Packing and Shipping Tips for Long Distance and Overseas Moves
A box that survives a trip across town is not the same as a box that survives a container ship. Here's how packing changes when your things go far.
- Fixed all-inclusive quotes
- BBB A+ · 0 claims in 20 years
- Owner-run since 1999
Get My Fixed Quote
Tell us about the move. Tarek or the team replies the same day with a clear, all-inclusive quote.
Local packing has one goal: survive one truck ride. Overseas packing has a much harder job. Your things get loaded, unloaded, craned, stacked, and carried through weeks of temperature swings and salt air. We've shipped household goods from BC to 200+ countries since 1999, and the packing is where those moves are won or lost.
This guide covers what changes when your move leaves the province or the country. Use it to pack yourself, or call (604) 721-4555 and our overseas moving crew will pack everything to export grade for you.
“The fixed price they quoted was the best quote we got. Tarek took full responsibility on the day. Including an upright piano.”
Chris A. · Google review“Moved our 6-bedroom house in just one day. True experts.”
Wilfredo M. · Google reviewWhy export-grade packing is different
A local move gets handled twice: onto the truck, off the truck. An overseas shipment gets handled again and again. Loaded, put in a container, craned at the port, sometimes opened for inspection, then delivered at the far end. Every extra touch is a chance for damage, so the packing has to expect rough handling.
- Double-box anything fragile: a packed box inside a bigger box, padding between.
- Crate glass, marble, art, and big electronics in wood crates.
- Export wrap furniture fully. Blanket-and-truck wrapping isn't enough for a container.
- Fill every box completely. Half-full boxes crush when containers stack.
- Pad corners and edges twice. Corners take the hits.
Moisture is the quiet killer
Containers sweat. The air inside heats and cools as the ship crosses climates, and that moisture has to land somewhere. Good packing plans for it before the doors close.
- Desiccant packs in boxes with electronics, leather, and instruments.
- Paper first, then plastic. Plastic straight against wood traps sweat on long trips.
- Everything bone dry before packing. One damp garden hose can mould a whole box.
- Skip foam peanuts for overseas. They compress and shift. Paper and foam sheets hold.
The manifest: your shipment's paper twin
Every overseas shipment needs a detailed inventory, called a packing list or manifest. Customs officers read it, insurers rely on it, and you'll use it to check off boxes at delivery. 'Box 12: kitchen, pots and pans' beats 'kitchen stuff' at every border on earth.
- Number every box and list the contents box by box.
- Record brand, model, and serial number for electronics.
- Flag anything new or high value. Customs treats new goods differently than used ones.
- Keep one copy with you, one in your email, one with your mover.
Container loading: the 3D puzzle
How the container gets loaded matters as much as the boxes. Weight has to sit low and spread evenly, and every tier gets braced so nothing shifts on a rolling ship. Loading skill is also what decides how much fits, which matters when you're weighing a full container against shared space. Our container shipping page breaks down that choice.
- Heaviest items on the bottom, spread across the container floor.
- Furniture forms the walls. Boxes fill the gaps in tight tiers.
- Mattresses and sofas make good padding walls between hard pieces.
- Brace the final row so the load can't shift at sea.
Customs paperwork, without the panic
Paperwork trips up more shipments than the ocean does, and every country has its own rules for household goods. The short version: used household goods usually cross without duty when the paperwork is right. Moving south has its own checklist, which our Canada to USA moving page covers, and agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection publish the forms. Whatever the destination, we prepare the paperwork with you before anything ships, whether it travels by road or by ocean freight.
- Passport, visa or work permit, and proof of your moving dates.
- The full inventory, signed, with values.
- Receipts for anything bought in the last year, if you have them.
- Liquids, plants, food, and alcohol have their own rules. Ask before you pack them.
What your neighbours say
“Two full five-ton trucks loaded and unloaded with no damage. Terek is the king of Tetris.”
Kevin, Cloverdale to Vancouver Island · Google review“They moved our stuff from Vancouver to Virginia and did an awesome job. Everything was on time.”
Evan N. · Google review“Tarek and his crews have moved us at least 5 times. All my precious items wrapped securely.”
Giulia · Google reviewCommon questions
How do you pack for an overseas move?
Pack like every box will be handled six times, because it will be. Double-box fragile items, crate glass and art, fill boxes completely, and add desiccant against moisture. Then build a numbered inventory that matches the boxes exactly.
What items can't be shipped overseas in a container?
Rules differ by country, but flammables, aerosols, plants, and most food are out almost everywhere. Alcohol and new goods often need extra paperwork. Tell us what's on your maybe list and we'll check it against your destination country.
Do I pay duty on used household goods when moving abroad?
Most countries let you bring used household goods in duty free when you're moving there, as long as the paperwork proves you owned and used them. New items are the usual exception. That's exactly what the inventory and customs forms are for, and we prepare them with you.
Can I pack my own boxes for an international move?
You can, but some destinations and insurers treat owner-packed boxes differently, and customs may open them more often. If you self-pack, keep the inventory detailed. For breakables, export-grade packing by the crew is the safer bet.
Ship it packed to survive the trip
From Surrey, BC to 200+ countries. Free estimate, clear written quote, export-grade packing. Free, no obligation. We reply the same day.
Get my fixed quoteor call (604) 721-4555