Shipping is a major expense, so it makes sense to bring only what you truly need and will use in your new home in Israel. Now is the time to start sorting and cutting back.
Most shipments are about 50% large items (like furniture) and 50% small items (like clothing, toys, and dishes). It’s just as important to evaluate the small stuff as the big pieces.
Remember: homes in Israel are often smaller, and if you haven’t used something in the past year, you probably don’t need it anymore. For more information, please see our article on Packing Your Home for Aliyah.

Estimated Shipping Costs (Family Size Varies)

$7,500–$18,000
(based on family size, home size, and starting location)

What’s Included:

Origin Services

• Pick-up, professional packing, transport to port, or loading into a container.
• Costs vary depending on your home setup (ground floor vs. 4th-floor walk-up) and the distance to the shipping company.
• If possible, it’s best to work with a company located within an hour of your home.

Packing Options

• Pre-packing saves little to no money, and damages to pre-packed items are not covered by Marine Insurance.
• Full container customers can load their container themselves for potential savings, but this involves significant responsibility and risk. You will need to check how much time you have to load, know exactly how many pieces are loaded, make a packing list (by piece, matching the number of pieces loaded), and the container will stay on the chassis (about 3-4 feet off the ground). In this case, you take responsibility for any loss or damage except for total loss (container sinking, for example). This is not a decision you make lightly, and you should consider the surrounding costs (packing materials, labor to help you load, money to cover damages, etc.).
• You can request a volume survey from the shipping company, either in person or via a video call, to help you determine what size shipping container you will need.

Shipping Details

• The cost should include inland transport to the port or exit, trucking to a consolidating warehouse (if applicable), any storage while waiting for other cargo, and standard surcharges (Fuel, BAF, Congestion).
• Ship lines must give 30 days’ notice before changing costs (except in rare instances).

Insurance Costs

• Marine Insurance costs 2.5%–3% of your declared value.
  Example costs:
  • 20’ container ($50,000 value): $1,250–$1,500
  • 40’ container ($100,000 value): $2,500–$3,000

General Payment Terms

• Little or no deposit required before pick-up.
• Around 80% of charges are paid after pick-up.
• Final balance is due before delivery or handout in Israel (covering local port fees, storage, etc.).

Storage Costs at Israeli Port (estimated fees in Israel, assuming the paperwork is done before the container arrives at the port and you accept delivery ASAP)

• 20’ container: Ranges from 110-200 NIS/day
• 40’ container: Ranges from 150-300 NIS/day

Important: The first 1-7 days may be free of charge, depending on your shipping contract. Speak with your shipping company for current rates and get everything in writing.

Port Fees in Israel

• Includes Terminal Handling Charge (THC), Delivery Order, Port Tax (CHANI), and Bonded Warehouse (LCC).
• These fees depend on many factors and must be clearly listed on any quote you receive.
• Please note that the port fees are paid by the client and are not covered by the Aliyah benefit.

Inspections (Random or Required) and Tentative Costs

• Abroad: ~$2,200–$3,800 (e.g., up to 1/3 of containers from LA may be inspected).
• In Israel: ~5,500 – 6,000 NIS
• Storage fees during inspection are the client’s responsibility.
• Customs on ineligible items – For more information, see Understanding Your Customs Benefits.
• VAT on ineligible items

Levels of Shipping Service

• Door-to-Door: Full or partial packing, delivery to your new home.
• Warehouse-to-Door: You drop off packed goods at a local US warehouse; delivery to your home in Israel (usually not an option for full containers).
• Warehouse-to-Warehouse: You drop off and pick up at warehouses in both countries (usually only available for smaller consolidated shipments and not an option for full containers).
• Door-to-Warehouse: Pick-up from your home; you pick up from a warehouse in Israel (usually not an option for full containers).

Important: Always confirm that quotes include full port fees in Israel.
Do not ask for “Port-to-Port” quotes — they don’t cover the services or protections you need unless you are an experienced commercial shipper who understands Incoterms and “Pikuda Mesira.” If you don’t know what those terms mean, then you are most likely NOT qualified.