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Household Goods Shipping Cost Calculator
Estimate what it costs to ship your household belongings abroad by sea or by air.
Sea freight vs. air freight
Sea freight is dramatically cheaper per cubic meter but slower, typically taking weeks rather than days — it's the default choice for the bulk of a household move. Air freight costs several times more per cubic meter and is usually reserved for a smaller, urgent subset of belongings.
Presets are a starting point
The small/medium/large presets are rough, typical volumes — pick the closest one to get started, then switch to entering your own volume once a moving company has done an actual survey of your belongings.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I should ship a small, medium or large household?
As a rough guide, a small studio or one-bedroom apartment typically fills around 8-12 cubic meters, a medium two-to-three-bedroom household around 20-30 cubic meters, and a large house around 35-45 cubic meters. Use the preset closest to your situation, then adjust the volume field if you have a more exact estimate from a moving company survey.
Why is air freight so much more expensive per cubic meter than sea freight?
Air cargo capacity is far more limited and expensive to operate than ocean container space, so air freight typically costs several times more per cubic meter than sea freight. It's generally only worth it for a small volume of items you urgently need, with the bulk of your belongings going by sea.
What's included in "customs and handling fees"?
This is a placeholder for the fixed, non-volume-based costs at the destination end — customs clearance, import duties or taxes if applicable, port or warehouse handling, and local delivery to your new address. These vary a great deal by destination country, so treat the default as a rough planning figure and get an exact quote from your shipping company or customs broker.
Should I sell my furniture instead of shipping it?
For many international moves, especially by air or across long distances, replacing lower-value furniture locally can cost less than shipping it — this tool helps you see the total shipping cost so you can compare it against the cost of buying similar items new in your destination.