Moving Overseas Shipping Costs
Let’s break down all you need to know about container shipping costs to save you time and money on your move.
How Much Do Shipping Containers Overseas Cost?
Shipping a full container load can cost between $2,000 and $3,000.
To give an idea, we gathered the container shipping costs to different continents. The estimates are based on using a full-container load to transport household goods valued at $25,000 through the sea, departing from New York (port-to-port).
Average Shipping Container Costs by Size
For your cost-efficiency, choosing the right size of a container is key. There are two main container types, 20 and 40-feet. We’ve broken down the costs for each:
Cost of Shipping a 20 ft Container
Shipping a 20 ft container can range from $2,800 to $15,600.
| Destination | 20ft Container |
| North America | $1216 – $3414 |
| South America | $1985 – $7195 |
| Europe | $1,440 – $7,805 |
| Africa | $4,980 – $7,985 |
| Oceania | $4,685 – $15,610 |
| Asia | $3,025 – $4,220 |
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Cost of Shipping a 40 ft Container
The prices to ship a 40 ft container can vary from $1,865 to $13,080.
| Destination | 40ft Container |
| North America | $1,519 – $4,267 |
| South America | $3,690 – $8,460 |
| Europe | $1440 – $21855 |
| Africa | $5,860 – $9,395 |
| Oceania | $7,805 – $23,415 |
| Asia | $3,555 – $4,965 |
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How Expensive Are Shipping Containers?
Shipping containers can be quite expensive. The distance, container size or, additional services will be direct factors that influence your final price.
If you want to reduce costs, sharing a container with other users is a cheap alternative, as you will share not only the space but the costs.
How to Send a Container Overseas?
- Decide how many items you’re moving – it will be essential to go for a bigger or smaller container
- Get quotes from movers – comparing services and prices will help you find the best deal
- Hire a container shipping company – book and arrange your move
- Prepare your belongings – pack everything and gather all the personal documentation
- Coordinate the arrival to your final destination
Shipping costs from to
Disclaimer: All figures shown are estimates. Actual rates may vary.
Common Container Sizes
20ft and 40ft are the most popular sizes for moves. Not sure which one fits best for your needs? Keep reading.
What Can I Fit in a 20ft Container?
A 20ft container can generally hold the contents of a three-bedroom property.
These measures are 19’4″ length, 7’9″ width, and 7’10” height. These types of containers can hold around 63,500 pounds of goods.
What Can I Fit in a 40ft Container?
In a 40ft container, you can generally hold the contents of a four-bedroom and up property.
These measures translate to a 40′ length, 8′ width, and 8’6″ height. These types of containers can hold around 57,600 pounds of goods.
What is the meaning of a full container?
Also known as FCL, a full container means that you will have an entire container for yourself when moving. It is pricier, but it’s the best option if you’re moving a large amount of belongings.
Factors Affecting Shipping Container Cost
- Cargo volume and weight: The bigger the volume of your move, as well as the heavier it is, will result in a more expensive transport of goods.
- Moving distance: The further apart your point of departure is from your destination, the more expensive it will be.
- Load and delivery: There are three main ways – port-to-port, door-to-door, or drop-and-fill.
- Mode of transport: Whether you choose air, sea, or road, it will vary the price. For international moves, it reduces to air and sea. For the fastest option, we recommend air, but for a cheaper one, sea.
- Type of goods transported: Special goods, such as pianos or cars, can also increase the total costs of your move.
- Additional services: Insurance, storage, packing services, etc.
Start Preparing Your Move
If you need some extra information when planning your move abroad, we recommend checking out the pages below and the FAQs section.
FAQs
Short Answer: The average cost for shipping a 20ft container to USA is around £8,200.00 while the average costs to ship a 40ft container to USA is around £9,500.00. Shared container costs start from £1,268.00.
How much does a container cost in the US? ›
In general, a new 20ft dry container can be purchased from anywhere between $1,500 and $3,500, while a new 40ft dry container typically costs between $2,500 and $4,500. If you're interested in a new 40ft high cube (HC) container, expect to pay roughly $2,500 to $6,000.
How much does it cost to ship a 40ft container from China to the USA? ›
The average price to ship a 20ft container from China to USA is from $1150 to $3250. The shipping timeline to ship a 20 foot container from China to USA ranges depending on the route. The average price to ship a 40ft container from China to USA is from $2150 to $4850.
How much does it cost to ship a 40 ft container? ›
How much does it cost to ship a 40-foot container? The price quoted by International Van Lines for a 40-foot shipping container is between $1,500 and $7,000. This wide price range reflects factors like distance, volume and timeframe.
How many cars can fit in a 20 ft container? ›
According to one of the professional assignment help services, a regular 20-foot container allows one or two cars or SUVs to be transported, and a 40-foot-long one allows economically to accommodate two-four mid-size vehicles. A 45-foot container will conveniently accommodate up to 5 cars.
How much does it cost to ship a 20-foot container from India to USA? ›
Shipping container costs in India for FCL (full container load) for a standard 20 feet container can cost $1223.86-$1332.68 (approx.) for shipment from India to the United States. But for a 40 feet container, the cost can vary from $1641.81 to $1814.64.
Are shipping containers still expensive? ›
Most shipping containers cost between $1,800 and $8,300, depending on their size, location, and whether they are new or used.
How much do container ships cost? ›
There are several types of cargo ships available in the market, each catering to specific industries and cargo requirements. Small cargo ships can cost around $10 million, while larger ones can cost over $100 million. The size, capacity, and specifications of these vessels vary, and so does their price tag.
Are shipping containers waterproof? ›
Most shipping containers will be waterproof to some extent. But if you have found that there is water being let in from outside your container, you may need to do some additional maintenance to seal it. The first place to look would be the seal along the roof of the container.
How long does a container ship take to go from China to USA? ›
How Long Does Sea Freight Take from China to the US? Sea freight transit times from China to the US vary depending upon the respective ports and shipping lanes used. Typical transit times are from 15-25 days, but can take longer if the ship is sailing to the East Coast.
If the price of fuel oil is USD800/MT, and the shipowner or charterer needs to prepare full fuel tanks for this type of transport ship, it will cost about USD 5 million. The current cost of fuel oil of a standard Panamax ship is around USD 1 million.
How much to ship a 20-foot container to Hawaii? ›
However, on average, the price of a Hawaii shipping container move ranges from $2,000 to $3,000 for a 20-foot container and $3,000 to $4,000 for a 40-foot container. Please note that these estimates may fluctuate depending on the specifics of the shipping arrangement and the current market conditions.
How much can you fit in a 40 ft shipping container? ›
40-foot container dimensions
It has 285 sq ft (26.47m2) of floor space and 2,120 cubic ft (60m3) of volume. Depending on the type of pallet you use, it can hold 22 standard pallets or 27 Euro pallets without stacking.
What is ocean freight rates? ›
The ocean freight rate is the fee payable to a shipping company for getting freight from A to B. It is usually paid in US dollars. If you import or export goods, understanding ocean freight rates is essential as they affect your final shipping costs, and by extension, your profitability.
How much does it cost to ship 600 lbs? ›
For a rough estimate, shipping 600 lbs within the US could range from $200 to $1000, depending on factors such as distance, shipping method, and any additional services required.
