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Container Shipping Costs UK 2025

What to Know About Container Shipping Costs

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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.

Cost of Shipping a Container Overseas From the UK

The cost of shipping a container overseas from the UK ranges from £1,100 – £5,700 for a European move and £4,800 – £25,000 overseas.
Shipping costs from to
20ft Container
40ft Container

20 ft Shipping Container Price for Moving

The average cost of sending a 20 ft shipping container overseas ranges between £1,800 to £15,700.
Destination20 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.

40 ft Shipping Container Price for Moving

The average cost of sending a 40 ft shipping container overseas is between £2,700 to £25,000.
Destination40 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.

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Estimate Your Container Shipping Costs

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.

Shipping Container Dimensions for Overseas Moves

The most common shipping container dimensions are a 20ft container and a 40ft container.

What Fits in a 20ft Container?

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.

What you can fit in a 20 ft container

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)

What Fits in a 40ft Container?

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.

What you can fit in a 40 ft container

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)

FCL vs LCL: How to Choose?

If you’re looking to ship cheaply overseas, using LCL shipping you can reduce the cost of your move by 25-33%.

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:

FCL is...

 Flat rates
 Faster option
 More space
 More expensive

LCL is...

 Cheaper option (pay for what you use)
 Ideal for smaller moves (less than 15m³)
 Great for students
 Longer waiting times

Freight Fees: Air Freight vs. Sea Freight

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.

Air Freight

 Fast
 Access to most locations
 Easy tracking
 Weight limitations
 Expensive

Sea Freight

 Cheapest option
 Great for large volumes
 Possible to ship a car
 Long shipping times

Factors Making Up Container Shipping Costs in the UK

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.

  • Distance – Longer routes = higher container freight rates
  • Seasonality – Summer tends to be more expensive
  • Port Location – Major ports cost less
  • Mode of Transport – Sea vs. Air Freight
  • Container Size – Larger = higher cost
  • Volume & Weight – Heavier loads increase cost
  • FCL or LCL – Shared loads cost less

Compare Container Shipping Quotes

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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Additional Factors to Consider When Shipping Overseas

  • Customs charges and taxes
  • Insurance
  • Packing & loading services
  • Storage fees
  • Inspection and documentation fees

Read more about international moving costs that you should keep in mind when planning your move in our article:

Read everything you need to know about international moving costs.

Cost of Shipping a Car Overseas in a Shipping Container

The average cost of shipping a vehicle overseas ranges from £589.00 to £8,372, depending on your destination and vehicle type.
  1. Explore your shipping options – Choose whether you go for container or Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) shipping.
  2. Get quotes from companies – Requesting multiple quotes from different companies is the smartest way to find the right deal for yourself.
  3. Prepare your car for transport – Clean your vehicle well and drain all the liquid before transport to avoid incurring excess costs and damage.
Read everything you need to know about shipping your car overseas.

Cost of Shipping Furniture in a Shipping Container

The average cost of shipping furniture overseas can be anywhere from £1000 to £14,000.

Ready for Your Overseas Move?

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.

Frequently asked questions

What is shipping container transport?

How do I choose the right shipping container company?

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

How much does a 20ft shipping container for moving cost?

How much does a 40 feet shipping container for moving cost?

Is there a container shipping cost calculator?