Shipping From Thailand to the UK: Air, Sea & Container Freight

Shipping Cost from Thailand to the UK

Many factors go into the cost of shipping from Thailand to UK, including location, size, and shipping mode: sea FCL, sea LCL, air, or express. This guide will give you pricing estimates for each shipping mode from popular ports in Thailand to popular ports in UK.

Ocean Freight from Thailand to the UK

Ocean Freight FCL

FCL, or full container load, means your goods fill an entire container, either 20’ or 40’ long. If you are shipping at a high volume, you’ll save time and money by shipping FCL. Pricing for FCL is done as a flat rate, regardless of whether or not your container is completely full.

Learn more about FCL here.

Container shipping rates from Thailand to the UK: 40’ container

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Ocean Freight LCL

LCL, or less than a container load, means your goods do not fill an entire container, and will be shipped along with other boxes or pallets. Note that when you ship LCL, your goods will need to be consolidated at the origin port and deconsolidated at the destination port.

That’s why LCL shipping takes a few days longer than FCL.

Air Freight from Thailand to the UK

Air cargo shipping cost from Thailand to the UK per kg

Shipping by air is generally faster but more expensive than shipping by ocean, so the mode you choose will depend on the size and weight of your shipment, and how quickly you need it to arrive at destination.

For help choosing which mode is right for your shipment, use our air vs. ocean comparison calculator.

When you’re shipping air, the price per kg decreases the larger your shipment’s weight:

Chargeable weight10 kg100 kg300 kg
Price per kg$47.97$9.29$5.74

Shipping from Thailand to the UK transit time

Ocean, Air and Express freight transit time from Thailand to the UK

How long will it take to ship from Thailand to UK? Your shipment’s transit time will be impacted by location, shipment size, and season. Use the following table for timing estimates for each shipping mode from Thailand to UK.

Port to PortDoor to Door
Sea Freight (FCL)30-35 days45-49 days
Sea Freight (LCL)35-40 days46-51 days
Air Freight3-5 days6-14 days
Express*––1-4 days
* Express freight is always door to door

How much is shipping from Thailand to the UK?

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Top shipping routes from Thailand to the UK

When you’re shipping from Thailand to the UK, there are many different viable routes that you might want to ship. 

Freightos has global shipping rates for all of these lanes and can provide real-time FCL, LCL & Air rates for shipping from Thailand to the UK. 

The top 3 shipping lanes for shipping freight from Thailand to the UK are:

Get an estimate from the world’s largest database of freight rates and then join Freightos.com to compare, book, and manage your upcoming shipments.

Cheapest shipping from Thailand to the UK?

When you’re shipping from Thailand to the UK, you can choose from one of four modes: FCL sea freight, LCL sea freight, air freight, or express. Here are key factors for each mode:

FCL Sea Freight from Thailand to the UK

FCL, or full container load, means your goods fill an entire container, either 20’ or 40’ long. If you are shipping at a high volume, you’ll save time and money by shipping FCL. Pricing for FCL is done as a flat rate, regardless of whether or not your container is completely full. Learn more about FCL here.

LCL Sea Freight from Thailand to the UK

LCL, or less than a container load, means your goods do not fill an entire container, and will be shipped along with other boxes or pallets. Note that when you ship LCL, your goods will need to be consolidated at the origin port and deconsolidated at the destination port. That’s why LCL shipping takes a few days longer than FCL.

Air Freight from Thailand to the UK

Shipping by air is generally faster but more expensive than shipping by sea. For help choosing which mode is right for your shipment, use our air vs. ocean comparison calculator.

Express from Thailand to the UK

When you have a small shipment and need it delivered as quickly as possible, you might consider express.

Tips for Keeping Down Costs and Shipping Time from Thailand-UK

  • Book in advance. Shipping by sea is the cheapest, but also takes the longest. Booking in advance when you can saves you money– and cuts out the stress if delays arise.
  • Ship off-peak. When carriers get busy, both shipping prices and transit times go up. Ship during off-peak seasons whenever you can.
  • Get your documentation in order. Having your documentation in order can make all the difference when it comes to clearing customs quickly.
  • Know your HS Codes. A lot of shippers are surprised by how much customs fees can affect business costs. Do your research so you can budget effectively.
  • Compare quotes from different providers. Quotes can vary, so check out offers from different providers before making a decision.
  • Understand what’s included in your quote. Is your quote port to port or door to door? What service does it include? Know what you’re paying for to avoid getting hit with surprise fees.

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