Routes and transit times
The transatlantic is one of the shortest deep-sea lanes. Services from Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway cross to New York–New Jersey, Norfolk, Charleston and Savannah, and to Houston through the Florida Strait. Much UK cargo also moves on European services that call at Rotterdam or Antwerp first.
| From | To | nm | km | Days at sea | Typical schedule | Via |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton | New York / New Jersey | 3,214 | 5,953 | 8.4 | 10–14 | direct |
| Southampton | Norfolk | 3,444 | 6,378 | 9.0 | 10–15 | direct |
| Southampton | Savannah | 3,872 | 7,170 | 10.1 | 12–17 | direct |
| Southampton | Houston | 5,059 | 9,370 | 13.2 | 15–21 | direct |
| Felixstowe | New York / New Jersey | 3,355 | 6,213 | 8.7 | 10–15 | direct |
| Felixstowe | Norfolk | 3,584 | 6,638 | 9.3 | 11–16 | direct |
| Felixstowe | Savannah | 4,012 | 7,430 | 10.4 | 12–17 | direct |
| Felixstowe | Houston | 5,200 | 9,630 | 13.5 | 15–21 | direct |
| London Gateway | New York / New Jersey | 3,346 | 6,198 | 8.7 | 10–15 | direct |
| London Gateway | Norfolk | 3,576 | 6,623 | 9.3 | 11–16 | direct |
| London Gateway | Savannah | 4,004 | 7,415 | 10.4 | 12–17 | direct |
| London Gateway | Houston | 5,192 | 9,615 | 13.5 | 15–21 | direct |
Door to door by sea, plan on roughly two to four weeks to the East Coast. Airfreight from Heathrow takes about four to seven days door to door, express two to four working days. For the West Coast, sea freight goes through the Panama Canal (about 7,600 nm from Southampton to Los Angeles) or lands on the East Coast and continues by rail.
What it costs
Drewry's index has no UK–US lane, so the calculator uses its nearest published lane, Rotterdam to New York, for UK ports. Treat it as a guide to the market and enter your own quote when you have one. Westbound transatlantic rates are generally far below transpacific rates, and LCL from the UK to New York is a common, competitively priced service. For most parcels under about 30 kg, express or postal services are usually cheaper than freight.
US entry for UK goods
- UK export declaration. Exports are declared to HMRC on the Customs Declaration Service, usually by the forwarder, and need your GB EORI number.
- No $800 de minimis. Since August 2025 low-value shipments from the UK to US consumers no longer enter duty free, and CBP's June 2026 rule put the suspension into its regulations. The statutory exemption itself ends on 1 July 2027. For UK online sellers this was the biggest change on the lane: every parcel now carries US duty and an entry, and many sellers moved to delivered-duty-paid shipping or US stock.
- Duty. Charged on transaction value at the HTSUS rate for the goods, plus any additional tariffs that apply to UK goods under the 2025 US–UK arrangement and later actions. Check the current total for your HTS code.
- ISF. Ocean cargo needs an Importer Security Filing 24 hours before loading in the UK.
- Fees. MPF 0.3464 % (minimum $34.58, maximum $670.86 for fiscal year 2027) on formal entries and HMF 0.125 % on ocean cargo.
Mistakes on UK–US shipments
- Shipping DAP to consumers. US buyers who get an unexpected duty bill refuse parcels; quote and collect duty at checkout.
- Using UK commodity codes on the US entry. The first six digits of the HS code match; the US adds its own four, and rates follow those.
- Forgetting FDA for food and cosmetics. UK food exporters need FDA facility registration and prior notice.
- Underestimating chassis and port fees in New York. Ask for an all-in delivered quote.
Questions shippers ask
How long does shipping from the UK to the USA take?
About 8–10 days at sea to New York or Norfolk, 10 to Savannah, and roughly two to four weeks door to door by sea. Airfreight is about a week and express two to four working days.
Do I pay US duty on goods from the UK?
Yes, at the HTSUS rate plus any additional tariffs applying to UK goods. The $800 duty-free threshold is suspended.
Which is cheaper from the UK to the USA, sea or air?
Sea, by a wide margin, for anything over a few cubic metres. For parcels and small shipments, express couriers are usually the practical option.
Who pays US import duty on UK online orders?
The importer of record. On a delivered-duty-paid sale that is the seller (or its carrier); otherwise the US customer pays on delivery.
Sources
Rules checked: November 2026 US de minimis, ISF and entry fees checked November 2026 (fee limits update automatically); UK export declaration rules from HMRC. US tariff rates on UK goods follow the 2025 US–UK arrangement and later changes: check the current rate.
Rates, fees and the rule pages behind this tool are checked automatically twice a week; last check 3 November 2026.
- Federal Register: indefinite suspension of the de minimis exemption (24 June 2026)
- CBP: Importer Security Filing 10+2
- GOV.UK: get an EORI number
- Federal Register: customs user fees for fiscal year 2027 — MPF minimum $34.58, maximum $670.86 from 1 October 2026