What is a shared load and how does it work?

With a shared load you share a lorry's loading space with other orders on the same route. You pay for the space your belongings take up and agree a time window instead of a fixed day. This suits smaller volumes within Europe.

How fast is a move by air freight?

Air freight is the fastest mode of transport, but also the most expensive: charges are based on weight or volume, whichever is higher. How long delivery takes depends on the flight connection and customs clearance in the destination country. It is suitable for a few boxes that need to arrive quickly.

Which documents are needed for an international move?

Within the EU you need no customs papers for removal goods. In non-EU countries, customs usually requires an inventory list and proof of the change of residence; the exact rules are set by the destination country. Anyone who later returns to Germany can, under certain conditions, import household goods duty-free as removal goods (Übersiedlungsgut) .

How long does a move abroad by lorry take?

The driving time for lorry transport depends on the distance, the route and the driver's driving and rest times; the loading and unloading days come on top. We set a binding date for collection and delivery in the quote. For destinations outside Europe, a container or air freight comes into question.

Are my household goods covered on an international move?

For a lorry move, the moving company is liable under the HGB, by law up to €620 per cubic metre of loading space. For sea and air freight, separate international liability rules apply on the main leg. That is why transport insurance makes sense for valuable household goods; what is covered is stated in the quote.

How is the fixed price for my move calculated?

The fixed price is based on the volume, distance, mode of transport and additional services such as packing or furniture assembly. For the lorry, our price overview gives from €3.95 per kilometre as a guide value; all items are listed in the quote in advance. Read more about long routes within Germany under long-distance move .

Which mode of transport is cheapest for long distances?

For very long distances, especially overseas, a container move is usually the cheapest because large volumes travel at once. For smaller volumes there is the groupage container, and within Europe the shared load . Air freight is the most expensive – it is only worthwhile for a small amount of luggage.

Can I have my private move combined with a move abroad?

Yes, many customers combine a classic private move within Germany with subsequent international transport. We coordinate both stages so that dates and storage periods fit together. You can find more information about our private move service on our website.

How far in advance should I plan an international move?

Plan an international move as early as possible: the inventory list, customs papers, dates for collection and shipping, and deregistering in Germany all need lead time. With container transport, the schedule also depends on available space and sailings. The earlier you enquire, the more dates there are to choose from.

Where does Beste Umzug Unternehmen operate from for moves abroad?

We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and handle moves within Berlin, within Germany and to other European countries. You will find places with their own pages under locations . For your international move , we plan collection in Germany and delivery in the destination country.

STRESS-FREE MOVING

International Move: Container Air Freight or Lorry?

Q: How much does an international move cost per kilometre?

For a lorry move within Europe, our price overview gives a guide value from €3.95 per kilometre; the fixed price is determined by the volume, the distance and access at both addresses. Container and air freight are not charged per kilometre but by container size or by weight or volume. On top of that come the journeys to the port or airport and delivery in the destination country.

Q: When is a container move worthwhile?

A container move is mainly worthwhile for overseas destinations and larger volumes. A 20-foot container holds around 33 m³, a 40-foot container around 67 m³; it is loaded once and sealed. For a smaller volume, a space in a groupage container is the cheaper alternative.

Your international move by lorry, container or air freight – which mode of transport suits your destination, volume and schedule.

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Three routes abroad

International move: choosing the right mode of transport

Lorry, ship or plane

Unsere Firma Professional on-site moving solutions with secure planning, flexible services and on-time execution.

An international move makes different demands from a change of home within Germany: distance, customs and the means of transport determine the process and the costs. Roughly speaking: within Europe the lorry goes door to door, household goods for overseas travel in a container by ship, and air freight is mainly worthwhile for a few boxes that need to arrive quickly. Which option fits depends on the destination country, the volume and the schedule. We handle lorry moves from Berlin ourselves – find out more under international move.

Lorry transport is suitable for destinations in Europe: your furniture is loaded once and unloaded again at the new address, with no reloading at a port. For overseas, the container is usually the economical solution – a 20-foot container holds around 33 m³, a 40-foot container around 67 m³; smaller volumes travel in a groupage container. Air freight is the fastest, but it is charged by weight or volume and is rarely affordable for whole households. We advise you on which option suits your private move.

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PERSONAL CONSULTATION

A fixed price for your move abroad

First the volume and destination, then the price

Request a no-obligation fixed-price quote for your international move. After the survey we know the volume, access and destination and can tell you whether the lorry is suitable or whether a container or air freight makes more sense – and what is included in our quote. Call us on 01625978461.

Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.

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HONESTLY COMPARED

Three modes of transport compared

What suits which destination

Each mode of transport has its strengths: the lorry is flexible and goes door to door, the container carries large volumes across the sea at low cost, and air freight is fast but expensive. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and carry out moves to European countries by lorry. With container and air freight, the shipping line or airline handles the main leg; which parts we take on – such as packing and collection in Berlin – is set out in our quote. You will need a complete inventory list in any case.

Lorry: Europe

Door to door without reloading, with a freely chosen date. The first choice for destinations that can be reached by road.

Container: overseas

A 20-foot container holds around 33 m³, a 40-foot container around 67 m³. For smaller volumes there is space in a groupage container.

Air freight: small and urgent

Charges are based on weight or volume – whichever is higher. Useful for a few boxes with the essentials.

Combine

Often a small part is flown ahead and the rest follows in the container. That way you are quickly able to work at your destination.

WELL WEIGHED UP

Six questions before you decide

Six questions decide which mode of transport is right: where are you going, how much is coming with you, and how quickly does it need to be there? Answer them early, and quotes for lorry, container and air freight can be compared properly.

Destination reachable by land?

If the destination in Europe can be reached by lorry, road transport is usually the simplest – no port and no reloading.

How many cubic metres?

The volume determines the container size or a groupage container. A furniture list with the number of boxes makes the estimate accurate.

How urgent?

Sea freight takes considerably longer than air freight. Anyone who needs to work immediately at the destination sends the essentials ahead by air freight.

EU or non-EU country?

Within the EU there are no customs formalities for removal goods. In non-EU countries the import rules of the destination country apply.

Who is liable for what?

For a lorry move, liability under the HGB applies. Sea and air freight have their own rules – transport insurance is worthwhile.

What stays here?

Every cubic metre costs money. Sorting out, selling or putting things into storage lowers the price before packing even starts.

NATIONWIDE SERVICE

Only a few pieces of furniture going abroad?

Small move, small price

For a few pieces of furniture and boxes going to a neighbouring European country, a shared load is often cheaper than a lorry of your own: your belongings travel with other orders in the same direction, and you pay for the loading space used. Instead of a fixed day, we agree a time window for collection and delivery. For overseas, the groupage container plays this role.

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EUROPE-WIDE MOVES

Your
move, our craft

Methodical and reliable

Many factors play a role in an international move, from packing and the inventory list to the choice of transport. Anyone taking only a few household goods to a neighbouring country often pays less with a shared load than with a lorry of their own. For large volumes going overseas, a dedicated container is worthwhile; it is loaded once and sealed. What applies at customs is explained in the guide Customs when moving abroad.

Planning safe and relaxed

A good checklist coordinates dates, helpers and materials early. That way your home move, senior move or student move in Berlin stays transparent, structured and markedly easier to control.

Furniture, boxes, transport routes

With a suitable packing service, careful furniture transport and a flexible small transport, ways can be shortened, damage avoided and even narrow approaches in Berlin managed cleanly in logistical terms.

Costs, timing and special cases

Clear time windows and suitable solutions for an office move, company move, authority move, part load or furniture taxi create reliable processes and better plannable total costs in Berlin.

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FAQ

Questions about lorry, container and air freight

Costs, schedule, customs and liability by mode of transport – answered briefly.

For a lorry move within Europe, our price overview gives a guide value from €3.95 per kilometre; the fixed price is determined by the volume, the distance and access at both addresses. Container and air freight are not charged per kilometre but by container size or by weight or volume. On top of that come the journeys to the port or airport and delivery in the destination country.

How an international move works

An international move begins with an inventory: the volume, destination country and desired timeframe are clarified. This determines the mode of transport – and which papers are needed, such as an inventory list for customs in the destination country.

With a lorry, everything is loaded at the old address and unloaded at the new one. With a container, the journey to the port, the sea freight and delivery in the destination country are added, and with air freight the journey to the airport. Every additional stage lengthens the schedule.

Costs per kilometre and ways to save

For lorry transport, our price overview gives a guide value from €3.95 per kilometre; the fixed price is determined by the volume, the route and access at both addresses. Container and air freight are calculated differently – by container size or by weight or volume, plus the journeys to the port or airport.

The biggest savings come from the volume: whatever does not come with you costs nothing. For small volumes within Europe, the shared load offers a cheaper alternative to a lorry of your own.

Moving prices at a glance

For a one-room flat you pay from €375
A two-room flat costs from €609
For a three-room flat the price starts from €899
A four-room flat is from €1,324
For a house/villa there is an individual quote
We charge long-distance moves from €3.95/km

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What flows into the moving costs?

The moving costs depend on factors including the volume, the distance (from €3.95/km) and the floor, with or without a lift. A parking restriction zone can also cause additional costs. Supplementary services such as furniture assembly or a shared load are also possible.

The complete service package for your move

We offer these services around your move.

Shared load – share the transport and save costs.
Office move – professional move planning for companies.
House clearance – we dispose of what is no longer needed.
Private move – your new home, our effort.
Move with assembly – furniture is reassembled on site.
Furniture transport – also suitable for single items.

From Berlin – within Germany and Europe

Planning, packing, transport: we are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and handle moves within Germany and to other European countries. The locations overview shows places with their own pages, and you will find longer routes within Germany under long-distance moves.

Long-Distance Moves & Transport

Beste Umzug Redaktion

August 18, 2026

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