Published by Chris Townsend
Last updated Jan, 05 2026
How Much a Cost For Ship A Container To Russia?
Russia Container Shipping Cost
To ascertain the total cost of shipping a container to Russia, you need to know certain factors that normally affect the cost. These factors do lead to variations in shipping costs.
But don’t worry about it, at Three Movers we have experts who can walk you through the logistics of international shipments.
This write-up is a guide that will explain all the factors that influence the total cost of shipping a container.
Factors That Affecting the Charges
Below are the factors to consider when calculating the cost of shipping a container to Russia:
The Volume/Weight of the Goods
The volume or weight of your cargo determines the kind of shipping you will use. For instance, sea freight deals mostly with the dimension of the goods while air freight deals with the weight of the goods.
Types of Transport
The type of transportation used also determines the cost and how long it will take your goods to arrive at their destination. For example, air freight delivers faster than sea freight but sea freight is cheaper.
Distance of the Journey
The distance of your shipment also affects shipping costs because shipments of large distances are much more expensive than short-distance moves.
The Destination Port
International shipping comes with customs tariffs and service costs; although they differ from country to country. Russia levied a VAT of 20% on most imported products; some items have only 10% VAT on them.
Time of The Year
Summer is usually the peak season in Russia. However, it is better to ship your items during spring or autumn (when there are fewer crowds).
Instant Rates For Shipping Containers To Russia
Which Shipping Container Size Is Best Suitable for Me?
The 20ft and 40ft containers are the sizes that most customers traditionally use.
How Big is 20ft Container?
A 20ft container has the space needed to store the contents of a three-bedroom home.
How Huge is 40ft Container?
A 40ft container will store double the contents of a 20ft container. It is profitable for customers with large goods.
Difference Between FCL and LCL
A "Less Than Container Load" (LCL) is a pattern we created to enable many customers with small volumes of goods to share a container.
A "Full Container Load" (FCL) is when a customer with items exceeding that of a one-bedroom apartment uses an entire container for his/her shipping.
Freight Rates Estimates
FCL shipping is best for transporting lots of boxes, pallets and anything which will require a full container shipping to Russia of up to 45,000lbs.
Full Container Load (FCL) Delivery Charges | |
|---|---|
| 20 ft Container | $460 |
| 40 ft Container | $655 |
LCL shipping is more affordable way to transport less than container load shipments to Russia.
Less Than Container (LCL) Delivery Charges | |
|---|---|
| LCL | $54/CBM |
| Personal Effects | $665 |
| Household Goods | $865 |
International house moving to Russia services - quick, easy and cheap.
International House Moving Costs | |
|---|---|
| Partial House (2000Lbs & Less) | $530 |
| 1 Bedroom (3850 Lbs) | $1645 |
| 2 Bedroom (4500 Lbs) | $2430 |
| 3+ Bedroom (8750 Lbs) | $3195 |
International auto transport services to Russia via RoRo and container ships. Ship cars, trucks, suvs, atv's, boats, RV's, heavy equipment and more.
Container Car Shipping | |
|---|---|
| Sedan via RORO | $740 |
| SUV via RORO | $855 |
| Sedan (Container) | $1160 |
| SUV (Container) | $1230 |
Different Types of Transportation
Russia has one of the best transportation networks in the world. The information below will help you towards making a decision regarding the mode of transportation you will use:
Sea Cargo
Russia has one of the busiest waterways in the world. In 2004 alone, 53 companies transported about 22.8 million passengers and 136.6 million tons of cargo over Russia's inland waterways. Suffice to say, this is a great option that a lot of people use. You can save a lot on costs by shipping this way, but it will take significantly more time than other options.
Air Freight
It is the fastest way to ship items to Russia, although it is very expensive. There are over 2,743 airports in Russia, and about 630 have paved runways.
Truck Relocating
Russia has a road network of over 933,000km and has highways that connect Moscow to the capitals of neighboring countries. However, road safety in the country is said to be poor.
Train Shipments
Russia has one of the best and largest railway networks in the world. It has a track length of over 53,200 miles.
Additional Costs
Aside from VAT, there are other additional shipping charges you should consider while shipping to Russia. They are:
- Customs duties
- Import excise taxes
- General Rate Increase (GRI)
- Container inspection fees
- Inland delivery charges
- Quarantine fees
- Insurance cover
What is the Next Move?
Give the duty of shipping your container to Russia to Three Movers and experience the best of services. To get a custom quote for free, fill our web form.
Find Cargo Containers For Freight Transport & Relocation
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost for shipping a container to Russia typically ranges from $3,500–$8,500 for a 20-foot container and $6,000–$12,000 for a 40-foot container. Pricing is driven by container size, origin port, ocean freight rates, fuel surcharges, and destination port access. Inland trucking, customs clearance, insurance, and seasonal demand also affect totals. Long-distance international moves with door-to-door service usually increase costs compared to port-to-port shipping. Learn more about international pricing factors on our international moving costs page.
Container shipping costs to Russia are influenced by container size (20ft vs 40ft), origin country, shipping route, port congestion, fuel prices, and sanctions-related routing limits. Additional cost drivers include customs documentation, insurance coverage, inland delivery distance, and whether the shipment is full container load or shared. Winter weather delays at Baltic and Far East ports can also raise costs due to longer transit times and storage fees.
Shipping a container to Russia usually takes 30–55 days from major U.S. or European ports. Transit time depends on the route used, transshipment stops, customs processing, and destination port such as St. Petersburg or Vladivostok. Door-to-door service adds time for inland pickup and final delivery. Seasonal congestion and inspections can extend delivery windows, especially for household goods and personal effects.
Ocean freight is significantly cheaper than air freight for shipping to Russia. A full container via ocean freight costs thousands less than air cargo, which is priced per kilogram and best suited for urgent, lightweight shipments. Household goods, furniture, and vehicles are almost always shipped by sea. Most international household moves rely on ocean transport due to cost efficiency and cargo capacity.
A container shipping cost calculator helps estimate baseline pricing but should be treated as a starting point. Calculators use average container shipping rates and do not fully account for customs fees, inland transport, insurance, or current route restrictions. For Russia-bound shipments, real quotes often vary due to port access and regulatory changes. A professional assessment provides a more accurate total cost than automated tools alone.
Shipping a container to Russia requires a bill of lading, commercial invoice or inventory list, packing list, passport copy for personal goods, and customs declaration forms. Additional documents may apply depending on shipment type, value, and origin country. Missing or incorrect paperwork can cause delays and storage fees, increasing overall shipping costs during customs clearance.
Yes, Russia restricts certain goods including weapons, hazardous materials, perishables, and some electronics. Sanctions and import controls may also limit personal or commercial items depending on origin. Restricted items can lead to seizure, fines, or return shipping costs. Verifying cargo eligibility before booking helps avoid unexpected expenses during customs inspection and clearance.
Door-to-door shipping to Russia costs more than port-to-port service because it includes inland pickup, export handling, customs clearance, and final delivery. This option reduces coordination stress but adds trucking, labor, and administrative fees. Port-to-port shipping is cheaper but requires arranging transport at both ends separately. Door-to-door service is common for household moves using full containers. See how bundled services affect pricing on our moving overseas shipping costs guide.
