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Container Shipping Rates in the US for 2024

Moving Overseas Costs

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Let’s break down all you need to know about container shipping costs to save you time and money on your move.

How Much Do Shipping Containers Overseas Cost?

On average, the cost of shipping a full container load costs between $2,000 and $3,000.

To give an idea, we gathered the costs to ship to the different continents. The estimates are based on using a full-container load to transport household goods valued at $25,000 through the sea, departing from New York (port-to-port).

Cost of Shipping a 20 ft Container

The prices to ship a 20 ft container can range from $2,800 to $15,600.
Destination20ft Container
North America$1216 – $3414
South America$1985 – $7195
Europe$1,440 – $7,805
Africa$4,980 – $7,985
Oceania$4,685 – $15,610
Asia$3,025 – $4,220
We break down the shipping costs to Germany, including shipping cars, furniture and hiring a mover.

Cost of Shipping a 40 ft Container

The prices to ship a 40 ft container can vary from $1,865 to $13,080.
Destination40ft Container
North America$1,519 – $4,267
South America$3,690 – $8,460
Europe$1440 – $21855
Africa$5,860 – $9,395
Oceania$7,805 – $23,415
Asia$3,555 – $4,965
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How Expensive Are Shipping Containers?

Shipping containers can be quite expensive. The distance, size of the container or additional services will be direct factors that influence your final price.

If you want to reduce costs, sharing a container with other users is a cheap alternative, as you will share not only the space but the costs.

How to Send a Container Overseas?

  1. Decide how many items you’re moving – it will be essential to go for a bigger or smaller container
  2. Get quotes from movers – comparing services and prices will help you find the best deal
  3. Hire a container shipping company – book and arrange your move
  4. Prepare your belongings – pack everything and gather all the personal documentation
  5. Coordinate the arrival to your final destination
Shipping costs from to
20ft Container
40ft Container

Common Container Sizes

20ft and 40ft are the most popular sizes for moves. Not sure which one fits best for your needs? Keep reading.

What Can I Fit in a 20ft Container?

A 20ft container can generally hold the contents of a three-bedroom property.

These measures are 19’4″ length, 7’9″ width, and 7’10” height. These types of containers can hold around 63,500 pounds of goods.

20ft shipping container

What Can I Fit in a 40ft Container?

In a 40ft container, you can generally hold the contents of a four-bedroom and up property.

These measures translate to a 40′ length, 8′ width, and 8’6″ height. These types of containers can hold around 57,600 pounds of goods.

20ft shipping container

What is the meaning of a full container?

Also known as FCL, a full container means that you will have an entire container for yourself when moving. It is pricier, but it’s the best option if you’re moving a large amount of belongings.

Factors that Affect Container Shipping Costs

  • Cargo volume and weight: The bigger the volume of your move, as well as the heavier it is, will result in a more expensive transport of goods.
  • Moving distance: The further apart your point of departure is from your destination, the more expensive it will be.
  • Load and delivery: There are three main ways – port-to-port, door-to-door or drop-and-fill.
  • Mode of transport: Whether you choose air, sea or road, it will vary the price. For international moves, it reduces to air and sea. For the fastest option, we recommend air, but for a cheaper one, sea.
  • Type of goods transported: Special goods, such as pianos or cars, can also increase the total costs of your move.
  • Additional services: Insurance, storage, packing services, etc.

Start Preparing Your Move

If you need some extra information when planning your move abroad, we recommend checking out the pages below and the FAQs section.

Frequently asked questions

How much does shipping a container to Germany cost?

How do I ship a shipping container overseas?

How much does a 20' shipping container cost?

How much is a 40ft shipping container?

Where can I find international shipping container companies?