International Removals UK to USA

The cost of international removals from the UK to the USA range from £1,016 for a small move on a shared container service up to around £9,000+ for a larger house move with your own dedicated 40’ shipping container. The exact cost depends on many factors which include your collection address, your preferred shipping service option and your final destination in the USA.

The cost of shipping to our most popular destination cities in the USA from the UK are;

• New York: from £1,021 for shared container services
• Houston: from £1,016 for shared container services
• Los Angeles: from £1,134 for shared container services

These are estimates, based on the shipping costs from our UK depot to the arrival port or inland depot in the USA. No two moves are the same, so for a much more accurate quotation, based on your own specific requirements, please complete our quotation form, or you can use our international removals cost calculator.

Costs for international removals to the USA on shared container services are based on the size of your shipment, not the weight, and are calculated at a price per cubic metre, or sometimes per cubic feet. The more household goods, personal effects and belongings that you have, the larger your shipment, and the higher the cost.

For reference, 1 cubic metre is the equivalent of around 35 cubic feet.

If you have enough personal effects and household goods to fill your own 20foot or 40foot shipping container, your shipping costs are based on the sole use of the container rather than how much space you use up in it.

1st Move’s unique, palletised International Removals service means that your volume is easily and accurately calculated as the final packed pallet can be measured exactly before it is loaded into the shipping container. We never guess or estimate the size of your shipment.

We also use space inside, underneath, or around items, thus reducing the cost and lowering the final volume for you, which in turn lowers your cost.

1st Move International can offer weekly scheduled shipping to the USA from the UK, with the port-to-port transit time being dependant on your destination port. The approximate shipping time from UK port to US port is between 12 and 30days, and the below table shows the transit times for the most popular destinations in the USA;

For the most up-to-date information, please visit our USA shipping schedules page which gives details of our next international removals shipping services; Container Shipping Schedules and transit times UK to the USA

Why wait? Avoid delays and get your shipment to America faster thanks to our unique packing and faster shipping. Once booked, your shipment will be immediately scheduled onto the next avaialble weekly shipment.

You can also check the official schedules for all major shipping lines with services to the USA from the UK here: Linescape - Ocean Container Shipping Schedules

If you are moving overseas to the USA then getting a quotation to move your personal effects, household goods and furniture couldn’t be any simpler. 1st Move International has a simple-to-use quotation form on every page of our website, and this allows you the opportunity to give details of the items that you are moving to our dedicated and knowledgeable sales team.

You can also complete the contact form, call on +44 117 982 8123 / 0800 389 0784 or e-mail on sales@shipit.co.uk

You will receive a full breakdown of the costs as well as details of the expected shipping times and our unique packing and shipping processes.

It’s not always easy to compare international removals quotes to the USA, as companies may structure them differently, include or exclude different costs or even use different terminology such as units of volume (cubic metres or cubic feet).

To compare quotations effectively for moving personal effects, household goods and furniture to the USA, you can follow these steps;

1. Research and Shortlist Companies: Start by looking into the international removals companies that you are in contact with to ensure that they are reputable and have affiliations to trade memberships such as the British Association of Removers (BAR), as this indicates that they are professional and reliable.
2. Request Detailed Quotes: Provide as much detail as you can of the items that you are moving to the USA, making sure you are giving each company the same information. Include sizes where you can, and any special handling requirements or details of any access or parking restrictions at the collection and delivery addresses.
3. Evaluate the Quotes: When you have received the quotes, compare them carefully, checking that they are based on the same specifications, including which costs are included or excluded in the total. Companies may calculate the size of your shipment differently, so check the size as well as the cost.
4. What Else Do They Have to Offer?: It’s not all about price! Do they offer any unique selling points (USPs), for example 1st Move International can offer faster shipping times, safer packing techniques and transparent billing?
5. Check Timelines and Shipping Schedules: Ask how often the international removals companies ship to the USA? Are they able to give you a sailing date and an estimated delivery date? Some companies can give you an indication of the transit time, but this does not tell you when to expect your personal effects to depart from the UK port, only how long it takes once the vessel has left. 1st Move can give you weekly scheduled sailings, take a look at our shipping schedule for international removals to the USA.
6. Understand your Insurance Options: Although the cost of marine insurance isn’t normally included as part of your international removals quote to the USA, the company should still give details of the options that they offer. Check that this gives suitable cover to protect your household goods when in transit to the USA, as if you don’t have any marine insurance, you may not be covered for any unforeseen eventualities.
7. Read Reviews: International Removals companies will show you a selection of reviews on their website, or on the quotes themselves. You need to also check on external review sites such as TrustPilot or Google who are independent and show unedited reviews. Check the good and bad reviews, and how the company has replied, not just at the star rating.

At 1st Move International, we offer free storage, up to your UK shipping date, before your personal effects are moved to the USA. Once we have finished packing your belongings, you’ll be advised of your final costs and, at this point, we are able to advise you of your expected shipping dates. Once you have paid and provided us with all the necessary paperwork for an international removals shipment to America, your personal effects will be shipped on the next available sailing.

You should normally expect around 7 to 12 days from the time of collection from your home to the scheduled shipping date, as this allows for transportation, packing services, preparation of shipping documents and Customs formalities as well as invoicing and final payment. So that your items are available to ship as early as possible, please make sure we have your documentation before your collection date, and payment as soon as possible after packing is completed.

Our faster shipping times may not suit your schedule, so in the event that you would prefer us to store your goods in the UK a little longer and catch a later vessel, then we have storage options with competitive costs to suit your requirements. Your storage costs will be based on the size of your move and the length of time that you require your international removals shipment to be stored in our UK warehouse. Please keep us updated of your plans and we can advise you of the expected storage costs. Remember that it is likely to be much more cost-effective to store in the UK at our warehouse than our agents provide short term storage at your destination.

As early bookings benefit us with our transport planning, 1st Move International offer a 10% Early Booking Discount when you book within 7 days of receiving your quotation, and after a low £250 booking deposit to confirm your preferred collection date, there is nothing further to pay before your goods are collected, packed and ready to move to the USA.

We also offer a student discount of a further 10% over our usual shipping cost, we just require a copy of your NUS card at the time of your booking and we will include this saving on your final shipping invoice.

It is strongly recommended that you have marine insurance cover in place when moving your personal effects and household goods to the USA, even when you move though 1st Move International with our palletised international removals service, which is the most safe and secure option available.

Marine insurance provides coverage against any loss or damage to your goods during the shipping process. Without the added protection that this offers you may not be covered for the cost of any items that do get damaged or are missing.

Through the specialist international removals marine insurance brokers, Basil Fry & Co, 1st Move International offer 3 levels of insurance cover. This means that we have options for everyone. For more information on the levels of cover that we have available take a look at our insurance options.

There are options available to move your furniture to the USA by seafreight or by airfreight, with seafreight services via shared container usually the most cost-effective method.

The process in moving your furniture to the USA is;

1. Get a Quote: Begin by requesting an online quotation using the form found on every page of 1st Move International’s website, or contact our dedicated and knowledgeable team for a detailed estimate based on your own specific requirements.
2. Book Your Move: Once you have received and accepted the quote, it is time to book your move. Once your booking is received our team will be in touch to arrange your collection on your preferred collection date.
3. Packing & Palletising: Your furniture will be professionally packed, shrink-wrapped, and palletised, reducing the handling of individual items by up to 80%, providing maximum protection and minimum handling in transit to the USA.
4. Shipping: Once packing has been completed, your furniture move will be scheduled onto the next available weekly vessel to the USA, thanks to 1st Move International’s unique faster shipping process.
5. Customs Clearance: Our experienced International Move Managers can assist with all aspects of the necessary Customs clearance documentation for entry into the USA.
6. Delivery: Once cleared, your shipment of furniture or other household goods and personal effects is delivered directly to your new home in the USA.

Yes, to be able to move your furniture and personal effects to the USA without paying any import duties and taxes, you will need to have valid visa or residents permit. Below is an outline of the different types of visa or immigration status that are available when moving to the USA.

• Immigrant Visa or Green Card: If you are moving to the USA on a permanent basis as an immigrant with an immigrant visa or green card (permanent resident card) you can move your household goods and personal effects duty-free.
• Non-Immigrant Visa or status: If you are moving to the USA temporarily as a non-immigrant, you may be required to post a bond or pay duty if U.S. Customs and Border Protection determines that your goods will not be re-exported, as you cannot move them to the USA on a permanent basis.
• Visa Waiver Program: Visitors from certain countries, including the UK, who are entering the USA for a short period under the Visa Waiver Program may need to pay duty on household goods and personal effects.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website can provide you with full details of the requirements for moving furniture, personal effects and household goods to the USA.

No, you aren’t allowed to move personal effects and household goods to the USA from the UK with just an approved ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) as part of the Visa Waiver Program.

1ST Move International has over 25 years’ worth of experience in moving all types of personal effects, household goods, personal belongings, furniture, boxes, bags and suitcases from the UK to the USA, and have the knowledge and expertise to safely collect, pack and ship any items that you wish, that are allowable to be moved to the USA.

Moving Personal Effects to the USA from the UK

At 1st Move International, we understand the importance of the safety and security of international removals, and combine our safer packing with the fastest shipping times in the industry, shipping every week to destinations worldwide. We ship all manner of personal effects and belongings including;

• Clothing and Footwear: All everyday clothes, shoes, trainers, coats and accessories, and some non-everyday clothes including the occasional wedding dress (new and used)
• Household Items: Kitchenware, cutlery, bedding and towels, lamps, ornaments and other household goods.
• Electronics and Appliances: Televisions, computers and laptops, white goods, stereo systems and all kinds of small appliances such as kettles or toasters.
• Books and Personal Documents: Books, photo albums and important or sentimental documents such as birth or marriage certificates. Don’t pack your passport though, you may struggle to get to the USA to receive your goods without this!
• Sports Equipment: Bikes, tennis rackets, surfboards and snowboards, golf clubs and exercise equipment such as Peloton bikes, which we crate individually for protection and ease of loading/unloading. If you are moving an electric bike to the USA, or an electric scooter, speak with one of our team. There may be restrictions or other things to consider when shipping an e-bike to the USA.

Moving Furniture and Household Goods to the USA

Moving furniture overseas from the UK to the USA requires great care and attention to ensure that they arrive safely, and our international removals team will use the utmost care when collecting and loading your furniture from your home, onto our vans. We then ensure the care and attention continues by very carefully stacking and wrapping all of your items onto wooden pallets using our unique, shrink-fast packing technique.

Our palletised shipping technique prevents excessive handling of furniture items as they are loaded and offloaded with experienced forklift truck drivers, instead of being loose loaded and handled individually at various stages of the international removals shipping process.

We are able to ship all kinds of furniture items, and palletising them helps with the loading and unloading of larger items. We are the only UK International Removals company that offers this palletised shipping service, and even if you are shipping on our dedicated full container service, we palletise your goods to ensure the safest loading and unloading process possible.

Furniture items that we can ship include;

• Bedroom Furniture: King size, single and every bed size in between, either framed or divan, including mattresses, chests of drawers, wardrobes and bedside tables.
• Living Room Furniture: Sofas and armchairs, coffee tables, bookshelves, TV and entertainment units.
• Dining Room Furniture: Dining tables and chairs
• Office Furniture: Desks, chairs and bookshelves

Moving Boxes to the USA from the UK

Our international removals shared container shipping services are perfect when you only have a few boxes or bags to move to the USA. All items are palletised and the pallet measured exactly, so you only pay for the exact size that your boxes, cartons or bags take up inside the shared shipping container, nothing is estimated.

Shipping Cars and Vehicles to the USA

We have been shipping cars to the USA for over 25 years under our sister company, Autoshippers. The Autoshippers website has all of the information that you would need about shipping cars to the USA and all major destinations throughout the world. As car shipping is a very specialist service, you will need to enlist a knowledgeable company when you are looking to ship your car, van or motorbike to the USA, and Autoshippers should be your first port of call.

Take a look at their guide to shipping a car to the USA where you can find out everything you need to know, as well as their USA blogs including Everything You Need to Know About The 25-Year Rule.

Airfreight and Faster International Removals Shipping Options from the UK to the USA

When moving to the USA, you may have some items that you can’t do without and can’t wait to arrive by seafreight, even with 1st Move International’s faster shipping services, and for those we can offer air freight and express options. We have accounts with major international courier companies DHL and UPS as well as international cargo airlines, meaning we can offer reliable services globally for items that you need to have earlier than the rest of your personal effects and furniture.

We can airfreight;

• Important Documents
• Fragile or Valuable Items, such as Artwork or Antiques
• Small Electrical Goods for Work
• Essential Items for Small Children and Babies

Yes, you can take most household and electrical appliances with you when you are moving to the USA from the UK, but there are a few things to consider;

• Electrical Standards: As the USA uses 110-120V, 60Hz electrical standards you many need transformers or adapters to use appliances designed for the UK’s 220-240V system.
• Prohibited Items: Some items, such as cordless phones, older TVs with cathode ray tubes and appliances container gases like fridges and air conditioners have restrictions and measures needed to ship to the USA.
• Cleaning: All appliances used for food preparation must be thoroughly cleaned of all food residue, and fridges and freezers must be completely defrosted as well as being cleaned.

When you are planning your move from the UK to the USA, it is imperative that you know which household goods and personal items may be restricted or prohibited for shipping.

Items you are allowed to ship include furniture, clothing, books, electrical appliances and other items for personal use. However, there are certain items that may require further permits, or aren’t allowed to be shipped at all. These include;

• Food Products, including fruits, vegetables etc
• Alcohol
• Medications
• Plants/Seeds
• Weapons and Firearms
• Cultural Artifacts

For anything that you are unsure of, speak with your Move Manager at 1st Move International. To assist us, please send your packed inventory as soon as possible, so that we can check for any items that may need additional attention, or to be removed from your shipment all together.

Take a look at our Customs Guide for Personal Effects Shipping to the USA for more details and for links to the U.S. Customs & Border Protection Website.

When your household goods and personal effects are loaded into the container, either on our dedicated or shared container services, you are sent all of the shipping documentation which includes the unique shipping container number and vessel name, and these can be used to track your personal effects whilst they are on their way to the USA.

You can use tracking websites that are used by commercial shipping companies by inputting the container number or vessel name, or you can use 1st Move International’s container tracking tool which you can find on our website.

Yes, you are allowed to ship your personal car or motorbike to the USA when you are moving, but there are certain requirements and restrictions that you need to be aware of.

For vehicles less than 25 years old;

• All vehicles must comply with applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, which need to be certified by its original manufacturer.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements for emissions and gas mileage disclosures must also be met.
• Import duty will need to be paid, based on the vehicles value.

Unless specifically manufactured for the US market, it can be a costly exercise to ship a car or motorbike that is less than 25 years old to the USA.

For vehicles 25 years old or older;

• These are exempt from FMVSS and EPA.
• Proof of the vehicles age, from the registration documents, are required.
• Import duty will need to be paid, except if the vehicle is considered an antique.

If you would like more details on shipping your car or motorbike when you are moving to the USA, take a look at the Autoshippers website, who are our sister company and have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to shipping a car or motorbike to the USA.

We have international removals services to all main US ports, such as New York, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami. From these ports we have International removals delivery services throughout the USA, including Chicago, San Diego, Dallas, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Detroit, and all other States and Cities throughout the country. If you can find a home there, we can get your household goods there!

• New York: The largest city in the USA, and a global centre for finance, arts, media and culture. New York City is composed of the five boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island. It is known globally for its iconic skyline, diverse neighbourhoods and world-famous attractions.
• Los Angeles: The second-largest city in the USA, located in Southern California, LA is a major entertainment and cultural centre, home of the renowned Hollywood film industry as well as prestigious museums and performing arts venues. Its warm climate attracts many visitors all year-round.
• Houston: The fourth-largest city in the USA and the largest in the state of Texas. It’s a major hub for the energy industry as well as aerospace, transportation and healthcare sectors. Houston is also renowned for its diverse culinary scene influenced by its multicultural population.
• Miami: A major coastal city in Southeastern Florida, known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, cultural diversity and art deco architecture. Miami serves as a global gateway, especially to Latin America and the Caribbean, with a thriving business community.

When your belongings arrive in the USA after shipping from the UK with 1st Move International, our trusted agent will be in contact with you to arrange Customs clearance through U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Before your personal effects and household goods have left the UK, your 1st Move International Move Manager will assist you in completing all the necessary paperwork that is required to clear your shipment, and the paperwork is shared with the US Customs Broker. This means that they have all details in advance to assist with a speedy clearance through US Customs.

Once cleared, the agent will coordinate the delivery on your preferred date, which includes, if applicable, the delivery of your goods into your home and the removals of any packing debris.

To handle Customs clearance for international removals shipments to the USA, you need to enlist the help of a licensed Customs broker, who is regulated by the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP). To become a licensed Customs broker, an individual needs to pass an examination.

All Customs brokers that 1st Move International partner with are fully licensed with many years of experience in moving household goods into the USA. They can assist you with the Customs process and ensure that your personal effects are cleared correctly, and as quickly as possible.

All paperwork that is required for Customs clearance is provided at the time of booking with us, and this is completed, with our help, before your shipment departs from the UK.

We have further information on our Customs Guide for Personal Effects Shipping to the USA, and our Move Managers are happy to help with any questions that you have regarding the Customs process.

If you are moving to the USA as a permanent residence (immigrant) with a valid visa, you do not need to pay duty on your personal effects and household goods, provided you meet certain requirements set by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The main requirements are;

• You must have owned and used the goods abroad for at least one year before your move
• The goods are for your personal use and not for any commercial purposes
• You import the goods within one year of your arrival date in the U.S. as an immigrant

There are some exceptions where duty may still apply, such as new items, alcohol or tobacco products above personal exemption limits and motor vehicles.

1st Move International are partnered with approved Customs brokers in the USA, who we have had strong ties with for many years. There are a number of experienced and licensed Customs brokers at our disposal, depending on where in the USA you are moving to, and we will give you full contact details once your shipment has departed from the UK, as well as providing them with your details and documentation in advance of the shipment's arrival into the USA.

Customs brokers in the USA are licensed and regulated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and to become a licensed broker you must pass an examination. All Customs brokers that we partner with are fully licensed, and have many years experience with the importation of household goods into the USA.

Yes, aided by our trusted partners in the USA, including fully licensed Customs brokers, 1st Move International can offer a full door to door international removals service from the UK to the USA.

This includes collection from any address in mainland UK, full palletised packing using our unique shrink-fast process, Customs clearance, all required shipping documentation, shipping from the UK to your preferred port in the USA and import handling, clearance and delivery to your address in the USA.

1st Move International and our trusted partners are with you every step of the way.

Your US Customs paperwork (Customs form 3299) must include details of the flight number and date that you arrived in the USA when you moved there. This means that you need to arrive in the USA before your personal effects and household goods do, or they cannot be cleared through Customs.

With 1st Move International partnering with a fully licensed Customs broker, you do not need to physically visit Customs in person to clear your personal effects shipment, as this is handled on your behalf using the paperwork you completed before the goods departed from the UK.

So, you need to be able to prove that you have arrived in the USA before your goods have, but do not physically need to be in the country when the goods are being cleared through US Customs.