John PerryFinding the best delivery service in Philadelphia can make or break your day, from running a busy restaurant to sending an urgent package across town.
The city has a huge mix of options, from nimble bike messengers darting through Center City to international shipping giants. I dug into the local top courier companies in Philadelphia to find the ones that are genuinely reliable and quick.
So here’s my rundown of the standout providers to help you match the right partner to whatever you need shipped.
How much does a delivery service cost in Philadelphia?
A delivery service in Philadelphia can cost anywhere from about $15 for a local flat-fee drop to several hundred dollars for premium international shipping.
| Delivery Type | Typical Cost |
| Local same-day courier (within the city) | $15 to $40 |
| Rush or time-critical local run | $40 to $90 |
| Regional or out-of-state express | $90 to $250 |
| International shipping (parcel) | $60 to $300 and up |
1. Rapid Delivery Service Inc.
Website: rapidsameday.com
Address: 401 S 2nd St #202
Contact: 888 973 4406
Hours: Available 24/7
Urgent legal filings need a courier that really gets the pressure of strict court deadlines, and Rapid Delivery Service has been doing exactly that for over four decades.
A paralegal friend relies on them constantly, and their 400-mile same-day radius plus cloud case-management tools make uploading tasks simple.
Their versatility is the real draw for demanding clients. Beyond document runs, they also handle time-critical medical and biotech shipments at any hour.
Their fleet covers cars and trucks, though the nimble bike dispatch is limited to city streets only.
The one hassle is that setting up a new recurring plan means you have to call their staff for a manual consultation rather than booking it yourself online.
Outstanding experience
I had an outstanding experience with Rapid Delivery Service! We needed a last-minute RUSH courier pick-up and delivery due to tight convention hall move-in requirements, and they truly delivered. Despite the challenging timeframe, they managed to meet my insane turnaround time without breaking a sweat, always with a smile!
Jeremy Miller | Google Review
2. Eric’s Instant Delivery
Website: courierservicephiladelphia.com
Address: 261 Old York Rd #723-A, Jenkintown
Contact: 215 881 2222
Hours: Available 24/7
Moving delicate cargo like catering or the kind of timed flower deliveries that have to land on time can be nerve-wracking. I recently sent some perishable event items across the region, and Eric’s handled the temperature control flawlessly.
Their regional reach stretches up to a 500-mile express radius, so even distant drop-offs arrive quickly and safely. They also run dedicated airport retrieval routes and offer handy delivery confirmation extras like photo proof.
The trade-off is that their fleet is limited to standard corporate vehicles, so they can’t take on heavy industrial freight. Their same-day express is also capped at that 500-mile limit from their hub, which is worth knowing for far-flung shipments.
He truly saved the day
Eric is a miracle worker! I had shipped items with UPS from FL to PA and they weren’t going to arrive in time for an event. Eric jumped right on it when I explained my woes and desperate plea and really went above and beyond. He not only picked up printed materials for me from one location, but then counted out and delivered just a couple items to 3 locations that were more than 30 minutes apart outside of the city. He truly saved the day while updating me every step of the way and being so kind.
Brianna Bartlett | Google Review
3. Black and Mobile
Website: blackandmobile.com
Address: 3675 Market Street, Suite 200
Contact: 844 266 2263
Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Black and Mobile makes it easy to back local food brands you won’t find on the big apps. It started in 2019 as the country’s first Black-owned food delivery network, built to grow the reach of local food makers and link them with diners who want to shop local.
They handle quick drops and full catering runs, and the app also creates driver jobs in parts of the city that need them. A coworker orders lunch through them every week and loves finding new spots.
Just know the checkout total is an estimate and can shift a bit before the final bill. App payments are also final, so check your order before you tap confirm.
Fast and efficient
We get groceries delivered through black and mobile, and every time the delivery is fast and efficient. The groceries are never damaged in any way. David was our driver today and was very polite and helpful with the bags. Thanks much! Use these guys/gals, you won’t be disappointed!
Sam (Amber) | Google Review
4. DHL Express Service Point Philadelphia
Website: locations.us.express.dhl.com
Address: 1880 John F Kennedy Blvd, Ste 104
Contact: 215 252 5885
Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Saturday, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Shipping across borders usually means wrestling with a maze of customs rules, so it helps to have experts on your side. When I shipped a bulky parcel overseas, the team at DHL Express Service Point made the paperwork surprisingly painless.
They lean on a huge global network that moves packages fast, and they even offer a doorstep luggage service for travelers heading abroad. You can track your shipment live through their app the whole way.
Two things to prepare for are that walk-in customers have to show a photo ID for any transaction, and you’ll need papers proving the value of any parcel that isn’t just documents. So bring what you need to avoid a second trip.
Very professional and patient
Mr Vee Sharma was very professional and patient. I had my 5 year old son with me who would not sit still and I had to stop and tell him to sit still and Mr. Sharma was not annoyed or at least didn’t show it. His store was very organized and clean. No clutter. He had me double check and verify the shipping address. He explained how to check the tracking clearly. I came all the way from Delco to this location because of the good reviews and it was worth it.
Candace Fox | Google Review
5. Timecycle
Website: timecycle.com
Address: 230 N 2nd St #1C
Contact: 215 627 7874 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Businesses stuck in congested downtown blocks need a courier that can cut through traffic without breaking a sweat.
Timecycle offers a remarkably fast 15-minute delivery tier built specifically for Center City clients, and a friend who runs a print shop swears by it for last-second client drops.
They back that speed with a guarantee that refunds the whole trip if it shows up late, plus round-trip discounts for two-way runs. Beyond point-to-point courier work, they also keep warehousing space to handle bigger volume jobs.
Budget-minded clients should note that the cheap bike messenger rates vanish if you order after mid-afternoon. Any job needing a motor vehicle also gets an automatic fuel surcharge tacked on, so the low rates don’t always hold.
Set my account up immediately
Called 5 courier services and Timecycle was ready for business and set my account up immediately. They even scheduled a pick up for me so I could grab lunch and not wait. So far great job!!!
Jax | Google Review
