International Removals from the UK: Costs & Shipping Times 2026 | CargoHolidaysCargo Ship Travel & Freighter Cruises

Last updated: 22 October 2026

Moving abroad from the UK means your furniture, boxes and often your car will travel by sea. Almost every international removal outside Europe goes in a shipping container on a cargo ship. Understanding how that works is the best way to avoid overpaying, choose the right mover, and know when your sofa will actually arrive.

This guide explains the options, typical costs and transit times for the most popular destinations, the paperwork you need, and the questions to ask every removals company before you sign.

How international removals work

An international removal has four stages:

Survey and quote. The mover inspects your home, in person or by video, and calculates the volume in cubic feet or cubic metres.
Packing and collection. Professional packers wrap and box everything, create an inventory, and load the goods into a container or a lorry.
Sea freight. The container is trucked to a UK port such as Felixstowe, Southampton or London Gateway and loaded onto a container ship.
Customs and delivery. At destination, an agent clears customs, delivers the goods to your new home and unpacks.

The sea voyage is usually the longest part. Container ships run fixed weekly services, so your belongings sail on the same kind of ship that cargo ship passengers travel on.

Cranes loading containers onto ships at a busy port — Most international removals travel inside a 20ft or 40ft container.

Full container, shared container or air freight?

Option	Best for	Typical volume	Pros	Cons
Full 20ft container	2–3 bedroom home	Around 1,000 cu ft	Sealed at your door, fastest sea option	You pay for the whole box
Full 40ft container	3–5 bedroom home	Around 2,000 cu ft	Best price per cubic foot	Needs good road access
Groupage (shared)	Smaller moves	50–600 cu ft	Pay only for the space you use	Slower, as it waits for a full load
Air freight	Essentials	A few boxes	Arrives in days	Very expensive per kilo
Road (Europe)	France, Spain, Germany etc.	Any	Door to door in days	Costs rise with distance

Most families moving to Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the USA ship a 20ft container and send a small air-freight consignment of essentials so they can live normally while the container is at sea.

How much does an international removal cost?

Prices depend on volume, destination, access at both ends, packing, insurance and fuel surcharges. As a rough 2026 guide for a full container door to door:

Destination	Typical sea time	Indicative cost, 20ft	Indicative cost, 40ft
USA east coast	2–3 weeks	£4,000–£7,000	£6,000–£10,000
Canada	2–3 weeks	£4,500–£7,500	£6,500–£10,500
Australia	5–7 weeks	£5,000–£9,000	£7,000–£12,000
New Zealand	6–8 weeks	£6,000–£10,000	£8,000–£13,000
Dubai / UAE	3–4 weeks	£3,500–£6,000	£5,000–£8,500
Spain (road)	3–7 days	£2,500–£5,500	n/a

These are indicative ranges only. Always get at least three written quotes based on a proper survey.

Ways to cut the cost:

Declutter ruthlessly. You pay by volume, so selling old furniture can save hundreds of pounds.
Be flexible on dates. Summer is peak season for removals, and prices rise.
Pack books and non-fragile items yourself, if the mover’s insurance allows it.
Consider groupage if you have less than half a container.

How long does it take?

Allow the sea time above, plus one to two weeks at each end for collection, port handling and customs. A UK to Australia removal usually takes 8 to 12 weeks door to door. Delays happen when ships are rerouted, ports are congested or customs pick a container for inspection, so never plan to move into an empty house on the day your container is due.

Vehicles loading onto a roll-on roll-off ship — Cars usually travel separately from household goods, on a ro-ro ship or in the container.

Customs and paperwork

Inventory. A detailed, numbered packing list is essential for customs everywhere.
Transfer of residence relief. Most countries let you import used household goods duty-free if you are moving there permanently and have owned the items for a minimum period. Rules differ, so check the destination’s customs website.
Restricted items. Australia and New Zealand are very strict on soil, wood, plant material and food. Clean garden furniture, bikes and shoes thoroughly before packing.
Prohibited items. Never pack flammables, gas bottles, aerosols, ammunition or perishable food.
Car shipping. Vehicles need extra paperwork. See our guide to shipping a car to Australia from the UK.

How to choose an international removals company

Check memberships. Look for trade association membership such as BAR Overseas or FIDI, which usually means financial protection if the company fails.
Insist on a survey. A quote without a survey is a guess.
Compare like for like. Check that each quote includes packing, port charges, destination charges, customs clearance, delivery and unpacking.
Read the insurance terms. Marine insurance is usually about 2–3% of the declared value. Check the excess and what counts as “owner packed”.
Ask who handles the destination. Most UK movers use a partner agent overseas. Ask for the agent’s name and reviews.
Get the timeline in writing, including the latest collection date and the estimated arrival window.

Travelling with your belongings

Some movers like to sail too. A cabin on a container ship lets you cross the ocean in the same way as your furniture, with a lot more luggage allowance than a flight. Read about moving to Australia by ship or ask us about cargo ship voyages on your route.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move abroad from the UK?

A full 20ft container door to door typically costs from around £4,000 to the USA or Canada and from around £5,000 to Australia, depending on volume, access and services.

What is the cheapest way to ship furniture overseas?

Groupage, or a shared container, is usually cheapest for smaller moves because you only pay for the space you use. For a full house, a 40ft container gives the lowest price per cubic foot.

How long do international removals take?

Usually 3–5 weeks to North America and 8–12 weeks to Australia or New Zealand, door to door.

Do I pay import duty on my household goods?

Usually not, if you qualify for transfer of residence relief and have owned the items for a minimum period. Check the rules of your destination country.

Can I ship my car in the same container?

Often yes, in a 40ft container with your household goods. It needs separate customs paperwork, and some countries have strict import rules.

When should I book an international removal?

At least 2–3 months before your move, and earlier for summer moves.

Want to sail to your new country too?

Tell us where you are moving and we’ll check passenger cabins on ships sailing your route.

Get a cargo ship voyage quote →

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Steve Joury

Cargo trip advisor at Cargoholidays

Passionate about slow trip travel and sea. Steve know most shipping route and procedure to discover our beautiful world from sea on a container ship. He have been at most trips from 7 days on cargo travel to 140 days on board.