Research from the last-mile delivery business Gophr reveals only 27% of outlets serving mostly trade customers offer same-day delivery compared to 50% of DIY-focused retailers.
The findings are presented in a new report entitled ‘From Click to Fix: The State of UK Trade Delivery 2026’, conducted by Gophr Trade — the brand’s specialist delivery service for the construction and DIY industry. The survey, which audited major trade retailers and independent suppliers across the UK, including Toolstation, Travis Perkins and B&Q, revealed that same-day delivery adoption across UK hardware and DIY retailers has increased year-on-year, rising from 22% to 32%.
However, while same-day availability across the sector has improved overall, speed and flexibility remain inconsistent. Nearly half (46%) of retailers offering same-day delivery impose conditions, such as cut-off times, location restrictions or limited product availability, and just 26% of businesses offering same-day delivery can fulfil orders within the hour — a critical window for projects operating on tight schedules.
Perhaps most significantly, the study also found “a clear divide” in delivery capability depending on whether a retailer serves more DIY customers or tradespeople. Only 27% of retailers “serving mostly trade customers” offer same-day delivery, compared to 50% of DIY-focused retailers, and 44% who serve a mixture of both.
With data from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) showing that 49% of trade firms report delays and 23% having to cancel work entirely in 2025, Gophr argues this is evidence that the need for on-demand delivery in supporting projects is only escalating. Yet its findings highlight a growing problem — hardware and DIY retailers are serving DIYers and smaller projects faster than larger projects for tradespeople, where delays have the biggest knock-on effect.
Furthermore, it argues that the “trend of trade customers being an afterthought” persists even among those who do offer same-day delivery. Among businesses that mainly service a trade client base, of those that offer same-day delivery, just 13% can deliver within the hour, with the remaining 87% only promising delivery within 24 hours and applying some form of condition.
By comparison, 33% of DIY-focused retailers and 50% of businesses that service both DIY and trade offer within-the-hour delivery with no extra conditions, “further underlining how trade customers continue to be deprioritised.”
Despite this, all major trade retailers offer click-and-collect, “meaning much of the infrastructure required to implement flexible same-day delivery is already in place.” Accordingly, Gophr makes the case that “by utilising a ship-from-store model and integrating local, multi-drop courier networks, trade retailers could extend existing store-level fulfilment to better support time-critical projects.”
Graham Smith, Strategic Account Director at Gophr, commented: “The growth in same-day delivery adoption shows the sector is moving in the right direction, but the pace of progress is uneven. Businesses servicing DIYers are the ones setting the benchmark, while predominantly trade retailers, whose customers require tools and materials the fastest, are lagging.
“Same-day delivery only delivers real value when it’s fast and flexible. Conditional or delayed options — even if they’re delivered on the day — can still leave tradespeople stuck on site waiting for materials, which has a direct impact on productivity and profitability.”
Graham added: “As pressure builds on the industry to deliver projects faster and more efficiently, improving same-day delivery further, particularly for trade customers, will be essential. It’s easier than many think.”
The full report is available via uk.gophr.com/trade-diy-delivery-report-2026
Gophr describes itself as “a modern same day delivery network combining the speed and platform features of a rapid delivery app, with the broad range of services and higher compliance levels of a professional courier company.” Stating that it “connect(s) businesses of all types and sizes with their customers in cities and towns across the UK,” its current clients include Wickes, Screwfix, Doccla, Dulux, Leyland SDM, Yoox Net-a-Porter and Phlo.
