Top 5 Couriers for Bulky Deliveries in Belgium: Comparison Guide

TL;DR:
Belgium’s bulky-delivery market is best approached by service archetype rather than brand name alone.
The five models below cover nearly all needs: (1) White-glove specialists, (2) National LTL/groupage networks, (3) Regional set-day rounds, (4) Dedicated express vans, and (5) Hybrid providers like Record Express that combine consolidation with two-person final mile.
Choose by SKU fragility, access constraints, and required SLA.
Track four KPIs: first-time success, on-time delivery, cost per stop, and damage rate.

Want lane-specific advice? Contact Record Express.

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Key figures at a glance

Domestic two-person bulky: €65–€120 per stop (typical)

First-time success target: ≥ 95%

Damage rate target: ≤ 1.0% for fragile SKUs

Pilot window: 6–8 weeks per region

How to compare bulky couriers without the brand noise

Most Belgian retailers and SMEs discover the same thing: price lists look similar, but execution makes the difference.
Before you shortlist providers, decide which service archetype fits your SKUs and lanes.
Then benchmark providers within that archetype on delivery rhythm, crew skill, and evidence (scan chain + photo POD), not just €/stop.

• Volume & density: How many stops can a route serve in your postcode mix?
• Fragility & handling: Do your items need two-person, room-of-choice, or assembly?
• Access: Stairs, no parking, lifts, narrow streets—urban Belgium punishes the unprepared.
• Customer promise: Next-day for a subset, set-day for the majority is often the sweet spot.
• Evidence: Photos at pick, load, and delivery; electronic POD; root-cause notes on exceptions.

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The 5 courier archetypes for bulky goods in Belgium

Below we summarise five common models you can actually buy in Belgium.
Each has strengths and trade-offs.
Use the tables to map your SKUs and lanes to the right fit, then run a short pilot.

Archetype	Best for	Typical SLA	Pros	Watch-outs
1) White-glove specialists	Premium furniture, fragile items, assembly required	3–7 working days, 2–4 hr slots	Lowest damage, high CSAT, in-room placement, packaging removal	Higher €/stop, longer dwell per delivery; needs set-day rounds
2) National LTL / groupage networks	Palletised bulky SKUs across BE & Benelux	2–5 working days domestic/Benelux	Great coverage, daily linehauls, solid price per kg	Kerbside bias; upgrades to two-person may be limited
3) Regional set-day rounds	Dense urban postcodes; repeat B2C flows	Set day by postcode; 2–4 hr slots	High first-time success, predictable routes, good €/stop	Lower flexibility outside set days; needs cut-off discipline
4) Dedicated express vans	Urgent, high-value, or time-critical installs	Next-day or 24–48h	Fastest option, direct routing, minimal handling	Highest €/stop; use sparingly to avoid budget creep
5) Hybrid provider (Record Express)	Mixed baskets (robust + fragile), national + cross-border	2–4 days BE; 3–6 days Benelux/EU, with white-glove upgrade	Consolidated trunking + two-person final mile; photo-POD; appointment booking	Requires good access data at checkout to keep dwell tight

Direct answer: Most SMEs do best with a hybrid mix—set-day rounds for the bulk of orders, white-glove for fragile SKUs, and a small express budget for exceptions.

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Scorecard: pick the right archetype for each lane

Use this simple scoring model to shortlist providers inside the right archetype.
Weight factors by your priorities (example weights shown).

Criterion	Description	Weight	Scoring tip
First-time success	% delivered on first attempt	30%	Ask for last 8 weeks by postcode tier
Damage rate	Claims / deliveries	25%	Split by service level (kerbside vs white-glove)
On-time delivery	% within booked window	20%	Check urban vs regional performance
Cost per stop	€/completed stop (like-for-like)	15%	Price after density assumptions, not list rates
Evidence & visibility	Photo POD, scan chain, exception notes	10%	Request sample dashboards + anonymised PODs

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What each archetype costs (and when it pays back)

Pricing varies with stop density, service level, and access.
Use the bands below for budgeting; refine after a short pilot.

Archetype	Indicative €/stop (BE)	When it pays back	Risk to watch
White-glove specialists	€110–€180	Fragile SKUs; reduces returns & damage credits	Thin rounds → high dwell → rising cost
LTL / groupage networks	€65–€110 (doorway/kerbside)	Palletised flows; frequent multi-drop	Limited in-home options; add two-person carefully
Regional set-day rounds	€70–€120	Urban postcodes; appointment success ≥ 95%	Poor access data → waiting time charges
Dedicated express vans	€150–€300+	High-value or deadline-critical jobs	Overuse inflates monthly spend
Hybrid provider (Record Express)	€65–€150 (by service level)	Mixed baskets; consolidation + two-person	Requires cut-off discipline to maximise fill

Worked example: Brussels + Antwerp

Switching from ad-hoc next-day to two set-day rounds increased stop density from 5 to 8 per route.
Cost per stop fell from ~€112 to ~€80 and first-time success rose from 89% to 97%.
White-glove was applied only to high-risk SKUs, cutting claims under 1%.

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Urban vs regional: which archetype wins where?

• Urban cores (Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent): Set-day rounds or hybrid services with van crews outperform heavy trucks. Appointment slots are non-negotiable.
• Regional Belgium: Groupage trunking to a local hub plus two-person van final mile keeps €/stop predictable.
• Benelux cross-border: Hybrid or LTL models excel; protect cut-offs to avoid pushing routes a day.

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Record Express vs the other archetypes

Area	Record Express (Hybrid)	Typical white-glove specialist	Typical LTL / groupage
Service mix	Consolidated trunk + two-person final mile; room-of-choice optional	Two-person + assembly as standard	Kerbside; in-home only where upgraded locally
Speed pattern	Set-day rounds; 2–4 days BE, 3–6 Benelux/EU	3–7 days; premium windows	2–5 days; cut-off dependent
Evidence	Photo POD + scan chain as standard	Often photo POD; varies by partner	Network scans; photo POD not universal
Where it shines	Mixed baskets, urban access, fragile items in same network	Premium installs, high-touch CX	Palletised, repeat B2B/B2C multi-drop

Takeaway: If your catalogue spans robust and fragile SKUs, one hybrid partner usually beats juggling multiple providers.

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How to run a fair pilot (and get real numbers)

1. Pick one region + 2 SKUs: A fragile line (e.g., premium sofa) and a robust line.
2. Set two departure days: Publish cut-offs on site and order portal.
3. Collect access data: Stairs, parking, lift size, floor—during checkout.
4. Measure four KPIs: First-time success, on-time delivery, €/stop, damage rate.
5. Photo evidence: Require photos at load and delivery; sample 100% in week 1.
6. Decision in week 6–8: Keep, scale, or switch archetype by lane.

FAQ-style checks before you sign

• Can the provider show last-8-week on-time and first-time success by postcode tier?
• Do they offer two-person crews and room-of-choice where needed?
• Is photo-POD standard and retrievable by order number?
• How do they handle stairs/long carry and evening/Saturday slots?
• What’s the redelivery policy and price?

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KPIs to compare providers apples-to-apples

KPI	Target	How to calculate	Notes
First-time success	≥ 95%	Delivered on first attempt ÷ total orders	Appointment + SMS ETA = biggest lever
On-time delivery	≥ 95% domestic; ≥ 92% Benelux/EU	Within booked day/window ÷ delivered	Split urban vs regional
Damage rate	≤ 1.0% fragile SKUs	Claims ÷ deliveries	Track by service level
Cost per stop	Down 10–20% post set-day batching	Total delivery spend ÷ completed stops	Include accessorials to avoid surprises

Shortlist help?

We’ll map your lanes to the right archetype and run a clean 6–8 week pilot.
Speak with our team.

FAQ

Why not just pick the cheapest list rate?

Because €/stop without density, access and first-time success assumptions hides the real monthly cost. Pilot with clear rules, then compare providers.

Can one provider handle both fragile and robust items?

Yes—hybrid models combine consolidated trunking with two-person final mile and white-glove upgrades for specific SKUs.

How fast can bulky deliveries be?

Domestic Belgium can run in 2–4 working days with set-day rounds. Use express vans for the few urgent jobs that justify the extra cost.

What cuts redeliveries the most?

Appointment booking with 2–4 hour windows, SMS ETAs, and access data captured at checkout.

What’s a fair starting budget?

For mainstream two-person deliveries, plan €65–€120 per stop, then add accessorials only when needed (stairs, evening, assembly).

Need more details?

For lane-specific options and pricing, contact Record Express.
This guide avoids external links by design.