International Removal Costs
At John Mason International, we understand that every move is unique, and so are the costs associated with it.
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Understanding International Removal Costs
So you’re thinking of moving abroad, or indeed you’ve made your decision, and now you need to know how much it will cost for overseas removals of your belongings by land, sea or air to your new home.
International removal costs can vary greatly, depending on several factors. It’s not just about moving your belongings from point A to point B. It involves careful planning, packing, transportation, and sometimes storage. At John Mason International, we provide a comprehensive service that covers all these aspects.
Our goal is to give you a clear understanding of the costs involved, so there are no surprises. We believe in transparency and will provide a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with your move.
| Destination | 20ft | 40ft | Sole Use Container | Groupage / Shared Container |
| Australia:
Adelaide Brisbane Perth Sydney |
£7,000 £7,000 £7,000 £7,000 |
£10,500 £10,500 £10,500 £10,500 |
8-16 weeks | Perth / Sydney / Melbourne /Brisbane: 12-16 weeks
Adelaide: 16-22 weeks |
| New Zealand:
Auckland Christchurch |
£7,500 £7,500 |
£10,500 £10,500 |
8-16 weeks | Auckland: 12-20weeks
Christchurch: 16-20 weeks |
| USA:
New York LA |
£9,000 £9,500 |
£12,500 £12,000 |
East Coast: 4-13 weeks
West Coast: 6-14 weeks |
East Coast: 10-20 weeks
West Coast: 12-20 weeks |
| South Africa:
Cape Town Durban Johannesburg |
£4,960 £4,960 £4,950 |
£7,780 £7,770 £7,900 |
Cape Town: 6-12 weeks
Durban: 6-12 weeks |
Cape Town: 18-20 weeks
Durban: 16-18 weeks |
| Middle East:
Dubai |
£4,500 |
£5,500 |
7-10 weeks | Dubai: 10-16 weeks
Qatar / Oman / Bahrain: 12-16 weeks |
| Canada:
Toronto Vancouver |
£8,000 £8,450 |
£10,000 £10,670 |
Toronto: 6-12 weeks
Vancouver: 6-10 weeks |
Toronto: 12-16 weeks
Vancouver: 16-20 weeks |
| Singapore | £7,000 | £8,900 | 8-10 weeks | 16-20 weeks |
| Hong Kong | £4,750 | 87,390 | 8-10 weeks | 16-20 weeks |
These prices are rough estimates and will change depending on the volume and type of goods you want to include in your overseas removal.
The time it takes for international removals to each of these destinations will also vary, and these are only approximate estimates.
International Removal Quotes
Removal costs vary depending on the time of year and how many ships are making the trip at that particular time, as well as other factors. They also vary on the cubic volume and type of goods you are shipping.
To get a quick quote, you can use our instant quote tool – the accuracy relies on you knowing exactly what you are taking.
For a more accurate overseas removals quote, you can use our video quote tool – all you need is a video enabled mobile phone and one of our representatives will guide you through the whole international removals process. This option negates the need for one of our representatives to visit your house in person prior to the move, saving you time and money.
Factors affecting International Removal Prices
When planning an international move, it’s important to understand the various factors that can influence the overall cost. Here are some key factors:
Volume of Goods: The more items you have to move, the higher the cost. This is because more items require more packing materials, larger shipping containers, and more labour to pack and unpack.
Distance: The further you’re moving, the higher the cost. Longer distances mean higher fuel costs and more wear and tear on vehicles.
Destination Country: Some countries have higher import taxes or stricter customs regulations, which can add to the cost of moving.
Type of Transport: Air freight is faster but more expensive than sea freight. The choice between the two often depends on your budget and timeline.
Packing Services: If you choose to have your items professionally packed and unpacked, this will be an additional cost.
Insurance: Protecting your belongings with moving insurance is crucial. The cost will depend on the value of your items.
Storage: If you need to store your items before, during, or after your move, this will also add to your costs.
Understanding Quarantine Inspection Charges: AQIS and MPI
Our quotation excludes all quarantine examination fees and any associated costs which are normally payable. For Australia and New Zealand, we do offer the opportunity to pre-pay this charge, giving you one less thing to worry about upon your arrival.
AQIS – Australian Department of Agriculture Inspection
All items that arrive into Australia will be subject to a quarantine inspection by the Australian Department of Agriculture (sometimes referred to as AQIS inspection) prior to release for delivery. The fee quoted consists of the charge from the Australian Department of Agriculture for the inspection and the charge for our agent to prepare all documentation, identify items of concern, unload and reload the consignment and reseal items which have been opened for inspection.
If the inspectors find anything that needs either quarantining or disposing of, there will be an additional charge levied in Australia that is not covered by the initial inspection fee.
MPI – Ministry for Primary Industries
Our prices exclude all Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) quarantine inspection charges and any associated costs relating to the MPI inspection, including our agent’s costs for making all arrangements with MPI including the locating of items for inspection in your shipment, attendance by accredited personnel, unpacking / repacking after inspection and obtaining final release documents. This is also payable up front if you prefer.
*All prices are dependant on location, exact type and volume of goods being shipped and shipping destination
Explore Our Other International Moving Services
Relocation Services
Storage Services
Planning
Helpful Guides & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best way to ship my belongings – by land, sea or air?
To mainland Europe such as France, Germany and Italy they’ll probably go by land once over the Channel in a normal delivery method by truck. Otherwise, when travelling further afield outside of Europe (including ports in Greece and Cyprus) overseas removals will require a sea shipping container.
Should I choose air freight or sea freight?
It’s obviously certainly quicker by Air, and removals overseas by air freight can be relatively cost-efficient if you don’t need too much transported.
However, if time isn’t an issue, as it can take several weeks by sea, then container ship freight transportation is certainly the most cost-effective and best way to ship goods and removals abroad. This is especially the case if you have a large amount of goods and belongings like furniture, bikes or even cars to transport overseas.
What can you fit in a 20-foot container?
A 20-foot container will roughly hold the contents of a 3-bedroom house. So expect it to fit in a few beds, sofa and the extras.
What can you fit in a 40-foot container?
If you have a bigger house (more than 3 bedrooms), plus require more room for extras such as bikes or even cars, then you’ll probably need a bigger container – and a 40-foot container is probably best to start with.
