Whether you're emigrating, taking a long posting, or furnishing an overseas home, shipping furniture internationally requires careful planning. This guide covers containers, costs, customs and everything in between.
| Feature | FCL (Full Container Load) | LCL (Less than Container Load / Groupage) |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | 3+ bed house moves | 1–2 bed or partial shipments |
| Container size | 20ft (~33 cbm) or 40ft (~67 cbm) | Pay per cubic metre of space used |
| Speed | Faster — loads when ready | Slower — waits to fill container |
| Security | Only your goods in container | Shared with other shippers' goods |
| Cost (to Australia) | £4,500–£8,000+ | £800–£2,500 depending on volume |
| Packing | Company packs and loads at your home | You may need to deliver to depot |
| Destination | LCL (per cbm) | 20ft FCL | 40ft FCL | Transit Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France / Germany / Spain | £80–£150 | £1,200–£2,500 | £2,000–£4,000 | 3–7 days (road) |
| USA (East Coast) | £150–£250 | £2,500–£4,500 | £4,500–£7,000 | 3–4 weeks |
| Canada | £150–£250 | £2,800–£5,000 | £5,000–£8,000 | 3–5 weeks |
| Australia | £200–£350 | £4,500–£7,500 | £7,000–£12,000 | 8–12 weeks |
| New Zealand | £220–£380 | £5,000–£8,000 | £8,000–£13,000 | 10–14 weeks |
| UAE / Singapore | £160–£280 | £3,000–£5,500 | £5,000–£9,000 | 5–8 weeks |
| South Africa | £180–£300 | £3,500–£6,000 | £6,000–£10,000 | 4–6 weeks |
Prices are estimates for sea freight only and exclude origin/destination haulage, packing, customs clearance, and marine insurance. Always get a full door-to-door quote.
An international removal company surveys your home (in-person or video) to calculate cubic meterage, advise on FCL vs LCL, and identify any restricted or prohibited items.
Professional packers use specialist materials (double-wall boxes, furniture blankets, crating for antiques/glass). Proper packing is essential — damage claims from poorly packed goods are often rejected.
Since Brexit, UK exports to the EU require customs declarations. Your removal company handles this. For non-EU destinations, an export manifest is required.
Container is loaded at a UK port (Southampton, Felixstowe, Tilbury) and shipped. You'll receive a Bill of Lading — keep this safe as it's required for customs clearance at destination.
Your destination agent clears goods through customs. Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief can eliminate import duty if you've owned the goods for 6+ months and are permanently relocating.
A local agent delivers to your new address. Unpacking and assembly services are available. Check all items against your inventory immediately and report damage within the insurer's claim window.
Most countries allow you to import personal belongings duty-free when permanently relocating, provided you meet certain conditions. In the UK context (exporting), it's the destination country's ToR rules that matter.
| Country | Relief Name | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| EU countries | Transfer of Normal Residence (ToNR) | 6+ months ownership, moving to EU permanently |
| Australia | Unaccompanied Personal Effects | Owned and used 12+ months; visa required |
| USA | Duty-Free Household Effects (HHE) | Owned and used abroad 1+ year; 7501 form |
| Canada | BSF186 / Goods-to-Follow | List filed at border; owned 6+ months |
| New Zealand | Personal Effects Concession | Owned 12+ months; declare on arrival card |
| UAE | Used Household Goods exemption | Valid residency visa; used goods only |
Air freight is faster (days vs weeks) but typically 5–10× more expensive per cubic metre. It's only cost-effective for small, high-value items like antiques or electronics. For furniture and household goods, sea freight is almost always the right choice.
Yes — strongly recommended. Your removal company's standard goods-in-transit insurance typically does NOT cover international sea freight. Marine cargo all-risks insurance covers loss, damage and theft throughout the transit. Typical cost: 1–2% of the declared value of your goods.
Rule of thumb: a 1-bed flat has ~10–15 cbm, a 2-bed house 20–30 cbm, a 3-bed house 30–45 cbm, a 4-bed house 45–60+ cbm. A professional surveyor will calculate this precisely. For LCL, you pay per cbm so accuracy matters; for FCL you pay for the whole container regardless.
Customs delays can add days to weeks to transit time. Your removal company or destination agent will liaise with customs on your behalf. Storage charges (demurrage) can accrue daily if goods sit at a port — ensure all paperwork is complete before shipping to minimise this risk.