Delivery & Lead Times

We deliver across mainland UK using a combination of our own in-house delivery service, pallet couriers and parcel carriers, depending on the product. This page is our full delivery policy and covers every product category we sell — charges, lead times, how each product ships, and the areas where surcharges or exclusions apply. If you have a question about delivery for a specific product, please contact us before ordering.

Delivery charges at a glance

  • Free mainland UK delivery on steel sections, RSJs and columns, steel/aluminium/stainless sheet, bar, tube, perforated and expanded metal, glass and balustrade, welded and mesh fencing panels, gabions, worktops (mainland), radiators, artificial grass, garage flooring and rubber matting, and playground & equestrian rubber chippings.
  • Timber (sawn treated timber, decking, CLS studwork, fence posts, OSB, plywood and MDF): from £25 mainland UK, calculated at checkout by length, weight and destination. Free on qualifying timber orders.
  • Galvanised palisade fencing and toughened glass panels: £15 pallet delivery per order.
  • PIR insulation: delivery charge shown at checkout.
  • Solid wood worktops: free to mainland UK, with remote-area surcharges — see the table below.
  • Prices on our website are shown inclusive and exclusive of VAT where indicated. See our VAT & Pricing page for details.

Worktop delivery surcharges

Solid wood worktops are long, heavy and easily damaged, so while mainland UK delivery is free, the following remote-area surcharges apply and are added automatically at checkout based on your postcode:

Rest of UK mainland Free
Wales, Cornwall & Devon £55
Scotland (Lowlands & Central) £85
Scottish Highlands & Islands £250

If you are unsure whether your postcode falls into a surcharge band, contact us for a confirmed delivery quote before ordering.

Surcharge areas (other heavy goods)

Our free and standard delivery rates apply to mainland UK. For other heavy and palletised goods, some remote and offshore postcodes may carry an additional delivery charge or a longer lead time. These areas include:

  • The Scottish Highlands and Islands, and northern Scotland
  • Parts of Wales
  • Cornwall and Devon (the West Country)
  • The Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Scilly Isles and other UK islands

Where a surcharge applies to your postcode, it will be shown at checkout or confirmed to you before we dispatch — we will never add a charge without telling you first.

Areas we do not currently deliver to

We do not currently deliver to Northern Ireland or the Channel Islands. If you are outside mainland UK and want to check whether we can arrange delivery, please contact us before ordering.

Lead times

Lead times vary by product and location. As a general guide, from the point your order is processed:

  • Most items (steel sheet, bar, tube, section, glass, mesh panels, radiators, artificial grass, garage flooring, insulation, timber): 3–5 working days.
  • RSJs / universal beams and columns, worktops, and palisade fencing: 5–10 working days.
  • Playground & equestrian rubber chippings: 5–12 working days.

These are estimates, not guarantees. Rubber chippings in particular are heavy, palletised, seasonal goods — demand and courier availability vary through the year, so delivery can run to the upper end of the window (or occasionally beyond) during peak periods. Free delivery does not mean express delivery — heavier, longer and made-to-order items naturally take a little longer. Early bookings are given priority.

How your order ships

The delivery method depends on the size and weight of the product, and is shown on each product page:

  • Flat-bed lorry — customer offload. Steel and metal sections, sheet, bar, tube, glass and heavy plate are delivered by flat-bed lorry. You are responsible for offloading, so please have suitable help or equipment ready.
  • Pallet delivery — kerbside. Palisade fencing, chippings, gabions, and bulk mesh or fencing orders are delivered on a pallet to the kerbside. Please allow for offloading heavy pallets.
  • Standard courier. Smaller and lighter items — fittings, brackets, radiators, accessories — are sent by parcel courier.
  • Flat-packed (racking, benches, sheds). Delivered by parcel or pallet courier depending on size. Larger units may arrive on a pallet to kerbside — please have help on hand to move them into position.

Offloading on heavy items

For large, long, or heavy items — including steel sections, RSJs, worktops, chippings, glass and palletised orders — you may need to provide assistance to offload at the delivery point, as our drivers and couriers are not always able to offload heavy goods alone. Where this applies, it is noted on the product page. Please make sure suitable access and help are available on the delivery day, and tell us about any access restrictions (narrow lanes, gateways, overhead height) when you order so we book the right vehicle.

Tracking

Tracking is available for smaller items sent by standard courier. It is not available for our metal products (sheet, RSJs, sections), palletised goods or rubber chippings, as these are delivered by pallet courier or our own in-house delivery service. We will keep you updated on these orders directly.

Split deliveries

For logistical reasons, items in the same order may sometimes arrive in separate deliveries, even where combined delivery was expected. This is normal and does not mean any part of your order is missing.

Important: please do not book tradespeople until your order is complete

We kindly ask all customers not to book builders, contractors, or engineers until your full order has been delivered and checked. While we work hard to deliver on time, occasional delays or split shipments can occur due to stock, courier schedules, or product size and weight. To avoid unnecessary costs, please only arrange installation or labour once you have received and inspected your entire order. Rackerman Limited cannot be held responsible for any costs arising from tradespeople being booked before goods have arrived in full.

Incorrect addresses

Please make sure your billing and delivery addresses are correct before placing your order. We cannot be held responsible for orders that fail to arrive due to an incorrect address provided at checkout. If we have made an error, we will put it right at no cost to you.

Bank holidays and seasonal periods

Over bank holidays and seasonal periods, some of our warehouses may not be operating, which can extend delivery times. If you need a delivery estimate for a specific product during these periods, please contact us.

Questions?

If you have any other questions about delivery, or you would like a delivery quote for a remote postcode before ordering, please contact us and we'll be glad to help.

Last updated: July 2026