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How Much Does It Cost to Move to France From the US? (October 2026)
A household move from the United States to France had a median price of $4,557 for a shipment under 200 cubic feet, $8,819 for 200 to 499 cubic feet, $11,592 for 500 to 999 cubic feet and $18,691 for 1,000 cubic feet and up. These figures come from 44 signed agreements booked by Sunset International Shipping, with pickups from January 2022 to October 2026, and are current as of October 2026. Below you will find the full ranges, the factors that moved prices up or down, published sailing times to Le Havre and Fos-sur-Mer, and the French customs rules for bringing your furniture in free of duty.
US to France moving prices by shipment size (as of October 2026)
| Shipment size | Moves | Median price | Middle 50% | Full range | Median per cu ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 200 cu ft | 13 | $4,557 | $3,698 to $5,003 | $3,162 to $5,921 | $41 |
| 200 to 499 cu ft | 13 | $8,819 | $7,631 to $10,336 | $6,134 to $11,704 | $25 |
| 500 to 999 cu ft | 9 | $11,592 | $10,787 to $11,999 | $8,810 to $15,650 | $18 |
| 1,000 cu ft and up | 9 | $18,691 | $12,702 to $21,397 | $11,810 to $25,776 | $12 |
Middle 50% means the 25th to 75th percentile of prices in that size group. US dollars, not inflation-adjusted. 25 of the 44 moves picked up in 2024 to 2026; the rest in 2022 and 2023. Origins in 11 states, led by California (23 moves) and New York (9).
A rough rule of thumb from this data: the middle half of small shipments under 200 cubic feet landed in the $3,698 to $5,003 range, while a full apartment of 1,000 cubic feet or more started at about $11,810. The price per cubic foot falls sharply as the load grows, from about $41 under 200 cu ft to about $12 at 1,000 cu ft and up, because every move carries fixed costs such as export paperwork, a pickup crew, French customs clearance and a delivery team.
What raises or lowers the price of a move to France
- How much you ship. Volume drives the price more than anything else in this data. Ask every mover for a written cubic-foot estimate and compare quotes on the same volume.
- Your US starting point. In this data, moves from the West Coast (California and Oregon, 24 moves) had a median of about $23 per cubic foot, and moves from the East, Midwest and Texas (20 moves) about $26. Part of that gap reflects shipment size: West Coast loads in this data were larger on average, and larger loads cost less per cubic foot. ExFreight lists 12 to 18 days port to port from the East Coast to Le Havre but often 25 to 35 days from the West Coast (ExFreight, viewed October 31, 2026).
- Paris or the regions. Paris moves had a median of about $25 per cubic foot versus about $22 elsewhere in France, but the Paris shipments were also smaller (median 270 cu ft versus 472). Paris deliveries often involve narrow streets, upper floors without a lift and parking restrictions for the truck, so ask whether a shuttle van or furniture lift is included.
- Shared container or a full container. ExFreight puts the break-even between paying per cubic meter in a shared container (LCL) and paying a flat rate for a full container (FCL) at about 13 to 15 cubic meters, roughly 460 to 530 cu ft (ExFreight).
- Time of year. ExFreight says peak-season surcharges between September and January "can add 20 to 30 percent" to ocean rates.
- Whether your goods qualify as duty-free. If the change-of-residence relief below does not apply, French import VAT (TVA) is charged at the standard 20 percent on the duty-inclusive value, on top of any EU duty (ExFreight).
How long does shipping household goods to France take?
| Route | Published transit | Source (viewed October 31, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| New York, Savannah, Charleston or Norfolk to Le Havre, full container | 12 to 18 days port to port | ExFreight |
| US East Coast to Le Havre, shared container | 18 to 28 days | ExFreight |
| Houston to Le Havre or Fos-sur-Mer (Marseille), full container | 16 to 22 days | ExFreight |
| US West Coast to France, routed via the Mediterranean | often 25 to 35 days | ExFreight |
| Air freight to Paris CDG or Lyon | 3 to 7 days airport to airport | ExFreight |
ExFreight adds 1 to 3 days at each end for pickup, export filing, port handling and French clearance. These are freight times only. A household move also includes packing, waiting for a sailing and, for shared loads, waiting until the container is full, so the door-to-door time is usually several weeks longer than the sailing. ExFreight describes Le Havre as by far France's largest container gateway, handling the majority of containerized imports. Fos-sur-Mer near Marseille serves the south, which matters if you are moving to Provence, the Riviera or Corsica.
French customs: the change-of-residence duty exemption
France lets people who move their main residence from outside the EU bring their household goods and personal vehicle in free of customs duty and taxes. According to the French government's Service-Public.fr guide (verified November 19, 2025; viewed October 31, 2026), the conditions are:
- You have lived outside the EU for at least 1 year.
- You are moving your principal residence to France. Goods meant to furnish a second home do not qualify.
- You have owned the goods for at least 6 months.
- You import them within the 12 months after you settle in France. They can come in several shipments, but the complete list must be on the inventory you hand in the first time.
- You agree not to sell or rent the goods for 1 year after they enter France.
Documents to present: a detailed inventory with values, dated and signed, in 2 copies; the vehicle registration if you bring a car; proof that your main residence was outside the EU and that you are settling in France (a French consulate can issue a change-of-residence certificate before you leave); and the signed entry declaration form cerfa no. 10070. For container shipments, customs officers make the declaration electronically. Customs then gives you a copy of the inventory and, for a car, certificate No. 846 A for French registration.
Not covered by the exemption: alcohol, tobacco, furnishings for a second home, commercial or mixed-use vehicles, mobile homes and caravans, professional equipment (small items such as a stethoscope or a musical instrument are allowed), and stocks of raw materials or goods. Works of art and cultural goods, weapons, animals, plants and medicines need prior authorization. See also French Customs (douane.gouv.fr): moving to metropolitan France.
Tips for a smoother US to France move
- Ask the consulate early for the change-of-residence certificate, since it is easier to get before you leave the US.
- Write your inventory with values in mind. French customs asks for an estimated, dated and signed inventory, and later shipments must already be on it.
- Tell the mover your floor and street. Upper-floor apartments without a lift and narrow streets are common in Paris and older town centers, and they change the delivery cost.
- Pick the port for your region. For Provence, the Riviera or Corsica, ask whether the shipment can go via Fos-sur-Mer rather than Le Havre.
- Plan around the September to January peak if your dates are flexible.
- Check the license. A US company that arranges your ocean shipment should appear on the FMC OTI list.
- Read our guides on full container vs shared container vs air freight, what affects overseas moving prices, the moving overseas checklist and how to avoid international moving scams.
Our company: Shepherd International Movers. Phone: 844-789-8118. Website: shepherdmovers.com.
Both companies are owned by the same company group as this website.
Sources
- Sunset International Shipping signed agreements for US to France household moves, pickups January 2022 to October 2026 (internal booking records, compiled October 31, 2026)
- ExFreight: Shipping from USA to France (June 22, 2026) (viewed October 31, 2026)
- Service-Public.fr: Settling in France after living in a country outside the EU, what customs duties? (verified November 19, 2025; viewed October 31, 2026)
- Service-Public.fr: Declaration of entry into France of personal property (cerfa 10070)
- French Customs (DGDDI): moving to metropolitan France
- Federal Maritime Commission: OTI list
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to move to France from the USA?
In 44 signed US to France household moves booked by Sunset International Shipping (pickups January 2022 to October 2026), the median price was $4,557 for under 200 cubic feet, $8,819 for 200 to 499 cubic feet, $11,592 for 500 to 999 cubic feet and $18,691 for 1,000 cubic feet and up, as of October 2026.
How much does it cost to ship a one-bedroom apartment to France?
It depends on volume more than on the bedroom count. In this data, shipments of 200 to 499 cubic feet had a middle-50% range of $7,631 to $10,336, and 500 to 999 cubic feet $10,787 to $11,999. Get a written cubic-foot estimate before comparing quotes.
How long does it take to ship furniture from the US to France?
ExFreight lists 12 to 18 days port to port for a full container from the US East Coast to Le Havre, 18 to 28 days for a shared container, 16 to 22 days from Houston, and often 25 to 35 days from the West Coast, plus 1 to 3 days at each end. Door to door, a household move usually takes several weeks longer.
Do I pay customs duty on my household goods when moving to France?
Not if you qualify for the change-of-residence exemption: you lived outside the EU for at least 1 year, owned the goods for at least 6 months, are moving your main residence to France, import them within 12 months of settling, and do not sell or rent them for 1 year. Alcohol, tobacco and second-home furnishings are not covered.
What documents does French customs need for a household move?
A detailed, dated and signed inventory with estimated values in 2 copies, proof that you lived outside the EU and are settling in France, the vehicle registration if you bring a car, and the signed entry declaration form cerfa no. 10070.
Which French port will my shipment arrive at?
ExFreight describes Le Havre as by far the largest French container gateway. Fos-sur-Mer near Marseille serves southern France, and Dunkirk serves the north.
Is it cheaper to ship to France from the East Coast or the West Coast?
In this data, West Coast moves had a median of about $23 per cubic foot and moves from other states about $26, partly because the West Coast shipments were larger. West Coast sailings to France take longer, often 25 to 35 days versus 12 to 18 from the East Coast.
Last updated October 31, 2026. General consumer information, not legal or financial advice. Figures change; follow the source links for current data.