AnalysisMoving overseas · What an overseas move is priced on
What is the average cost of an international move, and why the average is the wrong number
Published vendor bands ran $1,500 to $3,000 for a shared container and $6,000 to $12,000 for a three-bedroom household as read on 07/25-26/2026. Those are ranges published by sellers, not medians from a quote array, and the spread inside each is mostly volume and destination rather than mover. An overseas move is priced on cubic metres, not on weight — which is the opposite of the domestic convention most Americans arrive with.
Volume, not weight
A domestic US move is quoted on weight. An ocean move is quoted on volume, because a container has a fixed cubic capacity and the ship charges for the box. The switch catches people out in both directions: light bulky furniture costs more than its weight suggests, and dense small items cost less.
| Household | Volume | What it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Studio or one bedroom | 10-20 CBM | Shared container |
| Two bedrooms | 20-30 CBM | Shared or a 20-foot box |
| Three bedrooms | 30-50 CBM | 20-foot or 40-foot box |
| Four or more | 50+ CBM | 40-foot box |
One cubic metre is 35.3 cubic feet. Every quote worth comparing states the volume it was built on, and a surveyed volume beats an estimated one every time.
Sixty cents a pound is not insurance
The standard liability included in most international moving contracts is released value at 60 cents per pound per article. A 40-pound television is covered for $24 regardless of what it cost.
Full value protection is the alternative, priced separately, and it obliges the mover to repair, replace or pay the current value of the item. The gap between the two is the largest single misunderstanding in the segment, and it is settled by one line in the contract.
Where the quote stops
| Line | In the moving quote? | Billed by |
|---|---|---|
| Packing and origin loading | Usually | Mover |
| Ocean freight | Yes | Mover, via its carrier |
| Destination terminal handling | Sometimes | Terminal |
| Customs clearance at destination | Sometimes | Local broker |
| Import duty on household goods | Rarely | Destination customs |
| Delivery above the ground floor | Rarely | Local agent |
| Storage past free time | No | Terminal |
A duty exemption for used household goods exists in most markets and is automatic in none: it usually turns on how long the goods were owned and how long you have lived abroad, and it is claimed with documents rather than granted by default.
Binding, non-binding and the 110% rule
A binding estimate fixes the price for the inventory surveyed. A non-binding estimate does not, and under the US rule the mover may collect no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate at delivery, with the balance due within 30 days.
That rule protects the delivery day and does not cap the final bill. The way to make either estimate meaningful is the same: a proper survey, in person or on video, of everything that is actually going.
Where this goes next
Three pages carry the rest of this question: the number behind it, the comparison of whoever would do it, and the check that runs before you pay.
- where the freight quote stops and the invoice continues — the figure behind it
- how the mover lists are assembled — who does it
- the licence and bond behind the company name — check the licence
Two neighbouring pieces sit closer to this one than any of them: cut the volume, not the cover, and Why is shipping from China so expensive.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of an international move?
Published bands ran $1,500-3,000 for a shared container and $6,000-12,000 for a three-bedroom household as read on 07/25-26/2026. These are seller ranges, not medians, and destination charges sit outside most of them.
How much does it cost to move furniture internationally?
It is priced by volume in cubic metres rather than by weight. A studio at 10-20 CBM sits in the shared-container band; a three-bedroom household at 30-50 CBM usually needs a box of its own.
What does 60 cents a pound cover?
Released value liability pays 60 cents per pound per article, so a 40-pound item is covered for $24 whatever it cost. Full value protection is a separate, priced option.
Is a binding estimate better?
It fixes the price for the surveyed inventory, which removes the delivery-day argument. A non-binding estimate is capped at 110% collectible on delivery under the US rule, with the balance due within 30 days.
Do I pay duty on my own belongings?
Usually not, but the exemption is claimed rather than granted. Most markets require the goods to have been owned for a minimum period and the owner to have lived abroad for one, evidenced with documents at clearance.
Sources
- SeaRates measurement of 27 pages ranking for international moving company queries, 07/25-26/2026.
- Published vendor bands for shared-container and full-household international moves, read 07/25-26/2026. Ranges, not medians: SeaRates holds no quote array for household moves.
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, household goods rules — released value at 60 cents per pound per article; 110% rule on non-binding estimates with the balance due within 30 days.