Moving overseas from Australia can cost anywhere from $1,000 for a few boxes on a shared container to $14,000+ for a four-bedroom household moving long-haul.
On its own, though, that range is almost meaningless.
What you can actually expect to pay varies widely depending on where you’re moving, how much you’re taking, and whether your belongings travel in a shared or dedicated container.
Then there’s packing, transit insurance, customs, quarantine, storage, delivery, and special relocation solutions for pets and vehicles. Freight rates can also change with shipping capacity, fuel prices, exchange rates, port congestion, and seasonal demand.
All said and done, there is no one-size-fits-all figure when it comes to how much it costs to move overseas from Australia.
Still, you can get a useful ballpark based on your home size, destination, and surcharges for specialist services. This guide breaks down the international moving costs in Australia to help you build a rough budget.
The Quick Answer: Cost by Home Size
The first thing to know is that sea freight for household goods is priced by volume, not weight. Here’s what that looks like for the typical Australian home.
Load size |
Common shipping method |
Typical port-to-port cost |
| A few boxes or partial load | LCL shared container | $1,000–$3,000 |
| 1–2 bedroom household | LCL shared container | $3,000–$7,000 |
| 3-bedroom household | LCL or 20ft FCL container | $5,000–$10,000 |
| 4+ bedroom household | 20ft or 40ft FCL container | $8,000–$14,000+ |
The wide ranges mainly reflect the destination. Moving a 3-bedroom home from Perth to New Zealand is very different from moving to the UK or Europe.
These figures are also port-to-port estimates. Most international movers in Perth include collection from your home in the price. Professional packing, transit insurance, customs and quarantine charges, and delivery to your new address usually cost extra.
What Affects International Moving Costs in Australia? The Three Big Factors
1. How Much You’re Shipping
Sea freight for household goods is mainly priced by volume in cubic metres rather than the total weight of your furniture.
Every extra bookcase or carton takes up space. The more space your consignment uses, the more it costs.
A standard 20ft shipping container has a 33m³ internal capacity. That’s usually enough for a 2–3 bedroom household. However, furniture shapes, packing materials and safe loading requirements mean you can’t always use every available centimetre.
A standard 40ft container provides more than twice the space and may suit a large 4-bedroom home or shipping a vehicle with other belongings.
Removalists’ tip: Reducing your volume by 20% does not always cut moving costs by the same amount. Some charges are fixed. Still, downsizing your home by selling, donating or storing bulky items that cost more to ship than replace will help to bring down the cost and complexity of your move.
2. Where You’re Going
Distance matters, but international moving costs from Australia aren’t calculated on a simple per-kilometre basis.
Shipping costs change based on a range of factors, including:
- Available capacity
- Demand
- Sailing frequency
- Transhipment (intermediate destination) requirements
- Port charges
- Current market conditions
A closer destination is usually cheaper, but that’s not a fixed rule.
New Zealand tends to be one of the more affordable overseas destinations from Australia, even though Singapore, Indonesia and South East Asia are also relatively close to Perth.
The UK is one of the most expensive shipping routes from Australia, despite direct flights suggesting we’re closely connected.
Below are the indicative port-to-port sea freight costs for a 3-bedroom household:
| Destination | Typical 3BR Home Cost |
| New Zealand | $2,500–$4,000 |
| Singapore and South East Asia | $3,500–$5,500 |
| USA (west coast) | $4,500–$7,000 |
| USA (east coast) | $6,000–$8,500 |
| UK and Europe | $6,500–$10,000 |
Removalists’ tip: Transit times follow roughly the same pattern. New Zealand takes 2–3 weeks, Singapore and South East Asia 3–5 weeks, and the UK, Europe and North America 6–10 weeks door-to-door.
3. LCL vs FCL: Shared or Dedicated Container
The next decision is whether you share a container or book one for yourself.
- LCL (Less than Container Load) means your goods share container space with other shipments and you pay only for the volume you use.
LCL is typically much cheaper than a dedicated container for moves under 20m³, such as a small one-bedroom flat or a few boxes. Keep in mind that consolidation and deconsolidation add a little time at either end.
- FCL (Full Container Load) means the container is yours alone – sealed at your home and opened at your destination.
FCL usually becomes the better value option once your load passes 22–25m³, which is a busy two-bedroom apartment or three-bedroom house.
Removalists’ tip: If your inventory is near the 20–25m³ mark, ask your removalist to price both. A dedicated 20ft container sometimes costs only marginally more than a large LCL booking.
International Moving Costs That Aren’t Counted in the Headline Number
As we mentioned earlier, most ‘instant quotes’ and ballpark international moving costs only cover shipping. They don’t automatically include everything required to move your belongings from your home in Australia to your new front door.
Here’s what else factors into how much it costs to move overseas from Australia.
Professional Packing: $600–$2,500.
Professional packing is optional, but it significantly reduces damage risk on a journey that may take weeks and involve multiple handling points.
Packing materials add another $150–$700 depending on the size of your home. Additional rooms, high-value items and fragile furniture increase the cost.
Transit Insurance: 0.6%–4% of Declared Value.
For a household of goods valued at $50,000, that’s roughly $300–$2,000. The range accounts for the declared value of your inventory and the type of cover.
Longer routes and higher-value inventories attract higher premiums. KEYS is authorised to provide goods-in-transit insurance and can explain the available options.
Transit insurance is well worth the investment, but it’s ultimately your call whether to take the risk or insure your belongings. Always read the PDS before deciding.
Destination Port and Terminal Charges: $300–$1,000+.
Destination ports may charge for terminal handling, documentation, unloading and local processing.
Most full-service international movers include customs clearance and broker fees, though we know some charge separately to make the headline quote appear lower. Port charges are outside our control.
Allow around $500 for destination port charges (though it can be $2,000+) and $300–$1,000+ for customs administration. We’ll provide a more accurate range and itemised breakdown based on your destination.
Quarantine and Biosecurity Inspections: $150–$600.
Your shipment may be inspected for potential biosecurity risks, particularly when moving to New Zealand:
- Soil
- Insects
- Food
- Plant material
- Untreated timber
Inspection, treatment and disposal costs may be passed on to you. Cleaning and declaring questionable items – outdoor furniture, gardening tools, camping gear or bikes – can take the stress out of the quarantine process.
Delivery From the Port to Your New Home: $400–$1,500.
A port-to-port quote usually ends at the arrival port. You still need to figure out collection and delivery.
Ask whether your quote is port-to-port or door-to-door before you compare it against another removalist.
Rural or regional delivery, and difficult access conditions (stairs, small lifts, long carries or loading restrictions) will add to the cost.
Storage: $100–$300 Per Month Per Container.
Moving dates don’t always line up with shipping availability. Or you may need time to find a home when you arrive.
You can choose to store your belongings in Australia and have them shipped later. KEYS provides secure short- and long-term storage in Perth and Kalgoorlie.
We can also help you organise storage in your destination country through our international networks.
Pet Transport: $2,000–$5,000+ Per Pet.
Your pets might need to travel separately, either before or after you fly. It depends on the animal, airline and destination, as well as any quarantine rules or veterinary requirements.
We’ll help you find the safest and fastest route to be reunited with your furry family members.
Vehicle Relocation: $3,000–$8,000+ Per Vehicle.
Shipping vehicles overseas from Australia can sometimes be complicated. The final cost depends on:
- Import rules
- Destination taxes
- Registration
- Compliance paperwork
Speak to your KEYS move manager about your best options for relocating or storing your vehicle.
Sea Freight vs Air Freight: Which Should You Use?
Over 99% of goods leaving Australia travel by sea freight. There is one big reason: cost.
Air freight costs 12–16 times more than sea freight for equivalent shipments. At the scale of a four-bedroom house, that difference could be tens of thousands of dollars.
So why do most households moving from Australia end up using both sea and air freight?
What Moves By Air Freight
Air freight suits small essentials needed during your first few weeks overseas:
- Some clothes
- Work or school equipment
- Non-essential medication
- A few kitchen basics
It is rarely economical for more than a couple of boxes, but it has its place. You might send some items ahead to your destination or check them in as extra luggage on your flight.
Essential medications, personal electronics, kids’ comfort items and important documents should always travel with you.
What Moves By Sea Freight
Everything else goes into a shipping container. This usually means waiting a few weeks for your belongings after you arrive.
We talked about this “transit gap” and how to make it an adventure for your family in our guide to moving with kids.
Check out our International Moving Guide for a full walkthrough of the process and what gets packed where.
How to Reduce the Cost of Your International Move
How much does it cost to move overseas from Australia? The answer is really up to you, not your removalist.
There are a few things you can do to bring down the cost of your international move:
- Cut your volume. Every cubic metre costs. Be ruthless with furniture and appliances, especially if they’re old or might not suit your new home.
- Choose LCL for loads under 20m³. Sharing a container is cheaper for smaller households, and the extra handling time is usually just a few days.
- Avoid peak season. December to February is the busiest and most expensive window to move overseas from Australia. Moving in autumn or winter can save 15–25%.
- Compare port-to-port against door-to-door. Managing the final delivery leg yourself is cheaper, but it means arranging logistics in an unfamiliar country.
- Get multiple quotes. Pricing varies between international removalists on the same route for the same volume. Just make sure to get an itemised breakdown so you know what’s included.
- Consider storage instead of shipping. If you’re going overseas for two or three years, storing furniture in Australia can cost less than shipping it both ways.
Finally, be wary of the cheapest initial quote. You might find that packing, customs, insurance, and destination delivery are charged separately at a higher rate. Always compare three to five international moving quotes side by side.
The Bottom Line: How Much Does It Cost to Move Overseas from Australia?
For most households, the core freight cost sits anywhere between $1,000 and $14,000+.
A small shared shipment to New Zealand may fall near the bottom of that range. A large household moving to Europe, the UK or North America may exceed the top. Packing, insurance, customs, storage, pets, vehicles and destination delivery can also add to the final costs.
To build an accurate budget, you need to know:
- Your shipment volume
- Your destination and final address
- Whether you need LCL or FCL
- What the quote includes
- Whether you need storage, delivery, pet transport or vehicle shipping
You should always get a recent quote, as international moving costs from Australia change with the market.
Get a Personalised International Moving Quote
As WA-owned international removalists in Perth, we handle the entire process end-to-end:
- Packing and inventory
- Sea and air freight
- Customs
- Storage
- Pet and vehicle transport
- Destination delivery through local partners
We’re accredited with FIDI, IAM, AFRA, AMG and Britmove, and we’re the only WA-owned member of the Harmony Relocation Network.
Request your free itemised moving quote to get a realistic number for your move.
