Ocean freight is the most economical way to move volume. A 20ft container takes roughly 28 cubic metres of packed goods or a three-bedroom household; a 40ft takes around 58 cubic metres, or a car plus a full removal. Because you keep the box to yourself, cargo is loaded once and stays sealed until the consignee breaks it open.
UK Container Shipping Rates
Get a firm rate- 20ft FCL, port to port
- £1,450 – £3,200Europe and Mediterranean at the lower end, Oceania and South America at the top
- 40ft FCL, port to port
- £2,150 – £4,90040ft high-cube typically £100 – £250 above standard
- LCL groupage
- £95 – £185 per cbmCharged per cubic metre or per 1,000kg, whichever is greater, minimum 1 cbm
- UK haulage & loading
- £420 – £780Container delivered to your address with 2 – 3 hours free loading time
- Export customs entry
- £45Per declaration; VGM and dangerous goods documentation quoted separately
- Destination charges
- payable locallyTerminal handling, agency and customs fees quoted upfront with your rate
Indicative ranges for planning. Ocean rates move weekly with capacity, bunker costs and season — we confirm firm figures with the sailing schedule when you book.
Choosing between FCL and LCL
As a rule of thumb, once a shipment passes 12 to 15 cubic metres a 20ft full container usually beats groupage on price, and it always beats it on handling risk because nobody else touches your cargo. Below that, LCL keeps costs proportional to what you are actually sending. We price both so the comparison is in front of you before you commit.
- 1
Survey & quote
Volume assessed, equipment chosen and an all-in rate issued.
- 2
Container delivery
Empty box delivered to your address with free loading time.
- 3
Customs & VGM
Export entry lodged, verified gross mass filed with the carrier.
- 4
Sailing
Container gated in, loaded and the bill of lading issued.
- 5
Arrival
Destination clearance, devanning or delivery to the consignee.
How we handle container shipments
One file, one contact and one invoice covering equipment, haulage, customs and freight.
Household removals
Dedicated containers for full and part household moves, with packing and inventory.
Trade & commercial cargo
Palletised and cased goods on contract or spot rates with letter of credit documentation.
Vehicles in containers
One to four vehicles per box, professionally lashed and photographed before sealing.
Machinery & project cargo
Flat racks, open tops and breakbulk for out-of-gauge units with engineered lashing.
Consolidation
Multiple suppliers delivered into our warehouse and shipped as one consignment.
Door to door
Inland haulage at both ends so the container never becomes your problem.
Container shipping destination guides
Each guide lists the ports we discharge at, indicative 20ft and 40ft rates, transit times and the customs requirements that country applies to arriving containers.