Paul is a content writer here at Seven Seas Worldwide. He has a passion for communicating directly with customers in way that both informs and engages.
Moving abroad advice
How much do international removals cost from the UK?
Thinking about joining the thousands of UK citizens moving overseas?
Have you ever wondered what the average house removal costs are to different worldwide destinations? Long-term emigration from the UK has steadily risen for decades, aside from a slight dip due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported an estimated 557,000 Brits left the country to live abroad. Popular destinations include Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Africa, China and Thailand - Australia has even increased visa numbers to cope with demand!
But how easy is it to move overseas, and what are the steps involved? Luckily, we have the answers! With over 25 years of experience shipping and moving household goods around the world, we make the entire process straightforward. From your free online quote to delivery day at your beautiful new home, we support you during the entire journey.
In this blog, we'll cover everything you need to know about the cost of removals, including house moving costs to our most popular destinations from the UK, information about our unique MoveCube® moving pod, how to place an order, destination charges, money-saving methods and much more.
Increase in the number of UK citizens emigrating:
In 2012
363,000 left the UK
In 2022
557,000 left the UK
The MoveCube®: overseas removals with our unique moving pod
The MoveCube® is a dedicated shipping crate designed to protect your household belongings during long overseas journeys via land and sea. It's available in three sizes to suit your family's needs: Large, Medium, and Small. We can bring as many as needed directly to your door, ready for you to load. Please note, if ordering multiple MoveCubes®, they may arrive on separate days.
You can fill the MoveCube® with anything from three-piece sofa sets and dining tables to musical instruments and kitchen appliances. Each order includes a free Starter Pack to help secure your home belongings into containers. You'll find a measuring tape, a box cutter knife, a marker pen, a roll of parcel tape, and a tape dispenser inside. Plus, three plastic floor sheets to estimate what can fit inside a Large, Medium or Small MoveCube®.
Waving goodbye to your precious home possessions as they travel overseas can be stressful. For this reason, we offer comprehensive insurance options to give you some extra peace of mind. Plus, you can always monitor your shipment's worldwide location using our online tracker.
Large MoveCube®*
Internal dimensions:
146cm/57 inches (W)
187cm/73 inches (H)
226cm/88 inches (D)
Medium MoveCube®*
Internal dimensions:
111cm/43 inches (W)
187cm/73 inches (H)
146cm/57 inches (D)
Small MoveCube®*
Internal dimensions:
96cm/35 inches (W)
187cm/73 inches (H)
111cm/43 inches (D)
How many MoveCubes® do you need based on property size?
If you discover that your MoveCubes® are full, but a few excess containers remain, don't panic — they can be shipped as part of the same order for an additional fee via our Boxes and bags shipping service.
The below removal cost estimates are intended as a guide. Each country has unique destination charges, plus, there will sometimes be a choice between door-to-door and door-to-port delivery.
If you discover that all your MoveCubes® are full, but a few excess containers remain, don't panic — they can be shipped as part of the same order for an additional fee via our boxes and bags shipping service.
We offer sturdy shipping boxes made from double-walled, chemically strengthened cardboard to protect your belongings during long overseas journeys. Our most popular containers are Large and Standard.
Overestimate how many boxes you need, and we'll collect any unused and still in brand-new condition at no extra charge.
MoveCube® size guide*
1 bedroom apartment:
1 Large MoveCube® and 1 Medium MoveCube®
2 bedroom apartment:
2 Large MoveCubes®
2 bedroom house:
3 Large MoveCubes®
3 bedroom house:
5 Large and 1 Medium MoveCube®
4 bedroom house:
7 Large and 1 Medium MoveCube®
5 bedroom house:
9 Large MoveCubes®
*Based on standard UK house sizes, this may change depending on the country.
Destination charges explained
An important thing to remember is the destination charge — an unavoidable final payment to be made once your shipment has arrived at its destination but before it leaves the port. Most shipping and removal companies are either unaware of these costs, bury them in small print, or intentionally make them difficult to see.
At Seven Seas Worldwide, we are committed to complete customer transparency. For this reason, your destination charge is displayed clearly and fully explained in your free online quote before you make a booking.
Destination charges cover vitally important port processes. A typical breakdown includes Customs Inspection Fees, Port Document Fees, Port Handling Charges and Warehouse Handling Charges.
Each country has unique procedures and charges depending on its laws, customs rules, and your shipment's size, weight, contents or purpose.
Destination charges include the following:
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Transport from the port or import hub to our depot, then to your address, including tolls, gate fees and sometimes demurrage.
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Port charges, including discharging the container from the ship and handling it before delivery to our hub.
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Container cleaning, including an x-ray and fumigation.
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Hub/depot handling, including repositioning and loading for delivery.
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Customs and quarantine inspection and clearance.
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Unloading time for our driver to assist at the destination.
About our storage costs
There's no need to travel in a rush!
As a leading international removal company, we support our customers in a number of ways, which is why we offer 2 weeks of free storage at our secure depots in the UK and 2 free weeks at many worldwide destinations.
The added time could relieve some pressure when arranging visas, travelling, finding a home, securing work, etc.
If you want to extend your storage time for an affordable fee, let us know 24 hours or more before your MoveCube® loading day.
How much to move a 2 bedroom house overseas?
An average 2-bed home in the UK requires roughly 3 Large MoveCubes®. You'll have ample space for 2 beds, several kitchen appliances, sofas, furniture, and more.
| House removal costs (not including destination charges) | |
| Australia | £5911.89 |
| The USA | £5156.76 |
| New Zealand | £5760.31 |
| Hong Kong | £3358.95 |
| Thailand | £5169.57 |
| China | £4274.58 |
| Canada | £9860.01 |
| South Africa | £3351.32 |
How much to move a 3 bedroom house to your dream home abroad?
A 3 bedroom house is the most common home in the UK. Considering the average family size is a couple and 2.4 children, it makes sense!
We estimate that 5 Large and 1 Medium MoveCubes® will be required to allow enough space for several beds, multiple sofas and chairs, toys, prams, musical instruments, computers, and more.
| House removal costs (not including destination charges) | |
| Australia | £10767.81 |
| The USA | £9530.77 |
| New Zealand | £9710.23 |
| Hong Kong | £6255.10 |
| Thailand | £9629.61 |
| China | £7939.06 |
| Canada | £18127.52 |
| South Africa | £5213.91 |
How much to move a 4 bedroom house internationally?
You might be wondering — what about my big family? How much will it cost to move our home contents? An average 4-bed home in the UK would require roughly 7 Large and 1 Medium MoveCubes®.
Such abundant space would happily support the removal of multiple beds, numerous pieces of sofas, furniture, kitchen appliances, a large dining table, etc. Luckily, with such a big family, you'll have plenty of helping hands come the MoveCube® loading day!
| House removal costs (not including destination charges) | |
| Australia | £14652.41 |
| The USA | £12968.61 |
| New Zealand | £12870.07 |
| Hong Kong | £8494.40 |
| Thailand | £13075.99 |
| China | £10788.78 |
| Canada | £24700.86 |
| South Africa | £6704.73 |
How much to move a 5 bedroom house abroad?
Fear not! Thanks to our expert team, we can easily support extra-large family moves, too. An average 5 bedroom home in the UK would require in the region of 9 Large MoveCubes®.
Such a mammoth amount of shipping space would adequately support the removal of multiple beds, corner sofas, furniture, kitchen appliances, TVs, garden furniture, large dining tables and so much more.
| House removal costs (not including destination charges) | |
| Australia | £17565.68 |
| The USA | £15470.28 |
| Hong Kong | £10076.85 |
| Thailand | £15508.71 |
| China | £12823.74 |
| Canada | £29580.03 |
| South Africa | £7822.78 |
Get a free online quote in minutes
Unfamiliar with our quote engine? Then, give this handy guide a read! We'll walk you through the process of generating an instant quote tailored to your international removal needs and how to save and return to it once you're ready to place your order.
1. It starts with a simple quote:
We designed our brand-new quote tool with ease of use and complete transparency in mind. Total costs depend on several factors, including your origin and destination country, chosen transport method, and how much furniture and possessions you wish to send.
For overseas removals, select your origin and destination countries in the "International move" tab. Tip: You can even search using postcodes.
2. Choose a MoveCube® size:
Next, on the "Build your order" page, tell us exactly what you want to ship and we'll suggest the best method. Or, select "Try our MoveCube®" and choose either a Large, Medium or Small MoveCube®.
If you require multiple MoveCubes®, contact our multilingual customer support team once your order has been placed.
3. Add any extra packaging:
In addition to your free Starter Pack, you can add as many Large or Medium chemically strengthened cardboard boxes as required.
You can also add removal blankets to protect your furniture from rubbing against each other during transit, extra packing tape and bubble wrap.
4. Select the shipping service:
Next, "Select a service" lets you choose your preferred shipping method. Our boxes and bags shipping service includes land, air and sea options.
However, we only offer sea shipping for our MoveCube® removals service due to their size. This is the cheapest way to transport your belongings and produces fewer CO2 emissions, making it better for the planet.
5. Check the destination charges:
The destination charge, which covers your shipment's port handling, customs clearance and much more, is displayed and thoroughly explained.
6. Place your order!:
Finally, on the left side of the "Quote" page, you'll see a breakdown of your order, including the service you opted for, the number of boxes and any extra packing materials.
On the right side, you can switch between your previous quotes, share your quote with someone else or pay the deposit and complete your order.
Save money by decluttering your home
By downsizing your belongings, especially bulky furniture, you'll have fewer items to pack, move, and unpack. Think of it as a golden opportunity to say goodbye to possessions simply taking up space. After all, the less you ship, the cheaper it will be!
Decluttering before a big move overseas can be a daunting task. So, making the transition as stress-free as possible is crucial. Here are our top 5 tips to help successfully downsize your home:
Start early and make a list:
Give yourself plenty of time, as the process can take much longer than expected. Ideally, begin a few months before moving day so you don't feel rushed or stressed.
Then, write down all the belongings you want to keep, sell, donate, or throw away, then print it out. Tick off each item as they are dealt with, helping you stay organised and focused.
Divide and conquer:
Declutter one room at a time, beginning with the smallest and moving to increasingly bigger rooms.
Remember, some electronic items may not work in your destination country due to alternative voltages and plug sizes. For example, the voltage in the UK and EU is 240V, whilst in Canada and the USA it's 110V. You may also risk invalidating their warranty by using them in a country not listed in the terms and conditions.
Be honest with yourself:
Are you moving from a cold to a warm climate? There is likely no need for extra-thick jumpers or winter hats. Consider selling excess goods on eBay or Facebook Marketplace for extra cash or donating them to charity.
Also, please check our regularly updated Prohibited Goods page before packing, as all countries have restrictions on imported goods to protect their citizens and the environment.
Try to maximise space:
Dismantle all furniture before packing them into the MoveCube® and remember to keep all loose screws, nuts and bolts in a labelled bag to make reassembly easier.
Fill empty drawers with small, soft items and consider vacuum sealing your clothes. Place your clothes inside a specialised-designed vacuum bag and suck out as much air as possible using a hoover.