Moving abroad is a different beast from moving across town, or even across the country. You’re not just hiring a truck and some muscle. You need international moving companies that can handle sea freight, air freight, customs documentation, foreign port clearance, and a network of overseas agents who’ll actually show up on the other end.
Ranked top 7 international moving services handling relocations from the United States · Updated 2026 (ranked using licensing authority, service offerings, and review tracking; sponsorship/affiliate disclosures apply where relevant).
Cross Country Movers earns the top spot because they operate as a direct carrier rather than a broker, backed by full Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) licensing for international household goods. They run the move end-to-end with their own coordination team and a dedicated move coordinator assigned to every job. They deliver guaranteed flat pricing based on a detailed inventory list, timely schedules, door-to-door delivery to over 150 countries (including FCL, LCL, and air freight options), in-house customs documentation management, international car shipping via RoRo or container, full replacement marine cargo insurance, real-time shipment tracking, and custom crating for high-value antiques or fine art.
Website: crosscountrymovers.com | Phone: 800-611-0502 | US DOT 2552260, MC-889368
International Mover (powered by Shepherd International Movers) is built specifically around overseas relocation, so they don't dilute their focus with local moves. Their service catalog is tightly specialized around international moving by sea or air, overseas vehicle shipping, packing, storage, and oversized freight for boats or equipment. They offer 30 days of free storage at origin, free virtual or in-person surveys, and fully trained, background-checked staff familiar with foreign regulations.
Website: internationalmover.com | Phone: 332-208-8991
International Moving Company positions itself on stress reduction and a customer-first relocation experience. They focus strictly on overseas relocations via sea freight, air freight, vehicle shipping, and oversized cargo. They specialize in walking first-time international movers through a simple 3-step process (book, pack, ship) while providing full customs assistance, transparent pricing with clear exclusions, and 24/7-secured, climate-controlled storage with 30 days free at origin or destination.
Website: internationalmovingcompany.com | Phone: 213-319-5880
Kerb is primarily a local and long-distance moving company serving 13 major US hubs (including LA, NYC, Chicago, Houston, and Miami) that also seamlessly coordinates international relocations. Boasting an A+ BBB rating, they utilize a modern, tech-driven asset inventory and assessment process to provide highly accurate quotes. Their management draws from 30+ years of national moving experience, deploying full-time, licensed, and bonded crews capable of handling piano moves, fine art, and complex multi-step logistics.
Website: kerb.com | Phone: 323-897-7919
Long Distance USA Movers is an interstate direct carrier with an integrated "International" wing to coordinate global moves, typically matching with trusted destination partners. By handling the domestic portion entirely in-house with flat-rate pricing based on inventory, they eliminate opaque broker margins and typical cross-country price traps. They excel at specialized auto transport (open/enclosed) to drive vehicles to export ports, and they manage secure, climate-controlled, non-shared storage warehouses.
Website: longdistanceusamovers.com | Phone: 206-397-8702
My International Movers spans air, land, and sea transportation modes for worldwide delivery. Holding an active Ocean Transportation Intermediary License (No. 023860) and boasting 100+ years of combined staff experience, this California-based (Palo Alto) operator offers 8 core services: sea/air freight, auto shipping, full packing, storage, custom crating, insurance, and oversized freight. They specialize in lightning-fast all-inclusive quotes with guaranteed container sizing variables to protect customers from paying for empty space.
Website: myinternationalmovers.com | Phone: 650-272-3112
Schmidt International Relocations is an FMC-licensed carrier (License 027587N) with a wide domestic footprint spanning major states like CA, TX, IL, NY, and GA, alongside brick-and-mortar international branches in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver) and the UK (London). They are uniquely positioned to provide corporate moving services for executives, diplomat relocations, and employee assignments. They operate as a true one-stop-shop providing custom fragile crating, international car shipping, storage, and end-to-end relocation services across common corridors.
Website: schmidtmovers.com | Phone: 415-360-9003
The largest household goods carriers in America operate premium specialized divisions tailored precisely for overseas shipping lines:
When shipments exit the domestic United States, movers depend heavily on established foreign localized agents to execute terminal-mile drop-offs:
The International Association of Movers (IAM) serves as the central governing body certifying these standards globally. IAM credentialing and FMC licensing together constitute the ideal industry benchmarks for customer safety, coverage, and end-to-end reliability.
A domestic move typically stays on one truck with a single crew from source to destination. An international move involves at least three handoffs: domestic road transit, warehouse consolidation at an export port/airport, international sea or air transport, destination port customs clearance, and final mile delivery by localized partner networks. Each handoff requires expert oversight to prevent logistics failures.
Cross-country moves have zero border constraints. Moving abroad requires complete compliance with country-specific export/import frameworks, duty-free exemptions for used household effects, visa/residency confirmations, and accurate translations of asset inventories. Missteps result in heavy bonded storage accumulation fees. Fully certified FMC-licensed international movers handle this complex filing in-house.
Domestic carrier routes are priced primarily on weight and mileage. International quotes are structured on volume (cubic feet/meters), vessel loading protocols (FCL vs LCL vs Air Cargo), port tariff documentation fees, brokerage fees, currency variables, and marine cargo insurance. Selecting providers with clear flat-rate inventory-based guarantees prevents unforeseen delivery-day price baiting.
Standard interstate moves rely on basic Released Value Protection ($0.60 per lb) or Full Value Protection regulated by the DOT. Global moves require specialized marine cargo insurance policies. This covers complex ocean and air transit hazards, port container handling damage, and total loss events at sea, with variable liability tiers dependent on full declared asset inventories.
Europe represents the most common destination for outbound US relocations. Top-tier providers maintain specialized destination agent networks across major hubs like London, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, and Madrid. Standard ocean transit vectors range from 14 to 21 days from East Coast ports, with absolute door-to-door execution wrapping up between 4 and 6 weeks.
Houston represents one of the single most active corporate expat origin cities in America, supported by direct proximity to the Port of Houston. Shipments bound for Europe or Asia are frequently optimized and consolidated right at the port or strategically routed through coastal exit points to cut overall transit lead times and manage shipping costs effectively.
Before executing a service contract for a global relocation, ensure you ask and confirm the following parameters:
Costs vary based on volume, destination, and method. A 1BR apartment moving from the US to Europe runs $2,500–$6,000 via sea freight, while a 3BR household ranges from $8,000–$20,000+. Asia-Pacific and Australia cost more. Air freight is roughly 3–5x the price of sea freight for matching volume. Reputable operators offer free consultations to map a flat rate based on physical inventory.
Ocean freight generally requires 4 to 10 weeks door-to-door (comprising 2 to 6 weeks of true water transit plus 1 to 2 weeks for customs bonded clearance and localized handling). Air freight cuts the window down to 2 to 3 weeks.
FCL (Full Container Load) means your items exclusively occupy a 20ft or 40ft container line, which is faster and reduces handling steps. LCL (Less than Container Load) means your belongings share container space with alternate consolidated shipments—ideal for small rooms or partial household moves.
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) regulates all ocean freight transportation intermediaries in the US. Active licensing is a critical regulatory baseline. Unlicensed operators possess zero federal oversight, exposing shippers to extreme risk with no administrative recourse if goods are held or lost.
Reputable firms handle all import/export filings, declarations, and destination port clearance items in-house. If a company prompts you to process the underlying customs paperwork yourself, it indicates an inadequate or broker-reliant logistical setup.
Yes. Most full-service international companies provide car shipping options via Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) or container units, processing title work and export permits. Always check destination-country duties first, as local tariffs can occasionally exceed a vehicle's value.
You need true marine cargo insurance. Standard domestic released value protection ($0.60 per lb) is practically worthless across ocean transit legs. Full-value replacement marine insurance provides structural coverage across port handling pipelines, rough seas, and customs delays.
A move coordinator serves as your singular point of contact through a complex multi-week transit process. Having one direct individual routing details across shifting global time zones eliminates severe service friction and improves real-time tracking transparency.
Yes. Top-tier providers maintain secure storage solutions at both origin and destination points. Many operators provide up to 30 days of free entry storage to reconcile visa processing times or staggered housing handovers.