Published by Chris Townsend
Last updated Dec, 11 2025
How Much Does It Cost Of Shipping A Container To Djibouti?
The entire cost of your cargo will be affected by a variety of factors, such as the season, load size, and transportation alternatives.
Three Movers is a firm that provides services to many places across the world, including Djibouti. We can ensure that your shipment will quickly arrive at its destination in good condition.
How much does it cost to ship a container to Djibouti?
Shipping costs vary depending on the origin, destination, service, product weight, and other things. To help you understand more about them, here's a quick overview:
- The volume and weight of your items: This is an important factor to consider when calculating your charges. Hauling will be costly if you have a large package. The same is applicable for package weight. A bulkier package costs extra to haul.
- Type of transportation: The mode of delivery you choose will also have an impact on your international shipping costs. If you're relocating internationally, you'll have the option of choosing between air and sea freight. The price of international transporting can vary greatly between the two. The cost of air freight is higher than the cost of marine freight.
- Distance: Long-distance transporting are more expensive. Carriers often use dynamic geographic zones to determine how far your shipment will travel.
- Destination Port: At the destination port, there's a high chance that you need to pay import taxes and service costs. Because fees vary by country, the final cost is determined by the destination of your container.
- Season: Just like any other industry, international hauling has peak seasons. Summer and the days behind the Chinese New Year are the busiest seasons. During these months, rates will be higher than the average.
Other factors to consider when relocating commercial or personal items:
- Insurance
- Packing
- Taxes and Custom fees
- Inspections
- General Rate Increase
- Storage
Instant Rates For Shipping Containers To Djibouti
Average Hauling Rates Estimates
FCL transport is best for transporting lots of boxes, pallets and anything which will require a full container transporting of up to 45,000lbs.
Full Container Load (FCL) Shipping Rates | |
|---|---|
| 20 ft Container | $1860 |
| 40 ft Container | $1970 |
LCL shipping is more affordable way to transport less than container load hauling.
Less Than Container (LCL) Rates | |
|---|---|
| LCL | $86/CBM |
| Personal Effects | $855 |
| Household Goods | $895 |
International house moving to Djibouti services - quick, easy and cheap.
International House Moving Costs | |
|---|---|
| Partial House (2000Lbs & Less) | $645 |
| 1 Bedroom (3850 Lbs) | $2950 |
| 2 Bedroom (4500 Lbs) | $2840 |
| 3+ Bedroom (8750 Lbs) | $3850 |
International auto transport services to Djibouti via RoRo and container transport. Ship cars, trucks, suvs, atv's, boats, RV's, heavy equipment and more.
Container Car Shipping | |
|---|---|
| Sedan (Container) | $2450 |
| SUV (Container) | $2545 |
| Sedan via RORO | $1360 |
| SUV via RORO | $1450 |
Which Size of Hauling Container Works Best for Me?
For household and business goods a 20-foot or 40-foot container is your best bet.
It is possible to fit a three-bedroom house into a 20-foot container. Even though there are 33 cubic meters of space only about 25 to 28 of those are actually useful.
Meanwhile, the 40-foot container has a 67 cbm capacity. Nevertheless, it can only hold 54-58 cbm. When moving a lot of stuff 40-foot containers are your best bet.
You may ship your belongings without shelling out the whole container. You can choose between Full Container Load (FCL) and Less Than Container Load (LCL) transport.
If you go with LCL relocating you will be splitting a container with other customers. Nevertheless, if you went with FCL you would have to shell out for an entire container's worth of space. This is a faster and safer option because your things will be the only ones in the container.
Different Types of Freight Transportation
There are pros and disadvantages to each mode of shipping. Understanding these distinctions is the key to determining the appropriate type of transportation for your container.
Here is a breakdown of each mode of transportation and its benefits and drawbacks.
Land transit is the most commonly used means of transportation for both local and intercontinental shifting. It has the benefit of being both simple and cheap. However, this method is confined to places accessible by road or track.
Another method of transporting your item is by air freight. It's fast, and it's the ideal option if you're only transferring a few boxes at a time. You can fly your container to Djibouti, but be aware that this is a costly way of transportation.
If you don't want to spend a lot of cash on moving, you could go with sea freight. When compared to air transportation, ships can carry much bigger loads at a fraction of the expense. It is the preferred mode of transport for large objects being sent in bulk. Although it is the most cost-effective method of international shipping, it is also the most time-consuming. It could take a few days to a few weeks for your cargo to arrive at its destination.
What's next?
Whether you're transporting personal belongings or consumer goods, Three Movers can keep your items safe throughout the international process.
To know more about how our solutions can help you streamline logistics and protect your shipment, contact us now. You can fill out our web form or call us at (888) 202-0036 to get a free quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shipping a container to Djibouti typically ranges from $2,200–$6,500 for a 20-foot unit and $3,800–$9,800 for a 40-foot unit, depending on route and season. Final pricing is influenced by origin port, ocean carrier selection, fuel surcharges, and whether you need loading, customs handling, or inland trucking to Djibouti City. Costs also fluctuate with cargo weight, hazardous classifications, and peak-season demand across Africa’s Red Sea corridor. For door-to-door moves, using a global freight partner or an international moving cost calculator can help verify realistic budgeting.
Routes such as Shanghai–Djibouti, Shenzhen–Djibouti, or Dubai–Djibouti see price swings tied to port congestion, carrier capacity, and transit time (typically 10–25 days). Rates rise with container size, specialized packing, overweight certifications, and Djibouti’s terminal handling charges. Export paperwork standards in China and the UAE also affect cost if verification is needed. Shippers moving household goods may benefit from streamlined FCL service, supported by an international moving service when coordinating origin pickup.
Yes. Typical destination fees include terminal handling, documentation charges, customs inspection fees, and container storage if goods are not cleared within the free-time window. Costs vary by container type and whether customs selects the cargo for physical examination. Importers should budget for port security, scanning, or manifest corrections if data discrepancies appear. These fees are standard across East African gateways and add to the overall Djibouti port cost, especially during seasonal congestion.
Transit times range from 10–15 days from the Gulf, 18–30 days from major Chinese ports, and 25–40 days from the U.S. East or West Coast, depending on vessel schedules and transshipment hubs. Timelines change with weather in the Red Sea region, carrier routing, and any feeder vessel used for inland consolidation. Customs clearance in Djibouti is typically fast often under 24–48 hours with complete documentation though incomplete manifests or controlled goods extend processing time.
Choose FCL if you are shipping 12–25 cubic meters or more or want direct control over sealing and handling. FCL offers faster processing and predictable delivery windows. LCL works for smaller loads but includes consolidation and deconsolidation steps, which add 2–6 days to schedules and may introduce additional handling charges. Djibouti’s port favors FCL for speed because containers move directly through customs, which helps reduce storage charges for importers.
Common documents include a bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, and any export declarations required at origin. Controlled cargo (chemicals, medical items, electronics) may require additional compliance paperwork. Errors in descriptions or HS codes often lead to customs delays. Importers handling household goods should also prepare an itemized inventory when coordinating with an international moving service to prevent customs penalties.
Yes. Most carriers provide real-time container tracking through booking numbers, bill of lading numbers, or container IDs. Tracking tools show vessel departure, transshipment points, ETA to Djibouti, and customs release status. Many freight forwarders add SMS or email alerts for milestones. Tracking accuracy can vary during transshipment events, but it usually normalizes once the vessel enters the Red Sea–Gulf of Aden corridor.
