Shipping times and costs from United Kingdom to Australia

Shipping from
United Kingdom
Shipping to
Australia
Shipping times
1 - 3 Days by air
29 - 34 Days by sea

1 Bedroom flat

Shipping costs by air £6,505 - £7,192
Shipping costs by sea £3,415 - £3,776

3 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £5,254 - £5,809

5 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £7,881 - £8,713

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 Australia

Australia is one of the top expat destinations in the world, and with good reason. Brilliant sunshine, bustling cities, and golden beaches await. There’s no reason why shipping your belongings to Australia can’t be easy. As with most things, it’s simply a case of planning ahead. From personal effects to cars, we can connect you with the right door-to-door shipping provider for your journey down under.



If you're thinking of shipping your belongings by sea freight – and you should, since it's typically much cheaper than air freight, and just as safe – you can expect to pay around £9,000 ($12,400) for a 20-foot container, and £17,000 ($23,500) for a 40-foot container.



To receive free shipping quotes, simply fill in this quick form and our trusted suppliers will get back to you.

Different shipping options

Shipping your things to Australia should be straightforward. You can send them by sea or by air. Obviously, land isn’t an option. Not to worry, though. In the world of shipping a ‘sea-locked’ country is an accessible country. While shipping by air is usually faster, it is also more expensive than by sea. Scheduling your move properly goes a long way. Door-to-door shipping is a standard in international freight, and it’s the most convenient option for a large move abroad, especially to a country as large as Australia. 

Major shipping routes

We’d be mightily impressed if you managed to ship to Australia without using sea or air options. The ‘sealocked’ nation processes most of its freight by sea, with ports and shipping container terminals dotted all along the coastline. They include:
  • Sydney
  • Melbourne
  • Fremantle
  • Brisbane
  • Townsville
Melbourne and Sydney are the big hitters, and if you’re moving to either of those cities you’re set. If you’re headed north-east then you’ll probably go through Brisbane, while Fremantle will serve you well on the west coast. Townsville isn’t exactly a shipping powerhouse, we just wanted you to know there’s a place called Townsville.Wherever you’re headed in Australia there’s likely to be a port nearby. Getting your things shipped should be a breeze.

Australian customs

Like anywhere else, Australia has its own quirks when it comes to customs. With quite a self-contained ecosystem to protect, they can be a little precious about animals, plant life, and food products. Doomsday viruses are probably best left at home, and any pets will need to go through quarantine. Otherwise, it’s the standard fare of packing sensibly and declaring items through the proper channels – in this case the Australian Border Force. You won’t have to handle this alone. Our partners are well-versed in the process and will walk you through it.Some of the main problem items are listed below, but for a proper breakdown of what to expect you can’t argue with the official website. (No really, you can’t.) For a digestible guide, they recommend downloading the Dangerous Goods Manual, and so do we.

Shipping Container Options

20Ft Shipping Container

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

Price: £5,254 - £5,809

Get a quote for a 20ft container
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  • 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: £9,983 - £11,036

Get a quote for a 40ft container
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  • 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: £1,626 - £1,798

Quarantine & Taxes: £1,000 - £2,500

Price: £7,354 - £11,059

Get a quote for a car
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Unusual Restricted Items

Tea & Coffee
Tea, coffee and milk based drinks.
Pet Food
Pet foods.
Wicker
Wicker and cane such as chairs and wicker baskets.
Dried Flowers
Dried flower arrangements & Pot Pourri.
Skins & Furs
Wool and animal hair. Skins on drums.
Pornographic Materials
Illegal Pornography.
Drugs and Narcotics
Psychotropic drugs and narcotics are prohibited.
Tobacco
Any tobacco products.