Keep, sell or ship? Is it worth moving your furniture abroad?
Pick your route, add the items you are unsure about, and type what each would cost to replace where you are going. The calculator compares that with the real cost of shipping it on your route — from Flyto's live pricing — and tells you, item by item, whether to ship it, sell it or let it go.
Your items
Volumes come from the same 100-item catalogue our survey team uses. Type a name and press Enter; unknown items ask for m³.
| Item | Volume | Cost to ship | Cost to replace at destination | Condition | Sentimental | Verdict |
|---|
How the decision works
- Shipping cost = the item's volume × the extra cost of one cubic metre on your route. The rate is pulled live from Flyto's pricing for a 20 m³ door-to-door move, so it reflects today's freight and handling — not a rule of thumb.
- Replacement value = what the item costs to buy at destination, reduced for condition (fair −25 %, worn −50 %). You know this better than any database, so you type it.
- Ship when shipping is clearly cheaper than replacing, sell or replace when it is clearly dearer, and call it a toss-up within 20 %. Sentimental items skip the maths — some things are not for sale.
What people usually get wrong
The mistake is to use the average price per cubic metre. A move has fixed costs you pay regardless — crew, vehicle, port handling, customs — so leaving one wardrobe out saves less than you think. The marginal rate above is the honest number: it is what one more cubic metre actually costs on your route.
The second mistake runs the other way: comparing shipping cost with the price you paid, not the price to replace. A five-year-old sofa is worth what a similar used sofa costs at destination, not its original ticket. Enter replacement prices for your new city — furniture, appliances and mattresses vary a lot between Helsinki, Dubai and Sydney.
Appliances deserve one extra question before the money: will it work? Europe runs on 230 V/50 Hz, North America on 120 V/60 Hz, and plugs differ almost everywhere. If the answer is no, the verdict is sell — whatever the numbers say.
FAQ
How does the calculator decide?
It compares two numbers per item: the cost of shipping it (its volume × the extra cost per cubic metre on your route, from Flyto's live pricing) and the value of keeping it (what it would cost to replace at destination, reduced for condition). If shipping costs clearly less than replacing, ship it; if clearly more, sell or replace; within 20 % either way it is a toss-up and comfort decides. Anything marked sentimental is always shipped.
Where does the cost per m³ come from?
From the same engine that prices every Flyto quote. The calculator asks for a 20 m³ door-to-door move on your route with Gold service (Platinum on overseas routes) and takes the difference between 18 and 22 m³ — the real marginal cost of one more cubic metre, VAT included. Your actual quote depends on access, dates and extras.
Why is the marginal cost lower than the average cost per m³?
A move has fixed costs — crew, vehicle, paperwork, port handling — that you pay once. Leaving a sofa out does not remove them; it only saves the freight and handling for that sofa's volume. That is why the decision uses the marginal rate, not the average.
Is it really worth shipping IKEA furniture abroad?
Usually not on overseas routes, where a 2.5 m³ sofa can cost several hundred euros to ship and far less to replace. Within Europe the marginal cost is much lower, so most furniture in good condition is worth taking. Run the numbers — the answer flips with the route.
What about appliances?
Check the voltage and plug standard first (Europe 230 V; North America 120 V/60 Hz; UK plugs differ). A 230 V washing machine is rarely worth shipping to the US; to the UK or Australia it works fine. Then run the cost comparison as for any other item.
Rates are Flyto's own door-to-door prices for a standard 20 m³ move between the main cities of the two countries, VAT included, and change with season and fuel. Your quote is calculated for your exact addresses, date and access.
Decided what comes along? Get the price for it
Your route is already selected — add the volume and date and you have a door-to-door price in a minute.
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