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Container Shipping: Moving from Singapore to Canada
The Ultimate Guide for Container Shipping Overseas
Are you planning on moving to Canada? We have you covered. Generally, to avoid extra stress during your move, it’s best to do your research beforehand. To ease this step, we have compiled all you need from container shipping costs to the cost of shipping pets and the how-to’s of packing for an international move in this article.
What can you find here?
Container Shipping Costs: Singapore to Canada
The most common shipping container sizes for shipping overseas are the 20-ft container and the 40-ft container. These container sizes are optimal for international house removals. Full Container Load (FCL) shipping is an easy way to bring all your belongings when moving to Canada. Below, you can find the ocean freight container shipping rates to some of the biggest ports in Canada.
Cost of Shipping a 20ft Container Overseas
The average cost of shipping a 20ft container to Canada is between S$17,500 and S$19,300.
| Destination Port | Cost of 20ft Container | Shipping Time |
| Vancouver | S$17,500 | 24 – 43 days |
| Toronto | S$19,100 | 24 – 43 days |
| Montreal | S$17,900 | 24 – 43 days |
| Quebec City | S$19,300 | 24 – 43 days |
*Disclaimer: These rates are industry averages based on our industry experience and can change depending on the time of the year, destination, and size.
Cost of Shipping a 40ft Container Overseas
Shipping a 40ft container to Canada costs on average S$25,400 to S$28,400.
| Destination Port | Cost of 40ft Container | Shipping Time |
| Vancouver | S$25,400 | 24 – 43 days |
| Toronto | S$28,400 | 24 – 43 days |
| Montreal | S$25,500 | 24 – 43 days |
| Quebec City | S$27,900 | 24 – 43 days |
*Disclaimer: These rates are industry averages based on our industry experience and can change depending on the time of the year, destination, and size.
Factors Affecting Costs
The cost of moving with a shipping container overseas can be affected by many things.
- Seasonality: Avoid moving during summer if you can. Since it’s a busy season the costs will be higher than the rest of the year.
- Distance: The further the distance of your move the more it costs. Consider for example Port-to-Port shipping instead of Door-to-Door shipping.
- Weight: The heavier the load the more it costs.
- Shipping Method: Shipping via land, air or sea have significant price differences. Generally, shipping via sea is the most affordable option.
Tips to Reduce Moving Costs
- Get Quotes: Reducing moving costs is all about finding the best quote. Asking for 4+ separate quotes will raise your chances of finding the best offer.
- Move in Off-Season: Moving in off-season will be much cheaper than during peak season.
- Minimize Your Volume: Before a move, it’s advised to declutter. Bringing only what’s necessary will easily reduce your costs.
- Consider Shared Containers: If you’re moving a small amount of things, sharing a container might be smart. This way you only pay for the space you use.
If you would like more information about costs have a look at our article below:
Best Moving Companies: Singapore to Canada
Finding the best international moving companies is a good place to start your moving process. How do you find the best removal companies?
- Reviews: Look at the independent reviews given about the company.
- Services: Research the services they offer. Not all companies handle for example pet or car transport.
- Associations: If a moving company is part of an international moving association like IAM, they are likely more trustworthy.
- Request Quotes: Requesting multiple personal quotes will show you how the movers match your needs.
Find some of our top international movers below:
Across International Relocation Singapore ![]()
Singapore
9.4
80
CM Relocation ![]()
Singapore
8.7
34
Nayak Freight ![]()
Singapore
8.1
42
Abroad Relocation ![]()
Singapore
8.4
21
Cheap Movers: Singapore to Canada
Are you looking for cheap movers in Singapore? Timing plays a big part in finding cheap moving companies.
We have gathered some more affordable moving companies below:
5 ratings as "Good Price"
Look at all our movers to decide the best one for yourself.
If you are willing to relocate during off-peak season, the chances of getting a more affordable rate rise significantly. Additionally, the fewer items you move the less it costs. Make sure to try out our volume calculator to see the volume of your move.
Get Your Moving Quote Now!
Finding a good deal for your international move to Canada isn’t the easiest task, and there is much more that goes into moving than finding good deals. The best way to find the right deal is to receive multiple quotes. Fill in our quote form now for free and receive up to 5 quotes!
Shipping Container Dimensions
Knowing what the shipping container dimensions, volume, and weight mean in practice can be challenging. Luckily we visualized what fits in a 20ft and 40ft container.
20ft Container Dimensions
What fits in a 20ft container? The contents of a small house (1-2) bedroom, a car, large furniture, home appliances, bikes, and many moving boxes.
20ft Container Size: 6.1m x 2.4m x 2.6m
Total volume: 33.0 m³ (1,179 ft3)
Total shipping load: 24,850 kg (54,783 lbs)
40ft Container Dimensions
What fits in a 40ft container? The contents of a large house (3+ bedrooms), a car, large furniture, home appliances, bikes, and many moving boxes.
40ft Container Size: 12.2m x 2.4m x 2.6m
Total volume: 76.0 m³ (2,714 ft3)
Total shipping load: 30,200 kg (66,577 lbs)
Shipping Options from Singapore to Canada
Shipping items from Singapore to Canada can be done by air or sea freight. Both options have pros and cons, you should choose based on your needs.
Air Freight
Fast (2-4 days)
Good for perishing items
more harmful for the environment
More secure
Sea Freight
Slower (weeks or months)
Good for large items
Better for the environment
Less secure
On top of sea and air freight, you can choose between shipping a Full Container Load or Less Than Container Load. This depends on the amount of items you are thinking of moving with you, and the budget you have for the move.
FCL vs. LCL
What is the LCL shipment meaning? LCL shipping means Less Than Container Load shipping, where you only pay for the space your items take in the container. This is the best option for anyone moving with fewer belongings than a full 20ft container load. On the other hand, FCL is a Full Container Load, which is a great option for high-volume moves. This way you can have all your belongings in one shipment.
FCL Characteristics
Delivery speed
More security
Space for large volume moves
Option to ship cars
Freedom with entire container
LCL Characteristics
Longer delivery times
Less security
Flexibility with small volumes (15m³ or less)
Option for shipping bikes
Affordability (pay for what you use)
Based on our industry knowledge and the industry averages, we have gathered the average prices for shipping a half container to Canada:
| Destination | Half Container Cost | Shipping Time |
| Vancouver | S$14,900 | 24 – 43 days |
| Toronto | S$16,500 | 24 – 43 days |
| Montreal | S$15,900 | 24 – 43 days |
| Quebec City | S$17,400 | 24 – 43 days |
*Disclaimer: These rates are industry averages based on our industry experience and can change depending on the time of the year and destination.
Door To Door vs. Port To Port Shipping
When shipping with shipping containers, you can also choose between Door To Door shipping and Port To Port shipping. The prior is often easier since everything is handled for you, while the latter requires more work. Below you can see the key differences.
Door To Door
Slower at times
More expensive
More convenient (pick up and delivery to door)
Customs and fees handled
Port To Port
Faster
Cheaper
More work (drive and pick up items to & from the port
Flexibility with receiving the goods)
Moving Houses: Checklist
Moving to Canada from Singapore is a big task on its own and can be overwhelming. Having a guide list for what to keep in mind can ease the process. The basic steps of moving internationally are a good place to start planning your move.
- Request Moving Quotes: Request your moving quotes in advance so you can plan your move well.
- Declutter Your House: When moving internationally you should only ship what is necessary. The more you move the more expensive it will be.
- Label Everything: Labelling all the boxes helps set up your new home and it will be easy to bring the boxes to their coordinated rooms.
- Get Insurance: Insuring your items before the move is important. This way, if anything happens during transport, your items are protected.
- Hire Movers: Consider hiring furniture movers to pack and disassemble your house. This will save you time and effort.
- Find a Storage: Moving the items you don’t need to a storage unit is a great solution, especially if you aren’t making a permanent move.
Cost of Shipping Household Goods
The average cost of shipping household goods is $14,000 to $18,000.
You can find great furniture movers in Singapore who transport your household goods to Canada. Mind you, furniture moving services can be expensive so choose carefully what you wish to ship. Generally, buying new furniture can be cheaper than shipping it abroad. Therefore, it might only be worth shipping them if you have big investment pieces, ones with sentimental value, or unique pieces.
Cost of Shipping a Pet
Shipping a pet to Canada can cost between SGD 3,000 and SGD 10,000.
The price of importing pets changes based on the airline, the pet shipping company’s requirements, the chosen crate, and the size of your pet.
Shipping a Pet
Canada has set specific pet import requirements to protect its citizens and nature and avoid introducing new animal diseases. Below you can find the must-haves for your pet to be allowed in.
- Valid Rabies Vaccination: This needs to be issued at least 30 days before travel.
- Health Certificate: You must have a health certificate issued by a certified veterinarian.
- Pet Passport: You need a valid pet passport to import your pet.
- Microchip Number: Your pet has to have a microchip.
- Airline-Approved Container: Invest in an airline-approved pet container.
- Import Permit: Don’t forget to bring your import permit and apply for it on time!
Shipping a Car to Canada
Before shipping a car internationally there are steps to take. We have created a checklist for shipping a vehicle.
- Clean Your Vehicle: Deep cleaning your vehicle will ensure it arrives fresh, and can also prevent incurring asbestos cleaning costs.
- Drain the Fluids: All fluids must be drained from the car before shipping. This includes oils, gas, or other fluids left in the vehicle.
- Inspect Your Car: Inspect any flaws and marks on the vehicle and note them down before shipping. This way if any new damage occurs you can prove it.
- Check the Documentation: Check your insurance, license, and documentation necessary for shipping your car.
Cost of Shipping a Car to Canada
Car shipping to Canada can be done via container shipping or the Roll-on Roll-off method. Find the costs below:
| Type of Shipping | Cost |
| Roll-on Roll-off | SGD 2,000 to SGD 4,000 |
| Container Shipping | SGD 3,000 to SGD 7,000 |
Ready for Your Move to Canada?
We hope you feel excited and prepared for your move to Canada after reading this article. In case you still have questions in your mind, have a look at our FAQs below.
