Shipping times and costs from Washington, D.C., United States of America to Cape Town, South Africa
1 Bedroom flat
Shipping costs by air £12,727 - £14,069
Shipping costs by sea £6,682 - £7,386
3 Bedroom house
Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £10,280 - £11,363
5 Bedroom house
Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea £15,419 - £17,045
Please note: the prices listed here are meant as an estimate only. The best way to get a comprehensive, tailored quote is to fill out our form and be matched with a supplier.
Shipping Container Costs to South Africa
Cape Town is one of South Africa’s three capital cities. Situated on the southwest coast, “The Mother City” is in a truly gorgeous location, with Table Mountain on one side and the South Atlantic Ocean on the other. Around 3.5 million Capetonians live there, enjoying warm summers, mild winters, and some of the world’s best wine. In 2017, Lonely Planet named Cape Town one of the top ten cities on Earth, so we’re not surprised so many expats want a piece of it. Here’s all you need to know about shipping your stuff there.Different shipping options
If you’re thinking of relocating permanently to Cape Town, you’ll probably want to bring a few belongings with you. There are two main options to choose between: air freight or sea freight.Air freight offers a fast service. Cargo planes are able to reach Cape Town from anywhere in the world in just two or three days. However, air freight is expensive, so it’s handy if you need to move abroad quickly but it’s not great for keeping costs low.
Sea freight is the slower option but it’s also much more affordable, being around five times cheaper than air freight. If you’re moving on a budget, sea freight is ideal, but you also need to allow several weeks for your cargo to arrive.
If you choose sea freight, your belongings will go in either a 20ft container or a 40ft container, depending on the amount of stuff you’re bringing. If the total volume of your cargo is less than around 15 cubic metres, you will share a container with other people (in a process known as Less Than Container Load, or LCL). Most of our shipping suppliers provide a full door-to-door service, which means they’ll take your belongings all the way from your old home to your new one in Cape Town. Easy!
For more information about international container shipping costs, check out our detailed guide here.
Major shipping routes
Cape Town has its very own port, which is pretty handy. The Port of Cape Town is the second largest container terminal in South Africa (after Durban), and is located on one of the busiest trade routes in the world. Once your container reaches the port, it will pass through customs before going by truck and/or train to your new home in Cape Town.Clearing customs in South Africa
The final hurdle is getting your container through South African customs, but your shipping company will help you with that. You are expected to create an inventory (i.e. a list) of everything you’re bringing into South Africa, describing the contents of your container in detail and declaring the value of each item. Customs officials may physically inspect your container, so it’s important that everything matches up with your inventory.Customs clearance generally takes 7-10 days. You are entitled to one duty-free shipment of goods into the country, but any further shipments require special permission. As long as your household goods are used, at least one year old and intended to be used again in your new South African residence, they can be imported duty-free.
See below for an idea of the items that are restricted or prohibited by South African customs. You can also check out their official customs website for more information.
Shipping Container Options
20Ft Shipping Container
Dimensions:
33 Cubic Meters
5.9m x 2.35m x 2.39m (l x w x h)
Price: £10,280 - £11,363
Get a quote for a 20ft container Get Shipping Container Quotes40Ft Shipping Container
Dimensions:
67 Cubic Meters
12.03m x 2.35m x 2.39m (l x w x h)
Price: £19,531 - £21,590
Get a quote for a 40ft container Get Shipping Container QuotesCar shipped by sea freight
Max Dimensions: 5.75m x 2.2m x 2.2m (l x w x h)
Base Price: £3,182 - £3,517
Quarantine & Taxes: £1,000 - £2,500
Price: £12,380 - £16,613
Get a quote for a car Get Shipping Container Quotes
