Published by Chris Townsend
Last updated Jan, 05 2026
Container Shipping Services, Israel
Shipping containers to Israel will be tiring and time-consuming, especially if you don't own heavy equipment. You have to pack, load, and unload the cargo. You also need to coordinate with and pay the people who handle your container during the process.
Three Movers is one of the best hauling companies that can help if you do not want that hassle. We are relocating experts who offer services worldwide, including in Israel.
How much does It Cost to Ship a Container to Israel?
The cost of moving will depend on various factors, such as its dimensions, weight, distance, and mode of transportation.
If you are moving large and heavy items, you will likely pay more for the shipping fee. The same applies to distance; long-distance shipments are more expensive than freight to nearby countries.
Moreover, the hauling rate will also depend on the time of the year. Shipping your cargo during the summer and weeks after the Chinese New Year will be more expensive than usual because these are the busiest periods in this industry.
In Israel, the peak season is from June to September. If you are relocating your Container within these months, expect some delays or an increase in the shipping rate since many people visit the country.
Those are the main factors that affect the charges. However, you should also expect the following to influence delivery payments:
- Insurance
- Packing
- Taxes and Custom fees
- Inspections
- General Rate Increase
- Storage
- Israeli customs duties
Average Container Shipping Rates Estimates
Full Container Load (FCL) Hauling Rates
FCL is best for transporting many boxes, pallets, and anything that requires a total container shipping to Israel of up to 45,000 lbs.
- 20 ft Container $1075
- 40 ft Container$1225
Less Than Container (LCL) Moving Rates
LCL is a more affordable way to transport less than container load shipments to Israel.
- LCL$44/CBM
- Household Goods$480
- Personal Effects$385v
International House Relocating Costs
International house moving to Israel services – quick, easy, and cheap.
- Partial House (2000Lbs & Less) $430
- 1 Bedroom (3850 Lbs) $1868
- 2 Bedroom (4500 Lbs) $2303
- 3+ Bedroom (8750 Lbs) $3804
Container Car Hauling
International auto transport services to Israel via RoRo and container ships. Ship cars, trucks, SUVs, ATVs, boats, RV's, heavy equipment, and more.
- Sedan (Container) $1752
- SUV (Container) $1868
- Sedan via RORO $1075
- SUV via RORO $1157
Which Size Of Container Works Best For Me?
The answer to this question depends on your cargo and your budget.
If you are moving residential and commercial belongings, a 20ft or 40ft container is suitable.
A 20ft can hold the contents of an average-sized house or ten standard pallets. Meanwhile, the 40ft is suitable for moving a micro/small business. It can store 20 to 24 pallets, depending on their size.
Depending on your budget, you can ship a container without paying for its entire space. You can move it through LCL(Less Than Container Load)shipping, which involves sharing a container's cost and cargo space with other individuals.
If you don't want complications, you can always pay for the entire Container, even if your belongings cannot fill the cargo space. This type of transportation is called an FCL(Full Container Load) shipment. The moving company will depart with your cargo immediately after paying the intended amount.
Different Types of Freight Transportation
You can ship your cargo through land, air, or sea. The right option depends on your budget and the end destination of your Container.
Let's assume that you are shipping the cargo to the United States. You could move your items to Israel through air freight, which is the quickest mode of transportation. However, it's also the most expensive.
So if you don't want to spend a handful of cash on the shipping fee, choose sea freight instead. Though not as fast as air freight, its price is always economical regardless of the weight of your cargo.
How much does it cost?
The charges depends on the service the customer requires, the type of goods being sent, and their origin and destination. A customer can ship by sea or air, meaning there is not only one price but two different prices (depending on whether it is sea or air).
To give a price, the parameters that need to be measured are:
- Size
- Weight
- The distance between the origin and destination
- The nature of the goods being shipped (dry or liquid, dangerous cargo, etc.)
- The type of service required: regular line service, back-to-back/door-to-door, or consolidation/intermodal.
Accordingly, the customer will be charged for everything from one price to another. To illustrate this, we will use a few examples:
A customer is transporting a container from China to Israel and wants it to go by regular line service (no consolidation or intermodal). We assume that the Container's dimensions are 20 feet x 8 feet.
It weighs approximately 10 tons, and the Container's load is 40,000 kilograms. The distance between the origin and destination is 12,000 nautical miles (sea).
Adding up all the costs involved in transporting this Container will give us a price that includes everything from the beginning to the end of the route. This means the customer will get one price for the sea leg (from China to Israel) and another fee for the air leg (from Israel to its destination).
What is the cost of moving a 20 ft container?
The expenses will depend on where you are located, where the Container is departing, and which port it leaves from.
The main ports in North America for shipping cargo to Israel are New York/New Jersey, Miami, Savannah, Georgia, and Seattle, Washington. The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, also service Israel, among others, but less regularly.
The following port-specific rate and cost estimates are for one 20-ft standard Container: NY/NJ—$1,700 – 3,400 one way.
Miami – $1,300 – 2,500 one way
Seattle—$2,000–$4,800 one way. (Slightly higher rates to the West Coast of Canada will apply.) Please note that Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, offer dedicated service for this container route.
The cost stated is based on a rate that includes one-way expenses and costs related to emptying and setting back the empty Container (flipping).
What is the cost of relocating a 40 ft container?
It Is based on the volumetric or dimensional weight used by your freight forwarder (this information should be included in your bill of lading).
If dimensional weight applies, it will be 60% of the volumetric weight. For example, if it weighs 10,000 lbs, the dimensional or volumetric weight will be 15,001 lbs. In this case, you must pay for 15,001 lbs instead of 10,000 lbs.
In our example, you must pay for 15,000 lbs as if it were 10 x 1500 lbs. Therefore, with a dimensional weight of 15000 lbs, the charges per ton is $30/ton. Let us take another example: If it weighs 10000 lbs and your freight forwarder charges you by volume (not weight) and the dimensional weight is 15000 lbs, your freight forwarder will charge you for the volume he used (in our example 100 ft3). In this case, the cost per ft3 would be $30/100 ft3 = $0.30 per ft3.
Average Container Shipping Rates Estimates
FCL shipping is best for transporting lots of boxes, pallets, and anything that requires a full container shipping to Israel of up to 45,000 lbs.
Full Container Load (FCL) Shipping Rates | |
|---|---|
| 20 ft | $1075 |
| 40 ft | $1225 |
LCL shipping is a more affordable way to transport less than container load shipments to Israel.
Less Than Container (LCL) Shipping Rates | |
|---|---|
| LCL | $44/CBM |
| Household Goods | $480 |
| Personal Effects | $385 |
International House moving to Israel services - quick, easy, and cheap.
International House Moving Costs | |
|---|---|
| Partial House (2000Lbs & Less) | $430 |
| 1 Bedroom (3850 Lbs) | $1868 |
| 2 Bedroom (4500 Lbs) | $2303 |
| 3+ Bedroom (8750 Lbs) | $3804 |
International auto transport services to Israel via RoRo and container ships. Ship cars, trucks, SUVs, ATVs, boats, RVs, and heavy equipment.
Container Car Shipping | |
|---|---|
| Sedan (Container) | $1752 |
| SUV (Container) | $1868 |
| Sedan via RORO | $1075 |
| SUV via RORO | $1157 |
Less than Container Load(LCL) Shipments
Though difficult, we are happy to assist with LCL shipments to Israel. The port that services the vast majority of these is Haifa. There are no direct services from the US/Canada to Haifa, so everything must transit through Rotterdam or Antwerp. Services between those ports and Israel are spotty. Availability is very much weather-dependent.
We are happy to quote based on the information you can provide, but if you have further logistical questions, please feel free to contact us at your convenience. We will certainly do whatever we can to help!
Full Container Load (FCL) Shipments
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If you want to send a full container load shipment to Israel, you'll need to be more specific about your needs. A general "buyer" might not be sufficient for the carrier of record since it is actually up to them, based on their available space and current loads going to Israel, if they want to book your shipment. You can be slightly more specific by having a "manufacturer" for your products or a "seller" of your product. Similarly, you might consider adding the age of your products if that applies to your shipment. You can also add how many pieces are in your load by providing the dimensions of just one piece.
Airfreight vs. Ocean International shipments
The expenditure of shipping a container depends mainly on the distance between your point of origin, port city, and final destination. The longer the distance, the more it will cost to ship your other cargo. There are two ways to ship goods by sea: 1) using an air carrier /aircraft (referred to as Airfreight) or 2) using a sea carrier/ vessel (referred to as Ocean Freight).
Port to Port
It is one of the basics on which the top rates are based. Essentially, port-to-port shipping enables you to get your goods to the origin port, and then the company delivers them to the destination port. After that, you are liable to get them to your house.
Drop & Fill
The shipping company drops the shipping container at your home, and you fill it yourself. You can also use domestic packers and movers working separately from the company to help out.
Furthermore, this is a choice on your moves, another end where the company leaves a container at your house, and then it is up to you to unload it.
Door-to-Door Service
The most well-understood option for overseas people is a comprehensive door-to-door moving service. Depending on your choice, your mover arranges to deliver the container to your house, move to port, pack, ship, move to the new location, and unpack.
What's next?
Now that you know the factors that could affect the cost of shipping a container to Israel, your next move is to contact us! We'll give you a free quote, and then we can start packing your things.
You can call us at (888) 202-0036 or send us an email at [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost of shipping a container to Israel typically ranges from $2,400 to $6,800 for a 20 ft container and $3,800 to $9,500 for a 40 ft container. Pricing is influenced by container size, origin port, fuel surcharges, seasonal demand, and whether you ship FCL or LCL. Inland trucking, port fees, customs clearance, and insurance are usually separate. Most international moves fall under regulated ocean freight standards. Learn broader pricing factors at international moving costs.
Shipping a container to Israel requires a Bill of Lading, commercial invoice, packing list, Israeli customs import declaration, and valid ID or importer number. Certain goods need extra approvals from bodies like the Israeli Ministry of Health or Institute of Standards. Incomplete paperwork often causes port delays and storage fees. Commercial shipments face stricter checks than household goods. Documentation accuracy directly affects clearance speed and total shipping costs. See preparation guidance at international overseas moving tips.
Israel restricts or prohibits items such as weapons, military equipment, narcotics, counterfeit goods, obscene materials, and gambling devices. Electronics, food, cosmetics, and medical products often require prior approval or certification. Restricted items may be seized or destroyed at the port, increasing costs. Always verify commodity rules before packing, especially for mixed household containers. Prohibited items can delay the entire container, not just the restricted goods.
Israeli customs charges are based on the declared value, HS code, and product category. Goods valued under $75 are generally tax exempt. Items between $75 and $500 may avoid customs duty but still incur VAT, currently around 17%. Some goods also face purchase tax. Duties, VAT, port handling, and inspection fees are separate from ocean freight and can add thousands to the total container shipping cost.
FCL (Full Container Load) is faster and more secure than LCL (Less Than Container Load). FCL ships directly from origin to destination, typically arriving in 20–30 days depending on route. LCL consolidates cargo from multiple shippers, adding handling and transit time. FCL is recommended for full households or commercial loads, while LCL suits smaller shipments with flexible delivery windows.
Container transit time to Israel usually ranges from 18–35 days port to port. East Coast U.S. routes average 18–25 days, while West Coast routes take 28–35 days. Delays may occur due to port congestion, customs inspections, holidays, or regional security conditions. Door to door delivery adds inland transport and clearance time. Transit speed is also affected by whether you choose FCL or LCL service.
Yes, cargo insurance is strongly recommended for container shipping to Israel. Standard carrier liability is limited and may not cover loss, theft, or water damage. All risk marine insurance typically costs 1–3% of the declared cargo value and protects against port handling incidents and sea transit risks. Many carriers require insurance for the container itself, even if you decline coverage for the contents. Learn more at moving overseas shipping costs.
Most ocean carriers provide container tracking using the Bill of Lading number or container ID. Tracking shows departure, transshipment points, and arrival at Israeli ports like Haifa or Ashdod. Updates may pause while the vessel is at sea. Customs holds or inspections may not appear immediately in tracking systems. For full visibility, shippers often combine carrier tracking with freight forwarder updates and delivery notices.
