The Complete Removal Guide

Shipping costs from the UK to India depend on volume, shipping method, destination city, and additional services like packing or customs clearance support.

Here is a general price guide for sea freight:

A shared groupage container (1 to 5 cubic metres) from London to Mumbai costs approximately £800 to £1,800.

A small move of 5 to 15 cubic metres in a shared container typically runs £1,500 to £3,500. A full 20-foot container, which holds roughly 25 to 30 cubic metres of household goods, starts around £3,500 to £5,500. A 40-foot container for larger homes starts at approximately £5,000 to £8,000.

Air freight is charged by weight.

Rates generally range from £5 to £12 per kilogram from the UK to India, making it cost-prohibitive for anything beyond a few suitcases worth of urgent documents or valuables.

These figures do not include Indian import duties, port handling charges, or customs examination fees, which are the responsibility of the receiver.

In some cases, used household goods shipped by returning NRIs qualify for duty-free entry under India's Transfer of Residence (ToR) scheme, which can save a significant sum.

Call Giant Van on for a tailored quote based on your exact inventory and destination address in India.

If you are based in the UK and planning to ship household goods or personal effects to India, there are several UK-specific factors worth understanding before you book.

Export declarations from the UK are required for shipments of used household goods.

Since Brexit, UK customs procedures have changed for international removals. Giant Van handles all UK export documentation as part of the service.

The Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief scheme allows eligible individuals to import used personal belongings duty-free when permanently relocating to India from the UK.

To qualify, you must have lived outside India for at least two years, and you must arrive in India before your goods or within a defined window. The ToR scheme does not apply to gifts, new goods, or commercial items.

Used household goods that do not qualify under ToR attract Indian customs duties.

Basic customs duty on used household goods and personal effects is currently 35%, plus applicable IGST (Integrated Goods and Services Tax). For a full container, these charges can be substantial, so it is worth understanding your eligibility before packing new items.

HMRC requires that goods leave the UK within six months of being packed.

In practice, most shipments leave within days of collection.

If you are shipping from Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, Giant Van operates collections nationwide.

We work with regional hauliers to bring your goods to the relevant UK port at no extra cost in most cases.