Pricing Guide
Small Item Courier Pricing
Clear, upfront rates for parcels, satchels, and documents. Start at $35 with the first 20 km included. All prices include GST. No fuel levies.
Pay for the journey, not the zone
Most courier companies use complicated zone tables where crossing a single boundary can double your price. At Drop-X, we price by exact road distance, making your costs predictable and fair.
Small item base rate
Up to 5 items, max 50kg total
- First 20 km included
The first 20 kilometres of road driving are included in the base rate. Most metro deliveries fit inside this distance.
- Transparent beyond-20km pricing
Distance between 21 km and 100 km is charged at $1.95 per km. Any distance beyond 100 km is $2.50 per km.
- No fuel levies
We never charge a fuel levy. Your quoted price is the final price.
Worked Examples
Local Run · 15 km
- Base rate (includes 20km)$35.00
- Additional distance$0.00
Cross-Metro Run · 35 km
- Base rate (first 20km)$35.00
- 15 km at $1.95$29.25
Service Options
Add-ons apply on top of the base rate.
- Priority Delivery+$55
- After-hoursfrom +$110
- Transit Insurance+$24.32
Regional Next-Day Savings
Going regional? Book a next-day regional delivery instead of same-day and get 12% off the total standard rate.
View regional pricingTransparent freight pricing
Know your freight cost before you book.
Not every transport quote tells the full story. Some freight providers advertise a low starting rate, then add extra charges after you book — or after the delivery is done. Their own pricing schedules often say it in the fine print: fuel levies, surcharges, tolls, fees and detention charges “may apply” on top of listed rates.
Drop-X works the other way. Enter your pickup and delivery addresses, choose your freight, and the full price is on screen before you confirm — no call-and-wait quote cycle, and nothing added after the job is done.
What some carrier invoices look like
Example only — charges added after the quote
- Fuel levy (18%)+ $19.80
- Tail-lift / manual handling+ $35.00
- Waiting time (detention)+ $22.00
- Toll & congestion charges+ $12.40
- Administration fee+ $8.50
- Depot handling fee+ $18.00
- Pallet exchange fee+ $16.50
More than double the quoted rate
A Drop-X Transport invoice
Every line itemised at booking — the total never moves.
- Standard pallet item rate$110.00
- First 50 km — included with a pallet on board$0.00
- Remaining 30 km × $1.95+ $58.50
The number you book is the number you’re invoiced.
Every booking works this way: the item rate includes the first 20 km of driving (small-item-only bookings) or 50 km (any pallet on board). Most metro deliveries fit inside the included kilometres, so the item rate is the whole price. Beyond them — metro or regional — distance is $1.95/km, with kilometres beyond 100 at $2.50. No fuel levy; optional extras are priced before you confirm — never after.
Charges other carriers may add — depending on the provider
- Fuel levies
- Administration fees
- Toll charges
- Congestion surcharges
- Depot handling fees
- Cross-docking fees
- Residential delivery fees
- Pallet exchange fees
- Special handling charges
The Drop-X Transport difference
We believe freight pricing should be simple and transparent. Whether you’re sending one pallet or booking regular business freight, you’ll know exactly what you’re paying before your delivery is confirmed.
- No fuel levy on any delivery — metro or regional, the price you book is the price you pay
- No administration or booking fees
- No undisclosed surcharges bolted on after delivery
- No surprise invoices at the end of the month
- Optional extras (hand unload, after-hours, waiting time past the 10-minute grace) are shown upfront and only apply when you use them
- You know your price before you book
Transparent pricing. Reliable service. No surprises.
Common questions about small item pricing
What is considered a small item?
Parcels, satchels, legal documents and small boxes. As a general guide, it covers freight that can be safely loaded and unloaded by hand and fits easily within a standard courier van or car (under 50kg total).
How does the included 20 km work?
Every small item booking comes with 20 kilometres of road distance included in the $35 base rate. If the driving distance from your pickup to your delivery is 20 km or less, $35 is all you pay.
What if my delivery is 25 km?
You pay the $35 base rate (which covers the first 20 km) plus $1.95 per kilometre for the remaining 5 km. The exact price will be calculated and shown to you before you book.
Do you charge a fuel levy on top?
No. Drop-X Transport does not charge a fuel levy on any delivery. The rate you see is the rate you pay.
Are these prices inclusive of GST?
Yes, all Drop-X pricing, including the $35 small item base rate and any kilometre charges, includes GST.
Ready when you are
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