Have you ever wondered what types of courier services are available to businesses and individuals? Knowing the types of courier services would enable wise decisions on package deliveries especially when you want to know how to start a courier business. From same-day deliveries to eco-friendly courier options, or even global courier services depending on the kind of services you offer, much will change.
In this post, we explore courier service examples, including local vs global couriers, on-demand delivery software, and more. We’ll break down the key categories of courier services and help you choose the best option for your needs in 2025.
| Type | Delivery Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Local Courier Services | Within city limits | Local deliveries, small businesses |
| Global Courier Services | International (varies by destination) | International shipping, large-scale businesses |
| Same Day Courier | Same day (before noon, afternoon delivery) | Urgent needs, time-sensitive deliveries |
| Overnight Shipping | Delivered after 5 p.m., at night | Manufacturing, businesses requiring safe, nighttime delivery |
| Parcel Services | 1–2 days | Standard shipping, items that don’t require speed |
| Next Day Delivery | Delivered next day | Retail businesses, fast-moving consumer goods |
| On-Demand Delivery | Flexible, customer-requested | Personalized, urgent delivery, high-value items |
| Eco-Friendly Courier | Flexible (within day or 2) | Sustainability-focused deliveries, urban locations |
| Traditional Vehicles | Varies by route | General deliveries (motorbikes, cars, trucks) |
| Advanced (Self-driving, Drones) | Varies by technology | Tech-savvy, fast deliveries without traffic delays |
| Manual/Paper-based | Varies by process | Small businesses, traditional paperwork deliveries |
| Excel-based | Varies by process | Businesses with basic coordination needs |
| Web/App-based Systems | Immediate with technology | Businesses using tech solutions (mobile/web) |
| SME Courier Companies | Varies by company | Local businesses, traditional models |
| Startup Courier Services | Varies by company | Innovative startups, creative business models in the courier industry |
| Document Courier Services | 1–2 days, urgent cases may vary | Legal, financial, and confidential documents |
| Medical Courier Services | Urgent (same day, overnight) | Medical supplies, sensitive items |
| Food Courier Services | Under 1–2 hours | Perishable items, restaurants, grocery deliveries |
| Retail Courier Services | 1–2 days, depending on product | E-commerce, book, and electronics retailers |
| Hazardous Materials Courier | Special conditions (varies) | Dangerous goods, chemicals, regulated items |
| Freight Courier Services | Varies (typically days to weeks) | Large, heavy items (machinery, furniture, vehicles) |
Table 1. Types of courier services
Types of Courier Services Based on Their Scope of Work
Several types of courier services exist. Their activities and the location of their activities are two ways in which courier services and organizations are classified. There are courier companies that offer last-mile delivery services covering an area as small as a single city block up to as large as multiple nations or continents, depending on the company’s size and policies.
Local Courier Services
Local courier services provide delivery services within a city. Locally based enterprises usually contract with local delivery companies or provide delivery services to the public. In fact, despite their locations in multiple cities or even countries, some prominent local corporations do not ship goods across borders or from one country to another. Instead, they operate locally throughout many cities, and they usually ship items within the local market. Grab Express, Lalamove, and Stuart are just a few well-known companies that provide different types of courier services.
Global Courier Services
Another type of courier service provider operates on a much larger scale, such as across several nations or continents. These businesses are often postal competitors and have huge fleets. In general, global courier companies provide better service than postal companies and a greater degree of service. Just a few examples of global courier companies are DHL, TNT, UPS, and FedEx. International courier services are courier services that ship packages internationally.
Types of Courier Services Based on Delivery Method
Several types of courier services are available, depending on the type of delivery. Another aspect that may characterize courier services is picking up and delivering products. In this respect, we can categorize courier services into four types, which we will examine in the following sections.
Same Day Courier
The same-day courier companies deliver packages on the same day. They must pick up packages before noon and deliver them by the afternoon. Several Same Day courier companies offer the Next Day Delivery service. It is based on delivering packages on the following day if they are received in the afternoon.
Deliveries are picked up first and then delivered in this manner because it is less expensive and requires a smaller fleet to collect packages in bulk. A courier would pick up several packages at 7:00 a.m. and deliver them to a courier company. A courier may transport many packages at a low cost with this technique, reducing the cost to the end customer. However, the product might not arrive at the end-user at the right time and may take up to a day.
Route optimization is one of the most challenging aspects of Same Day Delivery, so route planning and optimization are vital. If these requirements are met, the cost of courier service can be significantly reduced.
We’ve written a complete guide about Same Day Delivery Service already.
Overnight Shipping
When using the Same Day as one of the types of courier services, it frequently made deliveries between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. However, items are delivered after 5 p.m. and at night. This method has several advantages, such as keeping the goods safe in the vehicle (courier) as it is not stuck in traffic, preventing damage from the heat, and ensuring faster and more predictable delivery. Manufacturing enterprises find this strategy more appealing.
Parcel Services
As with the previous delivery methods, this delivery technique is pretty similar. One difference is that special-conditions packages are typically relocated by monitoring their specific locations. The same-day delivery of restaurant meals is impossible since the delivery must be dispatched within an hour. Courier businesses providing this service must deliver food in less than an hour, and the courier differs from the rest of the fleet. In addition, another difference between Same-Day and Parcel services is that on Same-Day, large numbers of packages and varied commodities are shipped together. In contrast, in Parcel, they are shipped separately or in packages of the same material.
Next Day Delivery
Next-day delivery is a service offered by courier companies where items are delivered to the recipient within one day after they are picked up or processed. This means that if you place an order today, you can expect to receive it by the next-day, typically within a specified time window. Businesses requiring immediate product dispatch, particularly those dealing with perishable goods such as fast food outlets, flower shops, and bakeries, cannot fully utilize this service. However, other businesses, such as sports equipment sellers, clothing stores, cosmetics retailers, and bookstores, often find next-day delivery to be an ideal solution for their shipping needs. To learn more about the next day delivery, you can visit our blog post about what is next day delivery.
On-Demand Delivery
By utilizing the On-Demand Delivery Service, the courier company responds to the customer’s request by assigning them a dedicated courier. With this approach, the courier goes straight to the customer’s location and only moves and delivers the package, performing no other tasks. Although more expensive, this method has several advantages:
- Rapid and suitable for urgent delivery
- Top security and low risk of damage
- Ability to send many packages to multiple addresses at the same time
- Ability to choose the vehicle
- Ability to schedule a delivery time
- Tracking the driver using a map
The On-Demand method offers a slew of additional benefits, and it has a sizable market. Many established courier companies and prominent startups have entered this market. Therefore, providing higher-quality services to clients is crucial, and companies in this sector have shifted their focus to customers. Grab Express, Lalamove and Doordash are examples of startups that provide on-demand delivery services. If you’re eager to learn more about software designed for on-demand delivery services, you can find additional information on our dedicated on-demand delivery software page.
What Is a Courier Service?
A courier is an individual or company who typically offers faster service (often offering same-day delivery or next-day delivery) for goods, packages, and documents. Certain specialty couriers offer a reduced range of service, while others may cater to the delivery requirements of both private and commercial sectors.
Often described as a fast-track delivery service across a particular route established for timely deliveries, it takes letters and parcels away from the ordinary postal services and hands them over to the courier service. Rest assured that all requirements for your business will be delivered with on-time delivery, whether employees work from home or at the office.
Why Understanding Courier Service Types Matters in 2025
In 2025, it is really important for anybody who wants to take advantage of delivery services at home or work to have a better understanding of the different kinds of courier services. With e-commerce growing day by day, there is always the increased demand for faster, reliable delivery service like e-commerce delivery management software, which surely requires both businesses and customers to learn about the courier types that will meet their needs.
As for deliveries, businesses will have options such as same-day, next-day, or overnight services from which they can choose according to customer expectations. On-demand couriers will meet urgent deliveries, while international services will manage longer distances. Knowing these options will ensure the most efficient pick, saving time, spending less, and ensuring satisfaction for everyone involved and with a guide to how to choose courier service for business.
Top 6 Types of Courier Services in 2025
Courier services can be classified into several types based on delivery speed, service area, and the type of goods transported. Here are the main classifications.
1. Types of Courier Services Based on Scope of Work
There are many types of courier services. Most importantly, classification can be done according to the range of their operation or coverage in terms of delivery locations. There are courier companies that provide last-mile delivery services, which addresses packages going out from a centralized location to an actual delivery site-end point, which can be as close as a city block away or as distant as a handful of countries.
The geographic reach would depend on the size of the company as well as its policies-from delivering packages just inside the city, to international shipments across continents.
Local Courier Services
Local courier services provide delivery services within a city. Locally based enterprises usually contract with local delivery companies or provide delivery services to the public. In fact, despite their locations in multiple cities or even countries, some prominent local corporations do not ship goods across borders or from one country to another. Instead, they operate locally throughout many cities, and they usually ship items within the local market. Grab Express, Lalamove, and Stuart are just a few well-known companies that provide different types of courier services.
Global Courier Services
Another type of courier service provider operates on a much larger scale, such as across several nations or continents. These businesses are often postal competitors and have huge fleets. In general, global courier companies provide better service than postal companies and a greater degree of service. Just a few examples of global courier companies are DHL, TNT, UPS, and FedEx. International courier services are courier services that ship packages internationally.
2. Types of Courier Services Based on Delivery Method
Another important classification is according to the types of pick-ups and delivery of the products. Let us examine the 5 main types of courier service where each type is classified depending on the mode of delivery.
Same-Day Courier
Same-day delivery courier company takes care of the picking up and delivering of packages on the same day. This implies that generally, packages are collected in the morning and delivered during the afternoon. For example, food delivery services require dispatch within an hour, making same-day delivery unsuitable for such items. Courier businesses providing food courier services must ensure delivery in less than an hour, with dedicated couriers for this express delivery service.
Route optimization is one of the most challenging aspects of same-day delivery, so route planning and optimization are vital. If these requirements are met, the cost of courier service can be significantly reduced.
Overnight Shipping
While same-day delivery occurs between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m., overnight delivery occurs after 5 p.m. and at night. This type of courier service has several advantages, such as keeping the goods safe in the vehicle (courier) as it is not stuck in traffic, preventing damage from the heat, and ensuring faster and more predictable delivery. Manufacturing enterprises find this strategy more appealing.
Parcel Services
Parcel shipping is the cheapest but the best and most flexible option to ship goods within a country. It usually involves small packages sent either between businesses or from a business to its individual customers. A major transport network, parcel shipping is essential for the weekly flow of everyday trade, be it the sending of documents or moving physical goods.
Next Day Delivery
Next-day delivery is a courier service where items are delivered to the recipient within 24 hours of being picked up or processed. If you place an order today, it will typically arrive by the next day within a specified time window. While businesses like fast food outlets, flower shops, and bakeries may not fully benefit from this service due to the need for immediate dispatch, sports equipment stores, clothing retailers, cosmetics shops, and bookstores find next-day delivery to be an efficient solution for meeting customer demands. For more details on next-day delivery, you can check out our blog post titled “What is Next Day Delivery.”
On-Demand Delivery
The on-demand delivery service permits courier companies to assign a dedicated courier concerning a customer request. The courier goes directly to the customer’s location to pick up and deliver the package without any other assignment. Though the service is usually costlier, it is accompanied by its advantages:
- Rapid and ideal for urgent deliveries
- High security with minimal risk of damage
- Capability to send multiple packages to different addresses simultaneously
- Flexibility in choosing the vehicle
- Ability to schedule a specific delivery time
- Real-time tracking of the driver via a map
This delivery method is gaining popularity, with many courier companies, including Grab Express, Lalamove, and Doordash, entering the market. As competition increases, delivering high-quality services is becoming essential.
3. Types of Courier Services Based on Platform
Manual/Paper-based
Historically, paper documents and books were popular but have become obsolete. Some courier companies now get signatures on paper sheets to complete the POD (Proof of Delivery) process.
Excel-based
Some courier companies now use Excel files to coordinate their services.
Web and App-Based Systems
With higher efficiency, competitiveness, and ways of attaining such goals being the objectives of these forward-looking couriers, web and app-based systems are now being fused into traditional service delivery: the first being a rapid development introduced through internet and mobile technologies. Away from mere order fulfillment, these systems appear to have improved upon the operation of managing a complex set of objectives for efficient, real-time tracking and optimization of deliveries. Some of the main features of such systems are:
- Mobile app for drivers and driver management
- Web dispatcher app for order and fleet management
- Admin dashboard for overseeing courier businesses and service operations
- Mobile and web applications for customer engagement and ease of package tracking
- Web APIs and integrations for seamless integration with business operations and e-commerce platforms
Businesses have been developing scalability and more outstanding market share with Web applications and software APIs for these highly competitive industries. For more information on courier software and delivery management solutions, visit our dedicated page.
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4. Types of Courier Services Based on Business Model
With the emergence of startups, courier services can also be classified based on the way they are running business, as follows.
SME Courier Companies
The SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) represent traditional business models where every level of operation incurs costs and profits at every level of operation. To meet their needs, they may, in general, loan a sum of money from a small bank. Most of the SMEs are localized, that is, they tend to operate to the level of their regional markets and are interested in finding stronger relationships with the community.
Startup Courier Services
One phenomenon of startup courier services is that they have an exponentially high growth rate, which does not proportionately go with the cost. For successful startups, the fact is that, as months pass, costs stabilize while profits explode. Such businesses are also typically innovative and want to hold onto their properties while growing. Courier startup is greatly funded by venture capital which allows such companies to scale rather than traditional disruptive models.
5. Types of Courier Services Based on Vehicles
Traditional Vehicles
Traditional couriers have a fleet of vehicles like motorcycle, car, van, and truck to transport goods from one location to another.
Eco-friendly Courier Service 2025
In recent years, to maintain the sustainability of nature, vehicles such as bicycles, scooters, and electric vehicles (EVs) were added to the fleet of couriers.
Advanced
Courier companies with high-leveled technologies are trying to use self-driving vehicles as delivery fleets. But one of the newest members of the courier fleet could be drones. Drones have many advantages, such as not getting stuck in traffic and increasing delivery speed.
6. Types of Courier Services Based on Types of Goods
To be classified according to the type of goods that it carries, courier services may include the following types:
Document Courier Services
These are the courier services that are specifically engaged in the delivery of vital documents: contracts, legal documents, and other highly sensitive pieces of information.
Medical Courier Services
These courier services include medical delivery, samples, and supplies. Most of the current medical supplies need a special handling and delivery process to be delivered safely.
Food Courier Services
Delivery of food, groceries, and other perishable items is also included. Temperature-controlled vehicles with special packaging are a prerequisite for maintaining the quality and freshness of food during transportation.
Retail Courier Services
Such courier services provide delivery facilities to retail-facing packages such as e-commerce orders and books and electronics.
Hazardous Materials Courier Services
These are courier services solely dedicated to the transportation of materials that are hazardous, like chemicals, biological agents, and radioactive materials, as they shall have special handling and transportation procedures for the safety of the courier himself and the environment.
Freight Courier Services
Freight courier services mean bulk delivery, whether they are heavy and large machine tools, motor vehicles, or furniture: all need special handling and transport equipment for bulky items.
Courier services can also be categorized based on the type of goods they carry. Some common types of courier services based on the goods they carry are listed below.
Trends in Courier Services in 2025
Sustainability (green logistics)
In 2025, the relevance of courier services will be emphasized, initiating demands for an upgrade to greener practices. Logistics companies would need to ensure that their operations adhere to practices aimed at minimizing environmental footprints, including recyclable packaging, electric vehicles, and drones for last-mile delivery operation.
In conjunction, these operations will build the brand image for the company, making it more relevant to consumers as new generations, Gen Z and Millennials, seek brands that are concerned with environmental issues.
AI in Last-Mile Delivery and Route Optimization
AI for route optimization will definitely help improve the efficiency and output of any delivery operation. Real-time information on traffic patterns, weather, and other factors that optimize delivery routes is all available through artificial intelligence. This results in both less fuel use and faster delivery, all under the clear eye of combating carbon emissions, only to emerge as one of the most critically important tools for fulfilling increasing demands for faster-sustainable delivery or, specifically, in environmental delivery options.
Real-time Tracking and Customer Experience
In the year 2025, tracking in real-time will be taken to higher heights of development, which will keep evolving toward more transparency and customer control in the delivery of goods. GPS and IoT-supported tracking systems will inform customers in real time about the status of their delivery so that they can plan their day much better, thereby improving customer satisfaction.
This enhanced visibility into delivery progress will be crucial in maintaining a competitive edge and building trust with customers in a highly disrupted market.
Rise of gig economy in delivery
Even as the gig economy develops the line of travel, it would also act upon courier services. Most people across the world will travel along the smattering of flexible, freelance lines for delivery. Due to the sprawl of platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash, the companies are going to require on-demand gig workers more than ever for deliveries. Now the organization may quickly scale up production while offering employees hourly employment options that challenge traditional work for delivery.
Conclusion
Indeed, with all these types of courier delivery options in this year 2025, these are local and global, eco-friendly, on-demand, as well as AI delivery solutions. Knowledge of such differences makes it easier for a business to decide on its priorities for speed, costs, and customer satisfaction. Interested in optimizing your delivery process? Get yourself a free demo of Onro and see firsthand how our all-in-one delivery management software will change the way you do courier business.
FAQ | Types of Courier Services
Courier services can be broadly categorized into: local courier services, international courier services, same-day delivery services, overnight delivery services, standard delivery services, and freight services.
To give a few examples: For same-day delivery, urgent documents; freight would be suitable for bulky non-urgent goods. These are aspects like delivery speed, shipment size and weight, destination, budget, and any special handling requirements.
Some other dedicated courier services, like medical couriers which carry shipments related to healthcare, or food couriers that do nothing but restaurant deliveries. Their separateness makes them specific about ensuring that things are done the right way according to the regulation.
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Originally published October 8, 2021 5:58 PM, updated Monday, 14 April 2025.
