When I moved to Phuket, I shipped a small load (about 10 cubic metres) of books, clothing, and kitchen equipment. Half of it I could have bought in Phuket for the same price or less. The books were worth it. The kitchen appliances were not — wrong voltage, wrong plug, and I replaced them all within six months anyway. This guide will save you from making the same calculation mistakes I made.
The First Question: Should You Ship At All?
Be honest with yourself. Most expats who've been in Phuket more than a year will tell you the same thing: they wish they'd shipped less. Phuket has excellent shopping — HomePro on Chao Fa Road for furniture, Makro on the Bypass Road for kitchen goods, Rimping Supermarket (Chalong and Cherng Talay branches) for Western groceries and kitchen equipment, IKEA delivering within a few days, and Lazada and Shopee for virtually everything else.
The items that ARE worth shipping: clothing in larger sizes (hard to find locally), specific sentimental or high-quality items, musical instruments, specialist equipment (photography, studio gear), quality mattresses (Thai mattresses are thin), and irreplaceable documents. Everything else is usually better bought locally.
Sea Freight Costs to Phuket 2026
All freight arrives at Laem Chabang Port (near Bangkok) or occasionally Ranong Port for south-Thailand routes, then is trucked to Phuket — add ฿8,000–฿18,000 for the road leg depending on volume and urgency.
| Origin | LCL (per CBM) | 20ft FCL | 40ft FCL | Transit Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £120–£180/CBM | £3,500–£5,500 | £5,500–£8,500 | 30–45 days |
| Australia (Sydney/Melbourne) | AUD 150–220/CBM | AUD 4,000–8,000 | AUD 6,500–11,000 | 25–35 days |
| United States (East Coast) | USD 180–250/CBM | USD 5,000–9,000 | USD 7,500–13,000 | 35–50 days |
| United States (West Coast) | USD 160–230/CBM | USD 4,500–8,000 | USD 7,000–12,000 | 28–40 days |
| Germany / Netherlands | €130–€190/CBM | €3,800–€6,000 | €6,000–€9,500 | 28–40 days |
| Singapore | SGD 100–150/CBM | SGD 2,500–4,500 | SGD 4,000–7,000 | 5–10 days |
Add ฿10,000–฿25,000 for Thai port fees, customs handling, and trucking to Phuket. If you have dutiable items (new electronics, appliances), customs duty is additional. Always ask for a fully inclusive door-to-door quote and compare at least 3 companies.
Thai Customs Rules for Household Effects
Thailand allows duty-free import of personal household effects for people genuinely establishing residency, subject to conditions:
- Items must have been owned and used for at least 6 months before import
- You must have a valid visa establishing residency (Non-OA, Non-B, LTR, or similar — a tourist visa is not sufficient)
- The shipment must arrive within 6 months of your first arrival in Thailand
- Items must be genuine household effects — not commercial stock
- Customs officers have significant discretion — items that look new or commercially valuable are more likely to be assessed for duty
In practice, second-hand household goods of modest value (clothing, books, basic furniture, kitchenware) rarely attract attention. High-value electronics, new appliances, jewellery, art, and wine almost always do. An experienced Phuket customs broker can manage your clearance and significantly reduce the risk of unexpected duty bills. https://phuketexpatguide.com/directory#movers
| Item Type | Customs Duty Rate | Likely Assessed? | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clothing (used) | 5–30% | Rarely | Pack all clothing into suitcases/bags to look personal |
| Books / CDs / DVDs | 0–10% | Rarely | Generally fine — declare accurately |
| Furniture (used) | 5–30% | Sometimes | Old/worn furniture rarely assessed; new-looking pieces risk duty |
| Laptops / computers (used) | 0–5% | Occasionally | 1 laptop per person is usually fine; multiple units trigger scrutiny |
| Cameras / photo gear (used) | 0–10% | Occasionally | Bring in your hand luggage if possible |
| Spirits / wine | 54–100% | Always | Do not ship alcohol — duty makes it not worthwhile |
| Vehicles | 80–100%+ | Always | Never worth it — buy locally |
| New appliances | 5–30% | Usually | Buy in Thailand — better voltage, local warranty |
Pack your high-value personal items (watches, jewellery, specialist camera equipment) in your hand luggage rather than shipping. Thai customs is less strict about what you carry personally than what arrives by sea freight. For sea freight, keep a detailed inventory with purchase dates and estimated values — your customs broker will need this, and accuracy prevents delays at clearance.
Pets: The Most Complex and Expensive Part
Importing pets to Phuket is possible but expensive and time-consuming. The full process (microchip, rabies vaccination series, titre test, health certificate, DLD import permit) takes 3–6 months minimum for dogs and cats from most Western countries. Budget ฿25,000–฿60,000 total. Australia requires additional preparation time and specific route planning. Full details in the bringing pets to Phuket guide.
What to Buy in Phuket Instead of Shipping
| Item | Best Buy In Phuket | Approx Cost (THB) |
|---|---|---|
| Sofa (3-seater) | Index Living Mall, HomePro, Lazada | ฿8,000–฿35,000 |
| Bed frame (queen) | HomePro Chao Fa Road, Index Living | ฿5,000–฿18,000 |
| Rice cooker / appliances | Homepro, Makro Bypass Road | ฿800–฿5,000 |
| Air conditioner | HomePro, dealer — often included in rent | ฿12,000–฿28,000 (installed) |
| Bicycle | B'Twin Phuket Town, local shops | ฿4,000–฿18,000 |
| Scooter | Buy or rent locally | ฿30,000–฿70,000 (new Honda) |
| Kitchen knives / cookware | Makro, Tops, Central Festival | ฿500–฿5,000 |
| Gym equipment (basic) | Lazada, Shopee | ฿2,000–฿15,000 |
Recommended Removal Companies for Phuket Moves
Always get at least 3 quotes. Ask each company whether their quote is door-to-door (origin packing to Phuket delivery) or door-to-port (you handle clearance and local delivery separately). Door-to-door costs more but removes the headache of dealing with Thai customs.
- Crown Relocations — global network, strong Thailand team, good for families with full-service packing
- Santa Fe Relocation — popular for UK and Australia routes to Thailand, competitive pricing
- Asian Tigers — strong Asia-Pacific network, good local Thailand knowledge
- Best Removals Thailand — local Phuket-based agent for smaller loads and groupage
- Check the service directory for vetted movers with Phuket experience
Moving to Phuket and need personalised advice on the shipping process, customs, or timing your move? Our team can help.
Book a Free Consultation →Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to ship a container to Phuket?
A 20ft container from the UK to Phuket costs approximately £3,500–£5,500 (not including Thai customs duty or destination handling). LCL groupage for 5–20 CBM costs £800–£2,500. From Australia: AUD 4,000–8,000 for a 20ft FCL. From the US: USD 5,000–9,000. Always get a fully inclusive quote — many quotes exclude Thai port fees and Phuket trucking (add ฿10,000–฿25,000).
Do I pay customs duty when shipping to Thailand?
Used personal household effects may be imported duty-free if you have the right visa and the shipment arrives within 6 months of your first Thailand arrival. However, new items, high-value electronics, wine, and vehicles attract duty. Use a licensed Thai customs broker to manage clearance — it typically costs ฿5,000–฿15,000 and is worth it.
Should I ship my furniture or buy in Phuket?
In most cases, buy in Phuket. HomePro (Chao Fa Road), Index Living Mall, and IKEA (delivered) all offer good-quality furniture at competitive prices. The exception: quality mattresses (buy something decent before you ship), sentimental pieces, and specialist equipment you can't easily replace. Don't ship alcohol, vehicles, or new appliances.
Can I import my car or motorbike to Phuket?
Technically yes, but import duty is 80–100% of assessed value plus VAT and excise tax — it's almost never worth it. A £20,000 car would cost £20,000–£30,000 extra in taxes. Buy locally: a reliable used Toyota Vios costs ฿200,000–฿350,000 and a new Honda PCX scooter ฿80,000–฿100,000.
How long does shipping to Phuket take?
UK: 30–45 days transit plus packing and customs clearance (allow 6–8 weeks total). Australia: 25–35 days transit (5–7 weeks total). US East Coast: 35–50 days (7–9 weeks total). Singapore: 5–10 days transit (2–3 weeks total). Don't time your shipment to arrive before you have a confirmed permanent address — storage in Thailand is possible but adds cost.
