Shipping Furniture UK to Canada

Yes, you can easily ship furniture, household goods and other personal belongings from the UK to Canada using a removals company such as 1st Move International.

The main method of shipping furniture to Canada is by sea freight (container shipping). You can choose between full container or shared container shipping, depending on how much you need to ship.

Air freight shipping is also an option if you need your belongings to arrive much faster, however, we generally recommend sea freight as it is a much more cost-effective option.

To learn more about the process, our unbeatable packing and fast weekly shipping, simply request a free quote today or get in touch.

Here is a quick overview of the furniture shipping process to Canada:

• Request a quote: Start by requesting a free quote on our website or contacting our team. We will provide you with a detailed estimate for your shipment as well as important information you need to know to ensure a smooth shipping process.
• Book your shipment: If you are happy with your quote, use our booking form or get in touch to book your shipment with us. Once booked, your move manager will be in touch to get the process started and arrange a suitable collection date.
• Collection & packing: Once your belongings have been collected and transported back to our warehouse, our team of experienced and professional packers will expertly pack your items using our safer packing techniques. Our unique packing offers the best protection for your furniture and personal effects and allows us to ship out on a weekly basis using consolidated container shipping services.
• Paperwork: In the meantime, your move manager will be in touch to help you with any required paperwork and customs formalities to ensure a smooth shipment.
• Shipping: As soon as your shipment is packed it will be booked onto the next available weekly ship headed for Canada. Once your shipment is on board the ship, we will send you your unique container number and the name of the vessel so that you can track your shipment to Canada in real time.
• Arrival & customs clearance: On arrival, your shipment will be off-loaded from the shipping vessel and cleared by customs in Canada. Our experienced team will make sure that everything is in place to ensure that customs clearance goes without a hitch.
• Delivery: Once your items are cleared and released, you can either collect them from the port yourself or we can deliver your shipment to a chosen address in Canada.

Please see our furniture shipping guide for more tips and information how to ship furniture overseas safely. We also have useful guides on shipping to Canada such as our Canadian Customs guide for Personal Effects, and our blog post on how to import belongings when moving to Canada.

Whether it is worth shipping furniture to Canada depends on several factors. If you are moving to Canada and looking to ship your belongings then you may want to consider the cost of shipping versus the cost to replace any items in Canada. If you have furniture and other items that are of high value, hard to replace or hold sentimental value then shipping is definitely worth it. On the other hand, any bulky items that can be easily replaced may not be worth the shipping cost. Ultimately, it’s up to you to weigh up the costs and decide whether shipping your furniture is worthwhile

The average cost to ship furniture and personal belongings to Canada starts from £980 for a small shipment via shared container and from £3,900 for a full container shipment. Your final cost will depend on the size/volume of your shipment, required services and your destination in Canada.

To receive a free, tailored quote for your shipment simply fill out the quick quote form on this page or get in touch with a member of our team today.

Alternatively, speak to one of our shipping experts live on our website and we'll be happy to help.

The cheapest way to ship furniture to Canada is using our shared container shipping service. This service allows you to only pay the container space that you need and is the most cost-effective option when shipping furniture, household items and personal belongings overseas.

De-clutter: When it comes to shipping, size matters. To save money on your shipping costs, be selective about what you decide to ship. Avoid shipping items that do not hold sentimental value or are cheap/easy to replace in Canada.

Packing: Where possible, you can opt to pack certain items yourself in order to save on packing costs. Our team will be happy to let you know what items you can pack yourself and which items may require professional packing. Please note that items that you pack yourself may not be covered by insurance for damages.

Space Hacks: Unused space inside of draws or household goods such as washing machines can be used to hold smaller items. Make sure to be as efficient as possible when packing in order to reduce the total volume of your shipment. Our packers are experts at making the most of the space when professionally packing furniture and household goods.

Insurance: Shipping insurance is another cost you can potentially save some money on. Marine shipping insurance covers your items during transit, however you may not need to insure everything if the cost of insurance is a concern. Insurance is best suited for high value, beloved and fragile items. Sturdy items will be more resilient to any knocks or bumps in transit, and provided that everything is packed correctly it is unlikely that these will be susceptible to damage.

Wood: Wooden items that are more than 1.5cm thick and that contain bark may require a phytosanitary certificate to ensure that they don’t harbor any pests. Untreated or unprocessed wood may also be subject to inspection and fumigation. Our team will highlight any items of concern and can provide expert advice on any items in particular that you are unsure of.

Antiques: Antiques or artwork may require special permits or documentation in order to import into Canada. Again, our team will be happy to advise on this.

Upholstered Furniture: Items containing certain types of fillings (e.g. animal-based stuffing) may require additional certification to ensure that they meet Canadian standards for pest control.

Restricted Items: Certain items, such as furniture containing ivory, exotic animal skins or other materials from endangered species are restricted under national conventions and Canadian law.

Prohibited Items: Items that contain hazardous materials or flammable substances are prohibited. For a full list of prohibited and restricted items, please visit the Government of Canada website.

Safety Standards & Labeling: All items must comply with Canadian labeling and safety standards. For example, upholstered furniture must meet fire safety regulations. It is likely that items produced in the UK already meet these standards, however older items and antiques might not, so it’s always best to check.

The team at 1st Move International are experts on all regulations and restrictions when shipping furniture and personal belongings to Canada. We're happy to help if you have any questions or concerns.

Several factors influence the cost of shipping furniture to Canada. These include:

Volume: Your shipment will be charged on the total packed volume of your goods. The smaller your shipment, the lower the cost.

Shipping Method: Your chosen shipping method will ultimately affect the final price of your shipment. Container shipping is the most cost-effective, whereas air freight shipping is the most expensive.

Required Services: Additional services such as packing, storage and collection/delivery will factor into your final cost.

Duties & Taxes: You may have to pay duty on new/unused items. Any items that are used can be imported duty free. See the Government of Canada’s webpage for bringing goods to Canada for more detailed information.

Value of Items: If you choose to insure any items for shipping, the value of these items will determine the cost to insure.

Yes, we offer a 10% discount to any customers who book within 7 days of receiving their quote.

We also offer all students and Alumni a 10% discount on shipping costs. Simply provide a copy of your NUS card at the time of booking and we will discount our standard shipping rate by 10%.

The typical transit time for furniture shipments to Canada ranges from 10 to 30 days depending on your destination. Below are examples of expected transit times from the UK to Canada:

• Montreal: 10 days
• Toronto: 12 days
• Vancouver: 30 days

Please see our Canada container shipping schedule for more information.

As registered customs brokers, the team at 1st Move International will handle all customs formalities and requirements on your behalf. You will be informed of all paperwork and documentation required and our expert move managers will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

We also provide a wealth of information on our website, including a detailed customs guide for shipping personal effects into Canada which outlines the process, paperwork and anything else you may need to be aware of.

Yes, you can track your shipment as soon as it leaves the United Kingdom. We will provide you with a unique container tracking number and the name of the vessel, allowing you to track your shipment in real time using our container tracking tool.

We generally recommend insuring any high value or hard to replace items for your peace of mind. Our packing offers the best protection for your items during shipping, however it is better to be covered in the unlikely event of an item being damaged.

We provide three tiers of marine insurance cover to suit your budget.

Yes, you can ship your antiques, high-value furniture, and paintings to Canada, and many of these items can be imported duty-free. For items produced more than 50 years ago, including those over 100 years old, we’ll ensure they are properly classified to take advantage of any duty-free status. Simply provide us with detailed information about your items, including their age and value.

We will take care of the customs regulations, documentation, and help with any necessary permits. Our team will also handle professional packing and crating to ensure your valuables are offered the best protection during transit. Additionally, we recommend comprehensive insurance coverage for your peace of mind.

Shipping large or bulky furniture items requires special care, and we handle everything to ensure they arrive safely. Our process begins with a thorough assessment to determine the best packing and shipping methods. We use high-quality packing materials to protect your furniture during transit and even custom crates, if necessary.

Rest assured, with over 25 years of experience in shipping to Canada, we’ve seen it all and can handle shipments of any large or bulky furniture items that you wish to ship to Canada.

Yes, as an international removals company we specialise in packing and shipping all manner of household items and personal belongings overseas. If you need to ship any other personal items alongside your furniture, we’ve got you covered.

No, there’s no need to disassemble any furniture yourself. Our experienced staff will disassemble any necessary items upon collection or back at our warehouse facilities when professionally packing your items.

On arrival of your furniture shipment to Canada, our trusted agent in Canada will be in contact with you to assist with Customs clearance and to book your delivery. You will be provided with their contact details when your goods have left the UK.

Once your shipment has been released by Customs, you can either collect your shipment yourself or delivery in Canada can be arranged through a local agent. 1st Move International and our trusted agents will be available for assistance throughout the entire process.

Yes. Once collected, we offer free storage up to your UK shipping date. We typically estimate around 7 to 12 days from the time of collection from your home to the scheduled shipping date. We may charge in the event that you prefer a later shipping date and require us to store your shipment for longer.

Yes, we offer a full door-to-door furniture shipping service to Canada. We offer daily nationwide collections in the United Kingdom and after arrival in Canada we can arrange onward delivery to your door using our trusted agents.

speak to one of our shipping experts live on our website, give us a call on 0117 982 8123 or email us at sales@shipit.co.uk

For a free tailored quote simply complete the quick quote form on our website and we’ll get back to you with everything you need to know.