The UK’s 10 Best International Movers and Packers
When it comes to international moves and shipping furniture overseas there is a lot to consider. You want to ensure you have everything planned, from the location you’ve chosen to the international removals company you’re planning to use.
Hiring professional international removers helps protect your goods. This is thanks to Public Liability and Goods in Transit insurance. From helping you package your goods, to carrying them into your new home abroad, removal companies have a lot to offer.
Our network of international removal partners can help assist you with your moving and packing needs. This article covers the UK’s 10 best international movers and packers.
Here is a list of the UK’s 10 best international movers and packers. This is based on how many 5-star reviews our network of partners have received from customers:
| Ranking | Company | Area | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Intercity Removals | Cardiff | 5/5 |
2 | Izzy Removals | Surrey | 5/5 |
3 | City Moves | Swansea | 4.5/5 |
4 | DBM Express | North London | 5/5 |
5 | BMS Transport | South West London | 5/5 |
6 | My Safe Removals Ltd | London | 5/5 |
7 | JamVans | North London | 5/5 |
8 | Alpha Pro Removals Ltd | London | 5/5 |
9 | Sunlight Removals | London | 4.5/5 |
10 | Clockwork Removals | London | 4.5/5 |
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Here is some background information about each of the 10 best international removal companies we are partnered with:
1. Intercity Removal
Intercity Removals is our top international removals partner. 133 out of their 154 reviews are 5 stars, showing how valued they are. Based in Cardiff, they offer international removals and furniture storage.
Being a family-run company, they offer first-class service, and packing and loading. Their process is simple and efficient. The storage facilities used are secure and are monitored 24/7.
"The guys were brilliant. They were helpful, accommodating and friendly." - Raymond Pearce, Cardiff
2. Izzy Removals
Izzy Removals offer overseas moving and are based in Surrey. With 129 out of 148 reviews being 5 stars, it’s easy to see why they’re a popular choice. They also offer packing and storage services.
They pride themselves on their ability to deliver a high-quality service. Their storage facilities are CCTV monitored and waterproof. Izzy Removals can disassemble and reassemble items on request.
"Great service, very kind and helpful staff, on time and everything I asked for." - Maria, Guildford
3. City Moves
City Moves has an average rating of 4.5. 122 of their reviews out of 159 are five stars. They assist with international moving and are one of the biggest family-run companies in the UK.
City Moves are an award-winning company based in Swansea. Customer service is important to them. Their staff are highly trained, and they offer packing and storage services.
"City Moves were fantastic, and extremely helpful on moving day." - Lloyd Smart, Swansea
4. DBM Express
DBM Express is dedicated to providing a quality service that exceeds standards and expectations. They are an international removals company based in North London.
DBM offers packing services in addition to international moves. This helps take the stress out of the moving process. With 112 out of 117 5-star reviews, they’re a company you can rely on and trust.
"They have been so helpful and fixing any problem that they found and no ask was too much trouble.I cannot recommend them enough." - Douglas Ker, London West
5. BMS Transport
BMS Transport have a lot of experience in international removals and is based in South London. With 68 out of 80 5-star reviews, they’re a reliable and trustworthy company.
If you’re looking for a company that offers packing, dismantling, reassembling, and storage services - they are the perfect option.
"They were fantastic, from the first conversation through the whole process, they were efficient, courteous, helpful and careful." - Sharon Cranwell, Croydon
6. My Safe Removals Ltd
With 47 out of 51 5-star reviews, My Safe Removals Ltd are one of the best international removals companies to consider. They are reliable and offer a wide range of different removal size options.
My Safe Removals offers professional packing services and self-storage. Their units are all secure and waterproof and they are a London-based company.
"Very happy with the service from this company. They made a stressful day much better." - Matthew, London North
7. JamVans
JamVans are a North London-based international moving company. They provide a first-class service and have received 46 out of 47 5-star reviews. Their service can be relied upon and they have a team of fully trained removalists.
They also offer house removals, and packing and storage - covering all your requirements.
"Absolutely excellent! We moved countries in extremely difficult circumstances (borders closing in corona pandemic) and Nikki at JamVans was a true professional with a very cheerful attitude which made a huge difference." - Outi, London North
8. Alpha Pro Removals Ltd
Alpha Pro Removals Ltd provide international shipping to Europe and is based in London. They operate 7 days a week and the move team tailor their service to best suit your specific needs. The team are fully qualified and trained, taking the stress out of your international move.
The company offers packing and is covered by Goods in Transit and Public Liability Insurance. They have received 40 out of 44 5-star reviews.
"Everything went smoothly from communication to the actual removal and the payment procedure." - Anna, London South West
9. Sunlight Removals
Sunlight Removals are a great company, with 39 out of their 58 reviews being 5 stars. Based in London, they offer international removal services. From large homes to small flats, they can accommodate your move with ease.
Their team of experts will help you through every step of the process. They disassemble and reassemble goods upon request.
"The guys were all very accommodating and went out of their way completely to please us and to reassure us the move would be no problem." - Rob Smith, Sutton
10. Clockwork Removals
Clockwork Removals are a professional London international removals company. Being members of BAR, and receiving 34 out of 54 5-star reviews, they are a company you can rely on.
With over 30 years of experience, Clockwork removals can help you move quickly and efficiently. With packing and storage options available, they cover all the bases needed for an international move.
"Super. The guys who did the move were polite, careful, quick and experienced. Their customer service team were responsive and helpful." - Louise, London South East
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How We Selected These Companies
We reviewed partners offering international removals and packing services. We included small and large companies from across the UK. Allowing you to make an informed decision on which company is most suitable option.
Our team reviewed over 100 international removal companies, taking into consideration international removal locations, reviews and prices to compile this list.
Each partner was scored against their independent review score. Real customers are encouraged to leave a review on their experience with their international removal company. The reviews are based on the following: customer service, moving day, and value for money.
These scores determined the ranking of each international removal company.
We considered a combination of factors to determine the UK's 10 Best International Movers and Packers. All companies have passed our strict verification process. To pass verification, companies must show proof of:
- Professional Company Checks: we make sure that the company is legitimate before proceeding. We run a variety of professional company checks to ensure that they are a trustworthy and reliable business.
- Insurance and Safety: all our removal partners must be fully covered with Goods in Transit and Public Liability insurance. This means your goods are covered during transit.
- Online Presence: all partners must have a website or Facebook page that provides basic information. The page must be up-to-date with contact and location details.
- Positive Company Reviews: we only partner with the best removal companies across the country. This means that we look at the reviews the company has received to ensure that they are trustworthy.
- Qualifications and Certifications: we consider the qualifications and certifications of the company. For example, our conveyancing partners must be regulated by either the SRA, CLC, LSNI, LSS, or CILEX.
- Code of Practice: once accepted, our partners must agree to operate by our code of practice. This is a set of rules to ensure that they offer the best service. It includes contacting the customer within 48 hours and ensuring that the staff is fully trained and qualified.
Once a partner is accepted onto our network, we monitor them to ensure they are meeting our high standards.
Why Use an International Removals Company?
Moving house can be stressful, especially when you add international travel into this. It’s useful to hire a professional company to provide you with a helping hand.
Here are some reasons why using an international removals company is useful:
Experts in the Field
International removalists are experts in their field. This takes the stress out of the removal process as they have experience moving household goods abroad. It saves you from having to organise their own transportation, which can be challenging.
As the companies are covered by Goods in Transit and Public Liability Insurance, your goods are protected during transportation. As the service is door to door, you know your goods are safe.
No Unexpected Charges
When you hire an international removals company the quote you receive will cover the shipping and any additional charges. You don’t need to worry about extra charges that occur if you organise a move independently.
Extra Services
Many removals companies offer extra services in addition to international removals. Some of these services include:
Packing/Dismantling
Given the distance your goods will travel, hiring a professional packer is useful. They arrive at the property a few days before the removal date and pack each room up for you.
If you have larger items such as beds, dining tables or settees, they can dismantle these so you don’t have to worry about doing this yourself.
Self-Storage
If there is a gap between leaving your previous home and moving into your new home, you may benefit from using a self-storage service.
There are many self-storage options to consider. This depends on your moving plan, from the size of the storage containers needed, to the amount of time you need to hire this service.
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International Shipping Options
When it comes to international shipping, there are 4 different options. The shipping services you choose will depend on your preferences and needs:
Air Freight
Air freight is the quickest international shipping option, but it’s also the most expensive.
Air freight is based on the weight of the goods, and the costs can quickly add up if you’re looking to ship the contents of an entire house.
Sea Freight
Sea freight is slower than air freight, but it allows you to ship more goods at a lower cost. You choose between a 20ft and 40ft container to fill with your goods.
While it can take over double the amount of time compared to air freight, you pay for the cost of the container and shipping, not the weight of the goods.
Road and Rail Freight
Road and rail freight are useful if you’re relocating from the UK to a European country. It’s not too expensive and is a cost-effective option.
It’s quicker than sea freight, and there are several different van sizes to choose from. You can household goods long distances with ease, and the removalists will choose the quickest delivery route.
Part-Load
If you’re looking to ship a smaller number of goods, you would benefit from a part-load service. You share a container or transportation with other movers. You pay for the space you use, which helps to cut costs.
It typically takes longer to arrive. This is because removals companies need to wait for all the goods to be delivered, and organise these.
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The Cost of an International Removal Company
There are many costs and figures to factor into an international move, such as:
- The country of relocation
- The number of goods being shipped
- The international removals company
- The distance travelled
- Any additional services used
Here is a table of the average costs of relocation to the 10 most popular countries for Brits. These figures are based on our Container Shipping Costs research and our international removals articles:
| Country | 20ft Container | 40ft Container | Air Freight |
|---|---|---|---|
1. New Zealand | £3,200 | £5,750 | £6000 - £7500 |
2. Australia | £2,711 | £5,258 | £7,500 - £10,500 |
3. USA | £4,109 | £6,080 | £4,000 - £7,000 |
4. Canada | £2,221 | £2,972 | N/A |
5. South Africa | £4,895 | £9,290 | £410 (per 500 kilos) |
6. France | £880 | £1,415 | N/A |
7. Germany | £767 | £953 | £2545 - £2813 |
8. Ireland | £836 | £1,588 | N/A |
9. Italy | £800 | £1,950 | £2 per kilo |
10. Netherlands | £768 | £1,248 | N/A |
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How to Choose the Best International Removal Company for You
When it comes to choosing the best removal company, there are a few factors to consider, such as:
- Reviews of the company
- Ask for a detailed international removals quote
- Has the relevant experience and insurance
- Ships to the relocation destination
- Additional services offered
- Whether they're a member of FIDI or BAR Overseas Moving Group
Our Ultimate Moving Abroad Checklist covers everything you need to know about international relocation.
There are so many international moving companies to choose from. For more information on services, use our international removals form. This places you in contact with up to 6 of our reliable partners that can assist you with your move.
