Shipping times and costs from United States of America to Spain

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

1 Bedroom flat

Shipping costs by air £6,289 - £6,952
Shipping costs by sea £3,302 - £3,650

3 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £5,080 - £5,615

5 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £7,620 - £8,423

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 Spain

Looking to move your belongings to Spain?

If you’re in a rush, putting your possessions on a plane is possible, but pricey – it’ll typically cost you around twice as much as shipping them to Spain by sea.

 

How to get quotes for shipping to Spain

  1. You’ll be asked to provide a few details about your move to Spain
  2. If we have shipping partners who can help you, they’ll contact you with quotes
  3. You can compare these quotes and choose the deal that suits you
  4. Our shipping partners will then help prepare your shipment for customs, deliver it door-to-door, and generally make the process as easy and stress-free as possible
 

Should you choose sea freight or air freight?

You may decide to send your belongings to your new home in Spain via plane or ship – either way, it should be an informed decision.

Here are the main advantages of each method, with more detailed explanations available on our Air Freight vs Sea Freight page.

Benefits of Sea Freight

  • A 99.99% safety record
  • Sea freight is 12-16 times cheaper than air freight
  • You’re typically able to fit more on a ship than a 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

  • An identical 99.99% safety record
  • Planes are faster
  However, there are unpredictable factors that can affect your shipping time, such as:
  • Natural disasters
  • Adverse weather conditions
  • A route being unexpectedly blocked, as the Suez Canal was in March 2021
  • Global health crises like COVID-19

Clearing customs at the Spanish border

Any shipment coming into Spain will have to deal with duties and inspection, but if you follow the guidelines, you shouldn’t have any issues.

Most shipping companies will send you all the forms you need to fill in before your move.

Check the Spanish customs website to see if any of your belongings are restricted or prohibited. If you have any more questions, direct them to your Spanish embassy.

You will need to create a list of everything that’s inside your container, in Spanish, and include their approximate value.

Most containers are physically inspected at the border, and if the contents don’t match the inventory, you’ll incur extra fees. Our suppliers can help you to make this list.

Be specific, clear, and honest. Shipments of used household goods are permitted, but you must sign a document agreeing not to transfer, lease, or sell them for at least a year after your arrival.

Popular shipping ports in Spain

Your container will almost certainly be shipped to one of Spain’s three major shipping ports. They are as follows, with statistics sourced from the European Union:
  • Valencia (east, 5.2 million containers per year)
  • Algeciras (south, 4.8 million containers per year)
  • Barcelona (northeast, 3.4 million containers per year)
Once your container reaches a Spanish port, it will go by truck or train to your new house. A door-to-door service means you won’t have to worry about organising this final stage on your own.

Shipping Container Options

20Ft Shipping Container

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

Price: £5,080 - £5,615

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: £9,652 - £10,669

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: £1,572 - £1,738

Quarantine & Taxes: £1,000 - £2,500

Price: £7,180 - £10,865

Get a quote for a car
Get Shipping Container Quotes

Unusual Restricted Items

Medicine
Medicines that can cause addiction from non-EU countries are forbidden.
Money
You cannot carry more than 10.000 euro or equivalent in another currency.
Plants and Plant Parts
Plant and parts thereof from non-EU area countries are prohibited.
Animal Products
Products containing parts of animals from non-EU countries are prohibited.
Products from Protected Species
Products from protected species listed under CITES
Weapons and Ammunition
These will only be allowed if prior authorisation has been given by the local district police.