Moving to the USA: Calculate Costs and Move Safely
Deciding to move from Germany to the USA is an exciting milestone. However, an intercontinental overseas move to the United States of America is a major logistics project. As your experienced moving company, we at DACHSER & KOLB are happy to support you.
Transparent costs in three short steps: A move across the Atlantic requires clear financial planning. Simply use our moving cost calculator to quickly and easily calculate your non-binding initial price for orientation.
Calculate USA moving costs in just a few minutes – how the moving cost calculator works
The cost of moving to the USA mainly depends on the moving volume, the pickup and destination locations, the type of transport, and the desired packing and additional services. With our moving cost calculator, you receive a non-binding initial price based on the first information you provide.
To give you a fair and tailored quote for your dream of moving abroad, we need a few key details. In the first step, our digital cost calculator asks for only the three most important pricing factors: your current home size, the number of people in your household, and your exact transport route from Germany to the USA.
For your personal initial price and secure access to your calculation, we then need your contact details. After that, you can flexibly add to and refine your information in your personal dashboard. The initial price shown serves as a guide for your budget planning, while the final detailed coordination takes place with your personal contact.
Your benefits in our personal dashboard at a glance:
- Non-binding initial price:
You receive a transparent first price for your overseas move within just a few minutes of entering your details.
- Protected dashboard access:
We use your personal data to create your protected profile so your calculations remain securely stored.
- Flexible refinement:
Add your exact furniture list afterward, completely relaxed, with just a few clicks.
- Add optional services:
Flexibly add options such as your preferred packing service or secure vehicle transport.
- Direct contact:
Use the direct line to your personal moving expert to fine-tune your quote.
Filling it out takes only a few minutes, improves your financial planning reliability, and provides you with a detailed cost breakdown.
Your moving company for the USA: DACHSER & KOLB services
Whether work takes you to vibrant New York City, you want to enjoy the sun in Los Angeles, or you are starting a new life in Houston or Seattle, a private move across the Atlantic requires a well-coordinated team and specialized services. For your move to the USA, DACHSER & KOLB offers a modular service portfolio that can be tailored exactly to your needs:
- Flexible & precise survey:
Free assessment of your household goods on site or a simple digital video survey to determine the exact moving volume.
- Overseas packing suitable for transport:
Professional packing of your belongings by trained staff using special overseas packing materials for the weeks-long sea journey.
- Support with customs-related documents:
Comprehensive assistance in compiling and checking all transport-specific freight and customs documents for export and import.
- Sea and air freight:
Flexible transport by ship using FCL or LCL containers, as well as optional air freight for urgently needed goods.
- Secure vehicle transport:
Professional loading and securing of cars, classic cars, motorcycles, or boats in containers while observing statutory import requirements.
- Global partner network:
Coordinated handling in the destination country through direct access to DACHSER’s global infrastructure.
- Coordinated delivery:
Transport of your household goods from the US destination port directly to your new address in the United States.
- Optional assembly services:
Professional dismantling of your furniture in Germany as well as additional skilled trade services by individual arrangement.
Transport solutions for your USA move: FCL, LCL, and air freight
If you want to transport your belongings to the United States, a sea container across the Atlantic is an economically sensible and secure solution. Depending on volume, desired transport time, and priority, different transport solutions are available to you:
- Full Container Load (FCL) – your own container:
You use your own 20- or 40-foot steel container exclusively for your household goods. This is suitable for larger household volumes or if you also want to import a vehicle into the USA. Because the container is used exclusively for your goods, there are no third-party part loads. This reduces additional handling, can lower the risk of damage, and makes it easier to clearly assign your moving goods.
- Less than Container Load (LCL) – part-load shipping:
For smaller volumes, we pack your goods in special, robust overseas crates known as liftvans. You share the container space with other shipments, which also splits the costs – an efficient solution for smaller moving volumes.
- Air freight and combined solutions:
Urgently needed items can also be transported by air freight. With a combined solution, the larger part of your household goods is shipped by sea freight, while a smaller starter setup is sent ahead by air freight.
Our trained team collects your belongings, packs them, supports you in preparing the customs-related documents, and transports them to the seaport, for example Hamburg or Bremerhaven. After shipment and successful customs clearance at the US destination port, such as New York, Miami, or Houston, our local partner network handles delivery directly to your new home.
| Transport solution |
Suitable for
|
Special feature
|
|---|---|---|
| FCL | Larger households | Dedicated container |
| LCL | Smaller volumes | Shared container space |
| Air freight | Urgently needed items | Short transport time |
| Combination | Household goods plus starter setup | Combine sea and air freight |
Your USA move process: 6 steps to your new home
To ensure your belongings arrive safely in the USA, every international move follows a structured and proven logistics process:
Calculate USA moving costs:
You start directly online in our three-step moving cost calculator, enter your key details, and receive a non-binding initial price.
Record moving volume:
In the unlocked dashboard, you refine your information or use our personal or digital consultation options to determine your household goods precisely.
Select transport solution:
Together with our international moving experts, you choose the right type of transport, such as your own container or a cost-efficient part-load solution.
Coordinate quote and dates:
You receive your binding fixed-price quote, and we coordinate the planned pickup and shipping dates with you.
Packing, transport, and customs preparation:
Our team packs your goods for the overseas move, loads the container, and prepares the customs documents, such as CBP Form 3299, for the US authorities.
Delivery in the USA
After successful customs clearance at the US port, our local partner network takes care of transport and unloading at your new home.
Customs regulations for the USA: What you need to know
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has strict requirements for the accurate declaration of moving goods. For a smooth process at the port, what matters most is complying with the deadlines for duty-free import of household goods, correctly completing required documents such as CBP Form 3299, and observing strict import bans.
Detailed information on customs and visa regulations:
- Customs on entry:
Detailed information on deadlines and declaration requirements can be found in the DACHSER & KOLB customs guide for moving to the USA.
- Visa on entry:
Information on common entry requirements is available in our guide to visas for moving to the USA.
- Visa for return moves:
Regulations for moving from the USA to the EU are summarized in our guide to the visa for returning.
- Customs for return moves:
Support with handling the move back to Europe is available in our overview of customs for moving from the USA to Germany.
Important facts & tips for your move to the USA
In addition to transporting your household goods, starting fresh in the USA requires early organization of official, financial, and personal documents. This includes, for example, applying for a Social Security Number (SSN) or arranging medical coverage through health insurance.
Here you will find additional checklists for everyday life and your family:
- Living & working in the States:
Valuable everyday tips on culture, climate, and your first steps in the new country can be found in our profile on moving to the USA.
- Moving with pets:
To ensure your pet, such as a dog or cat, crosses the Atlantic safely and with as little stress as possible, please observe the strict CDC requirements in our special article on moving to the USA with pets.
Ready for the USA adventure? Calculate your initial price now
Before diving deeper into the details of US customs and entry requirements, secure an initial financial orientation for your budget. With our digital moving cost calculator, you can quickly and easily calculate your non-binding initial price.
- Simple: Just enter home size, number of people, and route.
- Fast: Receive your initial price in just a few minutes and unlock your personal dashboard.
- Flexible: Refine your furniture list and additional services such as vehicle transport later with a relaxed click.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to the USA
How much does it cost to move from Germany to the USA?
The total cost mainly depends on the exact transport volume in cubic meters, the selected type of transport, whether sea or air freight, and the distance to the final US state. Use our online moving cost calculator to get a quick and easy orientation for your budget. We then determine the exact costs as part of a precise volume check.
How long does furniture transport by sea container to the USA take?
The actual sailing time across the Atlantic is often between 4 and 8 weeks, depending on the departure and destination port, such as East Coast versus West Coast. Including lead time for transport-safe packing, port handling, and customs clearance, you should calculate a total duration of approximately 6 to 10 weeks. Urgently needed goods can generally be transported by air freight within 7 to 14 days as an optional service.
FCL or LCL: Which option fits my USA move?
That depends on the quantity of your moving goods. For larger households or extensive furniture transport, a dedicated container (FCL – Full Container Load) is often an economically sensible solution. You use the container exclusively, which minimizes handling. For smaller volumes, we pack your goods in robust overseas crates (liftvans) and transport them as a cost-efficient part load (LCL – Less than Container Load) together with other shipments.
Which documents are required for moving to the USA?
For move-specific customs preparation, the required documents include a detailed packing list in English (inventory), information about the moving goods, the destination address, and transport-specific customs documents such as CBP Form 3299. DACHSER & KOLB provides comprehensive support in compiling and reviewing this transport-relevant information.
Can I take a vehicle or classic car to the USA?
Yes, DACHSER & KOLB transports cars, motorcycles, and classic cars as part of the move. Your vehicle is securely lashed inside the container for intercontinental transport. It is important that the vehicle complies with the regulations of the US authorities EPA (emissions) and DOT (safety). For vehicles aged 25 years or older, there are exemptions from the NHTSA’s US safety standards.
How does delivery and unloading in the USA work?
Local delivery requires precise logistical preparation. Important information includes the exact destination address, access routes for larger vehicles, the type of residence, such as floor level or elevator, as well as any requirements or permitted unloading times set by the local property management. These factors are included in our transport planning at an early stage.
Is the calculation in the moving cost calculator free and non-binding?
Yes, absolutely. Using our online calculator is completely free of charge and does not obligate you to anything. It is designed to give you a non-binding initial price as a first orientation for your budget in just a few steps, without having to wait for a consultation appointment.
How does the initial price become a binding quote?
Directly after your online entry, we unlock your personal dashboard. There, you can refine your information afterward at your own pace, for example by adding your furniture list or booking additional services. Based on this more specific data and a subsequent digital volume check, your personal contact prepares your final, binding fixed-price quote.
Calculate your initial price for your USA move now
Get an initial financial orientation for your USA move. Use our online calculator to determine your initial price in just a few steps and unlock your personal dashboard for detailed transport planning.
Your personal contact for moving to the USA
Do you have questions about the exact process, need support with container planning, or want to request personal advice? Our air and sea freight specialist is here to support you with expertise and practical assistance:
Sabrina Klier
Customer Service & Sales - AIR & SEA
