Sea or air freight · 5-8 weeks by sea
Removals to USA
The USA is our highest-value international route, driven largely by university and research moves from across the UK. If you have been comparing international moving company quotes, the shipping itself is well-trodden; the variable is which port you clear through and how far inland you are going.
What actually matters on this route
Customs rules change. We confirm the current requirements for your date at survey rather than relying on what was true last year.
How the price is worked out
International moves are priced by volume, not by distance. What matters is how many cubic metres you fill and how the shipment travels - a container does not care whether it started in Abingdon or Aberdeen.
- Survey first. We measure your load in cubic metres, on video or in person.
- Shared or sole-use. Below roughly 24 m³ sharing is cheaper. Above it, a container of your own usually wins.
- Route: New York, Baltimore, Savannah, Houston or Long Beach.
- Transit: 5-8 weeks by sea, plus consolidation before and clearance after.
- Export packing. Every shipment gets export-grade wrap and a customs inventory, itemised as its own line - about 18% added to the shipping cost for packing that has to survive a container and a long transit, not just a van down the road. Full details of our packing service are on its own page.
We are not VAT-registered, so there is no VAT to add to your shipping cost - the figure you see is the figure you pay.
Moving to the UK instead?
If you are bringing a household back to the UK, ask us about Transfer of Residence (ToR1) relief. Applied for correctly and in advance, it lets you import your own used belongings without paying UK duty or VAT. Applied for late, it does not. It is free to apply and we will point you at the form.
Moving to USA
How much does it cost to ship a house to the USA?
A one-bedroom is typically £3,525-£4,100 by shared container and a three-bedroom £5,000-£5,675 by sole-use 20ft container, before inland delivery. Volume drives it, not distance.
How long does it take?
Five to eight weeks door to door for sea freight, including consolidation, sailing, clearance and inland transport.
Does my visa status change the cost, or where I live in the US?
Both matter. Duty relief on your personal effects depends on visa and residency status - returning US citizens, new residents and non-immigrants are all treated differently - and if you are not near the coast, inland delivery from the port is quoted as its own line rather than folded into the shipping cost.
Other destinations
Where else we ship
Request a quote for USA
Tell us about your load. Our team will check the details and confirm an itemised price.
Request a quote