How to Send a Large or Oversized Package in the UK

Measure before you book

Share length, width, height and weight. Oversized items may need a van rather than a car, and pallet freight may be cheaper than multiple awkward parcels for heavier goods. Get a courier quote or see Pallet delivery.

Weigh honestly — “about 40 kilos” that turns out to be 70 creates real problems when a driver arrives without a tail-lift or a second pair of hands. Bathroom scales plus a tape measure beat guesswork every time.

It also helps to say what the item is, not just its size. A gym bench, a roll of carpet and a server rack may share dimensions but need very different vehicles, securing points and handling care.

Access matters as much as size

Mention stairs, lifts, loading bays and parking restrictions. A failed collection wastes the day — especially on same-day bookings.

At the delivery end, think one step beyond the kerb. “Delivered” can mean goods-in entrance, ground-floor doorway or room of choice depending on what you booked — aligning that with your recipient avoids a heavy item stranded in a car park.

Timing matters for big items too. Sites with loading bays often have booking slots, and residential streets are easier before school-run traffic. Share any constraints when you book so the route is planned around them.

• Accurate dimensions and weight
• Whether a tail-lift or two-person lift is needed
• Collection and delivery access notes

Packing and protecting oversized goods

Large items rarely fit standard cartons, so protection becomes about padding the vulnerable points: corners, screens, polished surfaces and protruding fittings. Blankets, corner guards and shrink wrap do most of the work.

Remove or secure anything that can swing, slide or detach — doors, drawers, loose shelves and cables. Damage on oversized items usually comes from movement, not impact, so immobilising the item inside and out is the priority.

If the item is going on a pallet, keep the load inside the pallet footprint and wrap from the base upward. Overhanging edges are where forklift damage happens.

Cost factors for big deliveries

Price is driven by vehicle class, load space occupied, weight, distance and any extra services like two-person crews or timed slots. Because big items leave less room for consolidation, being flexible on timing can unlock noticeably better rates.

If you ship bulky goods regularly, mention your typical profile when you request a quote. Standing arrangements for weekly bulky runs are far more economical than booking each one as a surprise.

AGS Traders options

From van courier runs to pallet and freight transport, AGS Traders moves larger loads across London and the UK. Start with a quote and we will recommend the right vehicle class.

For palletised goods, we can advise whether your item is better wrapped and strapped to a pallet or moved as a loose large item — the right answer changes both price and handling risk.

Awkward one-offs are welcome too. Furniture, machinery, exhibition stands and shop fittings all move regularly with our larger vehicles; the quote process simply starts with honest dimensions and a photo if you have one.

Frequently asked questions