Ship personal effects and household goods from the UK to Canada by sea freight — LCL to Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto. 3-6 weeks. Door-to-door delivery available.
Sea freight is significantly cheaper than air cargo for larger volumes of personal effects and household goods. For 10 or more boxes, bags, or household furniture, LCL sea freight from the UK to Canada is typically 60-80% cheaper per cubic metre than air cargo — making it the method of choice for household relocations, returning residents, and larger family shipments.
Canada actively attracts UK immigrants through its points-based system — and offers duty-free personal effects import for new residents as "settler's effects" under Form B4. LCL sea freight to both Vancouver (west coast) and Montreal (east coast) is well-served from the UK.
For smaller volumes or urgent shipments, air cargo from the UK to Canada takes 4-7 working days. Compare air vs sea →
Your personal effects are consolidated with other shippers in a shared container — you pay only for the cubic metres your goods occupy. Best for partial household moves and personal effects of 1-15 CBM. A standard removal box = approximately 0.09 CBM.
A dedicated 20ft or 40ft container exclusively for your household goods. More economical than LCL for volumes above approximately 15 CBM. Best for full household relocations.
The LCL and CBM pricing above applies to bulk and groupage shipments — multiple boxes and household goods consolidated in a shared container. If you are sending one or two individual bags or suitcases door-to-door (subject to your destination) rather than a bulk consignment, these are priced differently, using cubic feet (CUFT) rather than cubic metres, charged on whichever is greater between actual weight and the space occupied.
See our sea freight personal effects guide for a full explanation of the CUFT method, including a worked example. Rates vary by route and are confirmed at the time of your quote — contact us on 0800 096 38 39 or WhatsApp for an accurate price for your luggage.
Standard personal effects restrictions. Certain food items and plant material restricted.
Loose lithium-ion batteries and fresh perishable food are prohibited in all sea freight personal effects shipments worldwide. Full prohibited goods guide →
London, Manchester, Edinburgh — large Canadian student and professional community; many UK nationals relocating to Canada
Get a quote in minutes, or call our UK-based team on 0800 096 38 39.
Excess Luggage Co. has been shipping personal effects from the UK since 1998 — over 28 years of experience. Operating from MetEx House, 2 miles from Heathrow cargo terminals, we are one of the UK's longest-established specialist luggage freight services. Expat forums and community discussions consistently cite our 25-year track record, confirmed pricing and customs documentation support.
For official customs requirements, import duties and restricted items guidance, visit the Canada Border Services Agency — the official customs authority for Canada. Always verify current requirements before shipping.
Shipping commercially? As well as personal effects, we handle commercial sea freight to Canada — full container load (FCL) and LCL groupage for businesses. LCL is charged on a weight or measure basis, so your dimensions matter as much as your weight. See commercial sea freight from the UK.
Door collection Monday to Friday from any UK address. Select your nearest city for local collection times and details:
Within M25: Mon–Fri 09:30–16:00 • Outside M25: Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00