Cost to Move to Germany from the USA
Germany is the baseline continental destination — Hamburg and Bremerhaven are among the best-served discharge ports in Europe, and the lane from the US East Coast is priced accordingly. If you are comparing European destinations, Germany is close to the reference price and most others move up or down from it.
What it costs
Door-to-door sea and air freight ranges from New York to Germany, by home size. Ranges include origin services, freight, destination services and routine clearance. They are planning figures, not quotes — a firm price needs a survey of your home.
| Home size | Sea freight | Air freight |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,200 – $5,000 | $6,400 – $14,000 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,500 – $7,500 | $9,000 – $21,000 |
| 2 bedrooms | $7,000 – $12,000 | $14,000 – $33,600 |
| 3 bedrooms | $10,000 – $16,000 | $20,000 – $44,800 |
| 4 bedrooms | $13,500 – $22,000 | $27,000 – $61,600 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $18,000 – $30,000 | $36,000 – $84,000 |
The German cost surprise is usually at the delivery end rather than the freight end. A great deal of German housing is in apartment buildings with narrow stairwells and no service lift, and an external furniture lift — a hoist run up to a balcony or window — is a routine, chargeable extra rather than an unusual one. Mention your floor number and stair width when you get quoted.
Price your own move — pick your origin city and home size and the calculator will give you a range in a few seconds, with no contact details required.
How long it takes
Reckon on 5–7 weeks door to door from the East Coast. The North Atlantic crossing is quick; the paperwork and the inland leg are what fill the calendar.
Customs and duty
Übersiedlungsgut — removal-goods relief
Used household goods enter Germany free of duty and import VAT as Übersiedlungsgut (removal goods). The application is Zoll form 0350, submitted with a dated, valued inventory — German customs genuinely reads the inventory, so a vague one causes delay. The conditions are the EU-standard ones: residence outside the EU for at least 12 months, goods owned and used for at least six months, kept for 12 months after import. You will also need to register your address at the local Bürgeramt (the Anmeldung) once you arrive; it is not a customs prerequisite but almost nothing else in Germany happens without it.
Customs requirements change and are applied at the discretion of the authorities at the border. Treat this as orientation, not advice — confirm current requirements with your moving company or the destination’s customs authority before you ship.
What you cannot ship to Germany
- Meat and dairy from outside the EU are prohibited.
- Weapons law is strict and covers more than firearms — certain knives and replica items included.
- New or unused items in the shipment lose the relief and are assessed for duty and import VAT.
- Alcohol above small allowances is dutiable and should be declared rather than buried in a box.
Common questions
What is a furniture lift and will I need one?
It is an external hoist that lifts your belongings to an upper-floor window or balcony when the stairwell cannot take them. In German cities it is common, particularly in older buildings and anything above the second floor. It is a chargeable extra, typically a few hundred euros, and it is far better to have it priced into the quote than sprung on you on delivery day.
Does my shipment need to arrive after I do?
It is easier if it does. The form 0350 relief is claimed in connection with your transfer of residence, and having your Anmeldung and a German address in hand makes the clearance straightforward. Goods that arrive well ahead of you can usually be held, but storage is billed.
How long does German customs clearance take?
Usually a few working days once a complete file is in front of them. What extends it is an incomplete inventory or a missing residence document — German customs is procedural rather than slow, and a well-prepared file moves quickly.
What will your move to Germany cost?
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