All-Inclusive Moving
LCL Container Shipping for International Moves
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Over 1,500 moves completed
Share a Container, Reduce Your Moving Costs
Share a Container, Reduce Your Moving Costs
Shared container moving lets you ship your belongings alongside other customers’ shipments, paying only for the space you use. Ideal for small and medium-sized international moves, this option requires some flexibility on timing. Easygroupage supports you from collection and secure storage through to delivery at your destination.
How Your Shared Container Move Works
From quote approval to final delivery, discover how Easygroupage organises your international shared container move, including storage, consolidation and shipment tracking.
Plan Your Move With an Expert
Once you approve your quote, your Easygroupage adviser confirms your destination, key dates, estimated volume, access conditions and the belongings you want to ship. This helps us check that shared container moving is the right option for you.
A common mistake is to focus on price alone without considering transit times. Groupage is ideal when you have a smaller shipment and can accept a more flexible schedule than with a dedicated container.
Prepare Your Inventory and Documents
Easygroupage helps you prepare your inventory, the information needed for insurance and the documents required for your destination. Even for a small shipment, accurate paperwork makes tracking, customs clearance and final delivery easier.
Avoid vague descriptions and flag fragile, electronic or regulated items. You share the container, but each customer’s shipment is individually identified and must have a complete file.
Collection and Professional Packing
On the agreed date, your belongings are collected and transferred into Easygroupage’s logistics network. Packing must protect furniture and boxes during handling, storage, loading and sea freight.
Before collection, clearly separate what will go in the shared container, what stays with you and anything that may need to travel by air. Always keep passports, medication, keys, documents and essential items with you.
Secure Storage Before Departure
After collection, your belongings are taken to a secure warehouse or storage facility. They remain there while a suitable shared container is assembled for your destination.
This is why the collection date may differ from the vessel’s departure date. It is not necessarily an unexpected delay: consolidation is how shared container shipping spreads costs across several moves.
Loading the Shared Container
Once the consolidated shipment is ready, individual consignments are loaded into the same shipping container. Your belongings share the space with other customers’ goods but remain identifiable through your file, inventory and logistics records.
Loading is planned to make efficient use of space while protecting your possessions. To avoid discrepancies, finalise your inventory before collection and do not add boxes or furniture at the last minute.
Sea Freight and Shipment Tracking
The shared container travels to the departure port and is loaded onto an international shipping service. Depending on the destination, the route may be direct or include transshipment.
Easygroupage monitors the key milestones and keeps you informed. Sea transit is only one part of the overall timeline: allow time for consolidation before departure, port handling, customs clearance and final delivery.
Customs Clearance and Final Delivery
On arrival, import formalities are handled according to the destination country’s rules and the documents supplied. Shared container shipping does not remove customs requirements: each customer’s paperwork must be complete and compliant.
Once your goods are released, delivery is arranged to the agreed address. Stay contactable, confirm access details and inspect your boxes on receipt. If your home is not ready, storage options may be considered depending on your move.
Which International Moving Option Is Right for You?
The best option depends on your shipment volume, budget, timeframe and destination. Shared container shipping is especially suitable for small and medium-sized moves, while a dedicated container is generally better for larger shipments. If you need essential belongings immediately after arrival, air freight may be more appropriate.
Solution
Budget
Speed
Volume
Best for
Shared container (LCL)
2–15 m³
Saving money without booking a full container
Dedicated container (FCL)
15 m³+
Whole-home moves or tighter schedules
Air freight
< 1 m3
Urgently needed personal belongings
- All-inclusive door-to-door moving
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Why Choose Shared Container Moving?
Shared container shipping can reduce the cost of an international move while providing coordinated logistics, reliable tracking and advice tailored to your needs.
Shared Container Moving: Costs and Transit Times
What affects the price?
The cost of shared container moving mainly depends on shipment volume, destination, access conditions, packing services, customs formalities, insurance and final delivery. Contrary to popular belief, you are not paying for sea freight alone: depending on the services selected, your quote may include collection, secure storage, container consolidation, shipping, customs coordination and delivery.
Why do transit times vary?
The full timeline includes collection, temporary storage, consolidation into a shared container, sea freight, port handling, customs clearance and delivery. A common misconception is that belongings leave as soon as they are collected. In reality, they may spend several weeks in secure storage while the container is filled efficiently before departure.
Our tips for planning your move
- Get an accurate volume estimate to avoid adjustments to your quote.
- Keep essential belongings with you for your first weeks at your destination.
- Book as soon as your plans are confirmed to give the logistics team more time to organise your shipment.
- Compare shipping options: if your volume increases or your deadline becomes tighter, a dedicated container may be more suitable.
- Prepare your documents early to prevent delays at customs.
Ship Your Belongings to Popular Destinations
Shared container moving is available for many destinations. Explore our country and city pages for information about transit times, customs requirements and local considerations.
What's Included in Our Services
- Packing materials provided
- Packing and protection of your belongings by our teams
- Basic furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Export and import customs formalities
- Sea freight in a shared container
- Delivery to your new address
What to Budget for Separately
- International moving insurance
- Special crates for very fragile items
- Additional handling services (carrying, furniture lifts, difficult access, etc.)
- Any taxes or import duties in the destination country
- Costs arising from force majeure (strikes, rerouting, exceptional events, etc.)
Good to Know
Moving Insurance
All-risk insurance is required to protect your belongings during international transport.
Delivery Times
Sea freight transit times are estimates and may vary depending on port conditions and logistical disruptions.
Customs
Our teams help you navigate the administrative formalities required for your international move.
Moving Solutions for Every Type of Shipment
Depending on your volume, schedule and requirements, explore Easygroupage’s other services to plan an international move that suits your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shared Container Moving
Find answers to common questions about how shared container moving works, how long it takes and what it costs.
What is the difference between a shared and a dedicated container?
With groupage, you share a shipping container with other customers and pay only for the space you use. A dedicated container is reserved for a single move. It is generally better suited to larger volumes or situations where delivery dates are less flexible. Your Easygroupage adviser can help you choose the best option.
Why is shared container moving cheaper?
Costs are lower because sea freight expenses are shared across several shipments. You mainly pay for the volume your belongings occupy rather than an entire container. Depending on your chosen services, the quote may also cover collection, temporary storage, consolidation, customs formalities and delivery.
Why aren’t my belongings shipped immediately after collection?
After collection, your belongings are generally taken to a secure warehouse while a shared container is assembled. This consolidation stage is a normal part of groupage and helps optimise costs. It does not mean your shipment is on hold; it means the planned logistics process is underway.
Can I ship just a few boxes or pieces of furniture?
Yes. Shared container shipping is designed for small and medium-sized shipments. You can send a few boxes, furniture or personal belongings without reserving a full container. An accurate volume estimate helps determine whether this is the best solution for your move.
Is shared container moving secure?
Yes. Each consignment is identified, inventoried and tracked throughout its journey. Depending on the service selected, belongings are professionally packed, kept in secure storage before departure and transported with the same care as other international moves. Additional insurance may be available to suit your needs.
Find the Right Solution for Your International Move
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