A comprehensive guide to shipping Costs to Canada from the UK. This article explains all you need to know to get a good quote if you’re moving to Canada.
Moving to Canada? Do you need to know how much it costs to ship to Canada or want to know how to get the cheapest shipping to Canada? Then read on!
Canada remains one of the most popular countries to move to and no wonder since it ranks number one in the world for quality of life. But after making the easy decision to move to Canada you next want to organise your shipping and get an idea of shipping costs to Canada.
Jump To Canada Shipping Costs Table
This guide will give an estimate on the price of shipping a container or part container to Canada and also detail the other costs involved that may not be part of your main quote. We will also talk about the cost of shipping boxes and why it may be actually cheaper to ship boxes by air freight rather than by sea.
As Canada is such a big country costs can vary considerably so call our team to get a more reliable quote or estimate for your circumstances.
The additional charges and exclusions outlined below are industry standard and typical to whichever shipping company you use, not just PSS International Removals. It is important that you discuss these with your Account Manager so you have a clear idea which apply to your shipment. For answers to ost of your questions you can also read our comprehensive Guide to Shipping to Canada from the UK.
International Removal Costs and Prices to Canada for 2020
Removals Quote Quote For Shipping Boxes / Luggage
International Shipping Costs & Removal Prices to Canada for 2019
Household Container Shipping Rates to Canada From the UK
The prices listed here are based on the contents of an average UK property and include delivery to the specified city or location. The cost of shipping to west coast and central locations can differ significantly to the east coast due to the extra distances involved.
Move Size
|
UK to Canada
|
| 5 Boxes* | £355 – £769 |
| 10 Boxes* | £505 – £1069 |
| Student Move (100 cubic feet) |
£920 – £1285 |
| Student Flat (250 cubic feet) |
£1500 – £2189 |
| 1 Bed Flat (500 cubic feet) |
£2850 – £3971 |
| 2 Bed Flat (500 – 750 cubic feet)** |
£2850 – £5525 |
| 3 Bed House (20 ft container) |
£4370 – £4869 |
| 4+ Bed House (40 ft container) |
£5866 – £6986 |
*Box shipping prices are for self-pack
**Any rates above 700 cubic feet are best being sent in a sole use container as this is more cost effective than groupage. All our groupage shipments for Canada will go through Toronto, Ontario where they will then be cleared and onward delivery will take place from there.
Removals Quote Quote For Shipping Boxes / Luggage
NB: The shipping prices and rates listed above are approximate shipping costs to Canada for 2019. For more accurate prices, please contact PSS for a quote (see removals to Canada).
Many websites list port-to-port costs for shipping containers to Canada. These can significantly underestimate the actual costs for non-commercial users. The prices listed here are for a full door-to-door removals service aimed at people shipping their personal effects.
These prices differ depending which region of Canada you are shipping to. It’s naturally cheaper to ship to the main ports than to outlying areas. See below for example rates for shipping to Toronto, Vancouver and Halifax.
How long does shipping take from UK to Canada?
Average Sea Freight Shipping Times From UK to Canada
Destination |
Full Container |
Shared Container |
| Toronto, Ontario | 2-5 weeks | 5-9 weeks |
| Halifax, Nova Scotia | 2-6 weeks | 5-9 weeks |
| Vancouver, British Columbia | 3-6 weeks | 5-9 weeks |
Sea Freight Costs to East Coast and West Coast Cities
Sea Freight Shipping & Removals Costs From UK to Toronto, Ontario 2020
Move Size
|
UK to Toronto, Ontario
|
| 5 Boxes* | £355 |
| 10 Boxes* | £505 |
| Student Move (100 cubic feet) |
£920 |
| Student Flat (250 cubic feet) |
£1500 |
| 1 Bed Flat (500 cubic feet) |
£2850 |
| 2 Bed Flat (750 cubic feet)** |
£4590 |
| 3 Bed House (20 ft container) |
£4869 |
| 4+ Bed House (40 ft container) |
£6986 |
*Box shipping prices are for self-pack
**For volumes over 700 cubic feet it usually more cost effective to have a sole use container
Sea Freight Shipping & Removals Costs From UK to Vancouver, British Columbia 2020
Move Size
|
UK to Vancouver, BC
|
| 5 Boxes* | £555 |
| 10 Boxes* | £830 |
| Student Move (100 cubic feet) |
£1170 |
| Student Flat (250 cubic feet) |
£2170 |
| 1 Bed Flat (500 cubic feet) |
£3891 |
| 2 Bed Flat (750 cubic feet)** |
£4566 |
| 3 Bed House (20 ft container) |
£4566 |
| 4+ Bed House (40 ft container) |
£5997 |
*Box shipping prices are for self-pack
**For volumes over 700 cubic feet it usually more cost effective to have a sole use container
Sea Freight Shipping & Removals Costs From UK to Halifax, Nova Scotia (Atlantic Provinces) 2020
Move Size
|
UK to Halifax, Nova Scotia
|
| 5 Boxes* | £769 |
| 10 Boxes* | £1060 |
| Student Move (100 cubic feet) |
£920 |
| Student Flat (250 cubic feet) |
£1500 |
| 1 Bed Flat (500 cubic feet) |
£2850 |
| 2 Bed Flat (750 cubic feet)** |
£4590 |
| 3 Bed House (20 ft container) |
£4566 |
| 4+ Bed House (40 ft container) |
£5997 |
*Box shipping prices are for self-pack
**For volumes over 700 cubic feet it usually more cost effective to have a sole use container
Removals Quote Quote For Shipping Boxes / Luggage
Guide to Canada Shipping Costs
Cost of Sending Boxes / Excess Baggage to Canada From the UK
Excess Baggage and box shipping services are ideal for shipping smaller quantities of items / luggage. Large items such as furniture will require a removals service.
The prices below include self-packing although professional packing services are available. Costs per box decline as the quantity or volume shipped increases.
Boxes are based on standard shipping tea cartons, measuring 51 x 40 x 61 cm (4.4 cubic feet), weighing no more than 30 kg each.
Cost of Air Freight to Canada
Because of the unique nature of shipping to some destinations in Canada, it can often be actually more cost effective to ship smaller quantities by air to the nearest city (the cost of railroad or trucking fees from the seaport to your final destination may outweigh any savings from sea freight).
Our advisers will be able to give you the best quote based on your circumstances. Even if air freight is not cheaper, the cost difference compared to how much time you save may make it worthwhile.
Cost of Sending Parcels to Canada
Shipping small parcels to Canada can be done quite cheaply via Royal Mail. For example a small 2 kg parcel can be posted for less than £20 by air mail. But 2 kg is the maximum size – for larger parcels they recommend Parcel Force and the costs very quickly become too expensive. Therefore is you are moving to Canada or plan to stay for a longer period, specialist box shipping services to Canada as offered by PSS International are a very attractive option.
Canada Major Container Terminals and Ports
The following are some of the main container shipping ports in Canada. The cost of delivery may increase if your final destination is more than 30 miles from the port / container terminal. Costs can vary between ports. In Canada, goods can be shipped to inland container terminals rather than to a coastal sea port.
Groupage Shipments (shared container loads) from Toronto are railed or trucked over to their final destination for delivery to residence by local teams.
FCL Shipments (Full Container Loads) will arrive at the nearest port of entry either on a direct call or via another port of entry such as Montreal. Most inland ports will travel via Montreal (Edmonton, Saskatoon, Calgary & Toronto) and are then railed from the terminal to our agent’s bonded warehouses.
Some of the main Canadian Seaports and Container terminals include:
Toronto (CA TOR) – Ontario
Halifax (CA HAL) – Nova Scotia
Montreal (CA MTR) – Quebec
Saskatoon (CA SAK) – Saskatchewan
Edmonton (CA EDM) – Alberta
Calgary (CA CAL) – Alberta
Vancouver (CA VAN) – British Columbia
The Port of Prince Rupert (CA PRR) – British Columbia
Shipments and containers to the west of Canada may be shipped through the Panama Canal to Vancouver or The Port of Prince Rupert. However, sometimes it is cheaper to ship them to the east coast and then railroad them across the country.
Your Account Manager will advise on the cheapest and most cost-effective route for your shipping to Canada.
Getting an Accurate Shipping Quote or Estimate
Your shipping costs will be based on the volume (cubic feet) that you ship. It is important therefore to get an accurate quote based on what you want to send.
The best way to do this is through an estimator visiting your house, although now some shipping companies like PSS offer video surveys via a mobile app, or online calculators where you list what you wish to send.
Check everything you need to ship. Don’t forget hidden cupboards, attics, sheds, garages and anything stored at another site – it all adds up
Additional Volume:
If you need to take extra items not included in your original quotation it will likely increase the amount you need to pay. However, if you reduce your volume your shipping estimate may decrease.
Costs for Shipping Personal Effects and Household Goods
This article assumes you are moving to Canada and shipping household or personal effects. You will therefore be less liable to pay taxes and other charges. Household goods and personal effects include everything from furniture and clothes to bicycles, golf clubs and other used personal items.
For new items and commercial goods, other conditions, duties and costs may apply.
What’s Included in the Price for International Removals?
The price estimates quoted here are based on a full international removals service to various locations in Canada. This service is designed for people moving overseas or shipping personal effects and is much more comprehensive than using a freight forwarder or shipping port to port.
- Door-to-door service (including pick up and delivery)
- Professional export standard packing materials and cartons.
- Use of reliable, regulated shipping lines such as Ocean Network Express (ONE), Maersk, Hapag Lloyd and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).
- Advice & assistance with completing forms, & other paperwork.
- Customs inventory – numbering and listing of all packages.
- UK & destination Port/Terminal handling charges.
- Ocean freight to arrival vessel destination port.
- Customs Clearance, haulage of container and unloading.
- Some Storage may be included in UK or Canada.
- Delivery of household effects to the residence, unwrapping and removal of packing materials (assumes good access and not above the first floor).
Cost of Car and Vehicle Shipping to Canada
There are two main methods for shipping cars to Canada – in a shipping container or using a RORO (Roll-On-Roll-Off) service. If you are shipping other household goods it’s worth seeing if you can save money by shipping them in the same container.
Cars, bikes, motor homes, caravans, motorbikes, boats can all to be shipped to Canada. Some vehicles, especially motor homes and caravans, may be too wide or tall to fit in a shipping container and will need to be shipped RORO.
There are restrictions on what cars and other vehicles can be shipped to Canada from the UK. You will need to check that your vehicle meets these criteria.
For a quote and full details of the costs of shipping and importing vehicles to Canada, please click here to visit our car shipping page or call our advisers on 020 8686 7733.
Get A Quote For Car & Vehicle Shipping To Canada
Cheapest Shipping to Canada – Warning
We have noticed that some shipping companies give misleading quotes for cheap shipping to Canada. If you receive an estimate that seems very cheap compared to other shipping company quotes, please check carefully what is included.
We have frequently come across people who have been given a port-to-port price rather than a door-to-door price – which is not particularly helpful considering the large inland distances in Canada!
“Why is it so expensive to ship to Canada?”
Canada is very large (in fact the second largest country in the world after Russia). This means that shipping costs can be higher as goods are transferred from ship to road / rail freight.
Most reputable shipping and international removal companies will have fairly similar costs and estimates. Cheap shipping quotes may look attractive on the surface but often have hidden costs or shortcuts which could put your belongings at risk.
Main Reasons For Cheap Shipping Quotes For Canada Can Include:
- Port-to-port rather than door-to-door delivery. A price for shipping to Toronto is not helpful if you’re final destination is Winnepeg!
- Your quote is not for a full removals service including packing, customs clearance, delivery etc.
- The shipping company are using low cost shipping lines which may be cheaper but your belongings are at greater risk of delays, damages or even loss.
- Unacceptable lower grade packing materials or not professionally packed.
- Some charges & fees added on as extra so the headline quote looks cheap.
- Removal/shipping company is not BAR or FIDI regulated.
- The quote is cheaper as it does not include customs clearance and handling.
- Unregulated or unreliable agents used at destination.
Why Canada Shipping Estimates Vary
The shipping quotation you are given is an estimate and your final invoice may be different for a number of reasons.
This is the case with all shipping companies as much can change between receiving your quote and your actual moving or shipping day.
Final shipping costs can change due to:
- Exchange rate fluctuations.
- Additional items being added that were not included in the original quotation.
- Increases in port/shipping fees and other charges in between receiving your estimate and your actual departure.
- Varying costs and charges for different ports and shipping lines.
- Seasonal variations (time of year).
Getting a Discount On Your Shipping to Canada.
Being flexible or planning your move date can help get a lower price on your shipping/move costs. During peak season, costs are likely to be higher and in quieter periods shipping companies may offer discounts and promotions to help fill containers.
Quantity discounts are also available, so it could well be cheaper for you to ship more of your belongings rather than buy everything new in Canada where they may be expensive to replace.
What’s Not Included In Your Quote – Additional Charges and Fees
There are a number of additional charges and fees that are the responsibility of you as the owner rather than the removals / shipping company and these are not included in standard quotes. Some fees and charges will need to be paid separately at your destination.
- Customs fees, duties and other charges payable to Government bodies (see below).
- Wooden crates and antique wrapping for delicate items if required.
- Additional charges for difficult access, e.g. above the first floor or if a shuttle service is needed to transport belongings from your house to the container.
- Additional storage time in the UK or at the destination before delivery.
- Shipment protection cover/insurance.
- Parking permits, charges or associated fees for suspension /dispensation in order to facilitate removal in the UK or delivery at destination.
Customs Duties, Taxes and Other Fees
Canadian customs duties and import taxes are the responsibility of the person shipping and will need to be paid separately to Canadian Customs, although the local shipping agent at your destination port may handle these for you.
Fortunately many people including immigrants, returning Canadians, students and even people on work and visitor visas can ship household goods and personal effects to Canada duty free. However, some restrictions apply and customs regulations are subject to change so we suggest you check that you have the most up to date information.
A FIDI Guide to Canadian Customs is available here.
If you don’t meet the criteria for household effects or your goods are deemed commercial imports then customs duties and tax may apply. The Canadian Government website provides more details here.
Marine Container Examination Process Costs and Fees
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) select a small number of containers for inspection and in the unlikely event of yours being chosen, you may be required to pay any costs incurred. More details can be found here.
Shipment Protection and Maritime Insurance
How Much Does Shipment Protection or Insurance Cost to Canada?
Shipping companies, like PSS, who are members of BAR, are covered by the Advance Payment Guarantee scheme. Although this guarantees the payment and cost of removal in the rare event that your removal company cannot complete your move, you should also consider protection for your belongings.
Shipment protection and insurance costs vary between companies and depending on whether it is self-packed or packed by the shipping/removals company.
Self-packed tends to be higher as it is not packed by professional packers.
Expect to pay anything from 3% to 7% of the total value of your goods.
(Some removals companies will allow you to select which particular items you wish to cover so this can save you significantly on your insurance costs).
Get a Quote For Shipping To Canada From the UK
If you are moving to Canada, PSS International Removals will be happy to help. Over the last 36 years we have helped thousands of people and families to move or ship belongings to Canada. No matter whether you are a first time migrant or a Canadian returning home, PSS can offer you the best prices on shipping for household removals, boxes of personal effects and also cars.
Canada is one of our top shipping destinations. Due to our years of experience and the high volumes we ship, we are able to offer our customers the best service at the lowest prices.
To get an estimate or quote call the PSS team on 020 8686 7733.
For more information or to get an online quote:
Get A House Removals Quote For Canada Get A Quote For Shipping Boxes / Excess Baggage To Canada Get A Quote For Car & Vehicle Shipping To CanadaSpectacular View of the Port of Vancouver
Port of Halifax, Nova Scotia – Shipping Containers
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