Konnect You was formerly Compare My Move. Learn more.
*Based on real prices from thousands of Konnect You users.
Here at Konnect You, we connect you with up to 6 international removal companies for home moves to Australia.
Moving to Australia is a big step. With over 1 million Brits already living there, the move down under is a well-worn path, but the distance can still make the process feel daunting.
Our free service helps you find trusted international removal companies suited to your move. You can review your options, understand what is included and choose a company that offers good value for money.
The companies in our network are checked for the things that matter. They are trusted, reviewed and covered by Goods in Transit and Public Liability Insurance, so you can feel more confident about who is handling your belongings.
They have helped thousands of people emigrate and can support you through each stage of your move, from planning your shipment to getting your belongings safely to Australia.
Fill in our form to connect with international removal companies in the UK.
Before you decide to relocate to Australia, you need to consider your shipping options and the costs of those available. Given Australia is almost 9,500km away from the UK, road and rail freight isn’t plausible for the entire journey.
The three available shipping options are:
The majority of people will choose a combination of sea and air freight when shipping furniture overseas, but part-load is a useful option for those with fewer goods to transport. The option you select will be based on your budget and the number of items you need to ship.
When shipping to Australia, you need to consider customs clearance, along with the items you legally can and cannot ship. If you don’t follow the correct shipping rules, this will impact the time it takes to receive your goods.
Sea freight tends to be the best option for shipping goods to Australia, and it will take around 8 weeks for your goods to arrive. The container sizes are large and you can typically fit the contents of an entire 3-bed house into a 20 or 40-ft container.
The only downside to sea freight is the time it takes to reach Australia. Even so, it provides the best value for money and it’s the most cost-effective method of relocating on a budget.
With over 8 significant ports in Australia, there are options in both cities and regional areas. The main shipping ports are Fremantle, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Your goods can be shipped by the removals company to the nearest port.
Road freight is usually part of the final stage of a move to Australia. Your belongings will travel most of the way by sea or air, then a removal company will use road transport to move them from the port, depot or airport to your new home.
Delivery times can vary depending on where you are moving to. Major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide are usually more straightforward to reach, while rural or remote areas can take longer.
Australia is a large country, so distance matters once your shipment arrives. If your new home is far from the arrival port, road freight may add extra time and cost to your move.
A trusted international removal company can explain the full route, likely delivery times and any access issues before your belongings are moved.
If you only have several items, part-load is a useful option to consider. This allows you to share shipping freight with others. By choosing this method, you’re cutting the cost of shipping significantly. You’re not taking up any unnecessary room, helping to reduce carbon emissions.
Part-load via sea freight does take longer than shipping a container filled entirely with your goods. This is due to the container being shared with others, and the delivery and waiting times involved. Once shipped you can expect your goods to arrive within 29-34 days.
You need to be mindful of the size of the items you ship when choosing part-load as you will only have a limited amount of space. Given that goods are tightly packaged, this helps protect fragile items, and it requires less handling in general.
Air freight is a favourable option for many given how quickly goods arrive. Depending on the type of delivery chosen, goods often arrive within 3-10 days.
If you’re looking to ship a smaller amount of important goods air freight can be useful. But while it may be quicker, it’s significantly more expensive. The cost of air freight is calculated on the weight of the items, and you’re limited to shipping smaller goods.
Items such as vehicles or furniture will need to arrive via sea freight. This is why a combination of sea and air freight is a popular choice.
The cost of shipping furniture to Australia is dependent on several factors such as:
Here are the average sea freight shipping costs from the UK to Australia:
| Shipping Size | Cost |
|---|---|
| 20ft Container | £2,711 |
| 40ft Container | £5,258 |
The cost of air freight is significantly higher than this. If you shipped the contents of a 4-bed house, this could cost from around £5,809. This is based on MoveHub figures.
This is why it’s good to opt for sea freight for the larger items as it’s not based on weight, even if you are looking for furniture removals.
Part-load will cut the cost of both options as you’re using less space, and shipping fewer goods. To find out more about part loads, our Part Load and Small Removals article covers everything you need to know. Read more with our guide on shipping container UK to Australia.
Services, such as door-to-door, packing, and self-storage come at an additional charge.
When you arrive in Australia, you will need to provide these documents:
Pets need to pass biosecurity regulations. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry website contains more information on this.
For any additional documentation requirements, visit the Australian High Commission website.
The Australia Visa Finder service will help you find the right visa. The visa application process takes around 6-8 months to complete.
