Ship commercial goods, pallets, crates and machinery from Canada to the United Kingdom with a plan based on your cargo and final delivery address.
BriCargo Group coordinates air freight, shared-container LCL and full-container ocean shipping, with collection and UK delivery where arranged.
Tell us what you are moving, its packed dimensions and weight, the Canadian origin and the final UK postcode. We can help you compare suitable services and establish what the quote includes. Vehicle and household-goods enquiries are also welcome, with transport options assessed for the shipment.
Include the cargo-ready date and any arrival deadline. Approximate measurements are welcome for an initial enquiry; tell us which details are still unknown.
On this page
Air freight, LCL or a full container?
Compare your deadline, packed size, weight and handling needs before choosing a service. Include collection, arrival handling and final delivery in the comparison so you are evaluating the same movement.
Shipping option
When to consider it
Pricing basis and checks
Air freight
Urgent stock, parts or equipment with a tighter arrival deadline.
Chargeable weight, cargo acceptance, available flights, airport handling and delivery arrangements.
LCL sea freight
Pallets or crates that can share container space with other shipments.
The tariff's volume-or-weight basis, minimum charges, consolidation dates and local handling at both ends.
Full-container shipping, or FCL
Larger consignments or cargo needing dedicated container space.
Container rate and local charges, equipment fit, loading access, weight limits and unloading arrangements.
For small consignments, freight minimums may make a parcel or courier service more suitable. If your shipment is time-sensitive, explore our air freight services. For shared or dedicated container space, see our ocean freight services.
LCL shipping quotes from Canada to the UK
To prepare an LCL quote, send the Canadian collection location, final UK postcode, cargo description, piece count, packed dimensions and gross weight. Tell us whether the pieces can be stacked, when the cargo will be ready and what loading or unloading help is available. These details establish the space, handling and delivery work your shared-container shipment needs.
Include any arrival deadline, residential access, vehicle restrictions or need for lifting equipment. If measurements or arrangements are still uncertain, describe what you know so we can identify the next information needed.
Before booking, confirm the consolidation cut-off, where the cargo will be unpacked and released in the UK, and any storage or waiting charges if the receiver cannot accept it when available.
Measure the outside length, width and total height of each packed piece, including its pallet, crate and any overhang. Give the gross weight, including packaging. Use separate entries for pieces with different dimensions, and identify anything that cannot have other cargo stacked on it.
Shipment volume calculator
Use the calculator to total your packed volume and weight and compare an indicative air chargeable weight. It helps prepare your enquiry; it does not calculate a freight price or confirm that a carrier will accept the cargo.
Add the packed dimensions of at least one piece to calculate volume.
For an LCL enquiry, use the total cubic metres (CBM) and gross weight. The air chargeable-weight result belongs to the air comparison. Stacking and handling restrictions can change the space and charges used in a quote.
Paste the copied details into the Cargo Description or Comments field in the form above.
Air freight can be charged on the greater of actual weight and volume weight. The calculator uses 6,000 cm³ per kg for planning. The booked carrier's divisor, rounding, minimums and handling rules determine the final chargeable quantity; courier calculations can differ. IATA's explanation of air cargo pricing describes this distinction.
Worked measurement example
Two pallets, each measuring 120 × 100 × 100 cm and weighing 150 kg, give:
Result
Calculation
Packed volume
2 × 120 × 100 × 100 ÷ 1,000,000 = 2.40 m³
Gross weight
2 × 150 = 300 kg
Air volume weight
2 × 120 × 100 × 100 ÷ 6,000 = 400 kg
Indicative air chargeable weight
The greater of 300 kg and 400 kg = 400 kg
For an LCL quotation, provide the 2.40 m³ and 300 kg. The 400 kg figure is for the air freight comparison; LCL uses its own tariff basis and minimums.
Solid-wood pallets and crates used to import goods into Great Britain must meet ISPM 15 requirements. Exemptions apply to materials such as plywood, and Northern Ireland has separate guidance. Check the official wood-packaging rules and our international packaging guidance before packing.
What does freight shipping from Canada to the UK cost?
The price depends on your cargo, packed measurements, Canadian collection point, UK delivery address and the service available when you ship. Air freight commonly uses chargeable weight, LCL uses a tariff-based volume-or-weight calculation, and FCL starts with the selected container and route. Local and shipment-specific charges can apply to all three.
Ask for the currency, quote validity and the exact collection-to-delivery scope. Each quote should make clear what is included, excluded or conditional, and which charges the sender or receiver pays.
Quote component
What to check
Canadian collection
Collection address, loading equipment, residential access, appointments and any packing work.
Origin handling and documents
Warehouse or terminal handling, consolidation, export documentation and applicable screening or security charges.
Main air or ocean freight
Chargeable quantity, rate basis, minimums, carrier surcharges and the booked route.
UK arrival handling
Terminal or warehouse charges, LCL unpacking and release-related costs.
Customs clearance service
Broker or declaration service fees and who will act as importer. These fees are separate from duty and VAT.
UK delivery
Final postcode, delivery vehicle, unloading arrangements and access restrictions.
Additional or conditional costs
Applicable duties and taxes, optional insurance, inspections, storage, waiting time or special handling.
How an LCL rate is calculated
An LCL tariff may compare volume in cubic metres with weight in metric tonnes. On a quoted 1:1 weight-or-measure basis, a shipment of 2.40 m³ and 300 kg represents 2.40 chargeable units, because 2.40 m³ is greater than 0.30 tonnes on that basis. Tariff minimums and adjustments still apply. DHL's explanation of chargeable weight explains the method and the importance of the carrier's rules.
Multiply the confirmed chargeable quantity by the quoted rate for that freight component, then add only the charges that are not already included. Confirm duties, taxes and conditional costs separately to avoid double-counting or treating ocean freight as the complete delivery price.
Compare LCL with air for smaller consignments and with FCL for larger loads using the same collection and delivery scope. Minimums, handling, cargo suitability and timing can change the result; there is no single shipment volume at which one option always becomes better.
Full Container Load (FCL) gives your shipment dedicated container space. Less than Container Load (LCL) shares space with other consignments. You do not need to fill a container completely to compare FCL: loading requirements, handling needs and the complete quote can make dedicated space worth considering.
Choosing a 20-foot, 40-foot or high-cube container
Container
Example nominal internal volume
Planning consideration
20-foot standard
33.2 m³
A starting point for a dedicated-container comparison; weight and loading limits still apply.
40-foot standard
67.7 m³
More internal space for a larger consignment, subject to the loading plan.
40-foot high cube
76.3 m³
Additional height and volume where the cargo, equipment and route permit.
These are example capacities from Hapag-Lloyd's 20-foot standard, 40-foot standard and 40-foot high-cube specifications. Actual equipment varies. Door openings, cargo shape, weight distribution, securing space and road limits can determine suitability before nominal volume is reached. Total CBM alone does not confirm that the load will fit.
For a container quote, describe how the goods will be loaded in Canada and unloaded in the UK. Include access restrictions at both addresses, available equipment and whether you need packing or loading assistance. Confirm which of those services and destination charges are included before booking.
If dedicated space is unnecessary, compare the same shipment with LCL shipping.
How long does shipping from Canada to the UK take?
Air freight generally suits a tighter deadline; ocean freight needs more time for scheduled departures and handling. A useful estimate runs from the cargo-ready date to arrival at the required address. A flight or sailing duration covers only one part of that journey.
Part of the journey
What affects the timing
Preparation and collection
Packing readiness, documents, collection access and transport to the departure gateway.
Export handling and departure
Carrier acceptance, screening where applicable, LCL consolidation, booking availability and cut-offs.
Main transport
The booked flight or sailing, connections and operational changes.
UK release and delivery
Customs processing, inspections where required, terminal availability and the delivery appointment.
An inland Canadian origin may need road or rail transport to the departure port. For air cargo, the airport and flight connections must suit the packed dimensions, origin and UK delivery point. LCL also needs time for consolidation before sailing and unpacking after arrival.
Share both the cargo-ready date and any arrival deadline. BriCargo can assess the proposed routing and the collection-to-delivery scope. When comparing estimates, check that each provider uses the same starting point and endpoint.
Customs and documents for shipping to the UK
Start customs preparation before collection. The information needed depends on the goods, value, origin, reason for shipping and importer. BriCargo coordinates shipment documents and broker arrangements within the agreed scope; customs authorities determine assessment and release.
The general import guidance below concerns Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales. Tell us if the destination is Northern Ireland, where customs and identification requirements can differ.
Commercial cargo
Information or document
What it helps establish
Commercial invoice
Buyer and seller, meaningful goods descriptions, values, currency and agreed sale terms.
Packing list
Piece count, contents, packed dimensions, gross weight and identifying marks.
Importer details and relevant EORI
The responsible import party and the identification required for the movement.
Export reporting information
Whether Canadian reporting is required and the information or proof of report needed before departure.
Shipment-specific records
Permits, licences, origin evidence or product records required for the goods or claimed customs treatment.
A business importing into Great Britain generally needs a GB Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number. Northern Ireland movements may require an XI EORI, depending on the circumstances. The personal-use exception applies only to goods that are both uncontrolled and for personal use. Check the official EORI guidance and UK import process for the relevant situation.
Confirm who is responsible for Canadian export reporting and any required authorizations before dispatch. The CBSA exporters' guide explains the reporting process and exceptions. Use our international shipping document checklist to organize the information, then confirm the requirements with the exporter, importer and broker.
Duty, VAT and trade agreements
Duty and import VAT depend on the goods and their customs treatment. Dispatch from Canada does not by itself qualify goods for preferential duty: their origin and supporting evidence matter.
The Canada–UK Trade Continuity Agreement remains relevant, and the CPTPP entered into force between Canada and the UK on 1 September 2026. Ask the importer or broker which agreement and origin requirements apply to the goods before relying on a reduced rate. Government of Canada UK trade guidance links to the agreements.
Budget for broker service fees separately from the duty and tax assessment. Our duties and taxes guide explains the distinction.
Furniture, personal effects and vehicle shipping
Furniture and household goods
Prepare an itemized inventory, packed dimensions and weights. Describe access at both addresses, including stairs, fragile items, dismantling needs and loading restrictions. These details help compare shared-container space with a dedicated container and identify packing or delivery assistance. See our overseas moving and relocation cargo service.
If you are moving your normal home to Great Britain, Transfer of Residence relief may apply to eligible personal property. Usual conditions include at least 12 consecutive months of residence outside the UK, possession and use of the goods for at least six months, import within 12 months of moving, and continued use for the same purpose. Further conditions and exceptions apply. Apply through ToR1 before the goods are shipped and obtain HMRC approval before claiming relief; this is not a general exemption for commercial cargo. Read the HMRC Transfer of Residence guidance.
Cars and other vehicles
Send the make, model, year, dimensions, running condition, ownership documents and intended UK destination. Container shipping or roll-on/roll-off may be options depending on the route, carrier and vehicle. Declare any contents you intend to place inside the vehicle so they can be assessed before booking.
Transport acceptance and UK road registration are separate checks. Import procedures can involve HMRC notification or handling by the shipping agent, duty and VAT treatment, vehicle approval and DVLA registration. Confirm the process for your circumstances through the official UK vehicle-import guidance and our vehicle shipping service.
How BriCargo coordinates your shipment
BriCargo Group is a Canada-based freight coordinator serving international routes. Your UK enquiry starts with the cargo, collection and delivery locations, and the work you need included.
Define the shipment. Share the cargo description, measurements, weight, readiness and delivery access. Explain your deadline and priorities if you have not chosen a mode.
Compare the proposed scope. Review transport, collection, delivery, documentation, charges and exclusions. Confirm the importer and who pays destination costs before booking.
Prepare the agreed movement. Align packing, information and cargo acceptance with the selected service. Collection, carrier transport and destination arrangements follow the confirmed booking and each party's responsibilities.
Include the postcode and explain vehicle restrictions, stairs, available unloading help and whether the goods need to be taken inside. Residential delivery, unloading and inside placement are different services. Confirm the required scope in the quote.
Can batteries, machinery or other special cargo travel?
Declare batteries, liquids, fuel residues and other potentially restricted contents when enquiring. Describe the machinery and provide requested product or safety information. Packing, documentation and carrier acceptance depend on the goods and mode. Our restricted and prohibited items guidance is a starting point for assessment.
Is cargo insurance included?
Ask whether insurance is included or offered separately, what value is insured, and which conditions or exclusions apply. Carrier liability may not provide the cover you want. Review our shipping insurance information before booking.
Request a Canada-to-UK freight quote
Tell us what you need to move, the Canadian origin, final UK postcode, packed measurements and weight, and cargo-ready date. Add any arrival deadline or collection and delivery requirements. If details are unknown, say so in your enquiry.
