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Removals to the USA from the UK

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Shipping a household to the USA takes about 12 days at sea to New York and 30 to Los Angeles, plus customs and delivery. Here is how the move works, what US customs expects, and what decides the price.

Last updated: October 2026 · 3 min read

Written and fact-checked by the Removly editorial team · How we research prices

How much do removals to the USA cost?

There is no honest single figure. Published prices for the same container to the same city disagree by thousands of pounds, so we won't quote one. A survey — often by video — gives you a fixed, door-to-door price for your load.

What sets it: volume first, then the coast. West Coast moves take longer and usually cost more than East Coast ones. Then your own container versus a shared one, door-to-door delivery, packing and insurance. Our international removal costs page shows how other routes compare.

How long does shipping to the USA take?

Port to port, a ship from the UK takes about 12 days to New York, 19 days to Houston and 30 days to Los Angeles. Door to door takes longer once loading, customs clearance and delivery inland are added, and a shared container waits to fill first.

Source: published 2026 shipping guides (ShipIt, Sirelo) (2026)

Air freight takes about 1–2 weeks. It costs far more per box, so most people fly a few essentials and send the rest by sea.

A stack of taped cardboard boxes on a lorry tail lift, ready for loading

What does US customs need for household goods?

The key rule is one year. Household goods you have used abroad for at least a year, for your own household and not for sale, enter duty-free — and the year doesn't have to be continuous. Clothing, jewellery, cameras and electronics count as personal effects instead, and vehicles always pay duty.

  • CBP Form 3299 declares the goods for free entry. A customs broker or agent with your power of attorney can lodge it.
  • Importer Security Filing is required for sea shipments at least 24 hours before loading at the UK port — your mover usually files it.
  • A detailed inventory makes the declaration, and any inspection, quicker.

Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (2026)

What can't you ship to the USA?

Most meat products are prohibited, and so is soil without a USDA permit — clean garden tools and bikes before they're packed. Every plant has to be declared and inspected.

Alcohol is governed by the state you arrive in, and medicines are limited to roughly a 90-day supply in their original containers. Keep anything doubtful out of the container and check with your mover first.

Labelled moving boxes stacked by a window, ready for an international move

How do you choose a removal company for the USA?

Ask who handles the US end, whether the price runs door to door, and who files the customs paperwork. FIDI's FAIM is the independently audited quality standard in international moving; BAR Overseas and IAM membership show experience but are not the same audit.

Our international removals page covers what to ask, and export packing protects what travels across the Atlantic.

Removals to the USA: FAQs

How much does it cost to move to the USA from the UK?

It varies too much to quote one figure honestly — published prices for the same container disagree by thousands of pounds. Volume, East or West Coast, your own container or a shared one, and door-to-door delivery all move the price. A survey gives you a fixed quote.

How long does shipping to the USA take?

By sea, about 12 days port to port to New York, 19 to Houston and 30 to Los Angeles. Door to door takes longer once loading, customs and delivery are added. Air freight takes about 1–2 weeks.

Do I pay duty on my furniture in the USA?

Not if you have used it abroad for at least a year and it is for your own household, not for sale. The year does not have to be continuous. Clothing, jewellery and electronics count as personal effects, and vehicles always pay duty.

What is CBP Form 3299?

It is the declaration for free entry of unaccompanied articles — the form that claims duty-free entry for household goods shipped separately from you. A customs broker or agent with your power of attorney can lodge it and clear the shipment.

What can I not ship to the USA?

Most meat products, and soil without a USDA permit. All plants must be declared, alcohol is governed by the state you arrive in, and medicines are limited to roughly a 90-day supply in original containers.