Shipping times and costs from United Kingdom to Thailand

Shipping from
United Kingdom
Shipping to
Thailand
Shipping times
1 - 3 Days by air
16 - 21 Days by sea

1 Bedroom flat

Shipping costs by air £5,335 - £5,894
Shipping costs by sea £2,801 - £3,094

3 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £4,309 - £4,761

5 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £6,464 - £7,141

The cost of shipping is all dependent upon how much you need to ship, and how far. Read up on all you need to know about international shipping to your chosen country.

Please note: the prices listed here are meant as an estimate only. The best way to get a comprehensive, tailored quote is to fill out our form and be matched with a supplier.

Shipping Container Costs to Thailand

Looking to move your belongings to Thailand?

If you’re in a rush, putting your possessions on a plane is possible, but pricey – it’ll typically cost you much more than shipping them to Thailand by sea.

 

How to get quotes for shipping to Thailand

  1. You’ll be asked to provide a few details about your move to Thailand
  2. If we have shipping partners who can help you, they’ll contact you with quotes
  3. You can compare these quotes and choose the deal that suits you
  4. Our shipping partners will then help prepare your shipment for customs, deliver it door-to-door, and generally make the process as easy and stress-free as possible
 

Should you choose sea freight or air freight?

You may decide to send your belongings to your new home in Thailand via plane or ship – either way, it should be an informed decision.

Here are the main advantages of each method, with more detailed explanations available on our Air Freight vs Sea Freight page.

Benefits of Sea Freight

  • A 99.99% safety record
  • Sea freight is 12-16 times cheaper than air freight
  • You’re typically able to fit more on a ship than a plane
  • A container ship creates 44 times less CO2 than a plane
  • The International Maritime Organisation has pledged to reduce CO2 emissions from shipping by 40% by 2030

Benefits of Air Freight

  • An identical 99.99% safety record
  • Planes are faster
  However, there are unpredictable factors that can affect your shipping time, such as:
  • Natural disasters
  • Adverse weather conditions
  • A route being unexpectedly blocked, as the Suez Canal was in March 2021
  • Global health crises like COVID-19
 

Clearing customs at the Thai border

Customs in Thailand are strict, but you can navigate the process fairly easily if you follow the rules and use the help of your shipping company.

Most shipping companies will send you all the forms you need to fill in before your move.

This is especially useful because you’ll need to send a draft import declaration, a passport, proof you’re allowed to live in Thailand, and your work permit, as well as several other documents about the items you’re bringing into the country.

To import your goods without paying duties or taxes, you’re required to have owned, physically possessed, and used them in the country you’re moving to Thailand from.

The quantity of items you send must also be deemed reasonable. For goods like TVs, radios, and microwaves, the limit is one – unless you’re moving as a family, in which case you can have two of each item.

All of these household goods must be imported one month before you move to Thailand at the earliest, and a maximum of six months after your arrival.

You can also only bring one litre of liquor with you, so choose carefully.

For more information, check out Thailand’s official customs website.

 

Popular shipping ports in Thailand

Your container will almost certainly be sent to one of Thailand’s two main shipping ports. They are as follows:
  • Laem Chabang (8.1 million containers per year)
  • Bangkok (1.5 million containers per year)
Once your container reaches a Thai port, it will go by truck or train to your new house. A door-to-door service means you won’t have to worry about organising this final stage on your own.

Shipping Container Options

20Ft Shipping Container

Dimensions:
33 Cubic Meters
5.9m x 2.35m x 2.39m (l x w x h)

Price: £4,309 - £4,761

Get a quote for a 20ft container
Get Shipping Container Quotes
  • Boxes
    16 x medium boxes
  • Kitchen
    1 x american fridge, 1 x small fridge, 3 x kitchen appliances
  • Bedrooms
    1 x wardrobe, 1 x double bed, 1 x single bed, 2 x lamps
  • Lounge
    1 x sofa, 4 x chairs, 1 x table, 1 x armchair, 1 x television
  • Various
    1 x motorbike, 4 x bicycles

Please note that this is an estimate and is intended for rough guidance only.

40Ft Shipping Container

Dimensions:
67 Cubic Meters
12.03m x 2.35m x 2.39m (l x w x h)

Price: £8,187 - £9,045

Get a quote for a 40ft container
Get Shipping Container Quotes
  • Boxes
    28 x medium boxes
  • Kitchen
    1 x american fridge, 1 x small fridge, 3 x kitchen appliances
  • Bedroom
    1 x wardrobe, 1 x double bed, 1 x single bed, 2 x lamps
  • Lounge
    1 x sofa, 4 x chairs, 1 x table, 1 x armchair, 1 x television
  • Various
    1 x car, 1 x motorbike, 4 x bicycles

Please note that this is an estimate and is intended for rough guidance only.

Car shipped by sea freight

Max Dimensions: 5.75m x 2.2m x 2.2m (l x w x h)

Base Price: £1,334 - £1,474

Quarantine & Taxes: £1,000 - £2,500

Price: £6,409 - £10,011

Get a quote for a car
Get Shipping Container Quotes

Unusual Restricted Items

Counterfeit Items
All counterfeit and pirated goods are prohibited.
Fake Royal Seals and Official Seals
All fake royal or official seals are banned.
Obscene Objects and Media
All objects, photos and literature considered to be obscene are forbidden.
Narcotics
Narcotics in all forms are prohibited.
Copyright Infringing Items
Copyright infringing items are prohibited.
Plants, Foodstuff and Seeds
Plants, foodstuff and seeds– health certificate require. Check with the nearest embassy.