Shipping times and costs from United States of America to Germany

Shipping from
United States of America
Shipping to
Germany
Shipping times
1 - 3 Days by air
10 - 16 Days by sea

1 Bedroom flat

Shipping costs by air £5,845 - £6,461
Shipping costs by sea £3,069 - £3,392

3 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £4,721 - £5,219

5 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £7,081 - £7,828

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 Germany

Germany is the heart of Europe. The land of great beer, super sausages and idyllic countryside has been attracting visitors for centuries. Life there is wonderfully varied, ranging from the cosmopolitan cities and coastal towns in the north to the peaceful villages along the Rhine. The capital, Berlin, has become one of the most exciting cities on the continent, full of world-class clubs and cutting-edge architecture. Traditional German culture is alive and kicking, so you can get your hands on the best beer and bratwurst in farmers markets across the country. If you fancy a break from the ultra-modern vibes of Berlin, take yourself down to the southern city of Munich for a more old-fashioned feel. We’re talking beautiful cathedrals and oompah bands. The German quality of life is also one of the best in Europe, so we’re not surprised you want to move there. Here’s the practical information you should know about first.

Different shipping options

There are two choices when it comes to moving your belongings abroad. The first is air freight, which is the quicker option but also comes at a high cost. The second is sea freight, which will take longer, however it’s much better value for money. At MoveHub, we heartily recommend that you choose ocean shipping. As long as you don’t leave it until the last minute, sea freight is easy to arrange and it will save you a whole lot of cash. If you do opt for the open waves, you will need to decide between a 20ft and a 40ft container. You don’t have to use the whole container either! That’s right: if you don’t have much stuff, you can just use a portion of the container, which is called Less Than Container Load (LCL). Your shipping company can help you through all of these decisions. Door-to-door services come at an extra cost but they will save you a lot of hassle, so we recommend you go for this once you start speaking to a supplier.

Major shipping routes

There’s only one coastline in Germany and it’s in the north, so that’s where all the shipping ports are. Your belongings will most likely be shipped into one of the three major German ports: Hamburg, Bremen and Wilhelmshaven. Hamburg is the biggest and busiest port in Germany, acting as a major European stopping point and capable of dealing with any vessel. Without going over the top, Hamburg is probably one of the most efficient ports in the world. Once your container arrives on land, it will travel by truck or train to your new home. Proper German efficiency should ensure that nothing goes wrong.

German customs

Papers please! There are excise duties and fees to pay at German ports, but you can keep everything to a minimum if you follow the rules. It all starts with not bringing anything that’s not allowed (see below), because most containers are physically  inspected by officials. You need to create a clear and honest inventory of everything inside your container, being as specific as possible. If you haven’t lived in the EU for the 12 months prior to your move date and you’re going to be living in Germany permanently, you can avoid paying any duty or tax. Typical German duty rates range from 1% to 17%, with electronic items facing the highest rates. Check out the official German customs website for more information.

Shipping Container Options

20Ft Shipping Container

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

Price: £4,721 - £5,219

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: £8,970 - £9,915

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: £1,461 - £1,615

Quarantine & Taxes: £1,000 - £2,500

Price: £6,821 - £10,469

Get a quote for a car
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Unusual Restricted Items

Unconstitutional Publications/Harmful Media
Unconstitutional publications and media that are deemed harmful to minors.
Medicinal Products and Narcotics
Counterfeit medicines, substances that are harmful and frequently used for doping and narcotics are prohibited.
Animal Products
Meat and milk products from non-EU countries are strictly prohibited.
Products from Protected Species
Products from protected species listed under CITES
Plants and Plant Products
Potatoes, vines, wine leaves and soil or any plant substrate from most Eastern and non-European countries.
Fireworks
Fireworks must always be declared to the customs office when being imported from a non-EU state.