Shipping household goods from the UK to Egypt is something thousands of people do every year. The route is well established, mostly by sea through Alexandria port, and the process is straightforward once you understand the options and costs involved.
The problem is that costs vary a lot depending on what you’re shipping, how much of it there is, and which service you choose. A few boxes of personal belongings might cost a few hundred pounds. A full house will cost several thousand. This guide breaks down how pricing works for each shipping method so you can budget properly before you commit.
What does it cost to ship to Egypt?
There’s no single price for shipping from the UK to Egypt. Costs depend on the shipping method, the volume of your goods, and the level of service you need.
As a rough guide for 2026:
Groupage (shared container) is the most common option for people shipping part of a household. You pay for the space your goods occupy in a shared container, measured in cubic metres. Rates typically start from around £120 to £180 per cubic metre for UK-to-Egypt groupage, though this changes with fuel costs and container availability. A typical shipment of 5 to 10 cubic metres might cost between £800 and £1,800 for the freight alone.
Full container load (FCL) makes sense if you’re shipping a large amount. A 20ft container holds roughly 30 to 33 cubic metres and costs between £2,500 and £4,500 for UK-to-Egypt routes. A 40ft container holds around 60 to 67 cubic metres and typically runs from £3,500 to £6,500. These are freight-only prices. Door-to-door service with packing, collection, customs clearance and delivery in Egypt costs more. For a detailed breakdown of container sizes and pricing, see our guide to container shipping costs to Egypt.
Air freight is the fastest but most expensive option. Rates are charged per kilogram and typically run from £4 to £8 per kg for UK-to-Egypt routes. Air freight makes sense for urgent items or small shipments under 2 cubic metres where speed matters more than cost.
These figures are freight costs. A full door-to-door shipping service to Egypt includes collection, packing, UK export clearance, freight, Egypt customs clearance and delivery to your address, which adds to the total but means you don’t have to coordinate any of it yourself.
What affects the price
Volume and weight. This is the biggest factor. Shipping companies charge by either volume (cubic metres) or weight (kilograms), whichever is greater. Most household goods are bulky but not heavy, so volume usually determines the price. Decluttering before you get a quote directly reduces your cost.
Collection location. Most shipping companies serving Egypt are based in London or the South East. If you’re in Scotland, Wales, or northern England, expect a collection surcharge or separate arrangement for getting your goods to the depot.
Packing. If you pack yourself, you save money but take on the risk. If the shipping company packs for you, they use export-grade materials designed to survive weeks in a container. Professional packing typically adds £300 to £800 depending on the volume, but it also means your goods are covered by the company’s insurance if anything gets damaged.
Insurance. Marine cargo insurance for household goods typically costs around 3% to 4% of the declared value. It’s not mandatory, but shipping without it means you absorb any loss or damage yourself.
Customs duties in Egypt. These are separate from your shipping costs but they’re a real expense you need to budget for. Duties depend on the type of goods and their declared value. Your shipping company should give you an estimate before you book.
Season and container availability. Shipping rates fluctuate. Summer months tend to be busier and slightly more expensive. Container shortages (which have happened repeatedly since 2020) can push rates up across the board.
Groupage vs full container vs air freight
Groupage works best if you’re shipping between 2 and 15 cubic metres. That covers anything from a few boxes of personal effects up to a studio flat’s worth of furniture. Your goods share container space with other shipments heading to Egypt, which keeps costs down. The trade-off is that departure dates are fixed. Groupage shipping containers to Egypt typically depart every 2 to 4 weeks, so you need to plan around the schedule.
Full container is the better option once your shipment exceeds about 15 cubic metres, because at that volume the per-cubic-metre cost of groupage starts approaching the flat rate for a 20ft container anyway. A full container also ships on your schedule rather than waiting for the next grouped departure. If you’re moving a 2 or 3 bedroom house, this is usually the most cost-effective option.
Air freight only makes sense in two situations: you need something urgently (air freight takes 5 to 10 days versus 6 to 8 weeks by sea), or your shipment is very small (under 2 cubic metres) and the per-kg air cost works out cheaper than the minimum charges for sea freight. Most people moving to Egypt use air freight for a few boxes of essentials and send the rest by sea.
How long does shipping to Egypt take?
Transit times depend on the method and the port of arrival.
Sea freight to Alexandria takes 2 to 3 weeks for the sailing itself. Add collection and consolidation time at the UK end (1 to 2 weeks for groupage, less for FCL) and customs clearance at the Egypt end (1 to 2 weeks), and the total door-to-door time is typically 6 to 8 weeks for groupage and 4 to 6 weeks for a full container.
Air freight to Cairo takes 5 to 10 days door-to-door including customs clearance. This is why people use it for essentials they can’t wait 2 months for.
Factors that add time: Egyptian public holidays (Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Ramadan) slow customs processing. Summer port congestion at Alexandria can add a few days. Incomplete paperwork is the most common cause of delays, and it’s entirely avoidable.
Hidden costs to watch for
Some costs aren’t always obvious in the initial quote. Ask about these before you book.
Demurrage and storage at port. If your shipment isn’t cleared from Alexandria port within the free storage period (usually 5 to 7 days after unloading), daily storage charges apply. These add up fast. The best way to avoid this is to have your customs documents ready before your shipment arrives.
Egypt delivery charges. Some quotes cover delivery to Alexandria only, not to your actual address. If you’re in Cairo, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, or anywhere outside Alexandria, confirm whether delivery to your door is included or charged separately.
Stairs and difficult access. If your Egypt address is above the ground floor and there’s no lift, expect a per-floor surcharge for carrying items up stairs. This is standard practice in Egypt.
UK customs clearance is included with most door-to-door services, but if you’re arranging shipping yourself through a freight-only company, export documentation may be charged separately.
How to get an accurate quote
The only way to get a reliable price is to request a quote based on your actual inventory. Ballpark figures from the internet (including the ones in this article) give you a range, but your final cost depends on your specific situation.
When requesting quotes, provide:
- A list of what you’re shipping, room by room
- Your UK collection address and postcode
- Your Egypt delivery address, including floor number and lift availability
- Whether you want packing included or you’ll pack yourself
- Your preferred timeline
Get quotes from at least two companies. Compare what’s included in each price. A cheaper quote that excludes packing, insurance, Egypt customs clearance, or final delivery isn’t actually cheaper once you add those costs back in.
Ask specifically whether the quote is door-to-door or door-to-port. Door-to-port means the shipping company’s responsibility ends when your container is offloaded at Alexandria, and you arrange customs clearance and delivery yourself. For most people, door-to-door is worth the extra cost because coordinating Egyptian customs clearance from the UK is difficult, especially if you don’t speak Arabic.
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