International Box Shipping
What are you moving?
Ship Your Belongings Anywhere in the World with Anglo Pacific
Shipping boxes overseas does not need to be expensive or complicated. Whether you are moving abroad, sending personal effects to family, going to university overseas or returning home after time in the UK, our international box shipping service handles everything from collection at your UK address to delivery to your destination door. We charge by the size of your shipment, not by the kilogram at check-in, so you know the full price before booking.
Anglo Pacific has shipped personal belongings internationally for over 40 years, with more than 20,000 consignments handled every year. Our box shipping service runs to most major destinations worldwide, including Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, South Africa, the UAE, Cyprus, Italy, Malta and across Asia.
How Much Does International Box Shipping Cost
The cost of shipping boxes overseas depends on three things: how many boxes you are sending, which destination they are going to, and whether you choose sea or air freight. We charge by the overall size of your shipment, not per box, so consolidating into one shipment is almost always better value than booking boxes separately.
- Three to five boxes (around 0.5 cubic metres) by sea freight: from around £290 door to door.
- Ten boxes (around 1 cubic metre) by sea freight: from around £550 door to door.
- Single box by air freight: from around £320 door to door for urgent shipments.
- Larger volumes: better per-cubic-metre rates the more you send.
Quotes are fixed at the time of booking and cover UK collection, freight, destination customs documentation and final delivery. For an exact figure based on your shipment and destination, send us a rough inventory and we will respond the same working day.
International box shipping runs on two routes: sea freight and air freight. The right choice depends on how soon you need your boxes and how many you are sending.
Shipping boxes by sea freight
Sea freight is the most cost-effective option for almost all international box shipping. The per-cubic-metre rate drops as your volume increases, which makes consolidating boxes, suitcases and personal effects into one shipment the cheapest way to send larger quantities overseas. Sea freight suits anyone whose timeline is flexible enough to wait a few weeks for arrival.
- Transit time: typically 2 to 4 weeks for short routes such as Europe, 4 to 8 weeks for the Middle East and Asia, 5 to 9 weeks for North America, and 8 to 12 weeks for Australia and New Zealand. Your destination page sets out exact transit windows.
- Best for: anyone sending more than one box, students, anyone moving abroad, sending personal effects to family, household consolidation.
- Cost: lower per cubic metre than air freight, particularly cost-effective for volumes over 0.5 cubic metres.
Shipping boxes by air freight
Air freight is the faster option for urgent or smaller box shipments. Boxes typically arrive within 3 to 10 days door to door, depending on destination. Air freight costs more per kilogram than sea freight but delivers much faster, making it the right choice when timing matters more than volume.
- Transit time: typically 3 to 5 days for European destinations, 5 to 10 days for long-haul destinations.
- Best for: single boxes, urgent shipments, last-minute items, smaller volumes where speed matters.
- Cost: higher per kilogram than sea freight, but materially faster delivery.
What you can fit in a box matters more than how many boxes you have, because we charge by overall shipment size. Packing well and using the right boxes maximises what you can send for the price you are quoted.
Recommended box sizes
We supply double-walled cartons in three common sizes. You can use your own boxes too, but they need to be strong enough to survive the journey. Standard single-walled supermarket cardboard is usually not enough for international shipping.
- Small (around 18 by 18 by 18 inches): suits books, kitchenware, china, glassware and other dense or fragile items.
- Medium (around 18 by 18 by 24 inches): suits clothing, bedding, shoes, towels and household linens.
- Large (around 22 by 22 by 24 inches): suits bedding, soft toys, lampshades, lightweight bulky items.
- Maximum weight per box: typically up to 30kg. Beyond that, the box becomes hard to handle and risks splitting in transit.
How to pack boxes for international shipping
- Use double-walled cartons: stronger walls survive the handling of long-distance shipping.
- Wrap fragile items individually: bubble wrap, packing paper or foam for china, glass, ceramics, electronics.
- Fill empty space: scrunched-up paper or packing peanuts stop items moving inside the box.
- Pack heavier items at the bottom: lighter items on top reduces the chance of crushing.
- Seal with strong parcel tape: along every seam, both top and bottom, with extra tape if the box is heavy.
- Label clearly: your name, destination address and contact number on each box. Mark fragile items as fragile.
- Keep an inventory: a list of what is in each box helps with customs and is useful if you need to make an insurance claim.
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Why Choose Anglo Pacific for International Box Shipping
Most people who ship boxes overseas have never done it before, and the airline routes are not the most cost-effective. Our service is designed to take the guesswork out of it. Here is what our full-service international box shipping includes:
- Fixed pricing, no surprises: your quote is fixed at the time of booking and covers everything from UK collection through to destination delivery, including customs documentation. No per-kilogram excess fees, no airport-counter shocks.
- Packing materials provided: we supply sturdy, double-walled boxes and packing materials with collection if you want them, so you are not stuck sourcing the right boxes yourself.
- Door-to-door collection and delivery: we collect from any UK address and deliver to your destination address, whether it is a city centre flat, a university hall, a suburban home or a rural property.
- Customs handled for you: international box shipping involves a customs declaration at the destination end. We prepare and submit the paperwork on your behalf so your shipment clears the border without delay.
- Both directions covered: the same service runs in reverse when you need to ship boxes back to the UK.
- 40+ years of experience: we have moved belongings internationally for over four decades, handling more than 20,000 consignments every year.
Furniture Shipping Prices
The cost of shipping boxes overseas depends on three things: how many boxes you are sending, which destination they are going to, and whether you choose sea or air freight. We charge by the overall size of your shipment, not per box, so consolidating into one shipment is almost always better value than booking boxes separately.
- Three to five boxes (around 0.5 cubic metres) by sea freight: from around £290 door to door.
- Ten boxes (around 1 cubic metre) by sea freight: from around £550 door to door.
- Single box by air freight: from around £320 door to door for urgent shipments.
- Larger volumes: better per-cubic-metre rates the more you send.
What you can send in boxes
Most personal effects can go in boxes: clothing, books, kitchenware, bedding, soft furnishings, toys, household linens, ornaments, small electronics, shoes and personal items. Some categories need extra care or different paperwork:
- Used outdoor kit (boots, garden tools, camping gear): some destinations such as Australia and New Zealand have strict biosecurity rules and these items must be cleaned and declared.
- Food, plants and seeds: usually prohibited or heavily restricted in most destinations. Check your destination page for specifics.
- Electronics with batteries: lithium batteries have shipping restrictions, particularly by air freight. Tell us in advance so we can plan accordingly.
- Alcohol and tobacco: may attract duty even in small quantities and have specific rules at the destination.
- High-value items: jewellery, antiques and items over certain values may need additional documentation and insurance.
Common Destinations
With Anglo bases in Manchester, London and Glasgow, it has never been easier to send a box from mainland UK! As a seasoned box shipping company, no destination is too far for our expert teams and we send boxes to destinations all over the world. Some of our most popular European and international destinations for shipping boxes from the UK are:
Check out our country guides
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Reviews
International shipping boxes is a simple process when you choose Anglo Pacific. Our drive and commitment mean we complete a successful and punctual delivery of boxes each and every time, but rather than just reading what we have to say, check out our box shipping reviews…
For your online quote for sending boxes abroad, book your remote video survey today and one of our expert team members will assess your consignment and provide you with a no-obligation box shipping estimate, online…
- Book a remote video survey
- Show us your items
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Costs depend on how many boxes you are sending, which destination they are going to, and whether you choose sea or air freight. As an indicative range, three to five boxes (around 0.5 cubic metres) by sea freight typically starts from around £290 door to door, with a single box by air freight from around £320. Larger volumes attract better per-cubic-metre rates. For an exact quote, send us a rough inventory and we will respond the same working day.
Sea freight is the most cost-effective option for almost all international box shipping. The per-cubic-metre rate drops as your volume increases, so consolidating multiple boxes into one shipment is usually cheaper than booking smaller shipments separately or paying airline excess baggage fees. If your timeline allows for a few weeks transit, sea freight is almost always the right answer for the cheapest way to ship boxes overseas.
Transit time depends on the destination and shipping method. As an indicative range, sea freight runs 2 to 4 weeks for European destinations, 4 to 8 weeks for the Middle East and Asia, 5 to 9 weeks for North America, and 8 to 12 weeks for Australia and New Zealand. Air freight runs 3 to 5 days for European destinations and 5 to 10 days for long-haul. Each destination page has the exact transit window for that country.
We supply double-walled cartons in small (around 18 by 18 by 18 inches), medium (around 18 by 18 by 24 inches) and large (around 22 by 22 by 24 inches) sizes. You can use your own boxes too, provided they are strong enough for international transit (usually double-walled or heavy-duty single-walled). We recommend up to 30kg per box for safe handling.
There is no upper limit. We have customers who send a single box and customers who send a hundred. Because we charge by the overall size of your shipment rather than per box, larger volumes attract better per-cubic-metre rates, so it is often cheaper to consolidate everything into one shipment.
You can pack your own boxes, and most customers do. If you prefer not to source your own packaging, we supply sturdy double-walled boxes and packing materials with collection. For a full removals-style packing service where our team packs your belongings for you, our removals service is a better fit and we can quote that separately.
Yes. International box shipping involves a customs declaration at the destination, and the rules differ by country. We prepare and submit all destination customs paperwork on your behalf, including the personal effects inventory and any declarations required for restricted items. You do not need to deal with the customs authority directly.
Some items are prohibited or restricted in most destinations, including narcotics, weapons and ammunition without permits, certain plant and animal products, perishable food, live plants and seeds. Other items have destination-specific restrictions: Australia and New Zealand have strict biosecurity rules on used outdoor kit, some countries restrict e-cigarettes and vape products, and some restrict alcohol and tobacco. Your destination page has the specifics, and you can always check with us in advance about anything unusual.
Yes. Our international box shipping service runs in both directions. We coordinate with partner agents at the overseas end to collect your boxes, handle the freight, and deliver to your UK address. Returning UK residents may qualify for Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief from UK customs duty and VAT if they have owned and used the items overseas for at least 6 months.
We ship boxes to most major destinations worldwide. Dedicated destination pages cover Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, South Africa, the UAE, Cyprus, Italy, Malta, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand. If your destination is not listed, get in touch and we will quote the most cost-effective service for your shipment.