Moving cost guide
International Moving Cost 2026: Country-to-Country Guide
International moving prices depend more on route, volume and customs complexity than on distance alone. Below are 2026 price ranges for the most popular country-to-country routes, comparing sea freight and air freight for a typical 1–2 bedroom household (roughly 25–35 cubic meters).
Price ranges by route
U.S. → United Kingdom
~5,500 km (NYC → London)Sea: 2–5 weeks · Air: 2–5 days
Most popular transatlantic route. Shared containers cut the sea-freight floor; customs clearance adds 5–10 days.
U.S. → Australia
~15,000 km (LA → Sydney)Sea: 5–10 weeks · Air: 5–10 days
Long route, strict AQIS biosecurity inspection on arrival. Budget for mandatory cleaning/treatment of outdoor items.
U.K. → Germany
~900 km (London → Berlin)Road: 2–5 days · Air: 1–3 days
Short intra-EU move. Post-Brexit, full customs paperwork applies U.K. → Germany even though both are developed markets.
U.S. → Canada
~750 km (NYC → Toronto)Road: 3–7 days
Simplest international move for Americans. NAFTA/USMCA rules ease customs; driveable for DIY options.
U.K. → United States
~5,500 km (London → NYC)Sea: 2–5 weeks · Air: 2–5 days
Reverse of the top route. U.S. customs requires a detailed inventory and may apply duty on items under 1 year old.
Australia → United Kingdom
~15,000 km (Sydney → London)Sea: 6–12 weeks · Air: 5–10 days
Long backhaul. Booking 8+ weeks ahead materially lowers the sea-freight price.
U.S. → Japan
~10,800 km (LA → Tokyo)Sea: 3–6 weeks · Air: 3–7 days
Japanese apartments are smaller; many movers downsize. Strict customs on food, plants and certain medications.
EU → United Kingdom
~750 km (Paris → London)Road: 2–4 days
Short move, but post-Brexit customs add paperwork and a few hundred pounds in clearance fees on both ends.
Ranges are door-to-door for a typical 1–2 bedroom household, including standard customs clearance. Specialty items, remote origins/destinations, and peak season (May–September) push prices toward the high end.
Sea freight vs air freight vs DIY
Sea freight (FCL/LCL)
Cheapest per cubic meter for a full household. Transit 2–10 weeks. Best for moves above ~15 cubic meters. Book 6–8 weeks ahead for the best rate.
Air freight
2–4x faster, 2–3x more expensive per volume. Ideal for essentials you need on arrival. Charged by actual or volumetric weight, whichever is greater.
DIY (excess baggage + courier)
Cheapest for students and very small moves. Airline excess baggage plus DHL/FedEx boxes can move 100–200 kg for $1,000–$2,500. Not viable above ~3 cubic meters.
The fees movers do not put in the headline quote
- Customs clearance & broker fees: $200–$600, mandatory at destination.
- Destination port/terminal handling: $300–$900 — sometimes billed separately after pickup.
- Quarantine / biosecurity inspection: $150–$500, especially for Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
- Long-carry & stair fees: $100–$400 if the truck cannot park at your door.
- Storage: $100–$300/week if your goods arrive before you do.
- Marine insurance: 2–4% of declared value. Skipping it is false economy on a long sea leg.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to move internationally?+
For a typical 1–2 bedroom household, international moving costs in 2026 range from about $1,500 for a short intra-EU road move to $12,000+ for a full-container sea shipment from the U.S. to Australia. The biggest factors are distance, shipment volume, mode (sea vs air), and destination customs complexity. Air freight is 2–4x faster but usually 2–3x more expensive than sea freight for a full household.
Is sea freight or air freight cheaper for an international move?+
Sea freight is almost always cheaper per volume for a full household — roughly $3,500–$8,000 for a U.S. to U.K. move versus $2,000–$5,000 for air freight of just essential boxes. The catch: sea freight takes 2–10 weeks, while air freight takes 2–10 days. Most households split the difference: air-ship essentials to have on arrival, and sea-ship the rest of the household.
What size shipping container do I need?+
A 20-foot container fits the contents of a typical 1–2 bedroom home (roughly 30–35 cubic meters). A 40-foot container fits a 3–4 bedroom home (60–70 cubic meters). For smaller moves, shared-container (LCL — less than container load) service charges by volume and is much cheaper than booking a whole container you do not fill.
What hidden fees do international movers charge?+
Common add-ons that inflate the quote: customs clearance and broker fees ($200–$600), destination port handling and terminal charges ($300–$900), quarantine or biosecurity inspection (especially Australia, New Zealand, Japan — $150–$500), long-carry or stair charges at pickup and delivery, storage if you arrive before your goods ($100–$300/week), and insurance at 2–4% of declared value. Always ask for a door-to-door, all-in quote.
How much does it cost to move from the U.S. to the U.K.?+
A U.S. to U.K. move for a 1–2 bedroom household typically costs $3,500–$7,500 by sea freight (transit 2–5 weeks) or $2,000–$5,000 by air freight for essentials only (transit 2–5 days). Budget another $500–$1,500 for U.K. customs clearance, delivery to a non-ground-floor flat, and 2–4% of declared value for marine insurance.
Is it cheaper to sell everything and rebuy abroad?+
Often yes, for furniture and large appliances. New and used furniture in destination markets can be cheaper than shipping bulky items, especially for moves under 15 cubic meters. The rule of thumb: if the cost of shipping an item exceeds 50–60% of replacing it, sell and rebuy. Always ship sentimental items, specialty gear, electronics that are expensive locally, and hard-to-fit clothing.
Prices are 2026 estimates for a typical 1–2 bedroom household move and vary widely by shipment volume, mover, season and exact origin/destination addresses. Always get at least three binding door-to-door quotes before booking.