Container Shipping Costs UK

How Much Is Shipping a Container from the UK?

The average shipping container transport costs in the UK typically range between £1,800 to £15,700 for a 20-foot container and £2,700 to £25,000 for a 40-foot container.

Container Shipping Prices from the UK to:

Cost of Container Shipping from the UK to:

Disclaimer. The above figures for sea container shipping rates are estimates. The actual price will vary depending on the port of departure, port of arrival, availability of containers, and services.

Container shipping rates depend on several factors, namely the type of transportation you take, the volume of your move, and the destination.

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40ft Container

Disclaimer: All figures shown are estimates. Actual rates may vary.

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How to Ship Cheaply

Container shipping companies offer Less Than Container Load (LCL) for those who are only transporting a small volume of things. You will share your container with others travelling to a similar destination.

😲 You can reduce the cost of your move by 25-33%.

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Requesting removal quotes from different container shipping companies can be key to finding the best deal. Fill in our form to receive up to 5 free quotes and compare services, reviews and prices:

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Factors that Influence Container Shipping Costs

Understanding how your container shipping rates are calculated is the first step to cutting costs and feeling more in control of your move.

1. Volume: It goes without saying that, your items’ volume and weight, will determine international container shipping rates. The prices will increase or lower depending on how much stuff you’re moving.

If you want to learn more about container shipping types and sizes – and how they can influence your price – look at our container shipping guide:

2. Distance: The further, the more expensive it will be. The choice of port-to-port or door-to-door will also affect the final price.

3. Origin and Arrival Port: Popular routes will be cheaper than more obscure ones, competition drives down prices. Also, consider customs duties and service fees can be charged and will vary from country to country.

4. Time of the Year: Moving during summer, when demand is higher and therefore capacity lower, tends to be more expensive than other times of the year.

5. Mode of Transport: Sea freight is the cheapest way to transport container shipping, but it’s also slower. Unless you’re in a rush or are bringing a small amount of items, it is recommended over air freight. Depending on your destination, you can also rely on other transport methods. Find them on our page here.

Additional Factors

• Inspection fees – This isn’t common due to technical advancements and a thoroughly filled-out list of the container’s contents. But, if it does occur, you can expect the fees to be passed on. The cost differs based on country.
• General Rate Increase – Despite having the word increase in the name, this factor can go up or down. It’s based on demand, so the more demand for a route and with limited space, you’ll see the costs rise. The inverse is also true and can lead to lower costs.

Other International Moving Costs

There’s a little more to moving house than simply container shipping rates, so we have made a summary of international moving costs here.

• Shipping cars – Car shipping costs vary tremendously depending on how quickly you need your car and which shipping method you use. If you want to know more, you can read our page on vehicle shipping.
• Insurance – Putting your worldly possessions into the hands of someone else is stressful. Make it a little less so by covering yourself with insurance.
• Customs charges and taxes – Check beforehand the regulations of your destination country to see if you will have any taxes or duties imposed on the value of your goods.
• Packing costs – Sometimes this will be included in your removal company costs. If not, then check out our expert packing guide.
• Storage costs – If you are not relocating permanently, it might be cheaper to put some items in storage than to lug them all with you. Our page on moving items into storage has more information.

Ready for Your Overseas Move?

First of all, congratulations! Even making it to the end of this article is something to be proud of. Moving house is a stressful task, but now that you know everything about container shipping costs, you are one step closer to your final destination. In case you might need further assistance organising your move overseas, we recommend checking out the pages we have linked for you below. 🙂

If you are feeling disheartened, take a leaf out of Confucius’ book and remember the man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.