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Last Updated: 29th May 2025 by Martha Lott

Planning an international move can be both exciting and overwhelming. One of the most crucial aspects to consider is the cost. International removals can vary significantly in price depending on a multitude of factors.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the 10 essential factors that determine the cost of international removals. By understanding these elements, you can better prepare for your move, budget effectively, and make informed decisions.

Here is a breakdown of the different costs which can influence the price you will pay for moving your household goods and personal effects abroad.

1. Move Size

The size of your move is one of the most significant cost drivers when moving internationally. Simply put, the more you ship, the more you pay.

Smaller Moves (Shared Container)

If you’re not moving a full household, your belongings will typically be consolidated with other shipments in a shared container. Shipping and moving costs are charged based on the size and final packed volume of your move.

• Pricing Method: Charged by volume (usually per cubic metre or per square foot).
• Average Rate: Around £210 per cubic metre.
• Estimated Budget: Expect to pay £800 to £1,500 depending on volume and destination.

This is an ideal option for students, expats with limited belongings, or those shipping essentials only.

Large Moves (20ft-40ft Containers)

If you’re relocating an entire household, you’ll need a dedicated container.

• 3-Bedroom House: Typically requires a 20ft container, with average shipping costs around £3,450.
• 4+ Bedroom House: Generally requires a 40ft container, costing approximately £6,495.

These costs can fluctuate based on the shipping route, seasonal demand, and whether the move is door-to-door or port-to-port.

Tip: Decluttering before your move can significantly reduce volume and save you thousands. Consider selling or donating items you no longer need before requesting moving overseas quotes.

Want to quickly calculate the volume of furniture and personal belongings for your move? Check out our smart AI powered removal volume calculator.

2. Packing Costs

Packing is a key part of any international move and can significantly impact the total cost — especially when moving a full household.

What influences packing costs?

• Volume of items needed packing
• The time involved in packing. Complex or fragile items take longer
• Materials used, such as reinforced boxes, bubble wrap, packing paper, and export-grade wrapping for overseas protection
• Special handling for delicate, valuable, or oversized items like pianos or artwork

Average packing costs:

• For a small home or apartment, packing services usually cost between £300 and £400.
• For larger homes, expect this to increase to £600–£1,000+, especially if everything is packed by professionals.

3. Unpacking Costs

Your mover will deliver your goods to your home overseas. If you want them to unpack everything as well, then they will make an additional charge dependent on the size of your move. Typically, the following is included in an unpacking service:

• Unload and unpack all boxes
• Place furniture in designated rooms
• Remove and dispose of all packing materials

How much does it cost?

• For an average move, expect to pay £250 to £300.
• Larger or more complex moves may increase this figure, depending on the number of boxes, size of your home, and layout access.

Tip: Ask your mover for a “Door to Door Unpacked” service, and they will include this in the price of your move.

4. Your Location in the UK

Your location in the UK makes a big impact on your international moving costs.

Main container port for shipping overseas from the UK:

• London Gateway
• Southampton
• Felixstowe

If your home is far from these ports, particularly in Scotland, Wales, or Northern England, your moving company will need to transport your container or goods over a longer distance, increasing costs.

On average, moving from regions further north can be around 5% more expensive compared to moves originating in the South East of England. This extra cost accounts for fuel, driver time, and possibly overnight stays for long-haul transport.

5. Distance by Sea From the UK

Surprisingly this is not normally a factor as worldwide container shipping prices are influenced by various factors apart from distance. Thes include supply and demand for shipping containers during peak seasons like Christmas and the competition between shipping lines to serve larger markets like the USA, Australia or Canada.

Oil prices and global economic fluctuations also influence container shipping costs. The average UK port to overseas port container costs range from £3450 to £7,890.

You can check container shipping prices here.

6. Distance From the Arrival Port to your Final Destination

Commonly known as “The last Mile” this is the cost of transportation from either the arrival port or the movers’ inland depots.

For full containers:

20ft or 40ft containers charges will be based on the mileage from the arrival port to your door or destination. As an example, if you are moving to Dubai then the arrival port is only a short stop to your destination and the costs would be around £260.  However, a move to Las Vegas will mean transportation from the port Los Angeles some 300 miles away at a cost of around £680.

For shared container:

Your goods will be discharged at the main arrival port and transferred to a local regional depot. The costs for the transport to the local depot will be included in your shipping costs. Most movers have inland depots near larger towns and cities so the costs to deliver to your home will be around £250 to £225.

If you have paid for a “Door to Door service then this charge is included in your price.

7. Time Sensitive

Sea freight is by far the cheapest option when moving household goods or personal effects overseas. Although most container shipping services run weekly from the UK it can take anything from 14 days to 60 days to arrive, depending on which country you are moving to.

Airfreight services are much faster but are mostly too expensive to consider shipping normal household goods. You should only consider airfreight services for shipping urgent documents, laptops or similar small, essential items only.

Visit our home page for details of our weekly sailing schedules and transit times from the UK to your chosen destination.

8. Insurance

International moving insurance costs are based on the replacement value of the goods you are shipping. Most movers will make insurance compulsory.

Insurance is normally charged at between 2 % and 4% of the total value of your goods shipped, depending on the level of cover. For an average move with a value of £5,000 expect to pay £100 to £200.

Find out more about moving insurance here.

9. Duties and Taxes

One of the key benefits of international relocation is that most countries do not charge import duties or taxes on used household goods, but there are important exceptions and conditions to be aware of.

Typically movers can import used personal items duty-free if they have been used within the last 6 months. Most commonly new or high-value items might be subject to VAT or duties. Often alcohol, vehicles, and luxury goods will be taxed.

All countries have different rules and charges, so it’s important to understand how much you’ll need to pay. For more information, read our detailed customs guides on your chosen country.

10. Customs Formalities

Your mover will include these in the costs for your move and will arrange customs clearance paperwork both in the UK and at your destination port or depot. Although not recommended due to the complexity of customs formalities, you can arrange your own customs clearance at border points, this charge is normally around £150 to £160.

By understanding the various factors that can influence international moving costs, you can better prepare for your upcoming relocation. By working closely with 1^st Move International we will help you develop a tailored moving plan that minimizes costs and ensures a smooth transition to your new home abroad.

Looking on how to save money on your next move abroad, check out our blog with 13 tips on how to save on your international removals costs here.