International removal costs from the UK
An international removal costs anything from £650–£1,250 for a part load to Spain to well over £6,400 for a family house shipped to the Gulf. Here is what moving abroad costs on the main routes, and what sets the price.
Last updated: October 2026 · 5 min read
Written and fact-checked by the Removly editorial team · How we research prices
How much does an international removal cost?
International moving costs depend on how far and how much. A part load to Spain typically costs £650–£1,250; a 3-bed shipped to Dubai in a 20ft container runs £4,400–£9,500; and a 20ft container to Australia starts from about £4,800 to the port, before delivery. Every figure below is from published guides and price lists.
| Route | Load | Typical cost | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK to Spain | Part load, about 5 m³ | £650–£1,250 | By road, door to door |
| UK to Dubai | 3-bed, 20ft container | £4,400–£9,500 | Door to door, about 5–7 weeks by sea |
| UK to Dubai | 4-bed+, 40ft container | From £6,400 | Door to door |
| UK to Australia | 20ft container | From £4,800 | To the arrival port — delivery extra |
| UK to Australia | 40ft container | From £7,600 | To the arrival port — delivery extra |
Sources: published 2026 price guides from UK international movers (ShipIt, PSS Removals) (2026) · published 2026 price lists from UK international movers (PSS Removals, 1st Move International, Bishop's Move) (Sep–Oct 2026) — Spain part-load range from published 2026 quotes (Bishop's Move, MyCheapRemovals)
Going to France? A full 3-bed house move starts at around £4,000 on UK–France firms' 2026 price lists, but each firm bands its prices differently. Our removals to France guide shows each firm's figures side by side. The same goes for the USA — see removals to the USA for shipping times and customs.
International firms quote from a video survey. Compare door-to-door prices for your route, free.
What sets the price of moving abroad?
Volume
International moves are priced by space — cubic metres, or a container size. Halving what you ship does more to the bill than anything else on this page.
Road, sea or air
Europe goes by road. Further afield it's sea freight — about 5–7 weeks to Dubai and 8–16 weeks door to door to Australia. Air freight is quick and dear, best kept to a few boxes of essentials.
Your own container, or shared
Sole use buys a fixed date. Sharing — groupage by sea, a part load by road — costs less, because you pay for your space, but you wait for the load to fill.
Packing and insurance
Export wrapping is heavier than a local move's, and it should be. Professional packing also matters for insurance: many movers cover boxes you pack yourself less fully, so check what your quote says.
Which charges should an international quote include?
- Destination port and customs handling. Often the line missing from a cheap quote.
- Delivery from the port to your door. A port price is not a removal price.
- Duty and inspections. Used goods often enter duty-free; new ones may not, and an inspection or biosecurity treatment can add cost.
- Storage at either end. If your flights and your container don't line up, someone holds the goods — removals and storage booked together is usually simpler.
How do you compare international removal quotes?
Line them up door to door, same container size, same packing, same insurance. Then ask who handles the far end — a UK firm ships, a partner abroad clears and delivers. FIDI's FAIM is the independently audited quality standard in international moving.
Our international removals page covers what to ask, and the route guides go deeper: Spain, Dubai and Australia.
International removal costs: FAQs
How much does it cost to move abroad from the UK?
It depends mostly on distance and volume. A part load to Spain typically costs £650–£1,250, a 3-bed to Dubai in a 20ft container £4,400–£9,500, and a 20ft container to Australia starts from about £4,800 to the port. A survey turns your move into a fixed price.
Is it cheaper to ship furniture or buy new abroad?
It depends on what you own. Good furniture can cost less to ship than to replace, while cheap flat-pack is often better sold and bought again. Used goods also tend to enter duty-free where new ones may not, so price the shipping first and decide room by room.
What is the difference between a port-to-port and door-to-door price?
Port to port stops at the destination dock. Door to door includes customs handling, port charges and delivery to your new home. Always compare door-to-door quotes with each other, never with port prices.
Do I pay duty on household goods when I move abroad?
Usually not on used goods you are moving to live with, but every country sets its own rules. Dubai exempts used household goods for new residents; Australia generally exempts things owned and used for 12 months or more. New items are where duty tends to bite.
How far ahead should I book an international removal?
Two to three months for a container move. You need time for a survey, export packing, the destination paperwork and a sailing date that fits your flights.