Ocean & Air Freight Shipping From the United States to the United Kingdom

The United States and the United Kingdom have one of the world’s most established trade and investment relationships, with strong flows across services, technology, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, retail, and advanced industrial supply chains.

According to the latest U.S. trade summary, U.S. goods and services trade with the United Kingdom totaled an estimated $340.1 billion in 2024, with U.S. services exports to the UK reaching $99.4 billion. Source: USTR United Kingdom trade summary.

If you’re shipping cargo from the United States to the United Kingdom, this guide explains the main freight options (ocean freight, air freight, and air express), how transit times and costs differ by mode, and the key customs and documentation considerations to plan before booking. UK imports typically require the importer to have an EORI number where applicable, see Get an EORI number (GOV.UK).

US–UK Freight Options at a Glance

Shipping from the United States to the United Kingdom usually involves choosing between ocean freight and air freight, depending on shipment size, urgency, and cost sensitivity.

• Ocean Freight: Most cost-efficient for large, heavy, or non-urgent cargo
• Air Freight: Faster option for time-sensitive or high-value shipments
• Air Express: Expedited, door-to-door service for parcels and small boxes

Most shippers compare speed, cost, and shipment volume before selecting a transport mode on this trade lane.

What Are the Options for Shipping Freight From the United States to the United Kingdom?

Your options for shipping freight from the United States to the United Kingdom are ocean freight and air freight. Let’s go over each mode of international shipping below. 

Ocean Freight From the United States to the United Kingdom

Ocean freight is the most cost-effective option for large or heavy shipments where transit time is flexible.

• FCL (Full Container Load): Ideal for full container volumes or regular shipments
• LCL (Less than Container Load): Suitable for smaller loads sharing container space

Learn more about container options in Ocean Freight FCL and Ocean Freight LCL.

Air Freight from the United States to the United Kingdom

Air freight prioritizes speed and reliability and is commonly used for high-value, time-critical, or low-volume cargo. Pricing is typically based on chargeable weight (actual vs volumetric). You can estimate costs using the Air Freight Calculator.

Air Express from the United States to the United Kingdom

Air Express shipping is designed for parcels, documents, and small shipments that require fast, door-to-door delivery with simplified handling.

US–UK Shipping Mode Comparison

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From the United States to the United Kingdom?

The cost of shipping cargo from the United States to the United Kingdom will depend on several factors. These include: 

• Your choice of ocean or air shipping
• Your preference for door-to-door, port-to-port, port-to-door, or door-to-port shipment
• Your consignment’s weight, volume, and size
• Weight and size limits

To determine your shipping costs, use our online freight costs calculator. Additionally, you can find the current cost of shipping a standard 20-foot container from the US to the UK in the table below:

How long does it take to ship cargo from the United States to the United Kingdom?

The transit time for cargo shipped from the United States to the United Kingdom can differ based primarily on your chosen international shipping mode. It can also affected by:

• The season (peak season or low season) in which you ship
• The shipment's route - direct on not
• The trade lane's popularity
• Geopolitical instability
• Potential incidents at one of the ports

Transit times on the US–UK trade lane vary significantly by transport mode:

• Air Freight: typically 2–10 business days, depending on routing, capacity, and customs processing
• Air Express: typically 1–5 business days for parcels and urgent shipments
• Ocean Freight: typically 14–35 days, depending on port pairs, vessel schedules, and inland connections

For lane-specific timing expectations and seasonal variability, use the Transit Time Calculator.

Customs Clearance in the United States and the United Kingdom

Customs clearance applies to both air and ocean shipments moving between the US and the UK. While processing locations differ, core requirements are similar:

• Commercial invoice and packing list
• Transport document (Air Waybill for air shipments, Bill of Lading for ocean shipments)
• Correct HS codes and declared values
• UK importer EORI number (where applicable)

Inconsistent documentation is a common cause of delays regardless of transport mode. Review air requirements in Air Freight Shipping Documents, ocean documentation in Ocean Freight Shipping Documents, and clearance steps in Air Freight Customs Clearance.

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

The choice between ocean and air freight should be based on your needs, priorities, and the requirements of your cargo. To help you decide, we’ve outlined a couple of things to consider below. 

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight is best if you’re looking for a budget-friendly way to ship goods from the U.S. to the U.K. and are okay with longer transit times. It’s also ideal if you need flexibility in your shipment, as it offers two modes of container shipping. 

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

You should use LCL if your cargo is: 

• Small in size and quantity 
• Lightweight
• Suitable for consolidation with cargo belonging to other shippers 
• Not delicate, fragile, or high-value 
• Not requiring special handling or movement 

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

You should use FCL if your cargo is: 

• Large in size and quantity 
• Heavy or overweight
• Not suitable for consolidation with cargo belonging to other shippers 
• Delicate, fragile, or high-value 
• Requiring special handling or movement 

Air Freight

If you want your goods to arrive in the United Kingdom as fast as possible, whether because it’s perishable or time-sensitive or it’s simply your preference, then air freight is the best mode of shipping for you. While it’s more expensive by ocean freight, it only takes 10 days for an air freight shipment to complete. 

It’s also ideal for high-value goods, as air freight abides by stringent airport regulations and processes to ensure cargo security. It’s worth noting that air freight cannot accommodate all cargo types — it limits what you can ship in terms of nature, size, weight, and volume. 

How to Choose Between Air and Ocean Freight on the US–UK Lane

Choose air freight when:

• Delivery speed is critical
• Cargo value is high relative to weight
• Stock-outs or production delays must be avoided

Choose ocean freight when:

• Cost optimization is the priority
• Cargo is heavy or bulky
• Transit time flexibility exists

Many businesses use ocean freight for planned inventory movements and air freight for urgent or exception shipments on the same trade lane.

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in the United States

Port of Seattle-Tacoma

The Port of Seattle-Tacoma is one of the busiest ports in the US. Located in Washington state, it handles a large amount of container traffic. The port merges two Washington ports and is the third-largest port in terms of cargo handling in America. 

Port of Houston

The Port of Houston is the busiest port in America for foreign waterborne tonnage and the largest port on the Gulf Coast. Among the ports in the region, it handles 52% of project cargo and is a major center for maritime commerce. 

Port of Oakland

The Port of Oakland was the first port to build terminals for container ships, making it the first important port on the Pacific Coast. It is one of the top three gateways on the U.S. West Coast, handling 99% of all containerized goods that move through Northern California. 

Cargo ports of arrival in the United Kingdom

Port of London

The Port of London is the gateway to the financial capital of the United Kingdom. It is the second largest port in the U.K., handling 51.2 million tonnes of goods annually. The port has excellent rail, road, and sea links to the rest of the country. 

Port of Immingham

The Port of Immingham, also called the Immingham Docks, is one of the East Coast’s major ports. It has the largest tonnage capacity in the U.K. and handles over 55 million tonnes of cargo per year. The port is mainly used for the shipment of coal and oil cement. 

Port of Liverpool

The Port of Liverpool is strategically situated at the center of the United Kingdom. It handles various cargo types, including containers, automotive, agribulks, forest products, dry bulk, energy products, Ro-Ro, project cargo, and liquid bulks. 

Air Freight from the United States to the United Kingdom: An airport guide

Airports of origin in the United States

Los Angeles International Airport

The Los Angeles International Airport is the primary international airport that serves Los Angeles, California, United States, and its surrounding metropolitan area. It is a hub for various cargo airlines, including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, and more. 

Louisville International Airport

The Louisville International Airport, also known as the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, is a civil-military airport located in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States. It spans 1,500 acres and boasts three runways. 

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport

The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is a major airport in Alaska, United States. It is located 8 kilometers southwest of downtown Anchorage. It’s one of the airports included in the Federal Aviation Administration National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, categorizing it as a medium-hub primary commercial service facility. 

Airports of arrival in the United Kingdom

London Heathrow Airport 

The London Heathrow Airport, simply called Heathrow Airport, is the main international airport serving the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It is the largest of the six international airports in the London airport system. 

London Luton Airport 

The London Luton Airport is located in Luton, Bedfordshire, England, 1.7 miles east of the town center and 29 miles north of Central London. It serves the Greater London Area, Bedfordshire, eastern Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, and Cambridgeshire. 

Manchester Airport 

The Manchester Airport is located in Ringway, Manchester, England. Specifically, it is 7 miles southwest of the Manchester city center. The airport is one of the busiest in the United Kingdom in terms of passenger and cargo traffic.

Planning costs? Estimate scenarios using the Freight Cost Calculator.

Shipping by air? Compare options with the Air Freight Calculator.

Unsure about documents? Review Air Freight Shipping Documents and Ocean Freight Shipping Documents.