Ship personal effects and household goods from the UK to France by sea freight — to Le Havre, Marseille, and beyond. 1-2 weeks. EU customs procedures apply post-Brexit.
Looking for sea freight to France? We ship luggage, boxes and personal effects by sea, door-to-door (subject to your destination) from across the UK. Our sea freight service to France handles collection, customs and delivery — the cost-effective choice when you’re shipping a lot and time is less of a concern than price.
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 France 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.
France is the UK's closest major sea freight destination — Le Havre is just across the English Channel and transit is very short. Post-Brexit, personal effects from the UK to France are subject to EU customs procedures. Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief applies for qualifying moves.
For smaller volumes or urgent shipments, air cargo from the UK to France takes 2-4 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 EU import restrictions post-Brexit. Certain food and plant products restricted from UK to EU.
Loose lithium-ion batteries and fresh perishable food are prohibited in all sea freight personal effects shipments worldwide. Full prohibited goods guide →
UK nationals returning to France; French nationals completing UK stays and returning home
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 French Customs (Douanes) — the official customs authority for France. Always verify current requirements before shipping.
Shipping commercially? As well as personal effects, we handle commercial sea freight to France — 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