Container Shipping Costs UK

How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Container from the UK

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Container shipping rates depend on several factors, namely the type of transportation you take, the volume of your move, and the destination.

We know this wishy-washy answer is probably not what you want to hear, which is why we have put together the following tables indicating estimates for international container shipping costs of transporting a container port-to-port, via sea, for the average cost of a 20ft shipping container (approx. 3-bed house) and a 40ft shipping container (approx. 5-bed house).

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.

Get Container Shipping Cost Quotes from a Removal Company!

The quickest and most accurate way to determine your moving overseas shipping container cost is to get a quote from a removal company!

Requesting container shipping quotes through Sirelo will not only save you time but also money since we’ll connect you with up to 5 removal companies that you can compare to find the best container shipping rates in a jiffy. Just click below to start!

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.

The Volume of Your Move

It goes without saying, that transporting a few boxes will cost less than a 5-bedroom house. For sea-freight, the volume is more important. However, the weight will determine international container shipping rates for airfreight.

Distance of Your Move

Again, this one isn’t rocket science: hopping across the channel to France will cost you substantially less than travelling 9,000 miles to Australia. But the choice of port-to-port or door-to-door will affect your international container shipping costs too. While more expensive, we still recommend door-to-door delivery, unless of course you fancy carrying a 20-foot container yourself…thought not…

Exact Departure and Arrival Port

The exact port you are leaving from and travelling into affects your container shipping costs as 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.

Time of Year of Your Move

An easy way to save on your container shipping rates is to avoid the moving industry’s high season. Moving during summer, when demand is higher and therefore capacity lower, tends to be more expensive than other times of the year.

Mode of Transport

Is saving on your international container shipping costs or the speed your belongings reach you your priority? There is no right or wrong answer, but whether you pop your container on a plane or a boat will influence your container shipping rates.

Please Note: Air travel is only an option if you have a small volume of goods, less than a one-bedroom apartment. Otherwise, it won’t fit!

Additional Factors

• Inspection fees – As nothing comes for free, you won’t be surprised that if your goods are inspected, this will result in a fee. 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 – This is a fancy industry term that will affect container shipping costs. 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.

What Modes of Transport Can You Use?

As we mentioned, the type of transport you opt for will influence your container shipping costs. However, there is more to think about than just money when deciding. Below, you can learn more about the pros and cons of each mode of transport.

Sea Freight

This is the most common method of transport and this is usually reflected in the fact that most moving overseas shipping container costs are based on it. So, if you are completing an international move, which is of significant volume and weight, this is likely to be your only option.

✅ Pros

• Affordably covers long distances.
• Usually the cheapest option.
• Far more eco-friendly than air-freight.
• Best choice for larger volumes.

❌ Cons

• Can take a long time for your container to arrive.

Air Freight

This is a good option if you have a small volume of goods, time is of the essence, and the costs of container shipping are not a concern. If you have the budget, it is a very efficient mode of transport.

✅ Pros

• Very quick; your container will arrive in just a few days.

❌ Cons

• Expect high costs; up to ten times more than sea freight!
• Only an option if you are transporting a small volume of things.
• Bad for the environment.

Should You Use Air Freight or Sea Freight?

The answer depends on your time and your budget. If you have a small volume of items that you need to move quickly, 1-3 days, then air freight will be the way to go. However, just be aware that it comes at a premium. Sea freight is much cheaper, but takes much longer, up to a month depending on destination.

Trucks

Virtually all moves will include a truck at some point. Moves within the same country or continent will usually be done entirely by the same company. However, UK container shipping tends to be a little more complicated, given that we live on an island… Therefore, this becomes problematic for any international move from the UK, unless you can invent a truck with wings of course!

✅ Pros

• Can complete the entire move with a single company.
• Door-to-door delivery.

❌ Cons

• Only possible for domestic moves, countries with ferry connections or connected by a tunnel.

Trains

Again, this only applies if you are travelling across the land, which is not all that common when relocating from the UK. However, it is something worth considering if you don’t have any oceans to cross, such as to Europe through the channel tunnel!

✅ Pros

• Usually cheaper than by lorry.

❌ Cons

• Usually takes longer than travelling via truck.
• Only applicable to moves on specific rail connected routes.

Types and Sizes Available

So, you thought everything has been decided already? Not quite. Along with the mode of transport, you also have to choose what type of shipping container best fits your need. Again, what you end up going for will affect your final container shipping costs.

So, before you start discussing this with your mover, it’s better to be informed. Of course, if you don’t have a mover, you should check out our list of top international UK movers!

Sizes of Shipping Container

Hang in there, you are doing really well, but you also need to consider what size of shipping container you require. This too will influence your final container shipping cost calculations.

It is both a blessing and a curse that you don’t usually have many options in this department as most containers are either 20-foot or 40-foot. A blessing because it makes decision-making easier, but a curse as it can be frustrating if neither quite suit your needs. If you are moving a very large volume, then you may need more than one container.

How Much Can a Shipping Container Hold?

A 20ft Shipping Container

A 20ft container can hold around 30-35 cubic metres and is normally suitable for a 1-3 bedroom move.

Size: 6.1m x 2.4m x 2.6m

Total volume: 1,179 ft³ (33.0 m³)

Total shipping load: 54,783 lbs (24,850 kg)

40ft Shipping Container

A 40ft container can hold around 65-75 cubic metres and is normally suitable for a 4+ bedroom move.

Tip! While a 40ft container has twice the volume of a 20ft container, it cannot carry twice the amount of cargo weight due to the weight of the container itself.

Size: 12.2m x 2.4m x 2.6m

Total volume: 2,714 ft³ (76.0 m³)

Total shipping load: 66,577 lbs (30,200 kg)

LCL vs FCL: Which is Best for Your Move

Sharing is caring! Container shipping companies offer Less Than Container Load (LCL) for those who are only transporting a small volume of things; you can share your container with others travelling to a similar destination. Think of it as similar to public transport!

Less than container load shipping rates are hard to calculate as it depends on how much of the container that you’ll use, but reducing the prices listed above by a quarter to a third is likely a good estimate. A great option for the fiscally responsible, but leaves no room for frills.

On the other side, there’s Full Container Load (FCL) which just means that you’ll have the container to yourself. Obviously, this is more ideal for when you’ll fill the container and there won’t be much room to spare. Full container load shipping cost, on the other hand, will be the same as the prices above, it’s the whole container!

Price isn’t the only difference between LCL and FCL, we’ve outlined a couple more below:

Loading and Delivery Options

Thought you were done? Think again, but this is the final thing! Loading and delivery options are further factors to add to your overseas container shipping rates. While these are often incorporated into your removal quotes, it is important to understand the specific terms to prevent any miscommunications.

Disclaimer: if you have chosen to go with an LCL, then the following options will not be available to you, so we suggest you skip past this section.

• Port to port – As its name suggests, your goods will be shipped from one port to the other, but you’re responsible for getting your goods to and from the ports. However, it will shave some expenses off your international container shipping costs.
• Drop and fill – This is when the container is dropped off at your house, and you fill it yourself. It’s up to you how you fill it, but you might want professional help to make sure things don’t move around on the trip.
• Door to door – Don’t enjoy a logistical headache? You are not alone; despite being the most expensive option, door to door shipping is still the most popular as the removal company will help you pack, unpack, and move the container for you, it’s very convenient. So, unless your container shipping cost budget is really digging for coppers, we strongly suggest opting for door-to-door delivery.

Other International Moving Costs

Pop on your graduation robes because you are now officially container shipping cost experts! However, there is a little more to moving house than simply container shipping rates, so we have made a brief 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 – There is no beating around the bush here; 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 – Before you move abroad, check 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.