Shipping times and costs from United States of America to India

Shipping from
United States of America
Shipping to
India
Shipping times
1 - 3 Days by air
21 - 27 Days by sea

1 Bedroom flat

Shipping costs by air £9,807 - £10,839
Shipping costs by sea £5,149 - £5,691

3 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £7,921 - £8,755

5 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £11,882 - £13,132

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 India

You’ll be pleased to know that shipping belongings to India is generally pretty simple. You have two options to choose from: sea freight, or air freight. Sea freight is the cheaper option by far – although, the final price will depend on what you’re shipping, where you’re travelling to and from, and how much you’re moving. Alternatively, if you’re in a bit of a rush, air freight might be the better option for you – but this will cost roughly 12-16 times more.



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

 

How to get quotes for shipping to India

If you want a more accurate idea of how much shipping to India will cost you, try using our helpful quote tool. Here’s what you can expect from the tool:
  • You’ll be asked a few questions about your belongings, and when you want to ship them
  • If we have shipping partners who can help you, they’ll contact you with quotes
  • You’ll then be able to compare these quotes and pick the deal that suits you best
By doing this, you’ll be making the whole moving process much smoother. Most of our shipping suppliers will also be able to deliver door to door and help you prepare your shipment for customs.

 

Should you choose sea freight or air freight?

There are pros and cons to both options – it all comes down to which one works best for you.Benefits of sea freight:
  • It has a 99.99% safety record
  • It’s typically around 12-16 times cheaper than air freight
  • You’re usually able to fit much more in a shipping container than on a cargo 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:
  • It has an equal 99.99% safety record
  • It’s faster than sea freight

 

Clearing customs at the Indian border

All goods imported into India need to be examined to help authorities charge the proper tax amount and check for any illegal imports. Before reading on, please be assured that our suppliers will be able to guide you through the customs process to make it as easy as possible.Before your goods arrive in India, make sure to keep all the documents required for import clearance on hand. You’ll need to file an Import General Manifest (IGM) and a Bill of Entry to the customs department – but what exactly are these forms?
  • An IGM is a document that contains the details of any goods arriving at a destination – this should be completed by the carrier of the goods at the destination customs location
  • A Bill of Entry is a document that is completed by an importer or a customs house agent. This needs to be filled out in order to pass import customs clearance procedures
Once the Bill of Entry document has been assessed, your goods will be examined electronically, under the supervision of customs officials. Once the inspection has been approved, your belongings will be released, ready to be sent to your new home.

 

Shipping ports in India

  • Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust – Also known as Nhava Sheva, JNPT is the largest container port in India. First opened in 1989, it now processes nearly 55% of the total container cargo passing through India
  • Port of Mundra – As the largest private port in India, run by the Adani Ports and SEZ Limited (APSEZ), Mundra is a major hub for containers and bulk cargo
  • Port of Chennai – The former Madras Port is the largest port on the Bay of Bengal coastline. In terms of container access, it ranks second behind JNPT
  • Port of Kolkata – Located 200 kilometres inland, Kolkata is the oldest Indian port in operation

Shipping Container Options

20Ft Shipping Container

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

Price: £7,921 - £8,755

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: £15,050 - £16,634

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: £2,452 - £2,710

Quarantine & Taxes: £1,000 - £2,500

Price: £10,021 - £14,005

Get a quote for a car
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Unusual Restricted Items

Live Birds and Other Animals
All live animals, including pets, are subject to restrictions.
Counterfeit Items
All counterfeit and pirated goods are prohibited.
Pornographic Materials
Pornographic materials are banned.
Narcotics and Psychotropic Drugs
Narcotics and any substances that can cause addiction are prohibited
Currency
Foreign currency notes must not exceed US$10,000
Firearms and Ammunition
Firearms and ammunition – unless permission has been obtained