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Heading to the Land Down Under? Read on the ins and outs of shipping costs and times, as well as how to prepare for shipping household goods to Australia.
On average, the price to ship a 20ft container comes out to around $12,000, and $25,000 for a 40ft shipping container to Australia.
Here we’ve compiled typical price ranges from several major American cities for sea freight to Australia:
| Origin | 20-foot container | 40-foot container |
| New York | $ 12,000 – $ 13,500 | $ 24,000 – $ 26,000 |
| Chicago | $ 16,000 – $ 18,000 | $ 30,000 – $ 34,000 |
| Los Angeles | $ 4,400 – $ 4,700 | $ 8,000 – $ 9,000 |
| Houston | $ 11,000 – $ 13,000 | $ 22,000 – $ 25,000 |
| Seattle | $ 6,000 – $ 7,000 | $ 12,000 – $ 13,000 |
| Miami | $ 12,000 – $ 14,000 | $ 23,000 – $ 25,000 |
*Disclaimer: Please be aware that these ranges are merely estimates. Rates for a shipping container to Australia regularly fluctuate per season and carrier.
Keep in mind that several factors play into the container shipping rates, with the two main contributing factors being the size – the shipping container dimensions come in a few standard sizes, 20ft and 40ft – and the distance of your move.
Save some money on shipping by sharing a container with others! You’ll only pay for the space your items occupy, so this option could be convenient if you just want to ship a few belongings.
🤔 Have a tough time figuring out how much container space you need? No worries! Our handy Moving Space Calculator will get you to an approximate shipping volume in just a few clicks.
Estimate My VolumeFind out the best companies to ship to Australia below! Compare services, quotes, and reviews to hire the movers who suit best your needs.
We also know how time-consuming researching for a moving company can be. To make this easy, you can complete the following form and receive up to five free quotes from reliable, trustworthy movers.
As we saw, there are a range of options available to tailor your shipment to your needs, convenience, and budget:
If you’re wondering how much is on average to ship your personal items to Australia, check it out here:
| Bedroom Size | Average Cost |
| Studio | $2,000 – $3,000 |
| 1 Bedroom House | $3,000 – $4,000 |
| 2 Bedrooms House | $4,000 – $6,000 |
| 3 Bedrooms House | $6,000 – $8,000 |
| 4 Bedrooms House | $8,000 – $10,000 |
*Disclaimer: Please be aware that these ranges are merely estimates. Rates for a shipping container to Australia regularly fluctuate per season and carrier.
As we mentioned already, there are two standard container sizes, a 20ft and a 40ft container. In truth, there is a third size, a 40ft tall container which adds a bit of extra headroom.
A 20ft container has a volume of 33 m3 or 1,179 ft3. 40ft containers range from 66 m3 to 76 m3 (2,330 ft3 – 2684 ft3), depending on if it is extra tall.
Because there are only two options, there is not much thinking to which you should choose. The real thinking comes when we are just over the recommended volume, which calls for a bit of downsizing.
Tips on DownsizingDepending on your delivery preferences, your bottom line might inflate or deflate. When shipping household goods to Australia, you can choose whether this means you get your items delivered to your new home or collect them from the port.
😲 You can combine these for a Door-to-Port move or (less commonly) a Port-to-Door move. The combinations seem endless, don’t they?
There are many places in the world where you can get by without a car… and Australia is not one of them! Australia’s wide-open spaces will be reminiscent of the American terrain we are so accustomed to, so we can imagine you’d like to bring your car along.
Bear in mind, though, that Australians drive on the left side of the road, meaning that you might prefer a car with a steering wheel on the correct side!
| City of Origin | Shipping Cost |
| New York | $ 15,000 – $ 20,000 |
| Chicago | $ 19,000 – $ 25,000 |
| Los Angeles | $ 7,000 – $ 11,000 |
| Houston | $ 14,000 – $ 20,000 |
| Seattle | $ 9,000 – $ 13,500 |
| Miami | $ 15,000 – $ 20,000 |
*Disclaimer: Please be aware that these ranges are merely estimates. Rates for a shipping container to Australia regularly fluctuate per season and carrier.
While moving is no small undertaking, it can certainly be said that moving overseas is quite the doozy. To prepare, we have selected our best-recommended tips for your journey:
✅ Create a comprehensive packing list: Not only will it help you to know what you brought, but you might need to share this information with your moving company for insurance reasons. In addition, if your container is held for inspection at customs, having a clear inventory will help speed the process along!
✅ Protective packaging is your friend: Moving is a business bound with damaged goods. Your goods need to be trucked to a port, and unloaded to be trucked to their final destination. The added steps in between mean that splurging on the good bubble wrap might be a wise investment!
✅ Don’t leave before the bon voyage: The last thing you want to hear when relaxing on the beach on the Gold Coast is that there is a problem with your container. We strongly advise that you do not board a plane until your cargo ship has left the port.
We hope that by now you feel like a logistics mastermind as you gear up your move to Australia. While not necessarily household knowledge, making these arrangements will be a critical part of your shipping household items to Australia.
Need further assistance with your move? Then check out the other useful articles linked below and the FAQs for further reading. Good luck!
