Shipping times and costs from Chicago, United States of America to Paris, France

Shipping times
1 - 3 Days by air
10 - 16 Days by sea

1 Bedroom flat

Shipping costs by air £5,231 - £5,782
Shipping costs by sea £2,746 - £3,036

3 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £4,225 - £4,670

5 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £6,338 - £7,006

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 France

If cities were people, Paris would be an A-list celebrity. It’s world famous, beautiful and super stylish. Located in the north-central part of France, “the City of Lights” is the home of café culture. Coffee, croissants and wine are all important parts of life here, best enjoyed at an outside table along a pretty Parisian boulevard. The city centre is rather small (by global standards), but that means almost everything is easily walkable. Take a stroll through central Paris and you’ll see nothing but green parks and iconic buildings, ranging from the Parc Monceau to the mighty Eiffel Tower. To top it all off, there’s the tree-lined River Seine flowing through the middle of the city. A home in Paris means living in the fashion capital of the world, so it’s ideal for fans of first-rate designer shopping. Before you can start your new French life, there are some practical things you need to know about first.
 

Different shipping options

Assuming you have some belongings that you’d like to bring, you need to choose between two shipping options: sea or air. They both have their advantages and disadvantages.
 
  • Air freight is the quicker of the two but it is also considerably more expensive. It’s good for last-minute moves but we don’t advise it if you’ve got time to spare.
  • Sea freight is slower but it also comes at a much lower cost. As long as you’re planning your move well enough in advance, we recommend that you choose ocean shipping. Shipping containers come in two sizes (20ft and 40ft) depending on the amount of stuff you want to take with you. There’s also the option to use only a portion of a container (called Less Than Container Load, or LCL). Your shipping supplier can help you with all of these decisions. Most of our suppliers offer a full door-to-door service, but you should double check this before agreeing on a price.

Major shipping routes

The most common way for a shipping container to reach Paris is via the Port of Le Havre, which is situated on France’s northern coastline and is the country’s second largest port. It’s a massive operation and it can deal with the world’s biggest container ships. Once your container is on the dry land of Le Havre, it will travel 200 km by truck or train to Paris. However, it’s also possible that your container will travel by ship all the way to the Port of Paris, France’s most major inbound port. Either way, your container should arrive safe and sound at your new Parisian home.

Paris customs

Customs are the final hurdle. It sounds like a daunting process but it can be a fairly pain-free experience if you do everything that’s asked of you. Firstly, you need to create an inventory (ie. a list) of everything you’re bringing into France, declaring the contents of each box as clearly and specifically as possible. All containers are subject to physical inspection, so customs officials will know if you aren’t telling the truth in your inventory. Fortunately, you can avoid paying any duty on your cargo if you’re moving to France permanently. Just make sure you get a Certificate of Change of Residence from the French Consulate, as this will prove that you’ve lived outside France for the 12 months prior to your move date. See below to get an idea of the things that you aren’t allowed to bring into France.

Shipping Container Options

20Ft Shipping Container

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

Price: £4,225 - £4,670

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: £8,028 - £8,874

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: £1,308 - £1,446

Quarantine & Taxes: £1,000 - £2,500

Price: £6,325 - £9,920

Get a quote for a car
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Unusual Restricted Items

Asbestos
Asbestos and any product containing Asbestos.
Counterfeit Items
Counterfeit goods are prohibited absolutely by French Customs.
Animal products
Animal products originating from outside an EU member state.
Live Trees or Plants
Live trees are subject to restrictions.
Ornamental Foliage
Foliage is subject to restrictions.
Animals
Pets need to be identifiable, vaccinated against rabies and have a health certificate.