Moving overseas is one of the biggest logistical projects most people ever take on — and one of the hardest to budget for, because the final number depends on so many moving parts. If you’re relocating from New Jersey, New York, or anywhere in the tri-state area, this guide breaks down exactly what drives the cost of an international move, so you know what you’re looking at before you request a quote.

What Determines the Cost of an International Move

There’s no single “average price” for an international move, because the cost is really the sum of several separate decisions. Here’s what actually moves the number up or down.

1. Volume and Weight of Your Shipment

International movers typically price by volume (cubic feet or cubic meters) or by container/crate size, not by the flat per-mile rate you’d see with a local move. A studio apartment’s worth of belongings and a full four-bedroom household are not in the same conversation.

• Partial household (few boxes, some furniture): Smallest shipments, often consolidated with other customers’ goods to share container space
• Full household: Usually fills a significant portion of, or an entire, shipping container
• Downsizing before you move: Selling or donating furniture you won’t need overseas is one of the most effective ways to control cost

2. Sea Freight vs. Air Freight

This is usually the single biggest cost decision in the entire move. Sea freight is dramatically cheaper for large households but takes weeks; air freight is fast but priced by weight, which adds up quickly for furniture. Most people end up using a hybrid approach — sea freight for the bulk of their household, air freight for a small set of essentials they need immediately.

Related reading: read our full sea freight vs. air freight comparison.

3. Origin and Destination

Distance matters, but so does accessibility. A move from Newark to a major port city with direct shipping lines is more straightforward — and often less expensive — than a move to a landlocked region or a country with limited direct freight routes, which may require an extra leg of ground transport on the other end.

4. Customs, Duties, and Documentation

Every country has its own import rules, and getting them wrong is one of the most common (and expensive) mistakes in international moving. Costs here include:

• Customs clearance fees
• Import duties, which vary by country and by the age/value of your goods
• Documentation and inventory preparation
• Potential storage fees if paperwork isn’t ready when your shipment arrives

A moving company that handles customs clearance directly, rather than leaving you to coordinate with a broker yourself, is worth the extra line item — customs delays can cost far more in storage fees than the clearance service itself.

5. Packing and Insurance

Professional export-grade packing (built to survive weeks at sea, not just a moving truck) costs more upfront but protects against damage claims that are far more painful to sort out once your shipment has left the country. Insurance coverage level is a separate decision worth making deliberately rather than defaulting to the minimum.

6. Additional Services

• Storage — short-term storage while you finalize housing on the other end, or longer-term storage if there’s a gap between move-out and move-in
• Specialty items — pianos, fine art, antiques, and vehicles typically require separate handling and pricing
• Door-to-door vs. port-to-port — full-service delivery to your new address costs more than picking up your shipment at the destination port yourself, but eliminates a major logistical headache

A Realistic Way to Think About the Total

Rather than looking for one number, it helps to think of your move in three cost categories:

Category	What’s Included	Typical Cost Drivers
Freight	Sea or air transport of your goods	Volume/weight, route, sea vs. air
Origin/Destination Services	Packing, loading, customs, delivery	Packing level, customs complexity, door-to-door vs. port
Optional Add-Ons	Storage, insurance upgrade, specialty items	How long you need storage, declared value, item type

Why a Detailed Quote Matters More Than a Fast One

A quote that only asks for your zip code and a rough box count can’t account for any of the factors above — which is exactly how people end up with a number that changes significantly once the movers actually see the shipment. A proper international moving quote should be based on either an in-home (or video) survey or a detailed inventory list, and should clearly separate freight, origin/destination services, and optional add-ons so you can see where your money is going.

Getting an Accurate Quote from Inter Movers

Inter Movers has spent 25+ years managing international relocations for families and businesses out of Newark, NJ, serving the greater NJ/NY area and beyond. We handle packing, customs clearance, sea and air freight, and door-to-door delivery — so the quote you get reflects what your move will actually cost, not a placeholder number.

Ready to plan your move? Get a free international moving quote today.

FAQ

How far in advance should I get an international moving quote?

Most moving companies recommend getting quotes 8–12 weeks before your target move date, especially for sea freight, which needs more lead time for booking and customs preparation.

Is sea freight or air freight cheaper for a full household?

Sea freight is almost always significantly cheaper for full households. Air freight is priced by weight and becomes very expensive once furniture and large items are involved, which is why most full-household moves default to sea freight with air freight reserved for essentials.

Does the quote include customs duties?

Not usually — duties are set by the destination country’s government, not the moving company, and vary based on the value and nature of your goods. A good moving company will estimate likely duties for you and handle the clearance paperwork, but the actual duty amount is paid separately.

What’s the biggest cost mistake people make with international moves?

Underestimating packing needs. Export-grade packing for a multi-week sea voyage is a different standard than packing for a local move, and skimping here is the most common cause of damage claims.

Can I reduce my international moving cost?

Yes — the most effective levers are downsizing before you move (less volume = lower freight cost), choosing port-to-port instead of full door-to-door if you’re comfortable coordinating the last leg yourself, and booking early enough to avoid rush fees.