Overview

Household goods shipping is the packing, transit, customs clearance, and delivery of an employee’s personal property as part of a corporate relocation. ARC coordinates household goods shipments across the US and into more than 85 countries through a vetted global carrier network, using proprietary technology to compare mover rates and service quality before each booking. Domestic moves typically take 1 to 14 days, international sea freight runs 4 to 10 weeks depending on destination, and the average corporate household goods shipment costs $5,000 to $15,000 domestically and $10,000 to $30,000+ internationally.

• What it covers: packing, loading, freight transit, customs clearance, delivery, and unpacking
• Domestic vs international: domestic moves are days; international moves are weeks-to-months with customs and documentation requirements
• Cost drivers: distance, household size, shipping method (sea, air, land), and destination country
• ARC’s role: program coordination, carrier selection, documentation oversight, and a single point of contact for HR and the employee
• Federal experience: ARC runs ~1,600 international household goods shipments annually for US Customs Agent placements worldwide

Household goods shipping is the transportation of an employee’s personal belongings from one home to another as part of a relocation. The work covers packing the home, loading the truck or container, transit by sea/air/road, customs documentation and clearance for international moves, delivery at destination, and unpacking.

For a corporate relocation, household goods shipping is one of the most visible and expensive line items in the program. Done well, the employee shows up at their new home with their belongings intact and on time. Done poorly, the shipment sits in a port for three weeks accruing storage fees while the employee buys replacement clothes and dishes on the company card.

ARC’s role on the household goods side is coordination, not direct transport. We select carriers from a vetted global network, manage the documentation and customs work, oversee the move from origin survey through final delivery, and provide a single point of contact so HR and the employee aren’t chasing the moving company directly.

Domestic vs. International Household Goods Shipping

These are genuinely different products and need to be planned differently.

Domestic shipping moves within a single country, typically by road for moves under 1,500 miles and by a combination of road and rail for longer distances. Timelines run 1 to 14 days. Documentation is straightforward (inventory, bill of lading, insurance certificate). Costs are driven by distance, household size, and accessorial services like specialty packing.

International shipping crosses borders and adds layers of complexity that don’t exist domestically. Customs documentation has to be precise. Restricted items vary by country. Transit times stretch from weeks to months depending on destination and shipping method. Costs are higher and have more variables — base freight, terminal handling, customs duties (sometimes), destination delivery, demurrage if anything sits too long. Insurance and valuation rules change between countries.

Most corporate relocation programs handle both. The skill is knowing which shipping method, container size, and carrier fits each specific move, because the wrong choice on an international move can mean weeks of delays the employer ends up paying for.

Work With an ARC Household Goods Shipping Counselor

Shipping Methods: Sea, Air, and Land

Three transport modes cover essentially every household goods shipment, and the choice depends on distance, urgency, budget, and destination.

• Sea freight is the standard for international household goods. Transit times run 4 to 6 weeks door-to-door from the US to Europe, 6 to 10 weeks to Asia and Australia, and longer for emerging market destinations. Sea is the most cost-effective method for full household shipments and accommodates the largest volumes. Two container options exist: full container load (FCL) for whole-home shipments and less-than-container load (LCL) for partial shipments that share container space with other shipments.
• Air freight moves household goods in 3 to 10 days but costs three to five times more than sea freight for the same volume. Most corporate policies use air freight for a small “essentials” shipment (clothing, work materials, kids’ items) that arrives in week one while the full sea freight shipment is in transit. Full air shipments are rare and usually reserved for emergency relocations or short-term assignments.
• Land freight covers domestic moves and cross-border road transport (US to Canada, US to Mexico, intra-EU). Transit times depend on distance, with US cross-country moves typically taking 7 to 14 days. Land freight is the dominant mode for domestic moves and the only option for landlocked destinations served by road.

Most international moves combine modes — an air shipment for immediate needs and a sea shipment for the bulk of the household. The split adds coordination work but gets the family functional faster.

Get Tips for Choosing a Household Goods Mover

Container Sizes and What They Hold

International household goods shipments are priced and planned around container space.

• 20-foot container (FCL). Roughly 1,150 cubic feet of usable space. Fits the contents of a 1 to 2 bedroom apartment or small family home. Common for single executives, couples, or families willing to ship less.
• 40-foot container (FCL). Roughly 2,400 cubic feet. Fits a 3 to 4 bedroom home. The standard for family relocations with full household contents.
• 40-foot high-cube container. Same footprint as the 40-foot but with an extra foot of height (roughly 2,700 cubic feet). Useful for tall furniture or larger households.
• LCL (less-than-container-load). Shipment shares space with other shipments in a consolidated container. Priced by cubic meter or cubic foot. Best for partial shipments under 500 cubic feet, though transit times run 1 to 2 weeks longer than FCL because of consolidation and deconsolidation at both ends.

The origin survey is where the container call gets made. A move coordinator visits the home, inventories the household, and recommends the appropriate container based on volume and destination. Getting this right matters because under-sizing forces leaving items behind and over-sizing pays for empty space.

The Household Goods Shipping Process

A standard international household goods shipment runs through eight stages from kickoff to delivery.

Stage 1: Pre-move survey. A move coordinator visits the home to inventory contents, identify special items (pianos, art, vehicles, antiques), and recommend container size. This usually happens 4 to 8 weeks before the moving date.

Stage 2: Carrier selection and quoting. ARC compares quotes across the carrier network based on the survey, factoring in carrier performance in the destination country, transit time, and cost. The employee and HR review and approve before booking.

Stage 3: Documentation preparation. Customs forms, valuation declarations, packing lists, and any country-specific paperwork get prepared. For international moves, this includes inventory translation when required and any required apostille or legalization.

Stage 4: Packing and loading. A professional packing crew arrives at the home, typically 1 to 2 days before pickup. They wrap, box, and inventory every item, then load the container or truck. For international moves, the container is sealed and the seal number recorded on the bill of lading.

Stage 5: Transit. Sea freight goes to port, loads onto a vessel, and sails. Air freight goes to an airport and ships. Land freight drives. The employee gets tracking information and milestone updates throughout.

Stage 6: Customs clearance. At the destination port or airport, the shipment clears customs. This is where preparation pays off — clean documentation moves through in days, problematic documentation can sit for weeks accruing storage fees.

Stage 7: Destination delivery. The shipment is trucked from the port to the new home. For international moves, a destination agent handles in-country logistics including any required permits for delivery access.

Stage 8: Unpacking and claims. The crew unpacks at destination, removes packing materials, and walks through the inventory with the employee. Any damage claims get filed within the policy window.

Total time from packing day to settled-in-new-home runs 1 to 2 weeks domestically and 6 to 14 weeks internationally depending on destination.

How Much Does Household Goods Shipping Cost?

Costs vary by distance, household size, shipping method, and destination, though most corporate moves fall into predictable ranges.

Domestic US household goods shipping:

• Local moves (under 100 miles): $1,000 to $5,000
• Intrastate (100-500 miles): $2,500 to $8,000
• Interstate cross-country: $5,000 to $15,000 for an average 3-bedroom household
• Long-distance with full-service packing and storage: $10,000 to $20,000+

International household goods shipping:

• 20-foot FCL sea freight US to Western Europe: $5,000 to $10,000 base freight
• 40-foot FCL sea freight US to Western Europe: $8,000 to $15,000 base freight
• LCL sea freight US to Europe: $1,500 to $5,000 for partial shipment
• Air freight US to Europe: $10,000 to $25,000 for similar volume to a 20-foot container
• US to Asia/Australia destinations: 30% to 50% higher than European equivalents

These are base freight numbers. Total cost to the company runs higher once packing, customs handling, destination delivery, marine insurance, and any storage are added. Total international household goods shipping costs for a typical family relocation usually land between $15,000 and $35,000.

You can get a closer estimate using our relocation cost calculator or by talking to our team about your specific destinations and program volume.

How ARC Coordinates Household Goods Shipping

A few things separate ARC’s approach from working directly with a moving company or freight forwarder.

Carrier network and AI-backed comparison. ARC has built a vetted global carrier network and a proprietary technology platform that compares carrier rates, performance data, and customer feedback for each specific origin-destination pair. When a new move comes in, the system surfaces the carriers most likely to deliver on time and on budget for that exact lane, not just the lowest bidder. That data layer is something individual moving companies can’t replicate.

Single point of contact. Your HR team and the transferring employee both work with one ARC counselor who owns the shipment from kickoff to delivery. No coordinating between movers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and destination agents — the counselor handles that on the back end.

Government experience at scale. ARC runs approximately 1,600 international household goods shipments per year for US Customs Agent placements worldwide, plus shipments for the IRS, State Department, and other federal agencies. That volume and that level of customs compliance scrutiny is something most private movers don’t approach.

Independence and no franchise affiliations. ARC isn’t owned by a van line or moving company, which means we recommend the carrier that fits the move rather than the one we’re obligated to use. Better fit, better outcomes.

Integrated relocation context. Household goods shipping doesn’t happen in isolation — it has to coordinate with visa timing, temporary housing, destination services, and the employee’s start date. ARC manages all of that as one program, so the shipment doesn’t arrive before the new home is ready or sit in storage because the visa got delayed.

Household Goods Shipping FAQs

How much does it cost to ship household goods internationally?

Total international household goods shipping costs for a typical family relocation usually run $15,000 to $35,000, with base freight ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 depending on container size and destination. Asia and Australia destinations cost 30% to 50% more than Western European equivalents.

How long does it take to ship household goods overseas?

Standard sea freight runs 4 to 6 weeks door-to-door from the US to Western Europe and 6 to 10 weeks to Asia and Australia. Air freight cuts transit time to 3 to 10 days at three to five times the cost. Total time from packing day to settled-in-new-home is usually 6 to 14 weeks for international moves.

What’s the difference between FCL and LCL shipping?

FCL (full container load) means the employee’s shipment fills an entire 20-foot or 40-foot container and ships as a sealed unit. LCL (less-than-container-load) shares container space with other shipments and is priced by cubic measurement. LCL is cheaper for small shipments but adds 1 to 2 weeks to transit because of consolidation handling at both ends.

Are there items that can’t be shipped internationally?

Yes, restricted and prohibited items vary by destination. Common universal restrictions include hazardous materials, certain food items, plants and seeds, and firearms in many countries. Each destination has specific rules, and ARC’s counselors review the restricted list with each employee before packing.

What insurance is included for household goods shipping?

Corporate relocation programs typically include full value protection coverage that reimburses the actual replacement value of damaged or lost items, subject to a deductible. International shipments add marine insurance covering pickup-to-delivery transit. Coverage levels and deductibles vary, and ARC walks through the specifics during the pre-move survey.

Does ARC handle storage if the employee isn’t ready to receive their shipment?

Yes. Storage-in-transit (SIT) and longer-term storage at origin or destination are standard parts of the household goods shipping program. Most policies cover storage for a defined period, and ARC’s counselor coordinates the timing so the shipment delivers when the new home is ready.

Can ARC handle vehicle shipping with household goods?

Yes, though vehicle shipping usually books separately from household goods because the documentation, customs rules, and carriers are different. For international moves, ARC also walks through whether shipping the vehicle makes financial sense for the specific destination, since compliance modifications in some countries exceed the value of the car.

What happens if items are damaged during shipping?

Damage claims get filed within the policy window after delivery, usually 30 to 60 days depending on the carrier. The ARC counselor walks the employee through the inventory at delivery to identify any damage and supports the claims process from there. Full value protection coverage reimburses at replacement value subject to the deductible.