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Container Shipping Costs UK
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A container is the standard way to move a household overseas from the UK, and a container move is a service rather than a box you hire: your mover packs, loads, clears customs and delivers at the other end. This guide covers how the process works, container sizes, FCL vs. LCL, and which guide to read for your destination.
The first thing to work out is how much you are taking. That tells you whether you need a 20ft or 40ft container, or whether sharing a container would be cheaper.
From there, the process is fairly straightforward: choose your shipping option, decide how you want your belongings collected and delivered, find a removal company and prepare the necessary customs paperwork.
There are six main steps:
Once you know roughly how much you are moving, where you are going and which shipping option you want, you can start comparing removal companies.
International removal companies can handle the whole process for you, from packing and collecting your belongings in the UK to arranging the sea freight, customs clearance and delivery at your destination.
Many offer both full container loads (FCL) and shared container loads (LCL), although the routes and services available vary between companies.
Sirelo works with hundreds of international removal companies across the UK. The companies below specialise in overseas moves and can quote for container shipping to a range of destinations.
For most household moves, the choice comes down to a 20ft or 40ft container. The right size depends on how much you are taking with you, so it is worth estimating your volume before choosing one.
A bedroom count can give you a rough idea, but it is not a precise measurement. A three-bedroom home with relatively little furniture may need much less space than a smaller home filled with large furniture, books and other belongings.
For that reason, use the number of cubic metres as your main guide.
A 20ft container holds around 33 m³ and is usually suitable for a household of up to three bedrooms. That could include beds, sofas, wardrobes, appliances, bikes and packed boxes.
A 40ft container holds around 68 m³ and is generally the better option for a four-bedroom home or larger. It gives you roughly twice the space of a 20ft container and can also leave room for larger items, including a car where the shipping arrangements and destination rules allow it.
Not sure how much space you need? Our volume calculator gives you an estimate in cubic metres, which you can then use when comparing shipping options and requesting quotes.
Once you have a rough idea of your volume, you can decide whether to take a container to yourself or share one with other households.
FCL (Full Container Load) means you have exclusive use of a 20ft or 40ft container. You pay for the container itself rather than just the space your belongings occupy.
LCL (Less than Container Load), or shared-container shipping, means your belongings travel in a container alongside other shipments. You pay for the amount of space you use, usually measured in cubic metres.
For smaller moves, LCL is normally the cheaper option. Once your belongings take up most of a container, having the container to yourself can make more financial sense. The exact point varies by route and quote.
| FCL | LCL | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Whole-home moves or anyone who wants more control over the departure | Smaller moves and part loads where keeping the cost down matters most |
| Cost | Higher upfront, but can offer better value when you have a lot to ship | Lower for smaller shipments because you pay for the space you use |
| Timing | Can usually be shipped once your belongings are ready | Can take longer because your goods are consolidated with other shipments |
| Handling | Your belongings stay together in one container | Your belongings are handled as part of a consolidated shipment |
For a more detailed comparison of the costs, including when FCL can become better value than LCL, see our Container Shipping Costs UK guide.
Once you know what you are shipping, you can decide how much of the transport you want the removal company to handle.
There are three main options:
| Option | What’s included |
|---|---|
| Door-to-door | The removal company collects your belongings from your home and arranges delivery to your new address. Packing and customs services can also be included. |
| Drop & fill | A container is delivered to your home for you to load yourself. The company then collects it and handles the shipping. This is less common for household moves. |
| Port-to-port | You arrange transport to the UK port and collect your belongings from the destination port yourself. This can reduce the cost, but leaves you with more of the logistics to organise. |
Door-to-door is the simplest option if you want the removal company to manage most of the move. Port-to-port can be cheaper, but you need to arrange the transport at both ends and deal with more of the logistics yourself.
Sea freight is the standard choice for moving a household internationally. A container can carry furniture, appliances and boxes in large quantities, and the cost per item is much lower than sending the same belongings by air.
Air freight is mainly useful for smaller or urgent shipments. It can get your belongings to the destination in days rather than weeks, but the cost rises quickly with the weight and volume of your shipment.
If you are moving an entire home, sea freight will usually be the more practical option. Air freight makes more sense for a few essentials you need before the rest of your belongings arrive.
You do not necessarily have to arrange every part of the move yourself. Depending on the company and the service you choose, you can pay for everything from collection and packing to customs clearance, storage and delivery.
| Service | What’s included |
|---|---|
| Collection and delivery | Collection from your home and delivery to your new address, or transport to and from the ports if you choose a port-to-port service. |
| Customs clearance | Help with import and export paperwork and customs clearance at the relevant ports. |
| Packing services | Professional packing and unpacking if you do not want to pack everything yourself. |
| Storage | Short- or long-term storage at the UK or destination end, where available. |
Exactly what is included varies between companies, so check the quote carefully. A low headline price is not necessarily cheaper if you then have to pay separately for packing, delivery or customs handling.
The basic process is similar wherever you move, but the details can change considerably between countries. Customs paperwork, quarantine rules, import restrictions, ports and transit times all depend on your destination.
The guides below cover the main requirements, costs and transit times for each route.
| Destination | What the route involves | Guide |
| USA | You can ship to an East or West Coast port, which affects both the sailing time and the inland journey afterwards. You will need a detailed inventory for US customs, and household goods that meet the relevant conditions can generally enter duty free. | Shipping a container from the UK to the USA |
| Australia | Australian biosecurity checks are an important part of the process. Plants, seeds and some other items are restricted, while wooden goods may be inspected for pests. Your inventory and packing need to meet Australia’s requirements. | Shipping a container from the UK to Australia |
| Canada | You will need an itemised inventory, including details such as values and, for some mechanical goods, makes and serial numbers. If you are also bringing a car, there are additional import requirements to check. | Shipping a container from the UK to Canada |
| UAE | Shipments usually arrive through Jebel Ali or another UAE port and are checked against local import rules. Some goods, including medicines, plants and food, may require approval, while restricted items cannot be imported. | Shipping a container from the UK to Dubai |
These are typical sea-freight transit times, not guaranteed door-to-door delivery dates. Your total moving time can be longer once collection, consolidation, customs clearance and final delivery are included.
| Route | Typical shipping time |
|---|---|
| UK → USA | 4–8 weeks |
| UK → Canada | 4–8 weeks |
| UK → Australia | 8–16 weeks |
| UK → UAE | 3–6 weeks |
If you are moving to mainland Europe, you probably will not need a shipping container at all. Most household moves from the UK to Europe go by road, with the main choice being whether your belongings share a vehicle with other households or travel in a vehicle of their own.
That is a different type of move from international container shipping, so start with our guide to European removals from the UK.
Your removal company will normally handle the packing if you choose a full-service move, but it is still useful to know what good packing involves. Proper packing protects your belongings during a long journey and makes customs inspections easier.
If you are packing yourself:
The paperwork and import requirements also vary by destination. Before shipping, you may need documents such as your V5C logbook, proof of insurance and proof of identity. Your removal or vehicle shipping company should confirm exactly what is required for your destination.
Once you know roughly how much you are taking and where you are going, the next step is to get a few quotes. Compare what each company includes as well as the headline price, particularly for packing, customs clearance, delivery and storage.
Sirelo can help you compare international removal companies and request up to five free quotes.
