International Moving Cost Calculator

Packing your own belongings can be one of the cheapest ways to move household goods overseas.

With UPakWeShip, you do not pay for a full-services moving team to pack and unpack your belongings. Instead, we deliver your chosen U-Crate or shipping container to your door, giving you time to pack and organize everything yourself. When you are ready, we collect the shipment and arrange delivery to your new home overseas.

Shipping by sea is usually the most economical option for larger international moves, particularly when compare with paying for a traditional full-service removals company.

The cheapest international moving service will depend on how much you are shipping:

• A few boxes may be suitable for a pallet or u-crate service
• A small home move may fit into a shared container
• A larger move may require a 20ft or 40ft shipping container

It is also worth considering whether large, heavy or low-value furniture will cost more to ship overseas than to replace after relocating. Selling or donating items that are inexpensive to replace may help reduce the size and cost of your move.

The time needed to ship belongings between two countries depends on the route, departure schedules, customs procedures and the shipping service you choose.

International sea shipping normally takes several weeks. Routes between nearby countries may be quicker, while long-distance moves or journeys involving additional connections can take longer.

The estimated lead time for moving abroad may include:

• Transport to the departure port
• Waiting for the next available departure
• International transit times
• Customs clearance
• Port and depot processing
• Transport to your destination address
• Final door-to-door delivery

Shared container services can take longer because several shipments may need to be combined before departure and separated after arrival. All shipping times are estimates rather than guaranteed delivery dates because customs inspections, port congestion, weather and changes to transport schedules can sometimes cause delays.

UPakWeShip provides automatic email tracking notifications about your shipment, helping you follow its progress as it travels to your destination.

You do not need to fill a shipping container to use an international moving service. You can ship clothes, books, kitchenware and other personal belongings in boxes packed securely onto a pallet or inside a u-crate.

The price of shipping a few boxes internationally will depend on their total size and weight, the countries involved and the collection and delivery locations.

Our door-to-door service makes shipping personal belongings overseas straightforward:

1. We deliver your U-Crate to your home
2. You pack and secure your boxes and belongings yourself
3. We collect the shipment when it is ready
4. We arrange the overseas journey, customs process and delivery to your destination address

Packing everything yourself helps keep international moving costs down while giving you control over how your possessions are wrapped, protected and organised.

Our international moving cost calculator provides a rough cost for moving a small pallet. For help shipping just one or two boxes as part of your overseas move, please contact our team for a personalised quote.

Taking an extra suitcase on a flight may be convenient, but airline baggage fees can become expensive when moving several heavy bags. Shipping boxes may be cheaper when you:

• Have more belongings than your baggage allowance permits
• Are moving heavy items (airline costs are based on weight)
• Do not need all of your belongings immediately
• Want to avoid travelling with multiple suitcases
• Are moving items that are too large for airline baggage
• Want your belongings collected from your home and delivered to your new address

Make sure to compare your airline’s additional luggage charges with the cost of sending your belongings in a box, pallet, or U-Crate. But remember to keep essential documents, medication, valuables and items needed immediately with you when travelling. International shipping takes time, so it is important to pack separately for your first few weeks in your new country.

A shared container, also called groupage or less than container load shipping, allows your belongings to travel alongside other customers’ shipments. You pay for the space you use rather than a complete container. This is why a shared shipping container is often more affordable than a full container for a smaller international move.

A full container gives you exclusive use of a 20ft or 40ft container which is generally better suited to larger household moves.

20ft container shipping costs

A 20ft container may be suitable for a small or medium-sized household move. The amount it can hold will depend on the size of your furniture and how efficiently you pack it. Because you pack the container yourself, you can organise your belongings in the way that works best for you while avoiding the cost of a full-service packing team.

40ft container shipping costs

A 40ft container provides more space for a larger home move. Although it costs more than a 20ft container, it may offer better value than arranging several smaller shipments. A larger container can be useful when relocating the contents of a family home, particularly when shipping furniture, appliances and a substantial number of boxes.

Our international moving cost calculator can give you a starting estimate for shipping a container overseas on your selected route.

You can plan your shipment around your relocation date, but it is sensible to allow some flexibility.

Because international shipping can take several weeks, many customers arrange for their belongings to be collected before they fly or travel to their new country. You should keep passports, important paperwork, medication, valuables, clothing and other immediate essentials with you.

When planning your overseas move, consider:

• How long you will need to pack your belongings
• When your shipment should be collected
• Your estimated departure date
• When you expect to have access to your new home
• The estimated shipping and customs-clearance time
• Whether temporary storage may be required

It is also important to decide what should happen if your belongings arrive before you are ready to receive them. Storage is available, but additional charges apply.

Your estimated shipping price may not include every charge connected with your overseas move. Additional moving costs can include:

• Customs duties and taxes

Import rules vary by country. Used personal belongings may qualify for duty or tax relief in some destinations, but charges can still apply depending on your circumstances, immigration status and the items being shipped.

• Customs inspections

It is rare but sometimes there can be additional customs processing, security checks, inspections or X ray charges before release of a shipment at its destination.

• Port Storage

Storage fees may apply if your shipment cannot continue through customs or be delivered promptly. This could happen if documents are missing, duties remain unpaid or your destination address is not ready to receive the shipment.

• Insurance

Transit insurance may be available to protect your belongings against loss or damage. The cost will depend on the value of your belongings and type of cover selected.

• Packing materials

As you are responsible for packing your own belongings, remember to budget for strong boxes, wrapping, protective materials, tape and any equipment needed to secure items inside your pallet, u-crate, or container. Good quality packing materials and careful loading can help protect your possessions throughout their journey.

Not sure which additional charges may apply to your move? Our experienced international moving and shipping team understands the customs, port, storage delivery and collection costs that can affect different routes. We can explain what you may need to budget for and what is included in your chosen door-to-door service.