International Furniture Shipping

Yes, you can ship furniture overseas from the UK to almost all worldwide destinations. Whether shipping just a few items or the entire contents of your home/office, we've got you covered. Please note that each country has different rules when it comes to duty/tax on used personal effects. In some cases, such as with the USA, as long as you have proof of residence you do not need to pay duty on your personal effects.

For detailed information on customs, please see our customs guides for shipping personal effects to:

• Australia
• Canada
• Cayman Islands
• Dubai
• Malta
• New Zealand
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• South Africa
• United States

Whether it is worth shipping furniture to another will depend on your circumstances. Factors such as; the cost to replace each item, the cost of shipping, the sentimental value of your furniture/belongings and availability in your destination country all play a part in your decision. Shipping high value or sentimental items can often be more cost-effective and likely the preferable choice compared to replacing them abroad. Likewise, any items that are unique or hard to replace will also be worth shipping. On the other hand, items that are easy to replace and that are not of high value may be worth leaving behind if you wish to save on shipping costs.

The cost to ship furniture abroad varies greatly depending on your exact destination, the size and value of your shipment and your required service. As a very rough guide, here are some example shipping costs for a medium-sized shipment using our shared container service:

• Australia: From £1,100
• Canada: From £1,264
• Dubai, UAE: From £1,298
• United States of America: From £1,584
• New Zealand: From £1,284

How long it takes to ship your furniture overseas will depend on your destination country. Here are some example transit times to popular destinations:

• Melbourne, Australia: 45 days
• Montreal, Canada: 10 days
• Limassol, Cyprus: 16 days
• New York, USA: 12 days
• Auckland, New Zealand: 44 days
• Dubai, UAE: 21 days

Yes, you can ship anqitues and fragile items overseas including artwork and other collectible items. There may be some additional considerations and requirements that you need to be aware of depending on your destination country. Our knowledgeable team will be able to guide you through the process and will keep you informed throughout the journey.

We offer bespoke crating services for high value and fragile items and we provide full marine insurance cover for your peace of mind.

While we provide the safest packing methods for shipments of furniture and personal effects, we still strongly recommend that you have sufficient insurance cover in place.

Marine shipping insurance covers you against the unlikely event of potential damage or loss of goods throughout the shipping process. Without insurance, you may not be covered for the cost of these items.

Yes, you can track your shipment of furniture and personal effects from the moment it leaves the United Kingdom. As soon as your shipment is loaded onto the vessel, we wil provide you with the name of the vessel and a unique container tracking number for your container. This allows you to track the shipment in real time using our container tracking tool.

In general, the documentation that is required to ship furniture overseas includes an inventory list, proof of ownership and a copy of your passport. You may also need to provide a visa or a work permit of applicable, as well as any specific customs forms required for your destination country. Requirements can vary significantly from country to country, however our experienced team at 1st Move International will guide you through the necessary paperwork and handle all customs formalities on your behalf.

We also provide a wealth of information on documentation and customs for popular destinations. Please see our customs guides below for more info:

• Australia
• Canada
• Cayman Islands
• Dubai
• Malta
• New Zealand
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• South Africa
• United States

Yes, we offer free storage up to your shipping date from the UK. As soon as your shipment is packed and ready to go, we will give you the exact date on which your shipment is scheduled to leave the UK.