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Container Shipping from Australia to the USA

Costs, International Removalists and Tips

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Planning to move to the USA? You’ve come to the right place. Shipping containers from Australia to the USA are a common way to ship your belongings when moving across the world. Luckily for you, this article provides all the information you need to know about container shipping to the USA, including costs, affordable options, furniture shipping, customs and more. Keep reading and don’t forget to request your free moving quotes along the way!

Shipping costs from to
20ft Container
40ft Container

Cost of Shipping a Container from Australia to the USA

On average, shipping costs from Australia to the USA are $6,300 for a 20ft container and $7,000 for a 40ft container.

The cost of sending your belongings overseas will vary depending on many factors, such as the distance, cargo, or even seasonality. To give you an overview, we gathered the average prices for the different origins and destinations:

Route20ft Container40fr Container
SYD-LA$5,407$6,141
SYD-NY$6,941$7,934
MEL-LA$5,500$6,200
MEL-NY$7,000$8,000
BNE-LA$5,600$6,300
BNE-NY$7,100$8,100
PER-LA$5,700$6,400
PER-NY$7,200$8,200

They are estimates and may change based on several factors.

Why Choose Container Shipping?

Shipping a container from Australia to the USA is a popular option due to the long distance between the countries. It’s a cost-effective and easy way to get your belongings across to the States. Shipping costs from Australia to the USA can get high quickly, but opting for shipping containers over sea freight can keep the costs lower.

Cheapest Shipping From Australia to the USA

Let’s face it, shipping to the USA can be quite expensive. But there are a few things you can consider to make it cheaper.

To start with, it’s good to know all the options you have. You could do air or sea freight, but what exactly should you decide? We’ve compared them for you to balance your options:

Sea Freight

 Cheaper for large amounts of belongings
 Anything can be stored (from cars to furniture)
 Fewer carbon emissions than other methods
 Reliable and safe

Air Freight

 Cheaper for small items
 The fastest method for shipping
 Limitations on types and quantity of belongings
 High environmental impact

In any case, here are some tips for finding the cheapest shipping rates for container shipping from Australia to the USA:

  • Compare rates from multiple container shipping companies. Start looking with time and check the companies’ services and reviews from other users. You will make sure to find the best deal.
  • If you’re not in a rush to ship your stuff, you can always consider shipping during the off-season. Usually rates are lower during November to March.
  • Declutter your house to minimize the volume of your move.

LCL shipping and Consolidated Shipping

If you’re looking for the cheapest shipping from Australia to the USA, LCL shipping, also known as ‘less than container left’, is when different people share a single container. Since you won’t be using the whole space, the prices decrease. Consolidated shipping is a great option if you’re moving with fewer belongings.

Remember that saving money isn’t all about what you can do upfront, but also preventing possible extra charges. Making sure to pack your belongings carefully will avoid possible damage when in transit.

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Doing a recap from the section, we already mentioned the importance of considering different factors such as reputation, services and customer service when choosing a mover.

You can also directly check companies filtering by their name or city on our reviews page down below:

Shipping Household Goods and Furniture From Australia to the USA

Thinking about all the stuff you need to bring with you can be a bit daunting. Once the best method and shipping company are decided, it’s time to prepare your belongings.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship Furniture From Australia to the USA?

Expect to pay around $2,000 to $7,000 to ship furniture to the USA.

Cost of Shipping Household Goods:

Household SizeFull Container LoadLess Container Load
1-3 Bedroom House$3,000 – $5,000$1,500 – $2,500
3-5 Bedroom House$4,000 – $7,000$2,000 – $4,000

They are estimates and may change on several factors.

If you’re looking for accurate costs, estimating the volume of your furniture is key to getting a precise number. Sirelo’s furniture volume calculator will help you discover it fast!

Customs and Documentation When Shipping to the USA

When shipping household goods or other belongings internationally, especially from Australia to the USA, you need to consider customs clearance and the necessary documents. Keep in mind the following:

  1. Prepare your documents and the customs clearance. You’ll need to provide some documents to declare your belongings.
  2. Pack carefully and seal everything well to make sure everything gets to the destination without damage.

Shipping Vehicles From Australia to the USA

The cost to ship a vehicle to the USA can cost you around $3,200.

Shipping a Car From Australia to the USA

If you’re shipping a car overseas, you have two main options. You can choose…

  • 🚗 Roll-on/Roll-off, also known as RORO. This is a great option if you’re on a tight budget, but be aware that the car will be exposed to the outdoors, being less protected.
  • 🚗 A container. More expensive, but it will be protected and sealed.

What Is the Cost of Shipping a Car?

Find the average costs for each method in this table:

Shipping MethodAverage Cost
Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo)$1,500 – $5,000
Container$2,600 – $3,200

They are estimates and may change on several factors.

Motorcycle Shipping From Australia to the USA

Almost following the same process as the car, the motorcycle can be secured in the crate with the RoRo method or you can save it on a container. Since the weight and size of it, it’s smaller, the costs will be lower.

What Is the Cost of Shipping a Motorcycle?

The average cost of shipping a motorcycle from Australia to the USA is between $1,500-$5,000 for RoRo and $2,600-$3,200 for a container.

Compare Quotes And Start Your Process

For accurate prices, we recommend you request quotes from a professional shipping company. You can fill in our form below and start now!

How Long Does Shipping from Australia to the USA take?

The average time to ship a container from Australia to the USA can be between 20-40 days for sea freight, and 5-10 days for air freight. We recommend you start planning your move-in due time to avoid any issues with receiving your belongings on time.

Ready for Your Move to the USA?

We hope that this article has provided you with the necessary information about container shipping from Australia to the US, and that you feel confident in beginning your moving process. If you’re left with questions have a look at our FAQs below!

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost shipping a 20ft container from AUS to USA?

How much does it cost shipping a 40ft container from AUS to USA?

What’s the cheapest shipping method from Australia to the USA?

How long does shipping from Australia to the United States take?