📦 Ship luggage to South Africa • Door collection • Since 1998

How to ship your luggage
from the United Kingdom to South Africa

A step-by-step guide to shipping luggage, suitcases and boxes from the UK to South Africa — what it costs, how long it takes, what South Africa customs asks for, and what you cannot put in the box.

Get a quote 📞 0800 096 38 39

✈Air 4-9 working days
⚓Sea 6-10 weeks
📍Door collection UK-wide
📅Shipping luggage since 1998

Step by step

How to ship your luggage from the UK to South Africa

Four steps, and we do the parts that go wrong. You pack; we collect, document and fly or sail it.

1️⃣

Tell us what you’re sending. Number of items, rough weights and sizes, your UK postcode and where in South Africa it is going. We come back with a clear quote.

2️⃣

Pack and label. Suitcases, holdalls and double-walled cartons all ship. Number every box and write a list of what is in each one — that list is what customs work from.

3️⃣

We collect from your door. Anywhere in the UK. We then prepare the UK export entry and the documentation for South Africa.

4️⃣

It travels by air or sea. Air from Heathrow for speed; consolidated sea freight when volume matters more than time.

Ship luggage to Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria

We ship luggage from any UK address to Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria and to addresses across South Africa.

Cape Town Durban Johannesburg Pretoria

Timing

How long it takes to ship luggage to South Africa

By air: around 4-9 working days, subject to space and flight availability with the carriers. By sea: roughly 6-10 weeks depending on sailing dates. Clearance at the far end sits on top of that — the flight or sailing is the predictable part.

💰

Cost is weight or size, whichever is greater. A box of bedding weighs little but takes room, so it prices on volume. As long as your bags are what you told us, that’s the price you pay — subject to airline rates at time of booking.

South Africa customs

What South Africa actually asks for

✅

The practical point: e

📋

What we prepare: the UK export entry and the documentation for the destination. Our standard service runs UK door to the arrival airport — import clearance, duty and onward delivery are the receiver’s side, which is why they sit outside the quote.

Before you pack

What cannot go in a standard shipment

🔋

Lithium batteries — not in a standard shipment, including inside laptops, phones, tablets and power banks. They can be packed and exported as declared dangerous goods — ask us before you pack. Undeclared dangerous goods are a criminal offence and the duty sits with the sender.

🚫

Aerosols, perfume and flammable liquids. The most common find at screening.

📦

Bin liners and soft holdalls that tear. Use suitcases or double-walled cartons.

Common questions

Your questions answered

How do I ship my luggage from the United Kingdom to South Africa? +

Tell us what you're sending and where it's going, pack and label your items, and we collect from your UK door. We prepare the UK export entry and the documentation for South Africa, then it travels by air or sea.

How long does it take to ship luggage to South Africa? +

Air freight takes around 4-9 working days, subject to space and flight availability with the carriers. Sea freight is roughly 6-10 weeks depending on sailing dates, with clearance time on top.

How much does it cost to ship luggage to South Africa? +

It's based on whichever is greater - actual weight or volumetric (size-based) weight. That's why two boxes of the same weight can price differently. We quote on your specific consignment before anything moves.

What does South Africa customs require? +

Can I ship a laptop or phone? +

Not with the battery in a standard shipment. Lithium batteries are Class 9 dangerous goods and are not accepted in an ordinary consignment. They can be packed and exported as declared dangerous goods if arranged beforehand.

👤

Lak Kharod, Director

Excess Luggage Co. • 40 years in the freight industry • MetEx House, Hounslow, next to Heathrow

“Most people have never exported before and think you put it in the box and send it. Tell us what is actually in the shipment — including anything with a battery in it — and we will tell you how it has to travel to South Africa.” Call 0800 096 38 39.

How to ship your luggagefrom the United Kingdom to South Africa