The best European removal company is Pickfords

White & Company is the best for corporate moves

Lopa Removals is our top pick for speedy service


Are you moving abroad? Then you’ve probably got some belongings you need to ship overseas. Here’s our rundown of the best European removal companies.

There’s a lot of choice when it comes to international shipping companies, and some are better than others. It’s important that you look for companies with a good track record, transparent pricing, and proper FIDI credentials.

We’ve compared loads of European removal companies based on a wide range of factors, from routes and shipping times to add-on services like insurance and storage. See below to find out who made our top ten.

Looking to make your move abroad? Here’s everything you need to do, in one handy checklist.

Select the size of your move to get free quotes

Container ship

A mighty container ship approaching head-on

What are the 9 best European removal companies?

The 9 best European removal companies are: Eagle Relocations, GB Liners, White & Company, Lopa Removals, Pickfords, Anglo Pacific, John Mason International Movers, Cadogan Tate and Santa Fe Relocation.

Take a look at the table below to find out what each company does best.

European removal companyBest for
Eagle RelocationsInsurance cover
GB LinersAdditional services
White & CompanyCorporate moves
Lopa RemovalsSpeed of service
PickfordsInternational routes
Anglo PacificVehicle shipping
John Mason International MoversStorage options
Europe RemoveDoor-to-door removals
Cadogan TateArt & antiques shipping
Santa Fe RelocationVisa & customs assistance

Eagle Relocations

Best for: Insurance cover

Operating from its nest in London, Eagle Relocations has been providing a swift and efficient shipping service for over 50 years. The firm ships to locations across the world, including all parts of Europe, and offers some nifty extra services, including currency exchange and cleaning.

If you’re worried about keeping your belongings safe without having to pay through the beak to insure them, Eagle has got exactly what you need.

Its insurance cover is comprehensive and affordable, featuring far fewer exclusions than you’d normally find in standard marine insurance policies.

Eagle Relocations leaves a lot of people happy, as shown by its 4.7-star Trustpilot score.

A free moving overseas checklist to download

Make sure you're well prepared before you move

GB Liners

Best for: Additional services

GB Liners offers a dazzling array of (optional) additional services, including cleaning your old house and preparing your new one.

The team also runs a Donate & Discard service, where they’ll take away your unwanted items and give them to charity.

It doesn’t stop there. GB Liners’ ‘Destination Services’ can make your arrival in your new country much easier, whether through furniture rental packs or language training programmes.

They’ll even pick up your family from the airport, and provide a UK-based storage service if you don’t want to move all of your belongings at once.

White & Company

Best for: Corporate moves

White & Company have plenty of experience, having existed since 1871.

The firm knows that international relocation can be stressful, so they try to make things as easy as possible for their customers – for example, you can get a quote with just a video survey.

The team will then bring a container to your home, help you pack (with eco-friendly materials), and load it all up.

The folks at White & Company know all about corporate moves. They will help a company relocate its employees with minimum delay and maximum efficiency.

Lopa Removals

Best for: Speed of service

Sometimes speed is all that matters. For those moving within Europe, Lopa Removals is the ideal team.

Lopa aims to have all European moves done and dusted within 2-5 days, which is very impressive. If you’re in a real rush, you can also opt for the next day service, though that costs a bit more.

The company also offers a final fixed quote, meaning you’ll know exactly how much you’re paying ahead of time, with the peace of mind that comes with this certainty.

What’s more, Lopa’s partnership with Currencies Direct means that you can also make quick and easy international money transfers. You’ll get competitive exchange rates and no hidden fees.

Pickfords

Best for: International routes

Pickfords is the UK’s largest removal company, covering every postcode on these shores. It’s part of the Allied International Moving Network, which gives the team access to stacks of global resources.

With all this at their fingertips, plus their bags of expertise, its staff is capable of moving you to anywhere in the world (yes, even there).

The people at Pickfords really want you to have peace of mind when they’re moving your things abroad, so you can always pick up the phone and speak to someone at their Moving Advice Centre. They’ll keep you informed and reassured.

Container shipping port

A busy container port getting on with the day’s work

Anglo Pacific

Best for: Vehicle shipping

Joining forces with the mighty Maersk Line, Anglo Pacific handles nearly 20,000 moves each year. Now that’s a lot of to-ing and fro-ing across the ocean.

The company has shipped to destinations all over the globe since 1978, and ensures your belongings stay in safe and experienced hands the whole time.

If you can’t bear to leave your favourite vehicle/s behind, the team will be more than happy to escort them for you.

Anglo Pacific has been shipping customers’ wheeled friends for over 40 years, from simple cars and motorbikes to luxury yachts and caravans. No vehicle gets left behind.

John Mason International Movers

Best for: Storage

Another removal company with buckets of experience, John Mason International Movers was founded back when everything was still in black and white (1884).

The firm is reliable and trustworthy, assigning an experienced Move Manager to each customer to guide them through every stage of their relocation. Its team’s professional packing isn’t bad either, having won the National Packer of the Year award on several occasions (yes, it’s a real thing).

You may not want to bring all your important possessions to your new country, and John Mason is totally on board with this. Customers love the company as a result, handing the firm a 4.6-star rating on Trustpilot.

The team offers lots of different kinds of storage, including commercial, household, car, archive, student and boat. You can store things to your heart’s content.

Select the size of your move to get free quotes

Cadogan Tate

Best for: Art & antique shipping

The classiest removal company on this list, Cadogan Tate offers international whole-house moves, but started out in 1977 as fine art movers (and this is still the team’s niche today).

If you’ve got any delicate and expensive artworks, antiques or ornaments, the sensible people at Cadogan Tate will make sure these items are handled with care.

We don’t just mean industrial bubble wrap and sellotape; we’re talking detailed measurements and specially constructed travel crates. They probably care more about your valuables than you do – which is why 90% of their home moving jobs come from repeat business and recommendations.

Santa Fe Relocation

Best for: Visa & customs assistance

Kicking off in Hong Kong in 1980, Santa Fe Relocation now has offices in six continents and helps with relocations all over the world.

The team’s numbers are truly whopping, having a hand in around 40,000 international removals every year. It helps that they speak 60 languages between them.

They aim to offer the whole shebang, from professional packing and door-to-door delivery to storage and currency exchange.

Most international moves require a visa, and Santa Fe Relocation are experts in helping people navigate all that paperwork. On average, they manage around 35,000 successful visa applications each year. Cop that.

Best European Removal Companies: The Verdict

The sheer number of different international removal companies can be pretty overwhelming, but hopefully this list has pointed you in the right direction. Whatever you need to ship and wherever you need to ship it, there’ll always be a company that can help you.

The 9 best European removal companies are:

  1. Eagle Relocations
  2. GB Liners
  3. White & Company
  4. Lopa Removals
  5. Pickfords
  6. Anglo Pacific
  7. John Mason International Movers
  8. Cadogan Tate
  9. Santa Fe Relocation

Whatever you choose, make sure you give yourself enough time to plan your move properly. Feel free to shop around for the best price, and don’t rush into any decisions. International relocation is a big thing, and you want to make it as stress-free as possible. Scheduling a mid-move massage wouldn’t be a terrible idea.

To start collecting shipping quotes, fill in this form and up to six of our suppliers will get back to you with their best prices. Good luck with your move!

Best European removal companies: FAQs

The average cost of a removal company in the UK is £800 for a three-bedroom house moving 50 miles.

If you want the company to do your packing and furniture dismantling as well, this will raise the average cost to £1,200.

Pickfords is the largest removal company in the UK.

The company covers every postcode in the country, so if you’re reading this in the UK, you can access Pickfords’ services.

Considering the firm has been transporting goods since 1646, you’re probably in safe hands.

There are 14,184 removal companies in the UK, according to the latest estimates.

Of these removal companies, more than 450 belong to the British Association of Removers, which is the trade association for the industry.