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Understanding container shipping costs can be overwhelming. From shipping container sizes to service types and hidden fees, there’s a lot to unpack. This guide breaks it all down, whether you’re planning to move a car, household goods, or just need a clear container shipping cost calculator.
| Destination | 20 ft Shipping Container Price (Sea Freight) |
| USA | £4,660 – £5,750 |
| Canada | £4,975 – £8,390 |
| Australia | £7,770 – £15,695 |
| New Zealand | £3,110 – £4,660 |
| South Africa | £3.110 – £4,660 |
| Japan | £2,795 – £4,660 |
| Dubai | £1,865- £2,100 |
*Disclaimer: The above figures for sea freight container shipping rates are estimates. The actual price will vary depending on the port of departure, port of arrival, availability of containers, and services.
| Destination | 40 ft Shipping Container Price (Sea Freight) |
| USA | £5,905 – £8,545 |
| Canada | £7,770 – £8,855 |
| Australia | £15,230 – £24,865 |
| New Zealand | £11,655 – £15,540 |
| South Africa | £11,655 – £15,540 |
| Japan | £3,230 – £3,575 |
| Dubai | £2,795 – £3,110 |
*Disclaimer: The above figures for sea freight container shipping rates are estimates. The actual price will vary depending on the port of departure, port of arrival, availability of containers, and services.
Use our container shipping cost calculator to get real-time quotes tailored to your needs. Simply input your origin, destination, and estimated volume.
Pro Tip: Knowing the volume of your shipment helps estimate how much it costs to ship a container internationally more accurately.
The inside of a 20-foot shipping container easily fits the contents of a small household. You can ship bikes and household goods such as closets, beds, fridges, tables, etc. The total volume that can fit inside is around 33.0 m³, and the maximum weight is 24,850 kg.
Size: 6.1m x 2.4m x 2.6m
Total volume: 33.0 m³ (1,179 ft3)
Total shipping load: 24,850 kg (54,783 lbs)
A 40ft shipping container fits the contents of large households such as bigger family homes, and can even fit a car next to your goods. The total volume is 76.0 m³ and the maximum weight capacity is 30,200 kg.
Size: 12.2m x 2.4m x 2.6m
Total volume: 76.0 m³ (2,714 ft3)
Total shipping load: 30,200 kg (66,577 lbs)
When considering your container shipping costs from the UK it’s important to decide between FCL and LCL. Container shipping companies offer Less Than Container Load (LCL) for those only transporting a small volume of things.
Below are the pros and cons for both:
Freight fees are a big part of international moving costs. Sending shipping containers overseas via air or sea freight will determine a large part of your moving costs. Generally, sea freight has lower freight fees, but air freight is much faster. Below you can find the differences between the options.
Understanding how your container shipping rates for moving are calculated is the first step to cutting costs and feeling more in control of your move. Below, you see what factors affect the container shipping moving costs.
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
Read more about international moving costs that you should keep in mind when planning your move in our article:
Now that you have a good overview of shipping container cost, dimensions, other factors to consider, etc., we hope you feel ready for your international move. If you need more questions answered, check our FAQs and linked articles.
