Part Load Removals
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A part load means your belongings travel in a container shared with other consignments, and you pay for the space you use rather than for a whole container. It is the same crews, the same packing and the same paperwork as a full load – the difference is how the container is filled and when it sails.
For most people moving less than a full household, it is the sensible choice. For some, the wait it involves is not worth the saving. This page explains which is which, so you can tell before you ask anyone for a quote.
When is a part load the right choice?
The deciding factor is volume, not distance.
- A few boxes, one room, or personal effects. A part load is almost always the right answer. A dedicated container would be mostly empty air that you would be paying for.
- A medium-sized move, or a business consignment on a schedule. Part loads suit this well on established routes, where departures are regular enough that the wait is predictable.
- A larger household – roughly three bedrooms and up. This is where a full container usually becomes the better value, because you are close to filling one anyway and you gain control of the timing.
Around three bedrooms is the crossover point in most cases. Below it, sharing saves money. Above it, sharing mostly costs you time without saving much.
| What you are moving | Which to choose | The trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| A few boxes, one room, or personal effects | Part load, almost always | A dedicated container would be mostly empty air that you would be paying for |
| A medium-sized move | Part load | Suits established routes, where departures are regular enough that the wait is predictable |
| A business consignment on a schedule | Part load on a busy route, a full container on a quiet one | Consolidation time is only predictable where the route fills quickly |
| Roughly three bedrooms and up | Full container | You are close to filling one anyway, and you gain control of the timing |
How does consolidation actually work?
Your goods are collected, packed and taken to a consolidation point, where they wait to be loaded with other consignments heading for the same region. The container sails when it is full. That is what makes a part load cheaper, and it is also what makes the departure date less certain than a dedicated container.
This is the part that is rarely explained, and it is where most of the surprises come from.
Your goods are collected, packed and taken to a consolidation point, where they wait to be loaded alongside other consignments bound for the same region. The container sails when it is full. That is what makes it cheaper – and it is also what makes the timing less certain than a dedicated container.
The same applies at the other end. A shared container clears customs as a single unit, so a part load waits on every consignment inside it before anything is released. One other customer’s incomplete paperwork can hold up the whole container, including your goods.
None of this is a reason to avoid part loads. It is a reason to book with realistic dates and to keep your own documentation clean and early.
Is groupage the same as a part load?
Groupage is the freight industry’s name for a part load. Your belongings share a container with other consignments, you pay for the space you use rather than for the whole container, and the container sails once it is full. Groupage, part load, shared container and consolidated shipping all describe the same service.
You will see all four terms used, sometimes on the same quote. A freight forwarder is more likely to say groupage or consolidated shipping; a removals company is more likely to say part load or shared container. The practical difference is none: the same lorry, the same container, the same customs process at each end. What changes the price is how much space your goods take and how far they travel, which is why an honest quote starts with a survey rather than a price list.
What affects how long a part load takes?
Two things set the clock on a part load: how long the container takes to fill, and the journey itself.
On our European road routes, transit is typically 6 to 12 days from collection to delivery. Sea freight to destinations such as Australia or the United States typically runs 4 to 8 weeks. Those figures describe the journey. On a part load you should allow for consolidation time on top, and how long that takes depends on how busy the route is.
Well-established routes fill quickly and behave predictably. Less common destinations fill more slowly, and that is where part-load timings stretch. If you have a fixed date you must meet – a tenancy ending, a job start, a completion date – say so at the quote stage. It is the single most useful thing you can tell us, and it may point you to a full load instead.
Why do people trust us with a move?
These are not our words. They are our customers, on a review site we do not control.
- 4.6 out of 5 from 110 reviews on Trustpilot, rated Excellent
- Over 10,000 moves completed
- Typically replies within 24 hours, as shown on the Trustpilot profile
- Our own yard and storage at Riverside Industrial Estate, Fazeley, Tamworth
- Members of Approved Movers in the UK, and we only work with overseas agents who are members of BAR or FIDI
- Reviewing since October 2020, and still collecting them every month
This was a first experience requiring an international moving company and I had absolutely no idea what the process was. From the first pledge of dedication to the final concluding email, I was met with extreme patience and kind, encouraging words.
Martha Anderson, May 2026 – verified Trustpilot review
Easy to deal with, had a few variations to quote and never a hassle. First time so very understanding. UK to Philippines.
Mr Spencer Osborne, June 2026 – verified Trustpilot review
I wanted to move a small item of furniture from the UK to Switzerland. Michelle Harris contacted me and the help and service were exemplary. My item was delivered well packed, by a cheerful and helpful driver.
Verified customer, Switzerland, June 2026 – verified Trustpilot review
What should a part-load quote tell you?
Ask for these in writing. A quote that covers them is comparable with another; one that does not, is not.
- The volume you are being charged for, and how it was measured – from a survey, or from a list you supplied.
- What happens if the volume changes once your goods are actually loaded.
- The consolidation window – the realistic range for departure, not just the sailing time.
- What is included at destination: customs clearance, port charges, delivery to the door, and whether unpacking is part of it.
- The insurance basis, and the value you have declared.
- Access at both ends. Narrow streets, no parking or upper floors can require a shuttle vehicle, and that is better priced now than discovered on the day.
We provide free surveys and itemised written quotes, so every one of these is answered before you commit to anything.
Which destinations do you run part loads to?
We handle part-load and full-load consignments on all our routes. If you already know where you are going, the destination pages set out the customs requirements, documentation and transit expectations for each:
Europe: Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Latvia, Estonia, Croatia, Romania and more across Europe.
Worldwide: Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, the UAE and every destination we serve.
Not sure whether a part load or a full container suits your move? See container shipping costs for what fits in a 20ft and a 40ft container, or what sets the price of an international move.
We have added a number of routes since this page was first written. In Asia we run part loads to Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia. In the Middle East, to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. Across Latin America, to Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Peru. In Europe, to Poland, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Kosovo and Gibraltar. If your destination is not named anywhere on this page, ask anyway: the part-load network reaches further than the pages do.
Part load removals: frequently asked questions
What is a part load?
Your belongings travel in a container shared with other consignments and you pay for the space you use rather than for a whole container. Same crews, same packing, same paperwork as a full load. The difference is how the container is filled and when it sails.
Is a part load cheaper than a full container?
Below roughly three bedrooms, yes, because a dedicated container would be mostly empty air you were paying for. Above three bedrooms a full container usually becomes better value, because you are close to filling one anyway and you gain control of the timing.
How long does a part load take?
On European road routes, 6 to 12 days from collection to delivery. Sea freight to destinations such as Australia or the United States typically runs 4 to 8 weeks. Allow consolidation time on top of those figures, because the container sails when it is full.
Why is the timing less certain than a full container?
Because the container waits to fill. Your goods are collected, packed and taken to a consolidation point to be loaded alongside other consignments bound for the same region. At the other end a shared container clears customs as a single unit, so it waits on every consignment inside it.
What if I have a fixed date I must meet?
Say so at the quote stage. It is the single most useful thing you can tell us, and on a tight deadline it may point you to a full load instead.
What should a part-load quote tell me?
The volume you are charged for and how it was measured, what happens if that volume changes at loading, the realistic departure window rather than just the sailing time, what is included at the destination, the insurance basis, and access at both ends.
Which destinations can I send a part load to?
All of them. Europe by road and the rest of the world by sea or air, with the same part-load option on every route. Each destination page sets out that country’s customs requirements and transit expectations.
Not sure if a part load fits your move?
Free survey, itemised written quote, no obligation.