Shipping from the UK to Australia

How to ship furniture to Australia

1. Get a Quote: Start by obtaining a free online quote from our website or contact our team for a detailed estimate based on your specific needs.
2. Book Your Move: Once you accept the quote, book your move. Once booked, we'll be in touch to arrange collection at a time that is convenient to you.
3. Packing and Palletising: Your furniture will be professionally packed, shrink-wrapped, and palletised, reducing overall handling of individual items by up to 80% and provides maximum protection for your furniture in transit.
4. Shipping: Once packed, your shipment will be scheduled on the next available weekly shipment to Australia thanks to our unique faster shipping process.
5. Customs Clearance: Our experienced team handles all the necessary customs clearance and documentation for entry into Australia.
6. Delivery: Once cleared, your shipment of furniture and other personal effects is delivered directly to your new home in Australia.

Yes, you will need a visa before you ship your goods or move home to Australia. Below is an outline of available visas and the Australian Government provides great advice on visa application requirements here. Have a look at Australia Visa Finder options here.

• Skilled Work Visa (Sponsored or Nominated): This visa is ideal if you have skills and experience in an occupation listed on Australia's Skilled Occupation List, and you have an employer willing to sponsor you.
• Skilled Work Visa (Not Sponsored or Nominated): This option is similar to the sponsored visa, but it doesn't require employer sponsorship. You'll need to demonstrate your skills and experience align with Australia's workforce needs.
• Distinguished Talent Visa: This visa targets individuals with exceptional and recognized talent in specific fields.
• Invest or Business Visa: This visa is for those who want to establish or invest in a business in Australia.
• Parent, Child or Family Member Visa: This category covers visas for family members of Australian citizens or permanent residents.
• Partner or Spouse Visa: This visa allows you to live in Australia if you're married to or in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

We arrange shipping services to all main Australia arrival ports of Melbourne (Victoria), Sydney (New South Wales) , Adelaide (South Australia) and Brisbane (Queensland) and Fremantle (Western Australia). After customs clearance at these ports we offer onward delivery to your door and cover all of Australian towns and cities including Hobart, Canberra and Darwin.

• Melbourne:
  Melbourne is the state capital of Victoria and is situated on the South Eastern coast at the head of Port Phillip Bay. Melbourne is known as the cultural capital of Australia with a vibrant cafe scene and a four-season temperament.
• Sydney:
  Sydney is the capital City of the state of New South Wales and is located on Australia’s east coast. Sydney is a Harbour city boasting iconic landmarks, stunning beaches, and a glamorous vibe.
• Adelaide:
  The capital city of South Australia, Adelaide is located on the Eastern shores of Gulf st Vincent in the central, southern part of Australia. Adelaide is a Festival city known for its relaxed atmosphere, wine regions, and German heritage.
• Brisbane:
  Brisbane is the capital of the Australian state of Queensland and is one of the most populated cities in Australia It is located in the centre of South East Queensland. The port is located on the Brisbane River on Fishermans Island, adjacent to Brisbane airport. Brisbane Is the sunshine capital offering a laid-back riverside lifestyle, buzzing nightlife, and easy access to theme parks.
• Fremantle:
  The main port of Western Australia, Fremantle is located on the Indian Ocean at the mouth of the Swan River. Part of the Perth metropolitan area Fremantle is one of Australia’s largest ports. Fremantle is a port city rich in maritime history, with a quirky arts scene and close proximity to Perth.

We offer weekly shipping to Australia from London Gateway port. The average shipping time from UK departure to arrival in Australia is 49 days. Here are the port to port transit times from the UK to Australia:

• UK to Melbourne takes 45 days
• UK to Sydney takes 50 days
• UK to Adelaide takes 48 days
• UK to Brisbane takes 57 days
• UK to Fremantle takes 47 days

Please visit our Australia shipping schedules page for up-to-date information on our next weekly shipping services; Container Shipping Schedules and transit time UK to Australia

Did you know?
Over the next 14 days the top 10 container shipping companies will have over 26 sailings from London to Australia. That's 8 container ships sailing every week! Why Wait? Using 1st Move’s consolidation services means we can get you on a ship faster than a mover who has to wait to fill a container with other customers' goods. You can also check the official schedules for all major UK to Australia shipping Lines here: Linescape - Ocean Container Shipping Schedules

Yes, we offer free storage up to your shipping date from the UK. Once your belongings have been packed, we will advise you of the final costs and can give you the next scheduled sailing from the UK. Once payment has been received your goods will be shipped on the next available sailing.

We normally estimate around 7 to 12 days from the time of collection from your home to the actual shipping date. This allows for transportation, packing services, preparing shipping and customs documents, billing and final payment.

These faster shipping times may not suit your schedule so in the event you would like us to store your goods in the UK a little longer and catch a later vessel, then we offer competitive storage costs to suit your needs. Storage costs will be based on the size of your move and the length of time you require storage in the UK. Please tell your move manager your plans and we can advise of the storage costs.

The process of clearing your goods through customs in Australia begins even before your departure from the UK. Your move manager will help you complete the customs declaration form B534 this completed and signed form will be sent electronically to our Australian customs brokers, and they will file this customs entry a few weeks before the arrival of the vessel.

To facilitate a speedy clearance we also send our customs agents copies of the shipping documents and inventories so that Australian customs know who you are and what you are bringing in to the country even before you arrive!

You can also check out our Australia Customs Information page here.

We offer multiple shipping options to Australia and have over 25 years experience of moving all types of household goods, personal effects, personal belongings, furniture, boxes, bags and suitcases. From your family jewels to your grand piano, we have the expertise to safely pack and ship any items of personal effects from the UK to Australia.

Shipping Personal Effects to Australia from the UK

We have been shipping personal effects to Australia for more than 25 years. We understand the need for the safest of moves combined with the speed of shipping out from the UK every week. We ship all manner of personals effects and belongings including:

• Clothing and footwear: This includes all your everyday clothes, shoes, trainers, coats, and accessories.
• Household items: Pots, pans, dishes, cutlery, utensils, cookware, bedding, towels, and other everyday household items.
• Electronics and appliances: This could include computers, laptops, tablets, televisions, washing machines, fridges freezers, sound systems, small appliances like toasters and kettles. Although most appliances will work with adaptors be sure to check voltage compatibility between UK and Australia.
• Books and personal documents: Books, photo albums, important documents (birth certificates, passports etc.), sentimental items.
• Kitchenware: Dishes, glasses, silverware, cooking utensils, pots and pans.
• Sporting equipment: Bikes, golf clubs, cricket bats, tennis rackets, surfboards.

Shipping Furniture and Household Goods to Australia

Furniture shipping requires great care and attention to ensure the safest of journeys when shipping from the UK to Australia. Here at 1st Move International our unique shrink-fast and pallet shipping services means we never load loose items of furniture into a container. Palletised shipping prevents excessive manhandling of furniture items as they are loaded and offloaded by experienced forklift drivers, this also reduces shipping costs and simply increases the safety and security of shipping furniture and indeed all your household goods and treasured possessions. We ship all manner of furniture items, and it is important to know that these bulky and heavier items are easily loaded and unloaded once palletised and shrink-wrapped. We are the only UK mover who offers a palletised shipping service for furniture, and we do recommend shipping furniture items in shared containers with other loose items. We can ship all household furniture items including:

• Bedroom Furniture: Single, double, king and queen Beds (especially high-value or sentimental ones), dressers, chests of drawers, ottomans, wardrobes and bedside tables.
• Living Room Furniture: Sofas and armchairs (particularly high-quality or unique pieces) Coffee tables and side tables, Bookshelves, TV stands and entertainment units.
• Dining Room Furniture: Dining tables and chairs (especially sets)
• Office Furniture: Desks and office chairs. Bookshelves and display cabinets.

Shipping Boxes to Australia from UK

Our shared container shipping services are just the ticket when you only have a few boxes or bags to ship. All boxes, bags, suitcases, and suchlike are easily palletised and that pallet measured exactly so you will only pay for the exact size all your boxes take up inside the shipping container.

Shipping Cars and Vehicles to Australia

We are the longest established private exporter of cars from the UK to Australia. We have been shipping cars to Australia for more than 25 years under our sister company at Autoshippers so we know all the current legislation to ensure your vehicle is acceptable to import into Australia. You really need to Know before you Go. This is a very specialised sector of our shipping business please visit our wholly owned subsidiary and find our more about shipping your car to Australia here.

Air Freight and Faster shipping options from UK to Australia

There are occasions when you simply cannot wait for some items and we offer air freight and express options for those must have items. We have trading accounts with DHL and UPS so we can ensure reliability with air freight times from 5 to 10 days after receipt. We can airfreight:

• Jewelry and precious metals
• Original artwork or valuable antiques
• Important documents.
• Life-saving medications
• Time-sensitive legal documents
• Highly fragile musical instruments
• Wedding dress or other special occasion clothing
• Work related electronics for your WFH needs.

Yes, you are able to ship your personal car or motorbike to Australia, but there are certain requirements that you need to be aware of. Firstly, you will need to obtain an approval from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Development, Communications and the Arts. Depending on the type, age and circumstances around the shippers move to Australia.

Once the correct approval is given, you can ship your vehicle but need to ensure that it has been properly cleaned to avoid delays and additional costs through the Customs Quarantine process. Vehicles up to 30 years old attract an import duty cost of 5%, and a GST (Goods and Services Tax) cost of 10% of the Customs value, plus the freight costs and insurance costs.

It is important top know all the current legislation before you arrange to ship your car. Our sister company Autoshippers, wholly owned by us, offer car shipping services to Australia and can give you more information to help you decide it you would like to ship your car to Australia.

Yes, you can ship your household appliances and electrical goods to Australia. Australia's power system operates on the same 240 volts as the UK, though the plug design differs. Appliances will require either a new plug or an adaptor to accommodate the different plug shape.

Please also note that all appliances must be thoroughly cleaned and free of dirt, pests or contaminants before shipping, as there are strict rules in Australia to prevent the introduction of any foreign materials that could pose a biosecurity risk.

Yes, you can ship art, antiques and other collectibles to Australia as part of your personal effects or household goods shipment, but there are some additional considerations and requirements that you need to be aware of. 1st Move International are able to offer crating of high value or fragile items that you would like to ship, and are able to pack in bespoke, export compatible wooden crates for additional safety and security during shipping.

You will also need to ensure that sufficient marine insurance cover is in place, by including these items within your insurance submission, including a full description and value. Some items may require further documentation or provenance, others may require an import licence or be prohibited for import into Australia (such as some artifacts).

As with the other items that are being shipped as part of your personal effects to Australia, as long as any art, antiques and other collectibles have been owned by you 12 months prior to moving, they are exempt from Customs duty.

Although shipping palletised personal effects is the safest and most secure way of moving your household goods to Australia, we still strongly recommend that you have sufficient insurance cover in place.

This marine insurance provides coverage against potential loss or damage of your goods during the shipping process and without the additional protection you may not be covered for the cost of any items that are damaged or missing.

1st Move International can offer 3 levels of cover through specialist personal effects shipping marine insurance brokers, Basil Fry & Co. and the Insurance cover policy is issued by insurance giant Chaucer. This means that we have insurance coverage options for all requirements and budgets. For more information on the cover available take a look at our Shipping Insurance page.

As Australia has a unique ecosystem, there are some strict rules over what can and can’t be shipped into the country, including as part of a shipment of personal effects or household goods. As all shipments of personal household goods are subject to Quarantine examination you will need to be aware of any items that are not allowed to be shipped.

Items that you aren’t allowed whilst shipping personal effects to Australia include;

• Fresh Fruit & Vegetables
• Plants and Seeds
• Firearms & Ammunition
• Swords, Concealed Blades, Daggers etc
• Counterfeit Goods, such as Pirate DVDs
• Raw, Untreated Wood

There are other items that are restricted, and these need to be declared to Customs. This may cause delays and additional costs. These include;

• Cosmetics
• Medicines
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Tobacco & Cigarettes

As part of your shipment of belongings to Australia, you can take household goods and personal items such as furniture, electrical goods, clothes, toys, sports and musical equipment, but must thoroughly clean any items that have come into contact with soil and vegetation

Please check any items that you are unsure about with your knowledgeable Move Manager at 1st Move International, and we will also check your written inventory for items that are either prohibited or restricted to ship into Australia. For more details take a look at our Customs Guides for Personal Effects Shipping to Australia.

Shipping costs from the UK to Australia range from £1170 to £9560. The exact cost will depend on how much you are shipping, your chosen service (shared or full container) and your destination in Australia.

The average cost of shipping to popular Australian destinations:

• Melbourne: £6,063
• Sydney: £7,639
• Adelaide: £6,397
• Brisbane: £6,446

For more accurate costs, please complete our quick quote form or use our international removals cost calculator>.

In the world of shipping size matters. The more you ship to Australia, the more it will cost.

Our shared container shipping costs are based on the space taken up inside a shared container.

Shipping costs are charged at a price per cubic meter and are calculated on the final packed volume (not the weight) of your personal belongings.

1 cubic meter is the equivalent of 35 cubic ft.

When using 1st Move’s pallet services your volume is easily, and accurately calculated as the pallet can be measured exactly before it is loaded into the shipping container. Palletisation also reduces the costs as we maximise the space on the pallet by using up spaces in drawers, cabinets, washing machines or wardrobes in order to reduce the final volume.

We ship out of the UK using only the UK’s premier shipping lines. The top 10 container shipping companies that offer scheduled weekly sailings from London port to Australia are:

• Maersk Line
• MSC
• Evergreen
• CMA-CGM
• Hapag-Lloyd
• Cosco
• OOCL
• Yang Ming
• Hyundai
• One Line

Between them the world’s premier shipping lines offer up to 8 regular weekly sailings from the UK to Australia.

We are members of the British Association of Removers (BAR), registered freight brokers and members of The British International Freight Association. This gives us direct access to commercial trade rates and services with the world’s top 10 container shipping lines. This means that your household goods and personal effects will ship out every week to Australia and on the best available shipping line to suit your own requirements and travel plans.

We offer a 10% Early Booking Discount when you book within 7 days of receiving your quote and with a low £250 deposit there is nothing further to pay before collection.

We also offer all students and Alumni an additional 10% discount over our normal shipping costs, simply send us your NUS card at the time of booking and we will discount our standard shipping rates by 10%.

To compare quotes effectively for shipping personal belongings to Australia, follow these steps:

1. Research and Shortlist Companies: Begin by identifying potential international removals companies that are reputable. Look for trade memberships such as the British Association of Removers (BAR), which indicate professionalism and reliability.
2. Request Detailed Quotes: Contact the shortlisted companies to request quotes. Provide comprehensive details about the volume of your belongings and any specific requirements you might have, like special handling for delicate items.
3. Evaluate the Quotes: When you receive the quotes, compare them carefully. Don't just look at the pricing — consider the range of services included, such as packing, loading, transport, and unpacking. Check for any additional fees or surcharges that could affect the overall cost. Always read the fine print.
4. Review Additional Benefits: Consider each company's unique selling points (USPs). These might include faster shipping times due to pre-booked container slots, safer packing techniques for safer shipping, or precise billing methods for transparent pricing, which are the main unique selling points offered by 1st Move International.
5. Understand the Insurance Coverage: Examine the insurance options provided. Ensure that they offer adequate coverage for your belongings during transit, and understand the terms of the coverage.
6. Check Timelines and Shipping Schedules: Ask specifically about when your belongings will be shipped from the UK and the expected transit time. Some companies may not be able to tell you which can be a red flag. Verify that the company ships regularly to Australia and can align with your preferred timing. At 1st Move International, we will be able to tell you exactly when your shipment will leave the UK and we post a regular, up-to-date shipping schedule for Australia here.
7. Read Reviews and Feedback: Look at customer reviews and feedback to gauge the company’s service quality and reliability.

When your shipment of household goods and furniture is loaded into the shipping container and onto the vessel, you are sent the shipping documentation which includes the unique shipping container number and vessel name, and these can be used to track your shipment on route to Australia.

You can input the shipping container number or vessel name into the tracking websites used by commercial shipping companies to ensure that their goods are on schedule, or by using our container tracking tool.

Once your goods have sailed from the UK your personal move manager will prepare all the necessary shipping paperwork and you will receive copies of these documents either before you depart or will email you if you have already left. The team will also DHL and electronically transfer your paperwork to our arrival teams in Australia.

We will advise you of our port and customs agents contact details before your departure. Approximately 2-3 weeks before your belongings and household goods arrive in Australia they will send you the relevant customs forms, help arrange customs clearance, answer any questions you have, confirm suitable delivery times and arrange delivery of your items to your end location in Australia.

The good news is that most personal effects and household goods that you own and have been using prior to your move to Australia are generally exempt from import duties and taxes, as long as you have owned and used them for 12 months prior to moving. This includes clothing, footwear, kitchen equipment, furniture, books and other regular household items.

However, there are some exceptions and restrictions that you need to be aware of, such as alcohol, tobacco and motor vehicles. Some items will require specific documentation, and will attract import duty and GST (Goods and Services Tax) when you import them into Australia.

Our approved customs brokers and redelivery agents in Australia are Conroy Removals. A long-standing and respected agent who we have been working for over 15 years. Conroy Removals were established over 50 years ago and will arrange customs clearance on your behalf. Once your personal effects have cleared customs, Conroys will agree a suitable date for the delivery of your belongings to your new home. They will contact you around 2 weeks before the ship arrives, but please feel free to introduce yourself at any time simply quoting 1st Move International as your carrier. They are looking forward to speaking to you and helping you through customs and redelivery to your home. Contact details are:

Brisbane Branch & Head Office:

• Address: 20 Briggs Court Kallangur, QLD 4503, Australia
• Phone: +61 7 5495 2156
• AU Freephone: 1800 640 774

Melbourne Branch:

• Address: 25 Fowler Road Dandenong, VIC 3175, Australia
• Phone: +61 3 8541 2000
• AU Freephone: 1800 640 774

Perth Branch:

• Address: 5 Purdy Place Canning Vale, WA 6155, Australia
• Phone: +61 8 6279 5200
• AU Freephone: 1800 640 774

Sydney Branch:

• Address: 28 Huntingwood Drive Huntingwood, NSW 2148, Australia
• Phone: +61 2 8787 7800
• AU Freephone: 1800 640 774

Townsville Branch:

• Address: 10 Catalyst Court Mount Saint John, 4818, Australia
• Phone: +61 7 4774 7999
• AU Freephone: 1800 640 774