Pallet Shipping from the UK: Costs & Times 2026

Última actualización: 22 de octubre de 2026

Shipping by pallet is the most efficient way to send heavy or bulky goods that are too big for a parcel courier but too small for a whole container. Businesses use pallet networks every day. Individuals use them for moving abroad, sending goods to a holiday home or shipping furniture bought online.

Standard pallet sizes

Pallet	Dimensions	Typical maximum weight
UK standard pallet	1.2m × 1.0m	Up to around 1,000kg (full pallet)
Euro pallet (EUR)	1.2m × 0.8m	Up to around 1,000kg+
Half pallet	1.2m × 1.0m, up to about 1.1m tall	Up to around 500kg
Quarter pallet	1.2m × 1.0m, up to about 0.8m tall	Up to around 250kg

Heights and weight bands vary by carrier, and overhanging goods often cost extra.

Crane loading a container at a port at sunrise — Pallets going overseas are usually consolidated into shared containers.

Pallet shipping costs (2026 guide)

Ruta	Typical cost per full pallet	Typical transit
Within the UK (mainland)	£50–£150	Next day to 3 days
UK to France, Belgium or the Netherlands	£150–£350	2–5 days
UK to Spain, Italy or Germany	£250–£500	3–7 days
UK to Ireland	£150–£350	2–5 days
UK to the USA or Canada (sea LCL)	£300–£800+	3–6 weeks door to door
UK to Australia or NZ (sea LCL)	£500–£1,200+	8–12 weeks door to door

Indicative prices. Add customs clearance, duties and taxes, and any surcharges for tail-lift delivery, remote areas or residential addresses.

Customs after Brexit

Pallets from Great Britain to the EU now need customs paperwork:

Export declaration in the UK and an import declaration in the EU country
Commercial invoice with values, HS codes and country of origin
EORI number for businesses
Import VAT and possibly duty at destination
For personal belongings when moving abroad, transfer of residence relief may apply

Container cargo ship at sea — LCL sea freight is the cheapest way to send pallets long distances.

How to prepare a pallet

Use a sound pallet, with no broken boards
Stack heavy items at the bottom and keep the load within the pallet footprint
Wrap tightly with stretch film and strap the load to the pallet
Label clearly with addresses and phone numbers on at least two sides
Photograph the pallet before collection

Pallet or container?

Once you have around 8–10 pallets going overseas, a full 20ft container can be better value and safer. See tamaños de los contenedores de transporte y sea freight from the UK.

Preguntas frecuentes

How much does it cost to ship a pallet to Europe from the UK?

Typically £150–£500 per full pallet depending on the country, plus customs costs.

How long does pallet delivery to Europe take?

Usually 2–7 days from the UK, depending on the country and service.

Do I need customs paperwork to ship a pallet to the EU?

Yes. Since Brexit, export and import declarations and a commercial invoice are needed.

How heavy can a pallet be?

A full pallet is often up to around 1,000kg, but weight bands vary by carrier.

Can I ship a pallet to Australia?

Yes, usually by sea as LCL (shared container), taking around 8–12 weeks door to door.

Follow your freight across the ocean

Sail on the container ships that carry pallets around the world.

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Steve Joury

Asesor de viajes de carga at Cargoholidays

Apasionado de los viajes lentos y del mar. Steve conoce la mayoría de las rutas marítimas y el procedimiento para descubrir nuestro hermoso mundo desde el mar en un barco de contenedores. Ha estado en la mayoría de los viajes desde 7 días de viaje de carga hasta 140 días a bordo.