UK to United States
UK to United StatesContainer Shipping from the UK to United States
Transatlantic sailings to the East Coast in around a fortnight, plus West Coast coverage, with NVOCC partners at every major gateway for onward rail and truck delivery.
International shipping to and from United States (US) runs through Los Angeles (USLAX), Long Beach (USLGB) and New York / New Jersey (USNYC). We ship full container loads from the UK to every one of them, with sea transit of 12–30 days port to port and air freight in 1–3 days. Groupage cargo is consolidated at our UK warehouses before sailing. We collect from any UK address and handle export clearance with HMRC and import clearance at the far end.
UK to United States at a glance
Indicative figures for planning. Transit is port to port and excludes collection, customs and delivery. The rates above are starting prices for the freight only, each shown with the unit it is charged in — they are not shipment totals. What you actually pay depends on your volume or weight, the exact route, and any customs, collection and delivery. Anything marked on request is a service we have not recorded on this lane — that is not the same as there being none, so ask and we will confirm what is arrangeable.
Port options from the UK to United States
Every pair below is bookable. The gateway that suits you is usually the one nearest your cargo rather than the one nearest the other end — on most lanes the inland leg is where the avoidable cost sits.
Rates on this lane are quoted per shipment rather than published, because they move with space, fuel and the commodity. Send us the route and we will come back with a firm all-in figure. Transit marked port average is the indicative range for that port rather than a figure specific to the pair. FCL ✓ means full container load is confirmed on that pair; LCL ? means we have no groupage service recorded for it yet — ask us, because one may still be arrangeable.
Duty, restrictions and paperwork for United States
What you can send, what United States charges on import, which goods need a permit, the documents your consignee files at the far end, and the export paperwork you file here — all of it is on the United States country page, kept in one place so there is a single answer to maintain rather than two that drift apart.
Shipping to United States: the full guideA recent shipment: [CLIENT, SECTOR] was sending [CARGO] to [CITY] and had two consignments held because their buyer had no importer registration. We sorted the registration, cleared both, and the lane has run to [FREQUENCY] since.
How it works
Shipping from the UK to United States, step by step
Quote and book
Send us the collection postcode, the destination in United States, and what you are shipping. We come back with an all-in landed figure and hold space on the next suitable sailing.
Collection and loading
We collect from your premises anywhere in the UK and deliver into Southampton — or whichever gateway suits your postcode and the sailing — for loading.
Export clearance
We file the UK export declaration with HMRC against your GB EORI and raise the bill of lading before the vessel sails.
Arrival and delivery
We clear the goods into United States, settle duty and tax with your consignee, and arrange onward delivery from the arrival port.
Shipping from the UK to United States: common questions
How long does shipping from the UK to United States take?
Sea transit runs 12–30 days port to port depending on the gateway and the service. Add roughly a week either side for collection, customs and delivery to get a realistic door-to-door figure. Groupage adds a further five to eleven days because the container has to be filled at one end and stripped at the other.
Which UK port should I ship from?
Usually the one nearest your cargo rather than the one nearest the destination — the inland leg is where the avoidable cost sits. Southampton is our default for Americas lanes, but Liverpool and Felixstowe often work out cheaper door to door if you are loading nearby.
What does it cost to ship a container from the UK to United States?
It depends on the container size, the port pair and the sailing, so we price each shipment rather than publishing a single rate. Send us the route and the cargo and we will come back with an all-in landed figure — freight, clearance, duty and delivery — rather than an ocean rate you have to add to later.
Who pays the import duty in United States?
Your consignee, under every Incoterm except DDP. If you have agreed DDP you are liable for it, which means you need to know the destination rate before you price the sale rather than after. Settle the Incoterm before booking — it is the single most common source of argument on an export.
Do I need an EORI number to export from the UK?
Yes. A GB EORI is required for any commercial export and the declaration cannot be filed without one. Registration is free through HMRC and usually issued within a few working days. If you do not have one we will tell you at booking, not when the vessel is loading.
Related routes
Shipping less than a full container? See LCL groupage for per-cubic-metre pricing, or full container load once your cargo fills 15 cubic metres. We also handle customs clearance at both ends and marine cargo insurance on the same booking. Full country detail sits on the United States page.
Shipping from the UK to United States? Get a quote.
Any country to any country, import or export — send us the origin, destination and cargo details and we'll come back with a competitive rate within one business day.