Cost of Moving from the UK to Ireland 2026: Complete Price Guide
Quick answer: Moving from the UK to Ireland in 2026 typically costs £1,000-£3,600 door-to-door. Studios and small flats run £690-£1,200, a 1-bed move £1,169-£1,919, a 2-bed home £1,919-£2,800, and a 3-bedroom dedicated van £2,500-£4,900 (sources: comparemymove.com, anyvan.com, threemovers.com, vkremovals.com). Door-to-door transit is typically 2-4 days via Holyhead-Dublin ferry (3h 15m). Customs is required – UK is outside the EU so you need a Customs Insight Number/EORI and Irish ”Transfer of Residence” declaration, though personal effects owned 6+ months are duty/VAT exempt under Revenue rules (source: revenue.ie).
Key takeaways
- Typical 2026 pricing: studio £690-£1,200, 1-bed £1,169-£1,919, 2-bed £1,919-£2,800, 3-bed £2,500-£4,900, 4-bed £4,500-£6,500 (sources: comparemymove.com, anyvan.com, threemovers.com)
- 40 big boxes from £758, full container by road £1,500-£2,200 (sources: vanone.co.uk, threemovers.com)
- Ferry options: Holyhead-Dublin 3h 15m (Stena Line, Irish Ferries), Liverpool-Dublin 8h (P&O), Fishguard-Rosslare 3h 30m, Cairnryan-Belfast 2h 15m for NI
- Irish Sea distance Holyhead-Dublin: 107 km / 58 nautical miles, 52 weekly sailings (source: directferries.com)
- Post-Brexit customs needed but used personal effects 6+ months old are duty/VAT exempt under Irish Transfer of Residence relief (source: revenue.ie)
What it costs in 2026 — headline pricing
UK to Ireland removal pricing in 2026 sits at £1,000-£3,600 for the typical range (source: comparemymove.com), with full house moves at £1,600-£4,900 depending on volume and services (source: vkremovals.com). For specific London-to-Dublin moves: 5m³ £1,169 and 15m³ home contents from £1,919 (industry benchmark). Container-by-road is £1,500-£2,200 with 2-4 day arrival (source: threemovers.com), versus £4,200-£5,800 by sea container taking 25-31 days.
Shared-load offers significant savings: 30-50% versus a dedicated van (source: vkremovals.com). For very small consignments, vanone.co.uk advertises 40 big boxes from £758 – useful for students or single-occupancy moves.
Distance and route: UK to Ireland
All UK to Ireland (Republic) moves use the Irish Sea ferry network. The dominant routes are:
- Holyhead (Wales) – Dublin: 107 km / 58 nautical miles by sea, 3h 15m crossing (Stena Line) or 2h 15m fast ferry (Irish Ferries) – 52 sailings/week (source: directferries.com)
- Liverpool – Dublin: 8 hours overnight, useful for north-west English origin
- Fishguard – Rosslare: 3h 30m, useful for south-west Ireland destinations
- Pembroke – Rosslare: 4 hours
- Cairnryan – Belfast: 2h 15m (for Northern Ireland moves, no customs required)
Road distances from typical UK origins to Holyhead: London 425 km / 5 hours, Manchester 175 km / 2.5 hours, Birmingham 270 km / 3.5 hours. From Dublin port, road delivery to Cork is 260 km / 3 hours, Galway 215 km / 2.5 hours, Limerick 200 km / 2.5 hours.
Typical door-to-door transit: 2-4 days dedicated, 4-7 days part-load (source: amcremovals.ie).
Price brackets in 2026 — Silver, Gold, Platinum tiers
| Tier | Studio (≈10 m³) | 1-bed (≈15 m³) | 2-bed (≈30 m³) | 3-bed (≈50 m³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver (part-load van + transport only) | From £690 | From £1,169 | From £1,919 | From £2,500 |
| Gold (2-3 movers, full load/unload) | From £1,100 | From £1,650 | From £2,400 | From £3,400 |
| Platinum (full pack + unpack + assembly) | From £1,600 | From £2,400 | From £3,500 | From £4,900 |
Silver is well-suited to short Holyhead-Dublin shuttle moves and small flats. Gold is the standard for 2-3 bed moves. Platinum bundles packing materials (£250-£500 separately) and disassembly/reassembly. Add-ons: piano transport £300-£700, vehicle transport £350-£700 (cheaper than other UK-EU routes thanks to short ferry), insurance upgrade £100-£400.
What drives the cost
- Volume. Cubic metres is the universal benchmark. A 2-bed flat = 25-35 m³.
- Irish destination. Dublin and Leinster are cheapest. Cork (260 km from Dublin port), Galway and Limerick add £100-£300. Donegal, Kerry and remote rural west add £200-£500.
- Ferry route choice. Holyhead-Dublin is fastest and cheapest. Liverpool-Dublin overnight saves road-leg time but costs more on ferry. Cairnryan-Belfast is shortest crossing but only for Northern Ireland destinations (no customs).
- Access. Dublin Georgian houses, walk-ups, narrow Cork Lanes can add £100-£300.
- Season. June-August premium of 15-20%; book early.
- Service tier. Part-load saves 30-50% but adds 2-4 days.
Customs and border (post-Brexit UK to Ireland)
Since 1 January 2021 UK to Ireland moves require customs declarations – even though Ireland is in the EU. Northern Ireland operates under the Windsor Framework so GB-to-NI moves don’t require customs declarations for personal household goods (source: gov.uk). Republic of Ireland moves DO require declarations.
- EORI number. Required for the remover to file customs declarations. Already held by professional international movers.
- Irish Transfer of Residence (TOR) declaration. Filed with Irish Revenue via the Single Administrative Document (SAD). Used personal effects owned 6+ months and used 6+ months are exempt from VAT (23%) and duty under Irish TOR relief – provided you can prove 12 months prior residence outside Ireland (source: revenue.ie).
- Required documents. Passport, PPS number application (Public Services Number, free via mywelfare.ie), evidence of new Irish address (lease/property deed), valued inventory list, evidence of 12 months prior UK residency (P60, council tax, utilities).
- Customs broker fees. £100-£300, often bundled.
- Restricted items. Alcohol and tobacco are NOT covered by TOR relief. Firearms, medicines, certain animal/plant products require permits.
- Vehicle imports. UK cars require Irish VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax, applied within 30 days of arrival) – typically €1,000-€5,000+ based on CO2 and OMSP (Open Market Selling Price). VRT exemption applies under TOR if you owned the vehicle 6+ months prior to move and were UK resident 12+ months. Plus NCT (Irish MOT), Irish insurance, road tax. Allow €500-€1,500 admin plus 2-4 weeks.
Typical customs clearance at Dublin Port or Rosslare: 1-5 working days when paperwork is correct – faster than continental Europe due to RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) procedures.
Seasonal pricing — when to book
UK-Ireland demand peaks June-August (school holidays) plus a smaller spike in September around academic intake. November-February is cheapest.
- Peak (Jun-Aug): +15-20%; book 6-10 weeks ahead. Ferry slots tighten 3-4 weeks ahead.
- Shoulder (Apr-May, Sep-Oct): baseline; book 3-5 weeks ahead.
- Off-peak (Nov-Mar, except Christmas/New Year): 15-20% cheaper.
DIY container shipping vs full-service movers
- DIY van + Irish Sea ferry. 3.5t Luton: £350-£600/week (only 2-4 days needed) + £100-£200 fuel + £300-£550 return Holyhead-Dublin ferry for van (more expensive than passenger ferry). Total £750-£1,350. Realistic for small one-bed loads; you handle Irish customs declarations yourself.
- Container by road. Full container £1,500-£2,200, 2-4 day delivery (source: threemovers.com). Useful for self-pack moves where you load and unload.
- Full-service door-to-door. Flyto Gold from £1,650 (1-bed) bundles 2-3 movers, ferry coordination, TOR paperwork support and delivery. The 20-40 hours saved typically justifies the premium.
Hidden costs to budget for
- PPS number: free but mandatory; allow 4-8 weeks via mywelfare.ie
- Customs broker fees: £100-£300
- End-of-tenancy clean UK: £150-£350
- Irish rental deposit: typically 1 month + 1 month advance = €2,200-€5,000 in Dublin
- Storage in Ireland: €70-€150/month for 10m³
- Insurance upgrade: £100-£400
- Utility connections (ESB, Eirgrid, Vodafone, Sky): €60-€180 setup
- VRT on imported car: €1,000-€5,000+ unless TOR exemption applies
- NCT inspection: €55
- Irish driving licence exchange: €55, allow 4-6 weeks
- Bank account setup (AIB, Bank of Ireland, Revolut): free but Irish bank typically requires Irish address proof
Step-by-step timeline
- 6-8 weeks before: Get 3 quotes; secure date. Apply for Irish PPS number via mywelfare.ie.
- 4-6 weeks before: Confirm Irish accommodation. Notify HMRC via P85 form.
- 3-4 weeks before: Pay deposit to remover. Book end-of-tenancy clean. Confirm valued inventory for TOR.
- 2 weeks before: Pack non-essentials. Print signed inventory list.
- 1 week before: Confirm pickup and Irish delivery address.
- Move day: Crew loads, departs for Holyhead, Liverpool or Fishguard.
- Days 1-2: Irish Sea ferry crossing and onward delivery to Irish address.
- Days 2-4: Customs clearance (usually fast at Dublin Port); final delivery.
- Within 30 days: Confirm PPS number; register with local Garda for residency certificate if non-EU; register children at local primary/secondary school.
- Within 30 days (if importing car): Book VRT appointment at NCTS centre.
FAQ
How much does it cost to move from the UK to Ireland in 2026?
Typical 2026 pricing: studio £690-£1,200, 1-bed £1,169-£1,919, 2-bed £1,919-£2,800, 3-bed £2,500-£4,900, 4-bed £4,500-£6,500 (sources: comparemymove.com, anyvan.com, threemovers.com, vkremovals.com). Container by road is £1,500-£2,200 (2-4 days), while sea container is £4,200-£5,800 (25-31 days). Vanone.co.uk reports 40 big boxes from £758. Customs brokerage adds £100-£300 and insurance upgrades £100-£400.
How long does a UK to Ireland move take?
Door-to-door transit is 2-4 days for dedicated vans (Holyhead-Dublin ferry 3h 15m or fast ferry 2h 15m, source: directferries.com) and 4-7 days for part-load services. Container-by-road completes in 2-4 days (source: threemovers.com). Sea-freight container is the slow option at 25-31 days. Irish customs clearance is typically 1-5 working days at Dublin Port or Rosslare – faster than continental Europe due to RoRo procedures.
Do I need customs paperwork after Brexit, even though Ireland is in the EU?
Yes – the UK is outside the EU customs union, so moves to the Republic of Ireland require declarations. However, used personal effects owned 6+ months are exempt from Irish VAT (23%) and duty under Transfer of Residence (TOR) relief (source: revenue.ie). You need: PPS number, passport, evidence of 12 months UK residency (P60, council tax, utilities), proof of new Irish address, valued inventory. Note: Northern Ireland moves (GB to NI) do NOT require customs declarations for personal goods under the Windsor Framework.
Which ferry route is best for UK to Ireland moves?
Holyhead-Dublin is the dominant route – 3h 15m crossing (Stena Line) or 2h 15m fast ferry (Irish Ferries), with 52 weekly sailings making it easy to schedule (source: directferries.com). Liverpool-Dublin is an 8h overnight option that suits north-west England origins. Fishguard-Rosslare (3h 30m) suits south-west Ireland destinations like Cork or Kerry. For Northern Ireland, Cairnryan-Belfast (2h 15m) is the shortest crossing and avoids customs entirely.
Can I bring my UK car to Ireland?
Yes – UK cars need Irish VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax) within 30 days of arrival. Standard VRT is €1,000-€5,000+ based on CO2 emissions and OMSP. VRT exemption applies under Transfer of Residence relief if you owned the vehicle 6+ months prior and were UK resident 12+ months. You also need NCT (Irish MOT, €55), Irish motor insurance, and Irish plates. Allow €500-€1,500 admin and 2-4 weeks. Right-hand-drive is the Irish norm, so resale is not an issue – unlike continental Europe.
What’s the cheapest way to move from the UK to Ireland?
For small moves under 10 m³, shared-load services are cheapest – threemovers.com and anyvan.com benchmarks start around £690 for studios. Vanone.co.uk advertises 40 big boxes from £758. DIY hire-van + Irish Sea ferry costs £750-£1,350 for a single Luton load – viable for one-bed flats if you handle the Holyhead-Dublin booking and Irish customs yourself. For 2+ bed homes the time and risk savings of Gold-tier full-service from £2,400 are typically worth the difference.
When is the best time to move from the UK to Ireland?
November to February (excluding Christmas/New Year) is cheapest – 15-20% below the summer peak. Ferry slots are widely available and rates are lowest in late January/February. May and September are shoulder months with mild weather for the short Irish Sea crossing. Avoid June-August – school-holiday demand pushes Holyhead-Dublin ferry prices up and tightens removal capacity 3-4 weeks ahead. Book 6-10 weeks ahead for summer moves.
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