Shipping times and costs from United States of America to United Kingdom

Shipping from
United States of America
Shipping to
United Kingdom
Shipping times
1 - 3 Days by air
10 - 15 Days by sea

1 Bedroom flat

Shipping costs by air £4,290 - £4,742
Shipping costs by sea £2,252 - £2,490

3 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £3,465 - £3,830

5 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £5,198 - £5,746

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 United Kingdom

Shipping your belongings to the UK is easy – you just need to decide how you are going to do it. To receive free shipping quotes, simply fill in this quick form and our trusted suppliers will get back to you.

 

Sea freight or air freight?

The two main shipping options are air freight and sea freight:

Air freight:
  • Quick - a cargo plane will take your things to the UK from anywhere in the world in just 2-3 days.
  • Expensive - you pay a real premium for air freight, so it’s not great if you’re moving on a budget.

Sea freight:
  • Cheap - sea freight typically costs about five times less than air freight, making it a much more affordable choice.
  • Slow - container ships usually take several weeks to complete their journey, so be sure to plan your move well in advance.
 

Container shipping to the US

If you choose sea freight, you will use either a 20ft container or a 40ft container. However, you don’t need to fill the whole container; if the total volume of your cargo is around 15 cubic metres or less, you will share the use of a container with other people in a process known as Less Than Container Load (LCL). Most of our shipping suppliers provide a full door-to-door service, which means they’ll take your belongings all the way from your old house to your new one.

 

Major shipping ports

The five largest container terminals in the UK are:
  • Port of Felixstowe (southeast England)
  • Port of Southampton (south England)
  • Port of Immingham (northeast England)
  • Belfast Harbour (Northern Ireland)
  • Port of Grangemouth (Scotland)
Your shipment’s port destination ultimately depends on where in the UK you are moving to. Once your belongings have reached UK soil, they will need to clear customs before travelling by truck and/or train to your new home.

 

UK customs regulations

The UK customs process might seem complicated, but our experienced shipping suppliers will guide you through it. Here's some basic advice:
  • You are required to create an inventory (i.e. a packing list) of the items you are bringing into the UK, making sure you declare everything.
  • If you’re coming from within the EU, you’re allowed to bring your household goods and personal effects into the UK duty free. If you’re coming from outside the EU, duty-free shipments are still possible, but you must have owned and used your household goods for at least six months prior to your move date (and intend to use them in future).
  • Customs officials may physically inspect your container, so make sure you know exactly what isn’t allowed into the country (see below). Check out the official UK customs (HMRC) 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: £3,465 - £3,830

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: £6,584 - £7,278

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: £1,073 - £1,186

Quarantine & Taxes: £1,000 - £2,500

Price: £5,565 - £9,080

Get a quote for a car
Get Shipping Container Quotes

Unusual Restricted Items

Illegal Drugs
All illegal drugs are banned.
Offensive Weapons
All offensive weapons e.g. flick knives are banned.
Self-defence Sprays
Self-defence sprays e.g. pepper spray and CS gas are banned.
Products from Protected Species
Endangered animal and plant species are prohibited.
Rough Diamonds
Rough diamonds are banned.
Indecent and Obscene Material
All indecent and obscene materials are banned.