Shipping times and costs from United States of America to Portugal

Shipping from
United States of America
Shipping to
Portugal
Shipping times
1 - 3 Days by air
9 - 11 Days by sea

1 Bedroom flat

Shipping costs by air £5,881 - £6,500
Shipping costs by sea £3,088 - £3,413

3 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £4,750 - £5,250

5 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £7,125 - £7,875

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 Portugal

Portugal is a country of two halves. It’s a choice between the rugged mountains of the north and the rolling plains of the south, all joined together by an 850 km coastline. If you like beaches, Portugal practically has one single beach running from top to bottom. Space for everyone! Meanwhile, the hilly capital city of Lisbon offers a charming blend of old heritage and modern living. Think red tiled roofs, castles and trendy bars. Portuguese food is some of the best on the continent, especially the fish (the long Atlantic coast has its advantages). The country is also home to port wine and the pastel de nata (custard tart), so you’ll need a sweet tooth over there. If you’re planning on moving to Portugal, there’s some practical information you should know about first.

Cost of sea freight

RouteCostDuration
New York to Lisbon$1,58012 days
Miami to Leixões$1,77019 days
Los Angeles to Porto$3,36039 days

Cost of air freight

RouteCostDuration
New York to Lisbon$1,69010 days
Miami to Faro$1,79010 days
Los Angeles to Porto$1,69210 days

Different shipping options

You’ve got two options when it comes to international shipping: sea or air. Sending your belongings via plane is the quicker of the two but it’s also quite expensive, while container ships are slower and comparatively cheaper. Ocean shipping is clearly the better option when it comes to value for money (you can also fit more in a shipping container) but it does require a bit of advanced planning. Stay ahead of the game and sort out your shipping early. Most of our suppliers offer a full door-to-door service but you should definitely check with them before you agree on any terms. If you’re going for ocean shipping then you’ll also need to decide between a 20ft and a 40ft container (see below).

Major shipping routes

Unlike most countries, Portugal doesn’t have one major port that dominates everything else. Instead, the majority of inbound cargo is shared between three similar sized ports. There’s the Port of Leixões in the north, the Port of Lisbon in the middle and the Port of Sines in the south. Aveiro and Setúbal are also pretty major ports but it’s highly likely your belongings will be going to one of the main three. From there, your container will be taken by truck or train to wherever you’re moving to. Portugal has been operating world-class ports for centuries, so your goods will be in super safe and professional hands.

Portuguese customs

It’s very important that you meet all the customs requirements when shipping your belongings to Portugal. You’d hate to have your move fall through at the final hurdle. Make sure you create an inventory of everything you’re bringing into the country, declaring the contents of every box and being as specific as possible. Your container may be subject to random inspection and you need your inventory to match up with what the officials find inside. See our ‘Unusual Restricted Items’ below to get an idea of what you can’t bring into Portugal. You can also check out the Portuguese Immigration and Border Services website for the most up to date list.

Shipping Container Options

20Ft Shipping Container

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

Price: £4,750 - £5,250

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: £9,025 - £9,975

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: £1,470 - £1,625

Quarantine & Taxes: £1,000 - £2,500

Price: £6,850 - £10,500

Get a quote for a car
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Unusual Restricted Items

Pets
Only pets with the appropriate documents are allowed entry
Drugs and Narcotics
All illegal drugs are prohibited.
Cash
Amounts in excess of €10,000
Animal Products
Meat and milk products from non-EU countries are banned.
Products from Protected Species
Products from protected species listed under CITES
Weapons and Ammunition
Only sports ammunition are allowed entry.