Ports
Kingston Freeport Terminal, Kingston
Transit
time
Usually 4–5 weeks door to door
delivery to
All 14 parishes, including Kingston, St Catherine, Manchester, St Ann and St James
Ships from
Southampton, Felixstowe, London Gateway and other UK ports
Moving home to Jamaica, sending furniture to family, or shipping stock for a business? A container is the safest and most cost-effective way to send a large amount from the UK. Book a whole 20ft or 40ft container for your goods alone (FCL), or pay only for the space you need in a shared container (LCL). We handle the UK collection or loading, export paperwork, sea freight to Kingston and help with Jamaican customs, then deliver to your door anywhere on the island.
Full container or shared container
-
Full container (FCL). You book a whole 20ft or 40ft container for your goods only. It's loaded at your address or our warehouse, sealed, and only opened at customs. Best for house moves, vehicles and business stock.
-
Shared container (LCL). Your goods share a container with other customers' cargo, and you pay only for the space you use. Best for a few pieces of furniture, appliances or a room's worth of belongings.
Internal size (approx.)
5.9 m × 2.35 m × 2.39 m
Capacity (approx.)
33 m³
Typically fits
a 1–2 bedroom home, or a car
Full or shared container shipping to Jamaica
Full container load (FCL) means the whole 20ft or 40ft container is yours. It is sealed in the UK and only opened at customs in Kingston, which makes it the best choice for a full house move, a car plus furniture, or business stock. Less than container load (LCL) means your goods share a container with other customers' cargo. You pay for the space you use, so it suits a few pieces of furniture, appliances or a room's worth of belongings.
Not sure which you need? As a guide, a 20ft container holds the contents of a one- to two-bedroom home, and a 40ft container holds a three- to four-bedroom home or a car with household goods. Tell us what you are shipping and we will recommend the right option.
How container shipping to Jamaica works
- Get a quote. Send us the list of items, your UK postcode and the delivery address in Jamaica through our contact form or call 020 3086 7592.
- Collection or loading. For FCL we deliver the empty container to your home or business for loading, or you bring your goods to our warehouse in Barking. For LCL we collect your items and pack them into a shared container.
- Export and sailing. We prepare the export paperwork and the container sails from a UK port, such as Southampton, Felixstowe or London Gateway.
- Arrival in Kingston. The container arrives at Kingston Freeport Terminal, where it is cleared through Jamaica Customs.
- Delivery. Your goods are delivered to your door, or you collect them from the wharf in Kingston if you prefer.
How long does a container take to reach Jamaica?
Door to door, container shipping to Jamaica usually takes 4 to 5 weeks. That covers loading in the UK, the sailing to Kingston and customs clearance. Times depend on the sailing schedule, the time of year and how quickly customs inspects the container, so we always give you an estimate when you book and keep you updated along the way.
Delivery anywhere in Jamaica
We deliver to Kingston and St Andrew, Spanish Town and Portmore in St Catherine, May Pen, Mandeville, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Savanna-la-Mar, Negril, Port Antonio and every other parish. Let us know if the delivery address has narrow roads or limited access, so we can plan the right vehicle.
Jamaican customs and returning residents
Every container is cleared by the Jamaica Customs Agency. You will need a detailed packing list, a copy of your passport and your Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN). Import duty and GCT may be charged depending on what you ship and its value.
If you are returning to live in Jamaica, you may qualify for returning resident concessions on your household and personal effects, and in some cases a motor vehicle. Apply before you ship, through the Returning Residents Facilitation Unit and the Jamaica Customs Agency, and tell us when you book so we can prepare the paperwork to match.
What you can and can't pack
Furniture, beds, appliances, kitchen items, clothing, tools, building materials and non-perishable food can all go in a container. Please do not pack firearms or ammunition, illegal drugs, flammable items such as fuel, gas bottles or paint thinners, counterfeit goods or perishable food. Medicines, plants, seeds, meat and dairy need permits. Ask us if you are unsure about anything.
Container, barrels or a vehicle?
A container is best value for large volumes. For a few boxes or household items, barrel shipping to Jamaica is usually cheaper, and for small urgent items see parcel shipping to Jamaica. Cars can travel in a container on their own or with your household goods; see vehicle shipping. Jamaica has age limits and import rules for vehicles, so speak to us before you buy a car to ship.
Why ship your container with Zan Shipping?
- Over 10 years shipping from the UK to the Caribbean
- Full and shared containers, with UK-wide collection
- Help with export paperwork and Jamaican customs
- Based at 42 River Rd, Barking, IG11 0DW
- A real person to talk to, 7 days a week, 09:00 to 19:00, on 020 3086 7592
Request your container quote and we will come back to you with a price and the next sailing dates.
How much does it cost to ship a container to Jamaica?
The price depends on whether you book a full or shared container, the container size, where we collect from in the UK and where we deliver in Jamaica. Send us your list of items through our contact form or call 020 3086 7592 for a free quote.
How long does container shipping to Jamaica take?
Usually 4 to 5 weeks door to door, including loading in the UK, the sailing to Kingston and customs clearance. We confirm the sailing dates when you book.
What is the difference between FCL and LCL?
FCL (full container load) means you book a whole 20ft or 40ft container for your goods only. LCL (less than container load) means your goods share a container and you pay only for the space you use.
Should I choose a 20ft or a 40ft container?
A 20ft container usually holds the contents of a one- to two-bedroom home. A 40ft container holds a three- to four-bedroom home, or a car plus household goods.
Do returning residents pay duty in Jamaica?
Qualifying returning residents may get concessions on household and personal effects, and sometimes a vehicle. Apply through the Returning Residents Facilitation Unit and the Jamaica Customs Agency before you ship.
Can I ship a car to Jamaica in a container?
Yes. A car can go in a container on its own or with your household goods. Jamaica has age limits and import rules for vehicles, so check with us before you buy.
Do you deliver outside Kingston?
Yes. We deliver to every parish, including Montego Bay, Mandeville, Ocho Rios, May Pen and Negril.
Is it cheaper to ship barrels instead?
For a few barrels or boxes, yes. Barrel shipping is usually cheaper for smaller amounts, and a container is better value for furniture or a full house move.
