Shipping Bulky Goods — safely packed, transported insured
Bulky goods — anything too long, too heavy or too awkwardly shaped for the parcel service — are shipped by Logisticoo as palletised general cargo or by direct transport, with a fixed-price quote in 30 minutes instead of opaque surcharges. Typical candidates: furniture and mattresses, carpets and ladders, bathtubs, workbenches, sports equipment, bumpers or machine parts. Depending on the service, the limits of the parcel networks lie at around 120 cm in length, 31.5 kg in weight and 300 cm girth — beyond that, damage rates and costs rise sharply, because awkward items cannot run on the conveyor belt and are thrown by hand rather than rolled. Our answer is unspectacular and effective: every bulky item goes onto a suitable pallet (up to 6 m long on long-goods carriers), is cushioned, wrapped and stowed in a tight, positive fit. You receive a notified time slot and, on request, delivery with a tail lift to private addresses. Your personal dispatcher calculates on real dimensions — from 147 German cities, across Europe to 55 countries, and by express direct transport with no transhipment when time is tight.
Packaging & load securing
We palletise every item on the appropriate pallet size, cushion edges and overhangs with cardboard angles and foam, shrink-wrap the unit and lash it down over edge protectors. Long goods travel on long-goods pallets with at least two bearing points; in the vehicle, a positive fit and anti-slip mat to VDI 2700 apply.
What matters
- Measure all three dimensions plus weight, don't estimate — overhangs count
- No shrinking the figures: incorrect details lead to rebooking and waiting time at the ramp
- Mark tip- and pressure-sensitive goods ("this way up", "do not stack")
- For private delivery, order a tail lift as well and state the access (height, tightness)
- Palletising several bulky items together saves line items and money
Or call us directly: +49 30 346 467 850
When a shipment counts as bulky goods — dimensions and vehicle
Bulky goods are anything too long, too heavy or too awkwardly shaped for the parcel service. Depending on the service, the limits of the parcel networks lie at around 120 cm in length, 31.5 kg in weight and 300 cm girth — beyond that, damage rates and costs rise sharply, because awkward items cannot run on the conveyor belt. Typical candidates: furniture and mattresses, carpets and ladders, bathtubs, workbenches, sports equipment or machine parts. Individual items travel as general cargo in a Sprinter van or 7.5 t truck, long goods up to 6 m on long-goods carriers, several together as a part load, and urgent single items as a direct transport. Voluminous but light goods we calculate by loading metre rather than by weight.
Palletise, cushion, stow in a positive fit
Our answer is unspectacular and effective: every item goes onto a suitable pallet size, edges and overhangs are cushioned with cardboard angles and foam, the unit is shrink-wrapped and lashed down over edge protectors. Long goods travel on long-goods pallets with at least two bearing points to prevent sagging. In the vehicle, a positive fit and anti-slip mat to VDI 2700 apply, so that the item neither tips nor shifts. We mark tip- and pressure-sensitive goods with "this way up" and "do not stack" and, where needed, palletise them with a top board. Wherever possible, we combine several bulky items onto a single pallet — this saves line items and money.
How to ship bulky goods with Logisticoo
- You measure all three dimensions plus weight — overhangs count — and tell us the locations.
- We compare general cargo, part load and direct transport and give you a fixed-price quote in 30 minutes.
- The item is palletised, cushioned and wrapped, long goods on long-goods carriers.
- Collection in one of 147 cities, nationwide including private addresses with a tail lift.
- Secured transport with a notified time slot.
- Delivery to the kerbside, or on request with two people to the point of use, internationally to 55 countries. When time is tight we run an express direct transport with no transhipment; your dispatcher calculates on real dimensions.
What does shipping bulky goods cost?
You receive a fixed price upfront instead of opaque surcharges; as a guide, the rule-of-thumb rates (±15%) are: Sprinter van around €1.10/km (from €89), 7.5 t truck around €1.45/km (from €169). A single pallet runs as a part load, an inexpensive single line item, with short distances at the minimum price from €89. A bulky piece of furniture by direct transport from Dortmund to Frankfurt (around 220 km) works out in the Sprinter van at about €1.10/km, so roughly €240. Voluminous, light goods we charge by loading metre. The main cost drivers are oversizes, private delivery with a tail lift, and urgent direct transports.
Bulky goods, vehicle and loading
| Type / weight | Example | Vehicle | Loading without ramp |
|---|---|---|---|
| up to 1 pallet / up to 300 kg | Furniture, workbench | Euro pallet, general cargo | pallet truck / tail lift |
| long, up to 6 m | Ladder, carpet, profiles | Long-goods pallet, general cargo | manual / pallet truck |
| voluminous / light | Mattress, kayak | by loading metre, part load | tail lift |
| urgent / sensitive | time-critical single item | Sprinter / truck direct transport | tail lift |
Shipping methods compared
| Shipping method | When it makes sense | Transit time | Cost level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part load (consolidated) | a single item, flexible on timing | a few days (consolidated run) | cheapest option |
| Part load (LTL) | several bulky items or loading metres | 1–2 days | medium |
| Direct transport (FTL) | urgent, sensitive or full load | same / next day, no transhipment | higher, but fast |
| Express Sprinter van | smaller item, immediate | a few hours | km-based, from €89 |
Frequently asked questions
When does a shipment count as bulky goods?
As soon as it exceeds the parcel services' standards — as guide values: over 120 cm in length, over 31.5 kg, girth over 300 cm, or a non-conveyable shape (roll, tyre, unpackaged goods). With us there are no penalty surcharges for this, but a calculated pallet position with a fixed price.
Are bulky goods also delivered to private addresses?
Yes, nationwide with a tail-lift vehicle and advance notification by phone. The standard is delivery to the kerbside; carrying to the point of use with two people is available on request. Honest details about the access and unloading point are important.
What does shipping bulky goods cost?
A palletised single shipment runs as a part load, an inexpensive single line item, with short distances at the minimum price from €89. We calculate direct transports from around €1.10/km in the Sprinter van (±15%); a piece of furniture Dortmund–Frankfurt thus works out at about €240. Voluminous, light goods we charge by loading metre — dimensions and postcodes are enough for your fixed-price quote in 30 minutes.
What does billing by loading metre mean?
For voluminous but light goods, what counts is not the weight but the space occupied on the load area. One loading metre corresponds to one metre of load-area length across the full width. This way you pay for the space actually taken up rather than a flat-rate bulky-goods surcharge.
Do you also transport excessively long goods?
Yes, up to 6 m in length on long-goods carriers with at least two bearing points to prevent sagging. Ladders, carpets, pipes and profiles we secure in a positive fit and with edge protection. State the exact length including overhangs, and the right carrier will be ready.