Free Delivery Thresholds Compared Across UK Packaging Suppliers
Why delivery is the hidden half of your box price
Cardboard boxes are bulky and light. That combination makes them expensive to ship relative to their value, because carriers charge for the space a pallet takes, not what it weighs. A box that looks cheap on the product page can arrive costing far more once carriage is added. The number that matters is the delivered price, not the sticker price.
This is why free delivery thresholds are a real lever on cost, not marketing fluff. Clearing a threshold can be the difference between a competitive order and an overpriced one.
How free delivery thresholds usually work
Most UK packaging suppliers set a minimum order value, ex-VAT, above which they ship to mainland UK for free. Below it you either pay a flat carriage charge or a calculated rate. The threshold varies widely between suppliers, and so does what counts toward it.
Common patterns you will see:
- A flat free delivery threshold, for example free over a set order value to UK mainland.
- Tiered carriage, where small orders pay more per delivery and the charge tapers as the order grows.
- Free delivery on pallet quantities but paid carriage on parcel sized orders.
Because thresholds differ, the cheapest supplier for a small order is often not the cheapest for a large one, and vice versa.
The traps that catch buyers out
Threshold measured ex-VAT or inc-VAT. B2B prices are usually quoted ex-VAT, and thresholds usually apply to the ex-VAT order value. Check which, because it changes how much you need to spend to qualify.
Mainland only. Free delivery almost always means UK mainland. The Scottish Highlands and islands, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and Northern Ireland frequently carry a surcharge or are excluded. If you are outside the mainland, the advertised threshold may not apply to you at all.
Next day or timed delivery surcharges. Free standard delivery does not mean free next day. If you need a fast turnaround, there may be an added charge on top, even above the threshold.
Splitting orders. Placing several small orders to different sites can push each below the threshold and rack up carriage. Consolidating into one qualifying order is usually cheaper, if timing and storage allow.
How to compare suppliers fairly on delivery
To find the genuinely cheapest option for your order, compare the total delivered cost, not the per box price:
1. Take your actual order: size, quantity and grade.
2. Get the ex-VAT product subtotal from each supplier.
3. Check each supplier's free delivery threshold and whether your subtotal clears it.
4. Add carriage where it does not, including any postcode surcharge for your area.
5. Compare the final delivered totals.
A supplier with a slightly higher box price but a lower delivery threshold can easily be cheaper overall, especially on mid sized orders that clear one threshold but not the other.
Ordering to beat the threshold
If your subtotal lands just short of free delivery, it is often worth topping up to clear it, but only with stock you will genuinely use. Adding boxes you turn over anyway to cross the threshold turns wasted carriage into useful inventory. Adding slow moving stock just to dodge a delivery charge ties up cash for no real gain.
A sensible habit is to plan box orders around your reorder points so that each order naturally clears the threshold, rather than drip feeding small top ups that each attract carriage.
Seeing the real delivered price
Thresholds, surcharges and VAT treatment make it hard to compare suppliers at a glance, because the advertised box price rarely reflects what you actually pay. Packaging Marketplace compares live prices across UK suppliers by size, which lets you weigh product price against each supplier's delivery terms and work out the true delivered cost for your order, rather than being surprised by carriage at checkout.