Tile delivery in Switzerland: why tiles arrive by truck and what shipping costs
Customers who buy tiles online are sometimes surprised by the delivery method or shipping costs. While many products can easily be sent as parcels, tiles are different: they are heavy, vulnerable to damage in transit and, for larger quantities, need to be transported securely on pallets. Even an order for a medium-sized bathroom can weigh several hundred kilograms.
At Vitale Tiles, regular tile orders are generally delivered within two to three weeks. To keep costs as low as possible despite the weight, we combine orders into consolidated loads and work with reliable logistics partners. This article explains transparently how tile delivery in Switzerland works, why a truck is usually required and which factors influence the delivery price.
How much do tiles actually weigh?
The weight is easy to underestimate when buying tiles. A single tile can usually still be carried without difficulty. Across an entire apartment, bathroom or terrace, however, the total weight increases very quickly.
A standard porcelain tile with a thickness of around 9 mm weighs approximately 20 kg per square metre, depending on the product. For 40 m², that amounts to about 800 kg of material. One specific example is the 9 mm Coretech Brushed Light 60 x 120 cm: one box contains 1.44 m² and weighs 28.44 kg, which is approximately 19.75 kg per square metre.
The weight is even higher for 2 cm garden slabs. For example, I Cementi Grey 2CM Antislip weighs 31.677 kg per box containing 0.72 m². That equals just under 44 kg per square metre. Only 20 m² of these outdoor slabs therefore weigh around 880 kg.
The weight of the pallet, cardboard boxes, edge protection, wrapping and other packaging materials must also be added. Depending on tile thickness and order quantity, a complete delivery can therefore weigh considerably more than one tonne. The exact figure always depends on the product, but the basic principle remains the same: tiles are not an ordinary parcel product.
Why are tiles delivered on a pallet?
Tiles are hard and durable, but an impact on an edge or corner can still cause them to break. During normal parcel shipping, consignments are handled several times by hand or on conveyor systems. This is possible for individual samples when suitable protective packaging is used. For several boxes, however, splitting the order into numerous parcels would increase the risk of transport damage.
On a pallet, the boxes remain grouped together and can be moved with a pallet truck or forklift. This reduces unnecessary handling, stabilises the load and protects the tiles during transport. The pallet is prepared at the manufacturer’s premises or warehouse, secured inside the truck and kept together as far as possible until it reaches the recipient.
Pallet shipping is particularly important for large-format tiles, long wood-look planks and heavy outdoor slabs. These products require a suitable loading area and professional load securing because of both their weight and their dimensions.
Why does tile delivery cost more than a normal parcel?
The delivery price does not simply cover the journey from the warehouse to the customer. Before a pallet of tiles arrives, several stages and transport sections are required:
- Preparation and picking at the manufacturer or warehouse
- Packing on a stable pallet with protective materials
- Collection from one or more manufacturers in Italy
- Long-distance transport to Switzerland
- Border and import processing
- Handling or temporary storage where required for route planning
- Scheduling and delivery with a suitable truck
- Unloading with a tail lift and pallet truck
In addition to weight and distance, the price is influenced by the number of pallets, tile format, access conditions and delivery region. A small order may have higher delivery costs in relation to the value of the goods because a truck still has to travel to the address and unload the pallet, regardless of the amount of material. With larger orders, some of the basic costs are spread across more square metres.
Mountain regions, narrow access roads, car-free zones and difficult-to-reach building sites may also require additional planning. Anyone building in an unusual location should therefore contact us early. This allows us to check which vehicle size, transfer point or alternative solution makes sense.
How Vitale Tiles keeps delivery costs as low as possible
Our aim is not only to provide safe and fast delivery, but also to achieve the best possible balance between transport costs and order size. We use several approaches to do this.
Consolidated loads instead of separate journeys
Many of our tiles come from Italian manufacturers. When several orders can be combined efficiently, each pallet does not need a separate vehicle to bring it to Switzerland. With a consolidated load, the route is shared across different orders. Available loading space is used more efficiently and unnecessary individual journeys are avoided.
This consolidation is one of the reasons why we can generally offer a delivery time of two to three weeks despite sourcing products internationally. Orders are planned, collected from the manufacturers, brought together and then prepared for final delivery within Switzerland.
Long-term cooperation with logistics partners
Strong partnerships are particularly important for heavy and fragile products. A logistics provider needs to know how tile pallets should be secured, handled and unloaded. Established processes, regular transport routes and reliable scheduling allow us to organise deliveries more efficiently and calculate transport costs more accurately.
This does not mean that shipping a heavy pallet can cost as little as sending a parcel. It does, however, help us avoid unnecessary expenses and keep the price as competitive as possible for our customers.
Collection from the temporary warehouse in Netstal
Customers with a suitable vehicle who wish to organise the onward transport themselves can arrange collection from our temporary warehouse in Netstal. This can significantly reduce the cost of final delivery.
The vehicle, payload and loading area must be suitable for the weight and dimensions of the goods. The collection date must be agreed with our team in advance so that the order is ready and can be loaded safely.
Why two to three weeks is a fast delivery time for tiles
Many products in the Vitale Tiles range are held by our manufacturers or partner warehouses in Italy. Even so, the regular tile delivery time is generally only two to three weeks. During this period, availability and quantities are checked, the goods are picked and securely packed, collected, transported to Switzerland as part of a consolidated load and scheduled for final delivery.
Compared with individually organised transport, this creates a sensible balance between speed and cost. A dedicated collection might sometimes be faster, but it would often make the transport considerably more expensive. Consolidated shipping therefore offers a practical middle ground: short, predictable lead times without unnecessarily high freight costs.
If a project has a fixed schedule, we recommend ordering the tiles early and not allowing the delivery window to run right up to the planned installation date. Manufacturer stock, public holidays, weather, traffic conditions or unusual access can affect an individual delivery. If a delay becomes apparent, we inform the customer and look for a suitable solution.
Tile samples arrive faster by parcel
The situation is different for tile samples. A small sample weighs much less than a full order and can be sent by post or parcel service in suitable protective packaging. The delivery time for samples is therefore generally only two to three days.
Fast sampling allows customers to assess colour, surface and texture in their own room before ordering several square metres for pallet delivery. This is particularly useful for larger areas because light, wall colours, furniture and other materials can change the appearance of a tile.
How does delivery to the customer work?
According to our delivery information, regular pallets are delivered to the paved kerbside. The driver normally unloads the pallet using a tail lift and pallet truck. The goods are not carried into the building, garage or construction site.
There are practical and insurance-related reasons for this. A pallet can weigh several hundred kilograms. A pallet truck requires a firm, level and sufficiently wide surface. Gravel, grass, high kerbs, steps, steep slopes and soft ground cannot be crossed reliably.
The onward transport from the kerbside to the storage or installation area should therefore be organised before the delivery. Depending on the quantity, helpers, a private pallet truck, forklift, crane or construction company may be required.
Checklist before your tile delivery
A little preparation is usually enough to ensure that the delivery runs smoothly:
- Check whether the delivery address is accessible by truck.
- Tell us early about narrow roads, height restrictions, driving bans or steep gradients.
- Keep enough space clear at the paved kerbside for unloading.
- Arrange the onward transport to the building or storage location.
- Take the total weight into account for lifts, vehicles and temporary storage areas.
- Store the boxes in a dry and secure place in accordance with the product requirements.
- Check the delivery for visible transport damage when it is handed over.
If the access situation is unclear, send us photos or details as early as possible. You can reach us by phone, email or WhatsApp through our contact page.
A personal delivery into the mountains of Graubünden
Not every construction site is located next to an easily accessible main road. One particularly memorable project took us to a mountain hut in the Graubünden Alps. Because the delivery situation was unusual, we delivered the tiles personally.
This type of delivery is not part of the standard process and needs to be planned individually. It does, however, show how we approach special projects: we examine the situation, clarify what is possible and try to find a sensible solution. In Switzerland, mountain roads, narrow access routes and remote buildings can all be part of a construction project.
This does not mean that every pallet can be transported directly to a mountain hut. The vehicle, road, weight, weather and unloading options all have to be suitable. Anyone planning a project in a difficult-to-reach region should therefore involve us as early as possible.
Frequently asked questions about tile delivery in Switzerland
How long does tile delivery take?
The regular delivery time at Vitale Tiles is generally two to three weeks. Tile samples are normally delivered by post or parcel service within two to three days.
Why can tiles not simply be sent as parcels?
A larger tile order is too heavy and too vulnerable to damage for conventional parcel shipping. On a pallet, the boxes remain grouped together, can be secured professionally and are handled less frequently by hand during transport.
How much do tiles weigh per square metre?
The weight depends on the material, format and thickness. Porcelain tiles with a thickness of around 9 mm often weigh approximately 20 kg per square metre. 2 cm garden slabs can weigh around 44 kg per square metre. The specifications for the particular product are always decisive.
Why are shipping costs relatively high for small orders?
Even a single pallet has to be collected, assigned space in the truck, included in transport planning and delivered with suitable unloading equipment. Some of these basic costs apply regardless of whether the pallet contains a few or many square metres.
Where is the pallet delivered?
Delivery is normally made to the paved kerbside. Transport into the house, garage or final storage location must be organised by the recipient.
Can I collect my tiles in Netstal?
Yes. Collection from the temporary warehouse in Netstal can be arranged in advance. You will need a suitable vehicle and must organise the onward transport yourself.
Are deliveries to mountain regions possible?
This depends on access, vehicle size, total weight and unloading options. Special delivery locations should be discussed individually before ordering. The earlier we receive the information, the better we can plan an appropriate solution.
Conclusion: safe tile transport requires planning
Tiles are not delivered by truck to make shipping unnecessarily complicated. Their high weight and vulnerability to breakage require a stable pallet and professional transport. Even a medium-sized order can weigh several hundred kilograms, while outdoor slabs can quickly push the total beyond one tonne.
Vitale Tiles uses consolidated loads, reliable partners and coordinated route planning to make this logistics process as efficient as possible. This allows us to deliver Italian tiles to Switzerland generally within two to three weeks while keeping costs as low as possible despite the weight and distance.
Explore our tile range, order suitable samples first or read our complete tile buying guide. If you have questions about delivery time, site access, pallet weight or an unusual construction site, we will be happy to advise you personally.