Best International Moving Companies To Move from the UK to the US in 2026

Moving from the UK to the US involves more than booking a container. For British entrepreneurs, remote workers, and small business owners, the move may involve household goods, office equipment, inventory, vehicles, customs paperwork, storage, and immigration planning.

The scale of international relocation is significant. The Office for National Statistics estimates that 246,000 British nationals left the UK to live abroad for at least a year in the year ending December 2025.

For anyone relocating across the Atlantic, the choice of mover can affect how much of the packing, freight, customs, storage, and final delivery process has to be managed personally.

Updated October 2026, the five companies below cover different approaches, from traditional full-service moving to container-based shipping.

1. International Van Lines

International Van Lines has operated since 2000 and says it serves more than 180 countries. Its international services include packing, ocean and air freight, customs assistance, tracking, and moving support.

• Pricing/cost breakdowns: Pricing depends on shipment volume, container requirements, route, services, and distance. Smaller shipments may use volume-based pricing, while larger moves can require 20-foot or 40-foot containers.
• Services offered: Options include full-service packing, ocean and air freight, storage, customs assistance, and door-to-door coordination.
• Timelines: Sea freight takes considerably longer than air freight. Port handling and customs can add several weeks to the overall schedule.
• Use cases: Suitable for household relocations, corporate transfers, remote workers, and entrepreneurs shipping substantial equipment or inventory.
• Insurance and liability coverage: Review valuation and protection options before signing, particularly when shipments contain high-value business equipment.
• Customs, duties, and import regulations: US-bound household goods require appropriate documentation and a detailed inventory. Duty-free treatment depends on the goods and circumstances.
• Visa/immigration considerations for business owners: The mover handles transportation, not immigration. Business owners must separately determine which US immigration category fits their circumstances.
• Reviews/reputation signals: International Van Lines reports more than 1,600 reviews across Trustpilot and Google and coverage in 180+ countries.
• Alternatives: Freight forwarders, shared containers, container services, or DIY shipping can make sense when full-service assistance is unnecessary.

Pros

• Broad international coverage.
• Full-service packing and freight options.

Cons

• Full-service moving can cost more than self-pack alternatives.

2. Cross Country Movers

Cross Country Movers provides international moving services to more than 150 countries, including sea and air freight, export packing, customs documentation, storage, and door-to-door service. Its 2026 guide highlights flat-rate pricing based on shipment inventory. You can also visit the Facebook page.

• Pricing/cost breakdowns: Pricing is based on a detailed inventory, while shipment volume, destination, freight method, container requirements, and inland distance affect the quote.
• Services offered: Services include export packing, sea and air freight, customs documentation, storage, door-to-door moving, and vehicle shipping.
• Timelines: Sea freight is generally suited to larger shipments, while air freight can shorten transit. Customs and port processing add variables to the schedule.
• Use cases: Suitable for family relocations, expatriates, remote workers, corporate moves, and entrepreneurs shipping equipment or inventory.
• Insurance and liability coverage: Confirm available protection before shipment and accurately declare high-value property.
• Customs, duties, and import regulations: US Customs and Border Protection requires documentation for unaccompanied household goods. Form 3299 may apply to qualifying household effects.
• Visa/immigration considerations for business owners: Moving goods does not establish the right to live or work in the US. Immigration arrangements must be handled separately.
• Reviews/reputation signals: This top international moving company in USA currently has a 4.4 TrustScore on Trustpilot from 30 reviews. Trustpilot notes that the company has not recently invited customers to review it, which may affect representativeness.
• Alternatives: Smaller shipments can be compared with freight forwarding, shared containers, container-only services, or DIY shipping.

Pros

• Sea and air options covering 150+ countries.
• Inventory-based flat-rate quoting.

Cons

• Full-service coordination may cost more than container-only shipping.

3. Allied Van Lines

Allied Van Lines provides international household and corporate relocation services with a network spread over 130 countries. Its international cost information shows that pricing varies substantially according to volume, weight, distance, services, and transportation method.

• Pricing/cost breakdowns: Allied cites international moves ranging from roughly $1,500 to $18,000+, but these are broad benchmarks rather than UK-to-US quotes. Container size, volume, packing, and distance affect the final price.
• Services offered: Services include full-service packing, transportation, storage, corporate relocation, and international shipment coordination.
• Timelines: UK-to-US timing depends on the origin, destination, port, freight method, and customs processing.
• Use cases: Suitable for corporate relocations, families, expatriates, remote workers, and larger household or business shipments.
• Insurance and liability coverage: Review valuation options and exclusions, especially for commercial equipment and electronics.
• Customs, duties, and import regulations: Movers can coordinate documentation, but customers remain responsible for accurate shipment information.
• Visa/immigration considerations for business owners: Immigration status is separate from moving services. Entrepreneurs must obtain appropriate authorization to live and conduct business in the US.
• Reviews/reputation signals: Allied reports an average rating of 4.75/5 based on more than 5,000 customer reviews on its international cost page.
• Alternatives: Shared freight, container shipping, freight forwarding, and self-pack options can reduce the need for hands-on moving assistance.

Pros

• Extensive international network.
• Residential and corporate relocation options.

Cons

• Pricing can vary significantly by shipment.

4. North American Van Lines

North American Van Lines has more than 90 years of moving experience and provides international relocation services to more than 130 countries.

• Pricing/cost breakdowns: Quotes depend on volume, packing, destination, freight method, and distance. Volume-based pricing is more relevant to smaller shipments, while container pricing suits larger moves.
• Services offered: Options include full packing, fragile-only packing, self-pack materials, transportation, storage, and customs coordination.
• Timelines: Ocean freight is slower than air freight, while customs, port congestion, and final delivery can extend the schedule.
• Use cases: Relevant to families, corporate employees, remote workers, and entrepreneurs moving substantial household or business property.
• Insurance and liability coverage: Compare valuation protection and exclusions, particularly for valuable business equipment.
• Customs, duties, and import regulations: Accurate inventories and documentation are essential. Qualifying used household effects may receive duty relief under US rules.
• Visa/immigration considerations for business owners: The moving company does not determine immigration eligibility. Entrepreneurs should review applicable business-related visa options separately.
• Reviews/reputation signals: North American’s international operation has more than 90 years of industry history and a network extending to more than 130 countries.
• Alternatives: Freight forwarders and container-only services may suit customers who can handle packing and loading themselves.

Pros

• Long operating history.
• Full-service and self-pack choices.

Cons

• Pricing and service scope vary by shipment.

5. Seven Seas Worldwide

Seven Seas Worldwide focuses heavily on international personal-effects shipping. The company has been moving baggage and belongings for over 15 years.

• Pricing/cost breakdowns: Shipment volume, container size, destination, and selected services determine the price. Itemized fees are available through its online quotation process.
• Services offered: Seven Seas offers MoveCube shipping, sea and air freight, door-to-door transportation, storage, and online shipment management.
• Timelines: Transit varies by route and service. Sea freight suits larger, less time-sensitive shipments, while air freight is faster but generally costs more.
• Use cases: Suitable for expatriates, remote workers, families, and small business owners who can pack their own goods.
• Insurance and liability coverage: Review available cover and exclusions before shipping, particularly for valuable personal or business property.
• Customs, duties, and import regulations: Customers must accurately declare shipment contents. Business goods may receive different customs treatment from personal effects.
• Visa/immigration considerations for business owners: Seven Seas handles transportation, not immigration. Entrepreneurs must separately arrange the appropriate US status.
• Reviews/reputation signals: Seven Seas says more than 40,000 people use its services annually, providing a useful scale indicator alongside independent reviews.
• Alternatives: Traditional full-service movers may be preferable when professional packing and broader relocation support are needed.

Pros

• Container-based option for self-pack customers.
• Online quoting and shipment management.

Cons

• Less suitable for customers wanting traditional full-service packing.

International Moving Companies Compared

Conclusion

The Problem: For UK entrepreneurs, an international move can involve household goods, office equipment, inventory, vehicles, customs, and immigration considerations at the same time.

Comparing companies only by the headline quote can also be misleading. Packing, storage, customs-related services, delivery, and protection may not be included.

Key Takeaways:

• Compare quotes using the same shipment volume and service level.
• Check whether pricing uses cubic volume, container size, weight, or a combination.
• Allow time for ocean transit, customs, port handling, and final delivery.
• Handle moving arrangements and US immigration planning separately.
• Check registration, insurance, complaint records, and independent reviews before booking.

Next Steps: Prepare an inventory covering household belongings, vehicles, office equipment, and business inventory. Request comparable quotes and confirm what each includes for packing, freight, customs support, storage, delivery, and protection.

At the same time, confirm your US immigration route and customs requirements for commercial goods. Coordinating both before the shipment leaves the UK can help prevent the relocation from disrupting the business.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to move from the UK to the US?

There is no single price. Volume, container size, packing, freight method, destination, customs, and inland transportation all affect the quote. Full-container moves can cost several thousand pounds.

How long does an international move from the UK to the US take?

Ocean shipping generally takes weeks rather than days, with customs and final delivery adding time. Air freight is faster but normally costs more.

Can I ship business equipment with household goods?

Often, yes, but commercial goods can have different customs requirements. Prepare a detailed inventory and identify business assets accurately.

Do I need a US visa to move my business from the UK?

Moving companies do not provide immigration advice. Entrepreneurs need appropriate US authorization to live and conduct business there.

Should I use a full-service mover or container service?

Full-service moving reduces the customer’s workload. Container or self-pack options can provide more control and potentially lower costs but require more involvement.