White Glove Delivery in Australia: What It Is and When to Use It

Oct 2, 2025
White Glove Delivery in Australia: What It Is and When to Use It

If you’ve ever carried a fridge up a narrow staircase or unpacked a TV damaged in transit, you know why white glove delivery matters. This premium service goes beyond a simple drop-off. Instead, items are carefully placed in the room you want, set up, and made ready to use.

In this article, we’ll break down what white glove delivery is, when it makes sense, how it differs from standard shipping, and what to expect when booking it in Australia’s major cities.

What Is White Glove Delivery?

White glove delivery is a specialised service designed for items that need extra care, such as fragile, bulky, or high-value goods. Unlike standard couriers who leave packages at your front door, white glove delivery means items are transported, unpacked, placed in the right room, and even assembled or installed if required.

Typical inclusions are:

  • Careful handling of delicate, oversized items, or high-value goods
  • Delivery to the exact room of choice
  • Assembly or installation of furniture, appliances, or equipment
  • Removal of packaging and rubbish

This level of service is ideal for both households and businesses. Whether it’s moving a fridge into a kitchen, setting up office furniture, or installing electronics, white glove delivery ensures items are ready to use. In Australia, demand for this white glove delivery service is growing, with providers available across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide.

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What Does White Glove Delivery Include?

White glove delivery provides more than just transport. It covers the full experience from the moment goods are collected to the point they are ready to use in your home or business.

Here are the main inclusions explained in detail.

Careful Handling

Fragile or valuable items, such as glass tables, medical devices, or artwork, are handled using protective equipment and trained techniques to reduce the risk of scratches or breakage.

Room-of-Choice Delivery

Instead of stopping at the front door, the delivery team places items exactly where you want them: sofas in the lounge, fridges in the kitchen, or desks in the office, saving you the effort of moving heavy goods yourself.

Assembly and Setup

Many large items arrive flat-packed or require installation. White glove delivery teams provide assembly services such as putting together beds, installing washing machines, or connecting televisions. This ensures items are ready to use without the hassle of instructions or tools.

Packaging Disposal

All packaging materials: cardboard, plastic, and foam, are taken away, leaving your home or office clean and clutter-free.

When Should You Use White Glove Delivery?

You don’t need white glove delivery for small everyday parcels, but there are many situations where it makes perfect sense. Consider this service when:

  1. Fragile or expensive items: Products such as artwork, home theatre systems, or medical equipment require specialised handling to avoid costly damage.
  2. Bulky goods: Large appliances like fridges, washing machines, or heavy office furniture are difficult to carry and position without help.
  3. Premium shopping experiences: Luxury retailers and high-end e-commerce stores often offer white glove delivery to match the value of their products.

For businesses, especially retailers, white glove delivery also helps reduce product returns and improve customer satisfaction, since goods arrive safely and are set up correctly the first time.

In these cases, the peace of mind and time saved often justify the extra cost.

White Glove Delivery vs Standard Delivery

Choosing between white glove delivery and standard delivery depends on how much support you need beyond a basic drop-off. Standard delivery works well for everyday parcels, but it can fall short when handling fragile, bulky, or high-value items. 

White glove delivery fills that gap by offering extra services designed to protect goods and save time.

For individuals or businesses moving valuable or oversized goods, the extra protection and convenience often make white glove delivery the smarter option.

How Much Does White Glove Delivery Cost in Australia?

There is no single fixed price for white glove delivery in Australia, as costs vary depending on several factors. The price you’ll pay depends on the item, the distance, and the level of service required.

Key factors include:

  • Size and weight of goods: Heavier and larger items require more labour and equipment.
  • Distance: Metro deliveries are generally cheaper than those going to regional or remote areas.
  • Level of service: Basic handling is more affordable, while full assembly and installation add to the cost.

As a general guide, small furniture delivery within Sydney may start from around $150, while full-service appliance delivery and installation can cost more depending on the complexity. These figures are only indicative, as every booking is different.

With Couriers & Freight, customers can compare quotes across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide to find the right balance between price and service.

White Glove Delivery Across Major Cities

White glove delivery is widely used across Australia’s largest cities, with each location presenting different challenges and customer needs.

Alt text: A male delivery worker, wearing protective glasses, is setting up a piece of furniture in an apartment.

Sydney

Sydney’s high-rise apartments and narrow access points make moving large items difficult. White glove delivery ensures bulky appliances and fragile goods are safely transported into spaces that are hard to reach. Retailers and office fit-out companies also use this service to guarantee safe and timely deliveries.

Melbourne

Melbourne’s reputation as Australia’s design and furniture hub drives demand for premium delivery. From high-end furniture showrooms to local e-commerce brands, businesses rely on white glove delivery to protect valuable goods and maintain customer satisfaction. Healthcare providers and galleries also use the service to safeguard sensitive equipment and artwork.

Brisbane

Brisbane’s growing e-commerce sector has created demand for services that can handle heavy household goods and electronics. White glove delivery provides local retailers with a way to stand out by offering reliable and convenient delivery experiences. Small businesses in Brisbane also benefit from outsourcing logistics for bulky or fragile customer orders.

Adelaide

In Adelaide, many customers need help with bulky appliances and large home furnishings. White glove delivery provides safe handling, setup, and installation, making the process easier for households and retailers alike.

Get the Most from White Glove Delivery

White glove delivery is worth considering when items are fragile, bulky, or high-value, or when convenience matters just as much as cost. It goes beyond a simple drop-off, with trained couriers handling, setting up, and clearing packaging so your goods are ready to use straight away.

If you’re weighing up costs and options, Couriers & Freight makes it easy to compare providers in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide.

Get a quote today and make your next delivery hassle-free.

Book White Glove Delivery Today

Move fragile or bulky items with care. Get setup, installation, and stress-free delivery with Couriers & Freight.

Get a Quote Now
robert lynch headshot

Robert Lynch

Founder of Australia’s largest outside hire company Couriers & Freight, Robert Lynch is a seasoned business leader in the shipping industry with over 20 years of experience. His expertise spans from outside hire, taxi truck, and last-mile services to freight management, freight forwarding and warehousing. 

Robert has also incorporated technology into his business through custom software to enhance growth and efficiency. Robert is a valuable resource for business owners looking to improve their logistics operations.

Connect with Robert Lynch on LinkedIn.

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MHP

No Surcharge*

$16.50

$14

$15.50

$0

$15.50

$14.75

$0

$0

$0

$0

MHP Large Item

No Surcharge*

$16.50

$75

$62

$62

$60.10

$14.75

$0

$0

$0

$0

Residential Pickup

No Surcharge*

$6

$0

$9

--

$9

$10.60

$0

$0

$0

$38.50

Reidential pick up 30-99kgs

No Surcharge*

$63

$0

$9

$0

$9

$74.15

$20

Won't carry

Won't carry

$38.50

Residential pick up 100kgs+

No Surcharge*

$198

$0

$9

$0

$9

$158.87

$50

Won't carry

Won't carry

$38.50

Residential Delivery up to 29kgs

No Surcharge*

$6

$0

$9

--

$9.00

$10.60

$0

$0

$0

$38.50

Residential Delivery up 30-99kgs

No Surcharge*

$63

$0

$9

$0

$9

$74.15

$20

Won't carry

Won't carry

$38.50

Residential Delivery 100kgs+

No Surcharge*

$198

$0

$9

--

$9

$158.57

$50

Won't carry

Won't carry

$38.50

Tail Lift Pick up 50-99kgs Sydney / Melbourne

No Surcharge*

$45

$50-$250

$88

$88

$88

$44.07

$120

Won't carry

Won't carry

$61.50

Tail Lift Pick up 100-299kgs Sydney / Melbourne

No Surcharge*

$85

$50-$250

$88

$88

$88

$44.07

$120

Won't carry

Won't carry

$61.50

Tail Lift Pick up 300-499kgs Sydney / Melbourne

No Surcharge*

$120

$50-$250

$88

$88

$88

$44.07

$120

Won't carry

Won't carry

$61.50

Tail Lift Pick up 500kgs + Sydney / Melbourne

No Surcharge*

$250

$50-$250

$88

$88

$88

$44.07

$120

Won't carry

Won't carry

$61.50

Tail Lift Delivery 50-99kgs Sydney / Melbourne

No Surcharge*

$45

$50-$250

$88

$88

$88

$44.07

$120

Won't carry

Won't carry

$61.50

Tail Lift Delivery 100-299kgs Sydney / Melbourne

No Surcharge*

$85

$50-$250

$88

$88

$88

$44.07

$120

Won't carry

Won't carry

$61.50

Tail Lift Delivery300-499kgs Sydney / Melbourne

No Surcharge*

$120

$50-$250

$88

$88

$88

$44.07

$120

Won't carry

Won't carry

$61.50

Tail Lift Delivery 500kgs + Sydney / Melbourne

No Surcharge*

$250

$50-$250

$88

$88

$88

$44.07

$120

Won't carry

Won't carry

$61.50

Dead weight over 32KGS carton freight

No Surcharge*

$16.50

$75

$70

$70

$70

$14.75

$0

Won't carry

Won't carry

$0

Oversize Surcharge 1.20 - 1.54

No Surcharge*

--

$0

$0

$0

$0

$5.40

$10

$15

Won't carry

$0

Oversize Surcharge 1.55 - 1.85

No Surcharge*

$17

$20

$0

$0

$0

$11.93

$10

$15

Won't carry

$0

Oversize Surcharge 1.86 - 2.20

No Surcharge*

$37

$40

$0

$0

$0

$11.93

$10

Won't carry

Won't carry

$0

Pallet Surcharge

No Surcharge*

--

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

Won't carry

Won't carry

$0

Hand Unload Fee Carton

No Surcharge*

--

$0

$70

$70

$70

$47

$0

Won't carry

Won't carry

$61.50

Western Australia Regional Surcharge

No Surcharge*

%10

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

*Surcharges may apply to areas/deimensions not listed

**Prices correct of 16th September 2024

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