Shipping Rates from the UK

Freight pricing has a reputation for being opaque, and it does not need to be. Ocean and air rates move with fuel, currency and the balance of trade on a lane, so nobody can publish a fixed price list that stays true for a year. What we can do is show you the shape of a quotation, which charges exist, who levies them, and roughly what they cost , so nothing on your invoice is a surprise.

How to compare worldwide shipping rates

Use the finder above to compare vehicle, container and air freight costs for any of our198 destinations. The same shipment changes price with size, weight, method, route and available carrier space. Nearer markets are usually lower, while long-haul and landlocked destinations include more handling or onward transport.

What is normally included

A standard port-to-port quotation includes the ocean or air freight itself, the UK terminal handling charge, the export customs entry and the bill of lading or air waybill release. Add-ons priced separately are UK collection, loading and bracing at our facility, marine insurance, out-of-gauge surcharges and any inspection or fumigation certificate your destination demands.

What is charged at the destination

Destination terminal handling, import customs clearance, duty and local taxes, port storage after free time, quarantine inspection and inland delivery are payable in the destination country and are almost never included in a UK freight price. Duty in particular varies enormously, some markets charge under 10% of the CIF value, others more than 80% on a used car. We will give you an indication and put you in touch with a licensed local agent.

Five things that change your price

Volume and weight, sea freight is priced on cubic metres, air on the greater of actual and volumetric weight.
Method, RoRo is cheaper than a container for a running car; groupage is cheaper than a full box under 12 cbm.
Season, space in the summer removals peak and before Chinese New Year costs more.
Routing, a direct sailing costs more than a transhipment but saves a week or more.
Door versus port, collection and destination delivery are the two lines most commonly left out of a cheap-looking quote.

Rates by destination

Surcharges you may see on a freight invoice

BAF / bunker adjustment tracks fuel; CAF covers currency movement; THC is terminal handling at each end; ISPS is a fixed security levy; war risk applies on certain lanes; congestion is levied when a port is running behind. On air freight, fuel and security surcharges are quoted per kilo of chargeable weight. We show each of these as its own line so you can see exactly what moved when a rate changes.

How we price a vehicle

A running car on RoRo is priced on lane metres, length multiplied by width, plus a height step for anything above roughly 1.8 metres. A vehicle in a container is priced on the box, so two or three cars sharing a 40ft high cube can work out cheaper per unit than RoRo. Non-runners attract a winching or forklift charge at both ends.

How we price sea and air cargo

LCL groupage is charged on the greater of one cubic metre or one tonne, with a minimum of one revenue unit. FCL is a flat rate for the box regardless of how well you fill it, which is why 12 cbm is roughly the break-even point against groupage. Air freight uses volumetric weight at 1 cbm = 167 kg, so light bulky cargo is priced on space, not scales.

Payment terms

Private customers pay before departure by bank transfer or card. Trade accounts with an established shipping history can be set up on 14 or 30 day terms subject to references. Freight, insurance and UK-side charges are invoiced together in sterling; destination charges are billed locally by our agent in the local currency.

Rate validity

A written quotation from our desk is valid for 14 days and is held for the sailing named on it. Beyond that we re-check the carrier tariff, sometimes it has fallen. The indicative figures published on this site are guide prices for comparison, not offers, and every firm price is confirmed in writing before you commit.

20ft FCL (up to 28 cbm / 21 t)Port to port, all-in ocean freight	from £2,496
40ft FCL (up to 58 cbm)Standard dry box	from £3,619
40ft High Cube (67 cbm)Extra 30 cm internal height	from £3,944
LCL groupage (per cbm)Minimum 2 cbm chargeable	from £275 per cbm
Flat rack / open topOut-of-gauge project cargo	from £4,742
UK loading at our depotLabour, dunnage and lashing	£220 – £420
Haulage to UK portLive load or drop trailer	from £320
Export customs & documentationIncludes bill of lading release	£65 per shipment
Destination clearance (guide)Local duties and taxes payable by consignee	quoted on request

Saloon / hatchback carRoRo, UK port to destination port	from £1,450
4x4, SUV & pick-upPriced on cubic metres	from £1,856
Van / minibusLWB units quoted individually	from £2,059
Electric vehicle (EV)Includes battery documentation & 40% charge rule	from £2,175
Motorhome / RVHeight over 2.4 m surcharged	from £2,828
Commercial truck / tipperRigid units up to 12 m	from £3,408
Agricultural tractor / plantStatic, non-runners loaded by mafi trailer	from £3,045
Motorcycle (crated)Consolidated in shared container	from £798
20ft container (1–2 vehicles)Loaded and braced at our Tilbury yard	from £3,480
40ft container (3–4 vehicles)Best value for multiple units	from £4,640
Marine insuranceAll-risk cover, minimum premium £75	1.5% of declared value

Cargo under 100 kgChargeable weight, airport to airport	£8 per 100 kg (min charge £229)
Cargo 100 kg – 300 kgConsolidated weekly departures	£6.02 per kg
Cargo 300 kg – 1,000 kgDirect airline allocation	£5.10 per kg
Cargo over 1,000 kg / full ULDContract rate on application	£4.18 per kg
Airline handling & securityTerminal, screening and AWB fees	£85 to £140 per shipment
Fuel & carrier surchargeReviewed monthly by the airline	£1.22 per kg
UK export customs entryAdditional lines £8 each	£45 per entry
UK collectionNationwide door collection	from £65

Shipping rate finder, every country we serve

Container rates — UK to Australia

Vehicle rates — UK to Australia

Air cargo rates — UK to Australia