What actually drives international moving costs?
International moving costs depend on a handful of measurable factors. Most people don’t know what those factors are until they get a quote, and by then it’s hard to tell whether the number is fair.
Below is a plain breakdown of what affects the final price of an international move, so you can make better decisions about what to ship, how to ship it, and where to save money without cutting corners.
Volume and weight: the biggest variable
The single largest factor in any international shipping quote is how much you’re sending. Removal companies measure volume in cubic feet, and everything else (container size, shipping method, packing materials) flows from that number.
Most people underestimate their volume. A three-bedroom house typically measures 800–1,200 cubic feet once the surveyor has been through every room, including the garage, loft, and garden shed. A one-bedroom flat might be 200–400 cubic feet. These numbers matter because they determine whether you need shared container space or a full container, and that choice has a big impact on price.
This is why a proper survey, either in person or by video call, is worth doing early. Guessing volume leads to surprises on collection day, and surprises at that stage usually mean higher costs.
Shipping method: groupage, full container, or air freight
You have three main options, and the right one depends on volume, budget, and how quickly you need your belongings.
Sea groupage means your shipment shares container space with other customers’ goods. It’s the most affordable option for smaller loads, typically from around £5 per kilogram, but transit takes longer because the container doesn’t leave port until it’s full. Expect 6–8 weeks including loading and customs clearance.
A full container load (FCL) gives you the whole container. A 20-foot container suits most household moves and costs more than groupage, but you control the schedule. Transit is typically 4–6 weeks port to port, plus customs at each end. For larger households, a 40-foot container may be needed.
Air freight arrives in days rather than weeks, but costs significantly more per kilogram. It makes sense for essentials you can’t wait for: documents, medication, a few boxes of clothes, while the bulk goes by sea.
Many people use a combination: sea freight for furniture and household goods, and international box shipping or baggage shipping by air for immediate necessities. This balances cost against the reality that you’ll need certain items before your container arrives.
Destination and access conditions
Shipping to a major port like Alexandria or Jebel Ali is cheaper than shipping to a smaller port with fewer sailings. Fewer sailings mean longer waits, and sometimes your container has to be transhipped through an intermediate port, adding time and handling fees.
Getting a container from the port to your new home is a separate cost. In some countries, road infrastructure and distance from port add significantly to the final bill. A delivery to central Cairo costs less than a delivery to a rural town in Upper Egypt, for example. If you’ve booked a door-to-door overseas removal service, last-mile delivery and customs clearance are included. With port-to-port shipping, you’ll need to arrange a local haulier and customs broker separately.
Access at both ends matters too. Can a lorry park directly outside your front door, or does the crew have to carry everything 50 metres down a narrow street? Is there a lift, or is your flat on the fourth floor? Difficult access adds labour time, and labour time adds cost. The same applies at your destination.
Packing: professional vs self-pack
Professional packing costs more upfront but has real advantages. A trained crew packs faster than you will, uses the right materials, and packs in a way that maximises container space. Professionally packed items are also more likely to be covered by transit insurance. Some policies exclude damage to self-packed goods or limit the claim amount.
Self-packing saves on labour costs, but you’ll need to buy proper materials. Supermarket boxes look free, but they collapse under the weight of a stacked container. You’ll need double-walled cardboard, bubble wrap, tissue paper for fragile items, and wardrobe boxes for clothes. Budget £150–£300 for materials on a typical household move.
A middle option is to pack non-fragile items yourself and have the crew handle glassware, artwork, and anything awkward. Most removal companies are flexible about this.
Customs duties, taxes, and paperwork
Some countries charge import duty on household goods. Others waive it for residents transferring their home, but only if you provide the right paperwork. Egypt, for instance, requires a detailed packing list stamped by the Egyptian consulate before your goods leave the UK. Missing that stamp can hold your shipment at port for weeks, and port storage charges accumulate quickly.
If you’re leaving the UK permanently or for an extended period and moving to an EU country, HMRC’s Transfer of Residence (ToR) scheme may let you avoid import duty and VAT on your personal belongings. The conditions are specific (you generally need to have owned the goods for at least six months) but the saving can be substantial. Your removal company can help with the paperwork, or you can check the UK customs clearance process for more detail.
Some destinations also charge port handling fees, container examination fees, or require fumigation certificates. These aren’t always included in a shipping quote, so ask what’s covered and what’s extra before you book.
Storage, insurance, and timing
If there’s a gap between leaving your UK home and your shipment arriving, you may need storage. Some companies include a free storage period as part of the move. London Moving Services offers up to eight weeks free at its Watford depot. Beyond that, weekly or monthly storage fees apply, and they add up if your move timeline shifts.
Basic carrier liability is included in most quotes, but it covers a limited amount per item. Full transit insurance, covering replacement value, is an additional cost, usually calculated as a percentage of the declared value of your goods. For a typical household, expect to pay 2–4% of the total declared value. It’s worth getting, particularly for long sea transits where your belongings are in a container for weeks.
International removals also follow seasonal patterns. Summer (June to September) is the busiest period because families move during school holidays and container space is in higher demand. Prices during peak season can be noticeably higher than in autumn or winter. If your move date is flexible, shipping in October or February will usually cost less than shipping in July.
Why guide prices differ from final quotes
Every international move page, including ours, gives guide prices. These are useful for budgeting, but they’re not what you’ll actually pay.
A guide price is based on averages: average volume, a common route, standard access, no unusual customs requirements. Your move will have its own specifics. Maybe you’re shipping a piano. Maybe your new flat is on the sixth floor with no lift. Maybe you need fumigation certificates for wooden furniture going to Australia. Each of these changes the cost.
The only way to get an accurate price is a proper survey. A surveyor (in person or by video call) walks through your home, measures your volume, notes any awkward or high-value items, and asks about access at both ends. The quote that follows is based on your actual move, not an average one.
When comparing quotes, look at what’s included. A lower headline price sometimes excludes customs clearance, insurance, or delivery from port to your door. Compare total cost, not just the shipping line. A quote that includes everything from packing to customs to home delivery at the destination, a genuine door-to-door service, may look more expensive on paper, but it often works out the same or cheaper once you add up the extras that a port-to-port quote leaves out.
Get a quote based on your actual move
The numbers on this page give you a framework for understanding what drives international moving costs. But the only figure that matters is the one based on your specific volume, route, and requirements.
Request a free quote online, call us on 020 4515 6333, or send a WhatsApp message to +44 7795 048260. We’ll arrange a survey, talk through your options, and give you a clear, itemised quote with no hidden charges.
For route-specific information, see our guides to shipping to Egypt from the UK and moving to the UAE. For help planning your move timeline, our international moving checklist covers what to do at each stage.
London Moving Services is accredited by the International Association of Movers (IAM), BIFA, and FIATA. We’ve been moving people overseas for 18 years and hold a 4.9-star Google rating from 53 reviews.
Chat with us!