Inside our operation
Our premises, our warehouse, our staff and our vehicles — photographed on the job. Not stock images.
People search for this in all sorts of ways — how to ship luggage to Vancouver, Canada, send luggage to Vancouver, Canada, or the cheapest baggage shipping for boxes and suitcases. However you word it, we do the same thing: door-to-door (subject to your destination) luggage shipping to Vancouver, Canada from anywhere in the UK. We ship luggage, send luggage and collect your suitcases, bags and boxes of personal effects, handle your UK customs export entry, and deliver to your address in Vancouver, Canada — usually for far less than paying excess baggage at the airport.
Sending your belongings to Vancouver is more straightforward than most people expect. We collect from your door, take care of the export paperwork and customs side at our base near Heathrow, and get your bags out to Vancouver — by air if you need them quickly (usually 5–9 working days), or by sea if you have more to send and can wait a little longer (6–10 weeks), subject to space and flight availability with the carriers.
It works the same whether you are heading out to study, moving for a new job, going home, or simply sending things ahead so you are not dragging half your life through the airport. You will know the price before anything is collected, and we prepare your UK export customs documentation before your shipment leaves the UK, so it arrives in Vancouver with the correct paperwork so you do not have to. It is one of several Canada cities we cover.
Shipping luggage from the UK to Vancouver typically takes 5-9 working days by air, or 3-6 weeks by sea for larger volumes. We collect from any UK city Monday to Friday, prepare all export and customs documentation, and forward your belongings to Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Items over 30kg carry a heavy-weight surcharge. You receive a written quotation before collection, based on the weight and dimensions you give us. When we collect your items, we remeasure and reweigh them at our warehouse — because, as with all freight, the actual charge is based on whichever is greater: the physical weight or the volumetric (size-based) weight, which the airline or shipping line will also verify. If everything matches what you told us, the quotation stands; if anything is heavier or larger, we’ll tell you before we go any further.
Vancouver, on the Pacific coast of British Columbia, is one of the world’s most scenically located cities, framed by mountains and sea and known for its mild climate and outdoor lifestyle. Popular areas include the dense Downtown peninsula, the beachy Kitsilano, and the surrounding municipalities of Richmond (with a large East Asian community), Burnaby and Surrey.
The city is served by Vancouver International Airport, Canada’s second-busiest and the main gateway to and from Asia and the Pacific. Getting around is easy on the SkyTrain rapid transit system and buses, though many residents also drive. Winters are mild but wet compared with the rest of Canada, and Vancouver is a hugely popular destination for UK emigrants drawn to its setting.
Wherever you end up settling, getting your belongings there safely is our part of the job — so you can get on with the rest of the move.
All sorts, honestly. Students heading out for a course or coming home at the end of term, families moving over for work or to be closer to relatives, people going back home after years away, and folks starting somewhere new who would rather their things were waiting for them than wrestled through an airport. The common thread is simple: if you have got more than you can comfortably carry as hand or checked baggage, this is usually the easier way to do it.
You do not need to bring anything to us. Pick your nearest city below and we will arrange collection straight from your home, office or university — whether you are in a major city or a smaller town, we cover the whole country.
Collection hours — Within M25: Mon–Fri 09:30–16:00 • Outside M25: Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00
Your shipment comes in through Vancouver International Airport (YVR), the main gateway for Vancouver. Once it has cleared customs, you can either pick it up from the cargo terminal or have it brought on to your address — whichever suits, just let us know which you would prefer when you book.
We sort out the Air Waybill and export paperwork from our Heathrow base before anything leaves the UK, so your consignment turns up at YVR correctly logged and ready to clear.
We ship to major cities across Canada. If Vancouver is not your destination, choose another below, or see our full Canada shipping page:
Personal effects entering Canada are processed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Settlers and returning residents may generally import used personal and household goods free of duty and tax, provided they were owned, possessed and used before arriving. You will typically need to prepare a detailed list of goods (form BSD-B4 / B4A) itemising what is being imported, ideally in two copies with values. Certain goods - firearms, food, plants and items of animal origin - are restricted or prohibited, and new goods bought within a short period before moving may be dutiable.
The good news is that used belongings you already own are treated far more kindly by customs than new shopping. The main things to remember: the person sending the shipment and the person receiving it need to be the same, and you will need an itemised list of what is inside with rough values — more on the paperwork below. If you want the full detail for this route, our Canada customs guide walks through it.
A few things simply cannot travel in unaccompanied freight, mostly for safety reasons: loose lithium batteries and power banks, aerosols, perfumes and anything flammable, and cash. Items up to 30kg per item travel at standard rates; heavier items are accepted with a heavy-weight surcharge, or you can split the weight across two to avoid it.
Food, medication and electronics are the grey areas people ask about most, and the rules shift depending on where you are sending to. We have put together plain-English guides on food, electronics and medication, plus a full prohibited-items list if you want to check something specific.
There is less of this than you might think. For Vancouver you will need an itemised packing list with rough values for what you are sending, and a copy of the traveller’s passport — plus proof of travel or residence if the route calls for it. We prepare the Air Waybill and the export side ourselves, and if there is a specific form for this destination, we will tell you exactly what to fill in when you book. No guesswork.
| Service | Transit / detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air freight | 5–9 working days | Faster; ideal for essentials and smaller loads |
| Sea freight | 6–10 weeks | Economical for larger volumes, boxes and bulky items |
| UK door collection | Included | From any UK city, Monday to Friday |
| Customs support | Included | Documentation prepared for you |
| Tracking | Yes | Air Waybill reference provided |
What you pay comes down to how much you are sending, how big it is, and whether it goes by air or sea. We will give you one clear price up front and stick to it — none of the nasty surprises people get at the check-in desk when a bag tips over the limit. Because Vancouver is a long way from the UK, airline excess charges add up fast once you go past a bag or two, and they often bill by the kilo on top. Once you have more than a couple of bags, sending them with us usually works out cheaper and a good deal less stressful.
| Factor | Excess Baggage Fees | Ship with Us |
|---|---|---|
| Cost for 2+ bags | Often £150–500+ per extra bag | Usually works out cheaper |
| Size limits | Strict airline limits; oversized bags rejected | We can ship boxes, crates, odd shapes |
| Pickup | You carry to airport; pay at check-in | We collect from your door, UK-wide |
| Delivery | Airport baggage claim only | Door delivery or airport, your choice |
| Timing | Arrives with your flight | Can arrive before or after you |
| Fragile items | Airline handling; damage common | Professional packing; insurable |
Give us a call on 0800 096 38 39 or drop your details into the quote form and we will come back with a price.
We would genuinely rather point you the right way than push a sale. If you are only taking one suitcase and it fits your airline’s allowance, just pay the airline — it is simpler and it will cost you less. Where we come into our own is once you have got several bags, boxes or bulky bits, or when you are properly moving rather than just travelling. Not sure which side of the line you are on? Ring us on 0800 096 38 39 and we will tell you straight.
If this is a proper move rather than a trip, a few practical things are worth knowing beyond the shipping itself:
One thing worth knowing before you book anywhere: a lot of online baggage sites simply take your payment and email you a courier label. We work differently. We are freight specialists based beside Heathrow, and we personally manage your shipment from the moment we collect it to the moment it arrives in Vancouver — preparing your documentation, guiding you through customs, and stepping in ourselves if anything needs sorting. If you would like the full picture, here is why customers choose us.
No two shipments look quite the same, but to give you an idea, a typical load bound for Vancouver might be:
Items up to 30kg a piece travel at standard rates, and heavier items are accepted with a heavy-weight surcharge. If you are sending something with a knack to it, we have got specific guides for golf clubs, bikes and instruments.
We deliver right across Vancouver, including areas like Downtown, Kitsilano, Richmond, Burnaby and Surrey. Wherever you are based, we can bring your things to the door or leave them at the cargo terminal for you to collect — your call.
Every guide on this website is written and reviewed by the Excess Luggage Co. team, based beside Heathrow Airport. Since 1998 we have helped thousands of customers move luggage and personal belongings from the UK to destinations worldwide. Our destination guides are kept up to date using hands-on operational experience and current customs information.
On a door-to-airport service we fly your shipment to the destination airport. From that point the consignee takes over, and may be responsible for:
Collect promptly after arrival — storage fees accrue daily and are set by the handling agent, not by us. Sea freight may also incur de-stuffing, terminal handling, customs processing and storage.
Why we tell you now: we would rather over-explain than have you meet a charge you were not expecting. We believe in being upfront and transparent from the beginning. See our customs guide for the full picture.
Our premises, our warehouse, our staff and our vehicles — photographed on the job. Not stock images.
Almost every shipment that gets held, delayed or re-charged comes down to the same short list — and none of it is about the freight itself. It is about what you declare, what is in the box, and how it is packed.
Tell us what you’re actually sending — including anything with a battery in it — and we’ll tell you how it needs to be declared and packed for Canada before it leaves your door.
— practical guidesWhat to pack, what customs expects, what you can’t send, and how cover works.
If you’re flying to Vancouver yourself and only have one or two extra bags, paying the airline for excess baggage may be the simplest option. But for larger amounts — multiple bags, boxes, or a full relocation — sending your belongings as unaccompanied luggage is usually more flexible and often more economical. Here’s an honest comparison:
| Extra airline baggage | Shipping with Excess Luggage | |
|---|---|---|
| Collected from your door | You carry it to the airport yourself | Yes — we collect from your UK address |
| How much you can send | Limited by airline allowance | No practical limit — bags, boxes, furniture |
| Price predictability | Per-bag fees, can add up fast | Written quotation before we collect |
| Do you have to be flying? | Yes | No — send it independently |
| Customs paperwork | You handle it alone | We guide you through it |
| Oversized / awkward items | Often refused or penalised | Handled routinely |
| Best for | 1–2 extra bags on your own flight | Larger moves, boxes, unaccompanied items |
We’ll always give you an honest steer — if the airline is genuinely cheaper for what you’re sending, we’ll tell you.