Key takeaways
- Shipping cost depends mostly on volume (cubic metres), not on what the items are worth
- Canadian appliances run on 120 volts; most of Europe, the UK, India and Australia use 220 to 240 volts
- Many countries let new residents bring used household goods duty-free, with conditions
- Emigrants must report household goods for export; the personal-effects exemption does not cover them
- Ship items that are expensive or hard to replace; sell bulky, cheap or electric items
How the calculator decides
It compares two costs:
- Ship: volume × rate per cubic metre, plus other costs, plus any duty. If your electric items will not work on the local voltage, it adds their replacement cost, because you would need to buy them again anyway.
- Sell and replace: what the items cost at the destination, minus what you get for them in Canada.
With the defaults, shipping 10 m³ at $150 plus $600 of other costs is $2,100. Selling for $1,500 and buying again for $6,000 costs $4,500. Shipping saves about $2,400. If those items were electric and would not work abroad, selling would win.
The duty field uses the resale value as a rough stand-in for the value customs would use. Many destinations charge no duty on the used household goods of new residents, so leave it at 0% unless your destination’s customs rules say otherwise.
What shipping costs
Movers price international moves by volume, distance and service. Vendor estimates (Sirelo) put a 20-foot container at about $2,500 to $4,500 and a 40-foot container at $4,000 to $7,800 from Canada, and a full international move at about $6,500 to $13,700. Shared container (groupage) or air freight is often cheaper for small loads. Divide a quote by the cubic metres to get your rate, and check if destination port fees and customs clearance are included.
Voltage and plugs
Canada and the US use 120-volt, 60-hertz power. The UK, most of Europe, India, Australia and many other countries use 220 to 240 volts at 50 hertz, with different plugs. Phones and laptops usually accept both (check the charger label: "100–240V"). Kettles, hair dryers, microwaves, washers and TVs often do not. A converter for large appliances is heavy and costly. Sell them.
Customs when leaving and arriving
Leaving Canada: the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) does not include an emigrant’s household effects in the export reporting exemption for personal effects (Memorandum D20-1-1). Your mover usually files the export declaration. Used vehicles must be reported for export, with timing rules by transport mode.
Arriving abroad: many countries let new residents import used household goods duty-free if you owned them for a set time and do not sell them soon after. Each country sets its own rules and paperwork. Check the destination customs website before you pack. See also what you cannot ship.
What to ship, what to sell
- Ship: good furniture you love, tools, books, art, sentimental items, and things that cost more abroad.
- Sell: cheap or bulky furniture, large appliances, mattresses, and anything that needs a converter.
- Store: only if you are likely to return within a few years; storage fees add up.
Add the total to your move-abroad budget and put shipping on your leaving Canada checklist. Sending a few boxes instead? Compare with the parcel cost calculator.
Estimates only, not a quote. Duty and customs rules change; check the destination’s official customs site.