Household Goods Shipping from the UK

Household goods shipping

What is household goods shipping from the UK?

Personal effects vs household goods

The terms are often used interchangeably — but here is the practical distinction. Personal effects are items that belong to you personally: clothing, books, documents, electronics, jewellery. Household goods includes all of the above plus furnishings, kitchen equipment, white goods, furniture, and the contents of your home.

Excess Luggage Co. ships both — from a single suitcase of personal effects to the full contents of a household, by air cargo for smaller consignments and sea freight for larger ones.

Who is this service for?

Moving abroad for work — professionals relocating to the UAE, USA, Australia, Singapore, or anywhere else, shipping household goods alongside their move
Retiring overseas — UK retirees relocating to Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Australia, or beyond, shipping a lifetime of personal effects
Returning expats — UK residents who have lived abroad returning home with household goods from Australia, USA, UAE, or Asia
Diaspora families — sending household goods and personal effects to family members internationally
Students — shipping a household of student belongings between the UK and home

What we ship

Household goods and personal effects we ship internationally

Clothing & textiles

All clothing, shoes, accessories, bedding, curtains, and textiles. Pack in suitcases or boxes — we advise on the most efficient packing method.

Books & documents

Books, files, documents, and academic materials. Books are heavy but economical to ship by sea freight — weight-efficient packing matters.

Kitchen goods

Pots, pans, crockery, cutlery, small kitchen appliances, and kitchen equipment — all accepted for international shipping by air and sea.

Electronics

TVs, computers, phones, cameras, and household electronics. We advise on packing and any destination-specific restrictions on electronics.

Musical instruments

Guitars, keyboards, instruments, and musical equipment — accepted as personal effects within the main service. We advise on packing to protect instruments in transit.

Furniture & large items

Smaller furniture items, flat-pack furniture, mirrors, and household furnishings — best shipped by sea freight in a shared or sole-use container.

How we ship

Air cargo and sea freight for household goods from the UK

Air cargo

Air cargo household goods

Best for smaller household consignments — 1-10 boxes or bags
Transit: 4-10 working days, subject to space and flight availability with the carriers to most destinations
We collect from your UK door and deliver to your international address
Full tracking throughout transit
Air Waybill prepared — we handle all UK export documentation

Sea freight LCL

Sea freight household goods

Best for larger household moves — 10+ boxes, furniture, white goods
Transit: 6-12 weeks depending on destination
Shipped in a shared (LCL) or sole-use container
Significantly cheaper per cubic metre than air cargo
Transfer of Residence ToR1 relief applicable for qualifying moves
Bill of Lading prepared — full customs documentation

Customs relief

Saving on customs duty when shipping household goods to the UK

If you are returning to the UK after living abroad for at least 12 months and shipping household goods that you have owned for at least 6 months, you may qualify for Transfer of Residence (ToR1) relief — which removes customs duty and 20% import VAT on your household goods. This is a significant saving on larger household moves. Read our full ToR1 guide →

Transit insurance

Insuring household goods and personal effects in transit

We recommend transit insurance for all household goods and personal effects shipments — insurance rates depend on whether goods are owner-packed or professionally packed.

Transit insurance — owner packed vs professionally packed:

Owner-packed goods: transit insurance is generally charged at approximately 5% of the declared replacement value. This rate reflects the higher risk associated with goods packed by the shipper rather than a professional.
Professionally packed goods: transit insurance is generally charged at approximately 3.5% of the declared replacement value — a lower rate that reflects the reduced risk of damage when goods are packed to a professional standard.

All goods must be declared at their true replacement value — under-declaration can invalidate your insurance claim. We recommend insuring all international personal effects and household goods shipments. Ask us about transit insurance at the time of booking.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions answered

Can I ship household goods overseas from the UK?+

Yes. We ship household goods and personal effects from the UK to over 185 countries worldwide by air cargo and sea freight. We collect from your UK address and deliver to your international destination.

What is the difference between personal effects and household goods?+

Personal effects are items that belong to you personally — clothing, electronics, books, documents. Household goods includes all of this plus kitchen equipment, furnishings, furniture, and the broader contents of your home. We ship both under the same personal effects and unaccompanied baggage service.

Is sea freight or air cargo better for household goods from the UK?+

For larger household moves — 10+ boxes, furniture, white goods — sea freight is significantly more economical. For smaller household consignments of 1-10 boxes or bags where speed matters, air cargo is faster and more practical.

Can I ship musical instruments and electronics as household goods?+

Yes. Musical instruments, computers, TVs, cameras, and other household electronics are accepted as personal effects within our standard service. We advise on appropriate packing to protect instruments and electronics in transit.

Do I need to pay import duty when shipping household goods overseas from the UK?+

Import duty requirements vary by destination country. Many countries offer relief for personal effects and household goods shipped by relocating residents — similar to the UK's Transfer of Residence relief. We advise on destination-specific requirements at booking.

How do I get a quote for household goods shipping from the UK?+

Call us on 0800 096 38 39 or use our online quote form. Tell us your UK collection address, destination country and city, approximate number of boxes or volume, and preferred method (air cargo or sea freight) and we will provide a full quotation.

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Household Goods & Personal Effects Shipping from the UK