Container Shipping Worldwide
What are you moving?
Ship Your Container Anywhere in the World with Anglo Pacific
Container shipping is the most cost-effective way to send larger volumes overseas, whether you are moving a full household, relocating a business, sending vehicles or shipping a mix of furniture and personal effects. Our international container shipping service handles everything from packing and loading in the UK through to customs clearance and final delivery at your destination. We charge a fixed price per container or by the cubic metre for Groupage, so you know the full cost before booking.
Anglo Pacific has shipped containers internationally for over 40 years, with more than 20,000 consignments handled every year. Our container shipping service runs to most major destinations worldwide, including Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, the UAE, Asia, the Middle East and across Europe.
How Much Does International Container Shipping Cost
The cost of international container shipping depends on three things: the container size you need, the destination, and whether you go FCL (a whole container to yourself) or Groupage (sharing container space with other shipments). We charge a fixed price per FCL container, or by the cubic metre for Groupage, so you know what you are paying for before booking.
- Groupage (sharing container space), typically 5 to 15 cubic metres of household contents: from around £1,500 to £2,800 door to door, depending on destination.
- 20ft FCL container (around 30 cubic metres, suits a 2 to 3 bedroom house): from around £3,500 to £5,500, depending on destination.
- 40ft FCL container (around 60 cubic metres, suits a 4+ bedroom house or large household): from around £5,000 to £7,500, depending on destination.
- 40ft High Cube FCL container (around 65 to 70 cubic metres, for very tall or bulky items): from around £5,500 to £8,000, depending on destination.
Quotes are fixed at the time of booking and cover UK collection, export packing where required, freight, destination customs documentation and final delivery. For an exact figure based on your inventory and destination, get in touch with your move details and we will respond the same working day.
Choosing the right container size matters because it determines both the price and how much of your household you can ship in one go. Here are the standard options.
20ft container (FCL)
A standard 20ft container holds around 30 cubic metres of household contents, which is enough for the contents of a 2 to 3 bedroom house including most furniture, white goods and personal effects. It is the most popular size for international removals and family moves abroad.
- Internal dimensions: approximately 5.9m long, 2.35m wide, 2.4m high.
- Capacity: around 30 cubic metres of household goods, or 28 to 32 standard moving boxes plus furniture.
- Best for: 2 to 3 bedroom house moves, mid-size families, anyone with a typical UK household to relocate.
40ft container (FCL)
A 40ft container holds around 60 cubic metres of household contents, suitable for larger homes (4+ bedrooms), families with significant furniture, or anyone shipping a household plus vehicle. The per-cubic-metre cost is meaningfully lower than the 20ft container, so a 40ft is often better value if you have the volume to fill it.
- Internal dimensions: approximately 12.0m long, 2.35m wide, 2.4m high.
- Capacity: around 60 cubic metres of household goods.
- Best for: 4+ bedroom house moves, larger families, anyone shipping a vehicle plus household contents.
40ft High Cube container (FCL)
A 40ft High Cube has the same footprint as a standard 40ft container but is around 30cm taller internally. It holds approximately 65 to 70 cubic metres and suits households with tall or bulky items (wardrobes, large mirrors, pianos, oversized headboards) where the extra height earns its keep.
- Internal dimensions: approximately 12.0m long, 2.35m wide, 2.7m high.
- Capacity: around 65 to 70 cubic metres of household goods.
- Best for: very large households, tall or bulky items, anyone where the extra 30cm of height is useful.
Groupage (sharing container space)
If you do not have enough to fill a whole container, Groupage is the most cost-effective alternative. Your shipment shares a container with other consignments going to the same destination, and you pay only for the cubic metres you use rather than the whole container. People searching for part container removals are usually looking for Groupage.
- Capacity: anywhere from around 1 cubic metre up to around 12 cubic metres (beyond that, a 20ft FCL is usually better value).
- Best for: smaller household moves, single-bedroom relocations, anyone with less than a full container to ship.
- Cost: lower headline cost than FCL, since you share the container expense across multiple shipments.
Container Shipping Transit Times
International container shipping runs predominantly by sea, with transit times that depend on the destination. As an indicative cross-destination range:
- FCL to European destinations: typically 2 to 4 weeks door to door.
- FCL to North America: typically 4 to 7 weeks.
- FCL to the Middle East and Asia: typically 5 to 9 weeks.
- FCL to Australia and New Zealand: typically 8 to 12 weeks.
- Groupage: generally around two weeks longer than FCL to the same destination, because the container waits for consolidation before sailing and is unloaded with other consignments at the destination port.
Your destination page sets out exact transit windows. Road freight via the Channel Tunnel or short-sea ferry routes is also available for some European destinations, with faster transit (5 to 14 days door to door).
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Why Choose Anglo Pacific for Container Shipping
Container shipping is the largest single line on most international relocation invoices, so getting the right partner matters. Here is what our full-service container 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 surprise port charges.
- Export-grade packing: our crews use export blanket wrap, edge protectors, custom crating for high-value or fragile pieces, and tailored protection for furniture, electronics and household effects.
- FCL and Groupage options: dedicated container for larger moves, shared container space for smaller volumes, with the same fixed-price commitment for both.
- Door-to-door collection and delivery: we collect from any UK address and deliver to your destination address, coordinating the full move with the destination agent.
- Customs handled for you: container shipments need detailed customs documentation at the destination, which we prepare and submit on your behalf.
- Marine insurance available: for items of value, we can arrange All Risks marine insurance covering your shipment in transit. Get in touch for cover details.
- Both directions covered: the same service runs in reverse for shipments back to the UK.
- 40+ years of experience: we have shipped containers internationally for over four decades, handling more than 20,000 consignments every year.
International Container Shipping Cost
The cost of international container shipping depends on three things: the container size you need, the destination, and whether you go FCL (a whole container to yourself) or Groupage (sharing container space with other shipments). We charge a fixed price per FCL container, or by the cubic metre for Groupage, so you know what you are paying for before booking.
- Groupage (sharing container space), typically 5 to 15 cubic metres of household contents: from around £1,500 to £2,800 door to door, depending on destination.
- 20ft FCL container (around 30 cubic metres, suits a 2 to 3 bedroom house): from around £3,500 to £5,500, depending on destination.
- 40ft FCL container (around 60 cubic metres, suits a 4+ bedroom house or large household): from around £5,000 to £7,500, depending on destination.
- 40ft High Cube FCL container (around 65 to 70 cubic metres, for very tall or bulky items): from around £5,500 to £8,000, depending on destination.
What Can You Ship in a Container
Almost anything can go in an international shipping container. The only real questions are whether the item fits, whether the destination customs allow it, and whether it is cost-effective to ship rather than replace.
What typically goes in a container
- Furniture: sofas, beds, dining sets, wardrobes, dressers, bookcases, garden furniture (cleaned for biosecurity-strict destinations).
- Household contents: kitchenware, books, bedding, soft furnishings, clothing, personal effects, kids’ toys.
- White goods: fridges, washing machines, dishwashers (check destination electrical compatibility before deciding).
- Antiques and high-value items: with appropriate packing, crating and insurance.
- Vehicles: cars, motorbikes and bicycles can be shipped inside a 40ft container alongside household goods, or in a dedicated container. Vehicle shipping has its own paperwork, so let us know about anything mechanical at quotation.
- Pianos, grandfather clocks and large musical instruments: with specialist handling and custom crating.
What needs special attention
- Hazardous goods: chemicals, paints, aerosols, flammables. Generally not permitted in international shipping containers.
- Perishables and plants: usually prohibited at the destination.
- Used outdoor wooden furniture: Australia, New Zealand and some Asian markets require cleaning certificates or refuse entry.
- Alcohol and tobacco: subject to duty in most destinations and may need separate declarations.
- Items containing certain restricted materials (ivory, some hardwoods, asbestos): may breach destination import rules.
Ship a Container to European and International Destinations
We have a presence in Manchester, Glasgow and London, but it is our willingness to collect goods from any UK address that makes international container shipping from the UK so simple.
As a premier provider of container shipping transport, no continent – or country – is too far.
We take care of 20,000 shipments each year, with popular European and international shipping container destinations including:
Check out our country guides
Interested in anything else?
Reviews
As one of the country’s most well-versed international freight companies, container shipping from the UK is second nature to us. Our aim is for every customer to have an enjoyable and calm experience with Anglo Pacific, so see if our previous clients agree in our container shipping reviews.
To get the international container shipping process underway, book your video home survey todays and an expert estimator can assess your consignment and provide you with a transparent breakdown of your container shipping costs.
- Book a remote video survey
- Show us your items
- Get your quote
Costs depend on the container size, the destination, and whether you go FCL (a whole container) or Groupage (sharing container space). As an indicative range, Groupage typically starts from around £1,500 for smaller household volumes. A 20ft FCL container (around 30 cubic metres, suits a 2 to 3 bedroom house) starts from around £3,500 to £5,500 depending on destination. A 40ft FCL container (around 60 cubic metres) starts from around £5,000 to £7,500. For an exact quote, get in touch with your inventory and destination and we will respond the same working day.
FCL (full container load) means your shipment takes a whole 20ft or 40ft container to itself. Groupage means your shipment shares container space with other consignments going to the same destination, and you pay only for the cubic metres you use. FCL is better value when you can fill a container (typically 4+ bedroom homes for 40ft, 2 to 3 bedrooms for 20ft); Groupage is better value for smaller volumes (anything from 1 to 12 cubic metres). FCL is also slightly faster, typically around two weeks shorter transit than Groupage to the same destination.
As a rough guide: a 20ft container (around 30 cubic metres) holds the contents of a 2 to 3 bedroom house including furniture and personal effects; a 40ft container (around 60 cubic metres) holds a 4+ bedroom house or family-sized household; a 40ft High Cube (around 65 to 70 cubic metres) adds 30cm of internal height for households with tall or bulky items. A survey or video survey is a good idea before committing if you are unsure, and we will recommend the right size based on your inventory.
Yes. People searching for part container shipping or part container removals are usually looking for what we call Groupage, where your shipment shares container space with other consignments going to the same destination and you pay only for the cubic metres you use. Groupage suits anyone with less than a full container to ship, typically anywhere from 1 cubic metre up to around 12 cubic metres of household contents.
Transit time depends on the destination. As an indicative range, FCL runs 2 to 4 weeks for European destinations, 4 to 7 weeks for North America, 5 to 9 weeks for the Middle East and Asia, and 8 to 12 weeks for Australia and New Zealand. Groupage is generally around two weeks longer than FCL to the same destination because the container waits for consolidation and is unloaded with other consignments at the destination port. Each destination page has the exact transit window for that country.
Yes. Container shipments need detailed customs documentation at the destination, including a personal effects inventory, customs valuation, and declarations for any items needing special clearance (electronics, alcohol, antiques, vehicles). We prepare and submit all destination customs paperwork on your behalf. Returning UK residents may also qualify for Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief from UK customs duty and VAT, which we can advise on.
Yes. Cars, motorbikes and bicycles can be shipped inside a 40ft container alongside household goods, or in a dedicated container. Vehicle shipping has its own paperwork (V5C log book, proof of ownership, destination import rules) and the vehicle needs to be cleaned and prepared for shipping. Tell us about any vehicles at the quotation stage so we can plan the load and the paperwork.
Yes. For items of value, we can arrange All Risks marine insurance covering your container shipment in transit, beyond the standard limited liability that applies under freight conventions. Insurance is priced based on the declared value of your shipment, and we will explain the options when we quote your move.
We ship containers to most major destinations worldwide. Dedicated destination pages cover Australia, New Zealand, the UAE, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Brunei, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Israel, Egypt, Brazil, Chile and Malta. For Europe (Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany and others) and North America (USA, Canada), container shipping is handled as part of our wider international removals service. If your destination is not listed, get in touch.
Yes. Our container shipping service runs in both directions. We coordinate with partner agents at the overseas end to pack and load your container, handle the freight, and deliver to your UK address. Returning UK residents may qualify for Transfer of Residence relief on UK customs duty and VAT if they have owned and used the items overseas for at least 6 months.