Shipping a Container to Portugal from the UK
Whether you’re shipping a full household or just a few large items, the cost of getting a container to Portugal comes down to three things: how much you’re sending, how fast you need it there, and how you handle post-Brexit customs paperwork.
Container Sizes & Transit Times
- 20ft container: Suits a one- or two-bedroom household. Road freight transit typically takes 3-5 days.
- 40ft container: Covers a three-bedroom-plus household, on the same 3-5 day transit.
- Groupage / shared space: Your goods share a container with others, usually 12-15m³ for a one-bedroom load; it adds a few extra days while the container is consolidated.
Average Container Shipping Cost
- 20ft container: £1,800-£2,800.
- 40ft container: £2,800-£4,200, cheaper per cubic metre than a 20ft box once you’re shipping that much.
- Groupage: Roughly £90-£150 per cubic metre, so a one-bedroom load typically comes to £1,100-£2,000.
What to Prepare for Customs
- A full, itemised inventory of everything in the shipment
- Proof of UK residency and evidence you’re relocating permanently, needed to import used household goods duty-free
- Extra lead time if any part of the delivery needs a smaller vehicle for narrow streets in older Portuguese towns
Good to know: shipments with a complete, accurate inventory usually clear Portuguese customs within 3-5 working days of arrival; incomplete paperwork is the most common cause of delay.
Get Your Container Shipping Quotes
Tell us what you’re shipping and your postcode at each end. Within one working day, we match you with up to 5 vetted carriers experienced on the UK-Portugal route.
Get free, no-obligation quotes and see what shipping your container to Portugal will actually cost.
