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Ocean Freight
Moving to a new country should be a time of rejoicing, but a lot goes into international moving. Shipping household goods overseas is one of them.
According to OECD.org, ocean transportation makes up 90% of overseas moves, for a good reason. It’s the cheapest way to transport household goods from one country to another.
This article provides everything you need to know about shipping household goods overseas and the expected costs.
Shipping household goods overseas using ocean transportation is standard for customers moving household goods and personal belongings to another country. You have the option of door-to-door delivery or port services. Below is a list of services that international movers offer:
International shipping companies offer various moving services, so it’s best to speak directly with an experienced international mover.
The average cost to ship household goods by ocean transportation is $1000 to $12,000. Your shipment size, destination country, and required services will make up the cost of your move. You can use the cost averages below for planning and budgeting:
You can ship your goods by full container load (FCL) or less-than-container load (LCL). The size of your shipment will determine the shipping method.
If you have a small shipment, say the contents of a one-bedroom home, you will most likely use an LCL shipment, a shared container.
To get an accurate estimate, you should speak with a professional international moving company or use an international moving calculator to get a ballpark.
On average, shipping household goods internationally takes 3 to 6 weeks via ocean freight. The size of your move, final destination, and service will affect transit times. If you’re shipping your household goods door to door, the shipping times will be longer.
In addition to service, the move size can also affect transit times. A smaller shipment will ship in a shared container, making it a bit longer. Lastly, you must find an international relocation company with experience and knowledge of your destination country; it can make the moving process much more manageable.
A freight forwarder is responsible for arranging the transportation of your goods and must maintain a valid license with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) and bond. However, if you’re shipping furniture abroad, it’s best to use an international mover who is also a freight forwarder.
An international moving company will have more knowledge and experience with the logistics involved in shipping your furniture and household goods overseas. Additionally, a moving company can handle your move’s packing, loading, and customs clearance.
A full container load (FCL) service uses an exclusive 20′ or 40′ container. If you’re shipping the contents of a two-bedroom home or more, your international mover will recommend a full container load service.
You can use the container for personal use, which means you can ship your household goods, personal effects, and a vehicle if needed. Additionally, you can self-pack and load the container, which can help save money.
If you’re shipping a full container load (FCL), you can choose a drop & pick service. A drop & pick is when your shipping company arranges an empty container to be dropped off at your location for loading.
Once you’ve loaded your personal belongings, the international mover or shipping company will arrange for your container to be picked up.
A drop & pick service is a great way to reduce shipping costs. However, you are responsible for packing and loading the container.
A live load is when an international shipping company brings a container to your location, and you’ll have two hours of free loading time. If you exceed the two free hours, you will be charged an hourly rate of $75.
A live load is used when shippers have their goods packed, prepped, and easily accessible. It’s a same-day service, so everything must be loaded and in the container before the driver leaves.
Most international movers offer live load services. However, it’s best to double-check.
If you’re shipping only a few pieces of furniture or boxes, you should use an LCL service. An LCL service is when an international moving company consolidates your household goods with others shipping to the same destination.
LCL freight is a common transportation method for shipping household goods overseas. The average transit time for a door-to-door shipment is 6 to 8 weeks. Your destination country and service will be the most significant factors in shipping time frames.
LCL freight is palletized and shrink-wrapped before loading. Your goods will be unwrapped once they reach the destination country. A smaller shipment tends to ship as LCL unless you request a full container load.
Ocean transportation is based on the volume of your move in cubic feet. A 20′ container is 1172 cubic feet, and a 40′ container is 2350 cubic feet. You can follow the below method to calculate the volume of your move.
To calculate cubic feet, you’ll need to take measurements of each item and multiply the length, width, and height in inches or feet. If you need to multiply the length, width, and height in inches, divide that number by 1728. If you’re working with feet, you can multi[ply the feet, giving you the cubic feet.
LCL freight is palletized and shrink-wrapped before loading. Your goods will be unwrapped once they reach the destination country. A smaller shipment tends to ship as LCL unless you request a full container load.
Example (Inches): One medium box 24″x24″x24″ divided by 1728 =8 cubic feet.
Example (Feet): One box 2’x2’x2′ = 8 cubic feet.
You can also speak with an international mover who can walk you through the process. They can also take an inventory list and calculate the volume for you.
If you’re shipping your household good with an overseas moving company, you can store your items at your origin or destination locations. Here’s how storage works:
Origin: An international mover will pick up your household goods and store them at their local warehouse until you’re ready. Once you give the green light, they will ship your goods to their final destination.
Destination: If you’re shipping your household goods door to door, you can store them at the destination location. Once you’re ready, they will deliver them to your final destination.
Long-term storage: If you need more than three months of storage, you should ask for a temperature-controlled storage unit. Keeping household goods and furniture in hot temperatures can cause damage.
It’s always best to speak with the international mover or freight forwarder of your choice regarding storage, warehousing, and how it works.
There are several ways to reduce the cost of shipping your household items overseas. Below are common ways where shippers reduce their overseas moving costs:
Self-packing is one way to reduce the cost of your overseas move. However, it can come with risks. Before committing, you should weigh the pros and cons of self-packing for a move.
You should consult an international relocation coordinator if you’re still considering self-packing for your overseas move.
Shipping household good via ocean freight is the most economical route. However, you can ship your household goods door to door or choose a port service. The least expensive way to ship furniture items overseas is a port-to-port service.
A port-to-port service is the same as a warehouse-to-warehouse service. You will need to drop off and pick up your household goods at both port warehouse locations.
Looking for the best international moving companies with experience with ocean freight shipping to your destination is vital. The more volume a company handles to a destination, the cheaper the shipping costs.
International Van Lines, Allied Van Lines, Atlas Van Lines, North American Van Lines, and United Van Lines are the best-priced international moving companies in the United States.
Each company listed has years of experience and ships high volume, creating better international shipping costs for customers.
They also maintain an excellent rating with the Better Business Bureau and online review websites. You should get up to three international moving quotes for comparison.
To find the best international moving companies nearest to your residence, you can use local guides like Google or check comparison websites like Forbes Home Services. Companies such as International Van Lines and Allied Van Lines have nationwide locations and can service any origin zip code. You can also follow the below steps:
To find the best international moving companies nearest to your residence, you can use local guides like Google or check comparison websites like Forbes Home Services. Companies such as International Van Lines and Allied Van Lines have nationwide locations and can service any origin zip code. You can also follow the below steps:
Most international shipping companies offer insurance through a third party. The average cost for ocean shipping insurance is 2% to 4% of the good’s declared value. Below are the insurance options:
Packed by owner (PBO): If you choose to pack & load your household goods, you can get total loss insurance. Total loss insurance will cover the complete loss of your shipment but not individual items.
Professional packed: Having an international moving company professional pack your household goods come with benefits. You’ll be able to add insurance coverage on individual items per their value.
Damage to cargo is possible, so most removal companies suggest getting insurance coverage for your household goods.
First, you will need to fill out the shipping forms, inventory list, and insurance forms that your international relocation company provides. Then you’ll be provided a booking confirmation and Bill of Lading which will have your shipping details.
Below is a list of the top 10 busiest ocean ports in the US.
You can check the customs website to locate the nearest port.
Port and terminal handling charges are fees billed by the port, which cover salaries and other accessorial charges at the port. Port & THC charges vary based on the move size but average $300 to $800.
Most international moving companies include port fees as part of their quote, but you should always double-check to ensure no surprises when your shipment arrives.
Customs inspections can be random or intentional. Shipping a prohibited item can result in a customs inspection. A customs exam can result in a delay and customs inspection charges. It’s best to consult an international moving company regarding prohibited items.
International Van Lines ranks as the best international moving company to Europe from the US. JK Moving & Storage, Rainer Overseas Movers, Allied Van Lines, and North American Van Lines are excellent choices.
If you’re shipping more than the contents of a one-bedroom home, consider getting a virtual or visual survey. It will help with accuracy.
The average time ocean transportation takes to Australia from the US is 6 to 8 weeks, door to door.
Most international moving companies offer ocean transportation to the Middle East
The cheapest transportation method for international moving is shipping household goods overseas by ocean freight. Your circumstances and budget will determine the international moving service you need.
It’s best to research overseas moving companies experienced in shipping furniture to your destination country. Make sure you ask the right questions and feel comfortable with your choice of movers.
International Van Lines is a licensed freight forwarder and moving company offering ocean shipping to over 140 countries worldwide.
To request a moving quote, you can fill out an online form or contact one of our international relocation coordinators.
