International removals

How much do international removals cost?

The biggest expense you will have when relocating abroad is paying for international removals service. While there are many factors that affect cost, a few main variables are like the size of your move, the distance, the chosen transport route, and the transport methods like airfreight or sea freight.

Because there are so many variables affecting international moving company prices, it is difficult to calculate the exact price. However, below is an estimation for international shipping costs for moves from Ireland to a few select countries.

International removals cost

Country	20ft Shipping Container	40ft Shipping Container	Airfreight
Australia	€1,400 – €1,700	€2,300 – €2,500	€7,900 – €8,100
Canada	€1,300 – €2,600	€2,300 – €4,000	€7,350 – €9,000
USA	€1,200 – €2,800	€1,800 – €3,600	€3,950 – €6,500
UK	€600 – €900	€1,150 – €1,400	€1,900 – €2,000
Spain	€600 – €900	€1,000 – €2,500	€3,000 – €3,500

Additional international removal costs

Type Of Cost	Cost Details	Price Range
Packing & Unpacking	Expert packing and unpacking of your belongings	€100 – €500
Insurance	Varies on amount and type of goods being transported	Starting from €95
Storage	Secure a place for temporary storage	€85 per month
Customs Duties & Taxes	Depends on destination country and value of goods	Average rate is 5% – 9%

In addition to transporting your goods from one country to another, these companies offer a wide range of services that include currency transfer, temporary accommodation, and relocation assistance.

Popular international moving destinations from Ireland

International moving companies, with their experience, knowledge of the world, and vast global network of affiliated partners, can have the world covered, offering complete ‘door to door’ services to almost every country in the world. We curated some detailed information about popular destinations, and here are some of them:

• Moving to the United States
• Moving to New Zealand
• Moving to the UK 
• Moving to Spain
• Moving to Canada
• Moving to Australia

If you are looking for more detailed information about your destination and the international moving costs, fill out the form below to get professional advice.

The stages of an international move

International removals consist of 3 main parts: Collection, Transport and Delivery. Each stage occurs at different times in the moving process and requires specific steps.

Collection

This part involves any packing services that you have requested and the loading of items. Your belongings are either loaded onto a vehicle for direct transport to your destination, or for preliminary transit to a shipping or airfreight container.

Based on your level of service that you require, there are several packing options offered by international removal companies.

• Full Packing: This is an extensive packing service that covers everything that you would like to move. Professional movers receive training on packing and wrapping for export to ensure that your valuables will be safe for the long journey.
• Part Packing: If you only need assistance with packing a few items, this is the best level of service for you. You specify which items you would like the movers to pack or wrap and whether it is one piece of furniture or a few smaller articles.
• Fragile Packing: Certain items that are prone to damage require special packing methods or extra protective materials. Movers properly pack fragile items such as china, glass, lamps, or paintings so that they are safe and secure.
• Special Requirements: Large or heavy items, such as a piano or safe, also require specialist knowledge and equipment to move. Transporting these items either requires more movers or certain equipment to ensure that they will not sustain any damage.
• Self-Packing: If you do not have a large number of items, you can choose to pack everything by yourself. Of course, this will not incur any extra costs other than packing materials, but it usually takes a much longer time than hiring professional packing services would.

Transport

You have multiple options for transporting your belongings, depending on the destination country, speed, and your budget.

Air Freight

Choosing to transport by plane is the fastest shipping method, allowing you to settle into your new home much more quickly. However, air freight is also the most expensive mode, meaning that for a large volume of items, it is not very cost-effective.

Overland

In this method, vehicles transport your belongings by road. As such, European destinations mainly use overland removals. You can choose between Full Load and Part Load.

• Full Load: This is suitable for larger moves, such as from a 3 or 4-bedroom house, in which you pay for an entire removal vehicle. The vehicle will drive directly to your requested location.
• Part Load: This involves sharing transport space with other customers. Although it is cost-effective for smaller moves since you pay for your space, it takes longer, as the vehicle must travel to multiple destinations for the other customers.

Sea Freight

Sea containers are the least expensive mode of international shipping. However, depending on the route and multiple other factors, sea freight can also take the longest amount of time. There are three types of sea freight available.

• Full Container Load (FCL): You pay for a 20 or 40 foot container for all of your belongings. The container is directly transported to your destination country, after which it will be cleared at customs and delivered to your new home. This is perfect for larger moves, such as a 3 or 4-bedroom house.
• Less than Container Load (LCL): Your valuables, in a lift-van, will share container space with other lots of various companies and exporters. A 3rd party handles this, and has lower costs than FCL.
• Groupage: Similar to LCL, groupage also involves sharing a container with other customers. However, you share shipment space with other customers of your removal company. While this is more cost-effective than LCL because there are no 3rd party fees, total transit time is higher since groupage shipments only leave once the container is filled.

Delivery

Delivery consists of moving your items to your new home, unloading, and unpacking of your goods.

After the container arrives at the destination port, your specific load is then transported by land to your new residence. Your items will be unloaded and unpacked in their corresponding rooms after arrival.

Be prepared with international removals insurance

Although most international movers have basic limited liability coverage, it usually does not fully match the value of your belongings. To have better compensation, we recommend you obtain removal insurance for your prized possessions to cover the cost of replacement.

You need to decide what items you will be taking, after which you provide a list of your belongings and their values to the insurer before your moving day. If you need to make any claims after delivery, you have a limited period that varies depending on your insurance provider. Make sure your company’s claims procedure is clear and easy to understand, and if necessary, make claims as soon as possible.

In addition, while most removal companies offer insurance coverage, you are not restricted to their plans as there are several 3rd party companies available. Check out our moving abroad section to learn about how to find the best international moving company for you.

European removals

European removal services provide relocation solutions for individuals and businesses moving within Europe or internationally. If you are relocating to a country in mainland Europe, close proximity and the relatively free movement of goods between EU countries make European removals much easier, cheaper, and quicker.

While sending your belongings by air is the fastest mode, it is generally more expensive than overland or sea shipping. Transport via ship is the cheapest option, however, it takes a while for your items to arrive at the destination port. In between lies overland shipping with large removal trucks, which is cost-effective and quick. High connectivity within Europe through roads make overland shipping a great choice.

Removal firms will assist with all sides of your relocation to a European country. This is especially useful since you will be able to focus your time and energy on more pressing matters.

Keep your international removal costs down

Due to long distances, shipping methods, and various factors affecting the cost of moving house, relocating to another country is very expensive. However, with a quick quote request, you will be able to lower the costs of an international move. With these quotes tailored to your needs, you will be able to find the level of service and option that is best for you