Booking a single driver for a two-person item does not save money; it usually means the item stays where it is. We would rather quote it properly.
What we do not offer
We are honest about our limits so you do not book the wrong service. We do not operate a pallet network, hazardous-goods (ADR) transport, temperature-controlled or pharmaceutical-grade vehicles, airside handling, cranes, hoists or piano stair-machines.
We do not dismantle or install appliances, disconnect gas or plumbing, or carry out electrical work. Flat-pack furniture is moved, not assembled, unless a separate assembly quote has been agreed in writing.
What it costs
Prices follow the vehicle needed: small van from £1.45 per mile with a £65 minimum, short-wheelbase from £1.60 per mile (£70 minimum), medium-wheelbase from £1.75 per mile (£75), long-wheelbase from £1.95 per mile (£85), extra-long from £2.15 per mile (£95) and a Luton box van from £2.40 per mile with a £115 minimum.
Choose same-day when it has to move today, or flexible with a date window for a lower price. There are no fuel surcharges bolted on afterwards.
Cover for large items in transit
The allocated driver holds driver goods-in-transit cover normally up to £5,000, while Taylors Courier Service Ltd's contractual liability is capped separately at £250 under our Terms and Conditions. These are two different things and the driver's cover is not a guaranteed payout.
Cover is subject to policy terms, exclusions, adequate packaging, declared value, evidence of value and the claims procedure. If the item is worth more than £5,000, say so before collection so additional insurance can be arranged.
How to get a price
Put both postcodes into the quote box above for an instant figure, or send the details on WhatsApp and we will confirm the vehicle, crew and price in writing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a large item courier?
A dedicated van service for items too big, heavy or awkward for parcel networks — furniture, appliances, mobility equipment, gym equipment and one-off oversized items. Your item travels in one vehicle with one driver, rather than being sorted through depots.
How much does large item delivery cost in the UK?
It depends on distance and vehicle. Small van work starts from £1.45 per mile with a £65 minimum job; a Luton box van from £2.40 per mile with a £115 minimum. A two-person crew adds quoted based on the requirements.
Will you carry the item upstairs?
Yes, where access allows and a two-person crew has been quoted. Tell us the floor level, stair count and the narrowest doorway at both ends so the job is priced and crewed correctly.
Do you dismantle furniture or appliances?
No. We do not dismantle or reassemble furniture, disconnect appliances, or carry out gas, plumbing or electrical work. Pool tables are the exception and have their own specialist service.
What is the heaviest item you can take?
Practically, a Luton box van with a tail lift covers most single items up to around 1,300kg total payload. We do not operate cranes, hoists or heavy plant equipment, so anything needing lifting gear is outside our service.
Can you collect from a shop, auction or warehouse?
Yes. Give us the reference, the collection window the site requires and any site rules. We photograph the item on loading so its condition on collection is recorded.