Self-pack moves are becoming more and more popular for those moving interstate. What a self-pack move entails is using a shipping container to store your belongings and then using a transport company to move the container from your house to your new destination. You can either use your own container, if you have one, or you can hire a container for your move only. 

There are several benefits to this self-pack move option and shipping container moving costs can be a lot cheaper than using a full-service removalist. The reason for this is because you are not paying for the manual labour of packing and unpacking your contents. This is something you will do instead. 

With a self-pack move, the transport company is responsible for transporting your contents (fuel and insurance is generally included in this fee). 

You will be responsible for:

1. Packing supplies such as boxes, blankets, etc. 
2. The packing of the container and the unpacking of the container at your new home.
3. Any permit fees to park the container. You won't need a permit if you are parking the container in your driveway but if you are taking up space on the road, you may need to purchase a permit from your local council. Take a look at shipping container placement for more information. 

How Much Does it Cost to Move a Shipping Container?

Here’s a breakdown of potential costs for moving a 20ft and a 40ft container, including estimates for main cities, permit fees, and other factors to consider:

Container Transport Costs

• 20ft Container:
  • Cost Estimate: $1,200 - $3,000
• 40ft Container:
  • Cost Estimate: $2,000 - $4,500

Distance & Main City Routes

Here are some average costs based on common routes between major cities:

• Sydney to Melbourne:
  • 20ft: $1,200 - $1,800
  • 40ft: $2,000 - $3,000
• Sydney to Brisbane:
  • 20ft: $1,300 - $1,900
  • 40ft: $2,200 - $3,200
• Melbourne to Brisbane:
  • 20ft: $1,400 - $2,000
  • 40ft: $2,400 - $3,500
• Perth to Sydney:
  • 20ft: $2,500 - $3,500
  • 40ft: $3,800 - $4,800

3. Permit Fees

• Local Council Permits: $50 - $200
• Road Access Permits: $50 - $150

4. Other Container Transport Costs

• Packing Supplies and Forklift Hire: You may want to look into getting a forklift or a trolley to assist you with moving larger items. You will also need to purchase boxes (or look into getting these second hand) as well as protective coverings for your furniture. Blankets work well if you happen to have a linen closet of doona covers. 
• Insurance: You may want to look into contents insurance for your items. 
• Storage Costs: If you need to store the container between moves, this is completely possible. There are container storage companies located all around Australia such as TaxiBox. 

Shipping Container Moving Costs - When it is Best to Use a Shipping Container to Move?

We always recommend that when you are comparing house move quotes, you always consider the self-pack option as well as general full-service removalists. At Best Rated Transport you can compare both container transport and interstate removalists in the same place, allowing you to compare the price difference without having to go to multiple companies. It's entirely up to you how you decide to go ahead with your move but it's nice to have options and to not have to spend hours trying to find the best rate. 

Shipping container moving costs are going to be the cheapest option, in most instances, if:

You want to pack at your own pace. Moving can be stressful especially if you're on a deadline and need to ensure the house is packed and ready to go by a certain time/date. The good thing about container transport is that you can pack at your own pace. General container transport hire allows you to keep the container for 30 days. We recommend having it at each location for 10 days with 10 days for transport. This gives you 10 days on either side to remove your contents and allows for a more relaxed loading and unloading process.  Pack a few things each night after work rather than spending a weekend trying to get it all done. 

You have space to store the container without needing a permit. If you are moving to a city or to an apartment, you may need to pay to have your container there and these shipping container permit fees can add up. We always recommend parking your container on a driveway or on a flat, hard surface in front of your house. 

You are moving to a regional or remote location. Many removalists won't travel to remote and regional areas which is a shame. Best Rated Transport specialises in regional container transport so even if you are heading to, let's say, Weipa or Kalgoorie, we can assist in finding you with regional interstate transport. 

You are moving a looooong distance. Heading East to West? Or perhaps West to East? These mega moves can get expensive but the shipping container moving costs can be a lot cheaper than full-service removalists in this instance. Again, it's best to compare moving quotes for both interstate removalists and container transport to determine which one is the more affordable option for your specific move. 

Get started now at Best Rated Transport.