Ship less than you think,
and book the lift early
Freight takes six to ten weeks by sea and arrives into a building that only permits moves on weekday mornings with insurance filed in advance.
Before you read on
- Costs are indicative for 2026 and move with fuel and shipping rates. Get three written quotes before committing.
- Customs treatment depends on your status and how long you have owned the goods. US Customs and Border Protection publishes the current rules and is the authority.
Step 1Sea, air, or buy it here
The decision is rarely close once the numbers are on one page.
| Method | Transit | Indicative cost | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air freight | 3–10 days | $8–$15 per kg | Clothes, documents, a few boxes to bridge the gap |
| Shared container (LCL) | 6–10 weeks | $1,500–$4,000 | A one-bedroom's worth of possessions |
| 20ft container (FCL) | 5–9 weeks | $4,000–$9,000 | A two- to three-bedroom home |
| 40ft container (FCL) | 5–9 weeks | $7,000–$14,000 | A house, including furniture worth keeping |
| Buy on arrival | Days | $5,000–$20,000 for a flat | Almost everyone, for furniture and appliances |
Door-to-door quotes should include origin packing, freight, US customs clearance, port charges and inland delivery. A quote that covers only the ocean leg will roughly double by the time the goods reach the apartment.
Two categories almost never justify the freight. Electrical appliances built for 100V or 230V will not work properly on the US 120V, 60Hz supply, and furniture sized for a Japanese or European home frequently will not fit a New York lift or stairwell. Measure the lift, not the room.
Step 2Customs, and the exemption for used effects
Household goods and personal effects you have owned and used abroad for at least a year are generally admitted free of duty when imported in connection with your arrival. New items, bought for the move, are not.
A numbered inventory in English, with values, is required and is what customs works from. Your shipper prepares it; read it before it is filed, because errors there become delays at the port.
Food, plants, seeds, wooden items, alcohol above small quantities, and anything made from protected species. Firearms and medications have their own regimes. Declare rather than omit.
Import requires compliance with federal safety and emissions standards, and most cars sold outside the US do not comply. Assume it is not practical unless the vehicle is over twenty-five years old.
Step 3What the building requires on the day
| Requirement | Typical | Consequence if missed |
|---|---|---|
| Move-in window | Weekdays, 9am–4pm | The move is refused at the door |
| Certificate of insurance from the mover | Naming the building and managing agent | The most common reason a move is turned away |
| Refundable move-in deposit | $500–$1,000 | Held against damage to common areas |
| Lift booking | Reserved days or weeks ahead | In September and June, a fortnight's wait |
| Non-refundable move-in fee | $250–$750 in some buildings | Charged regardless |
| Notice to the superintendent | 48 hours | Padding and door protection not in place |
Ask the managing agent for the building's move-in policy the day the lease or contract is signed. Freight arriving with no lift slot goes into storage at your cost.
Step 4A workable timetable
| When | Do |
|---|---|
| 8–10 weeks out | Three written quotes, decide sea or air, book the survey |
| 6–8 weeks out | Book the shipment; sell or store what is not going |
| 4–6 weeks out | Sea freight collected. Anything you need in month one goes by air or in a suitcase |
| 3–4 weeks out | Confirm the arrival address, arrange interim accommodation if the lease starts later |
| 2 weeks out | Book the building lift, order the mover's certificate of insurance |
| Week of arrival | Bank account, US mobile number, utilities |
| On delivery | Check against the inventory before signing the delivery note, and photograph any damage immediately |
Six to ten weeks door to door from Asia or Europe, including packing, sailing, clearance and delivery. Plan to live without it, which is what an air shipment of two or three boxes is for.
Yes. Marine cover typically runs 1–3% of the declared value and is the difference between a damaged container being an inconvenience and a loss. Declare realistic values rather than low ones.
You can send it, but it will sit in bonded storage at a daily rate until there is somewhere to deliver to. Time the collection to the lease start rather than to your flight.
Both origin and destination storage are available and both are expensive over months. It is usually cheaper to delay collection than to store at the US end.
Not physically, but your passport details, visa status and a signed customs declaration are required, and clearance generally cannot complete before you have entered the country.
Let’s talk first
Tell us your arrival date and where you are moving from, and we will help sequence the lease, the lift booking and the freight so they do not collide.
RELATED GUIDES
Recent transactions
A sample of the sales, purchases and rentals we acted on in 2025 and 2026.
Real estate brokerage services are provided through R New York.
Important notice
The figures on this page are general information as of August 2026 and do not represent an offer, a quote, or a guarantee of any transaction terms. Reinvent NY does not provide legal, tax, or investment advice. Confirm anything material with an attorney and a CPA before you act on it. Nothing here is a solicitation to invest, and no return is promised. Real estate brokerage services are provided through R New York.