The economics: why DIY can win

A typical full-service international move for a family of four (3-bedroom house contents) runs USD 12,000 to 25,000 depending on origin and destination. The cost is split roughly: 30% packing labour, 25% origin transport and handling, 20% ocean freight, 15% customs and destination handling, 10% destination delivery and unpack. The single largest variable cost is the labour, particularly origin packing.

If you self-pack and use a container shipping broker rather than a full-service mover, total cost typically drops to USD 4,500 to 9,500 for the same volume of contents. The savings come from removing the labour layer, taking direct ocean freight rates rather than the consolidator's mark-up, and handling minor logistics yourself.

The trade-off is your time and stress. If you have 4 to 6 weeks to plan, can dedicate two weekends to packing, and are willing to manage the customs and destination logistics yourself, DIY is genuinely viable. If you need it done in 14 days with no involvement, pay for full-service.

Container types and what fits

Two main container types matter for family moves:

  • FCL (Full Container Load) 20-foot: roughly 33 cubic metres. Holds the contents of a 1-bedroom apartment plus large items, or a 2-bedroom apartment with selective contents. Typical cost: USD 2,500 to 5,500 ocean freight only depending on route.
  • FCL 40-foot: roughly 67 cubic metres. Holds a 3-bedroom house including furniture, appliances and bicycles. Typical cost: USD 3,500 to 8,500 ocean freight only.
  • LCL (Less than Container Load): shared container space, sold by cubic metre. Useful for 5 to 15 cubic metre moves where FCL is overkill. Typical cost: USD 200 to 350 per cubic metre. Slower (extra 1 to 2 weeks for consolidation and deconsolidation).

For most school-age families with a 3-bedroom or larger home, a 40-foot FCL is the right answer. For smaller moves or younger families with less furniture, LCL or 20-foot FCL works.

The 12-week timeline

  1. Week -12 (3 months out): Get 4 to 5 quotes from container shipping brokers (Sirelo, Schumacher Cargo Logistics, AGS Worldwide Movers, Cinch Moving Services, Crown Worldwide). Specify origin, destination, container size, target ship date.
  2. Week -10: Book the booking with chosen broker. Pay deposit. Confirm container drop-off date.
  3. Week -8: Begin culling contents. Sell furniture you won't ship. Donate clothing, books, kitchen items. Aim for 25 to 35% reduction.
  4. Week -4: Buy packing materials (boxes, tape, bubble wrap, blankets). Specialist boxes for paintings, mirrors, electronics. Detailed inventory list begins.
  5. Week -2: Begin packing non-essential items (books, off-season clothing, decor). Family lives among packed boxes.
  6. Week -1 (container drop-off): Container delivered to your home. Loading takes 4 to 8 hours with 2 to 4 helpers. Use a checklist; load heaviest items first; document with photos.
  7. Container collected, sealed: Ocean freight typically 4 to 8 weeks depending on route.
  8. Week +6 to +8 (destination): Container arrives at destination port. Customs clearance triggered. Pay duties (if any). Schedule destination delivery.
  9. Week +8 to +10: Container delivered to new home. Unloading takes 4 to 6 hours. Inspect and document any damage immediately.

What to ship and what to leave

The packing rule that consistently works: ship the things that you couldn't easily replace at destination, leave the things you can. Specifically:

  • Ship: family heirlooms, art, books, important paperwork (in carry-on), high-value electronics, beds, sofas you love, kids' toys.
  • Leave (sell or donate): kitchenware (cheap to replace), wardrobes, dining tables (most don't fit international apartments), large rugs (depend on flooring), most appliances (voltage / frequency mismatch).
  • Avoid shipping: foodstuffs (customs nightmare), liquid cleaning products, anything that needs refrigeration in transit.

Customs and duties: what to expect

Most countries grant a "personal effects" exemption for incoming residents on first arrival, allowing duty-free import of household goods if you can demonstrate residency status. Specifics:

  • UAE: 5% customs duty on items above AED 3,000 if not "used personal effects". Most household goods qualify if used and shipped within 6 months of residency.
  • Singapore: GST (9%) on dutiable goods. Personal effects relief available for permanent or long-term residence.
  • USA: Returning resident or non-resident moving for first time can use HHG (Household Goods) exemption. Specific forms (CBP Form 3299) required.
  • Spain: VAT exempt for personal effects on first residency. Requires inventory list in Spanish, residency proof.
  • UK: TOR1 (Transfer of Residence) form required. Free duty on used personal effects you've owned 6+ months.

Apply for relevant relief forms before the container arrives at the destination port. Brokers can help but you initiate.

Free download

Our city handbooks include destination-specific customs and personal-effects relief checklists. Part of our city handbook collection.

The seven things that go wrong

  1. Container delivery delays. Ports back up; expect 1 to 2 weeks of slip on the ocean leg. Build buffer into your housing plans.
  2. Customs documentation gaps. The single biggest cause of delays. Get inventory translated, photographed, signed.
  3. Voltage / plug mismatches. Don't ship appliances unless you've confirmed they work at destination voltage.
  4. Insurance gaps. Standard ocean freight insurance is minimal. Pay for full replacement-value cover; broker can arrange.
  5. Damaged items on arrival. Document everything with photos at packing AND unpacking. Claims fail without documentation.
  6. Drop-off / pickup access. Confirm your origin and destination addresses can physically receive a 40-foot truck. Suburban driveways often can't.
  7. Wood items and quarantine. Australia, NZ, and a few other countries quarantine wood items. Ship "treated" only or pay for fumigation.

When to call a full-service mover anyway

DIY shipping is great. It is not for everyone. Use a full-service mover if: you have less than 6 weeks, you have multiple high-value items needing specialist handling, you have school-age children whose stress threshold is already maxed by the move, or you are moving to a destination with notoriously difficult customs (Brazil, India for some categories, parts of Africa).