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Free tool · 2026 pricing

Pet Shipping Cost Calculator

Shipping a pet typically costs $95–$200 for a small pet in-cabin on a domestic flight, $300–$1,000 for domestic cargo, and $1,500–$6,000 for a standard international move. Destinations with mandatory quarantine — Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore — run $3,000–$12,000+. Your final price depends on pet size, distance, destination rules, and whether you choose full-service or handle paperwork yourself. Use the calculator below for an estimate tailored to your move.

Type of move

Pet

Pet size (pet + crate)

Medium (20–50 lb)

Destination country

Service level

Estimated cost to ship your dog to the United Kingdom

$3,650

typical — usually $2,170–$5,130

Cost breakdown

  • International airline cargo fee$1,100–$2,200
  • IATA-compliant crate$120–$280
  • Vet exam + health certificate$150–$300
  • USDA / APHIS endorsement$101–$206
  • Microchip$25–$75

    Skip if already ISO-chipped

  • Import permit$0–$100
  • Customs clearance$50–$300
  • Destination ground delivery$100–$500
  • Full-service coordination$520–$1,170

    Door-to-door management of vet, paperwork, flights & delivery

Typical transit / process time: 5–7 days

Key requirements

  • ISO microchip
  • Rabies vaccination (at least 21 days before travel)
  • Tapeworm treatment for dogs (1–5 days before arrival)
  • Great Britain pet health certificate / approved route entry
Get exact quotes from matched shippers

This is an estimate of typical market cost, not a quote. Confirm exact pricing with shippers.

How we estimate: Estimates are built from published 2026 US-origin market rates for each cost component (airline cargo tariffs, ground per-mile rates, IATA crate prices, vet and USDA endorsement fees, titer tests, import permits, customs clearance, and destination quarantine boarding), summed into a low–high band. They reflect the typical market cost of a move, not a binding quote from any single company. Always confirm exact pricing with shippers. Last updated 2026-06-11.

What determines the cost of shipping a pet?

Five factors drive nearly all of the price. Pet size matters most for air travel because airlines charge by the volume of the crate, not just the animal's weight. Distance and route set the base transport cost, and direct flights beat connections. Destination rules add vet tests, import permits, and sometimes mandatory quarantine — the difference between a $2,000 move and a $12,000 one. Service level is the last big lever: a full-service door-to-door relocation typically costs 30–50% more than a transport-only booking where you arrange the vet visits and USDA paperwork yourself. Timing matters too — off-peak months and midweek travel can shave 20–30% off.

Domestic vs. international: why the gap is so large

A domestic move is mostly just transport plus a basic health certificate, so small pets can fly in-cabin for under $200 and larger pets ship by cargo or ground for a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. International moves are a regulated process, not a plane ticket: you're paying for the airline cargo fee, an IATA-compliant crate, a vet exam and health certificate, a USDA/APHIS endorsement, a country import permit, customs clearance, and destination delivery. Countries that require a rabies titer test and government quarantine — Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Singapore among them — add thousands more and months of lead time. That's why the same pet can cost $400 to move across the US but $9,000 to move to Australia.

How to pay less without cutting corners

Get three to five quotes — prices for the identical route can vary 20–50% between companies. Travel off-peak (January–March or September–November) and midweek. Book four to six weeks ahead. If your pet travels well with others, shared ground transport costs roughly half of private. Buy your own IATA crate instead of renting from the shipper, and ask about multi-pet discounts. Finally, if you're comfortable scheduling vet visits and submitting USDA paperwork yourself, choose a transport-only service over full-service and keep a few hundred dollars.

For a deeper breakdown of every line item, hidden fees, and country-by-country examples, read our complete pet shipping cost guide.

Pet shipping cost — frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to ship a dog?

Shipping a dog domestically costs about $95–$200 in-cabin for small dogs, $300–$1,000 by cargo hold, or $200–$3,500 by ground depending on distance. Internationally, a standard move runs $1,500–$6,000, and large breeds cost more because airlines charge by the size of the crate.

How much does it cost to ship a cat?

Most cats qualify as small pets, so they're among the cheapest to ship: roughly $95–$200 to fly in-cabin domestically, or $1,000–$3,500 for a standard international move including the crate, vet documents, and customs clearance.

How much does it cost to ship a pet internationally?

A standard international pet move costs $1,500–$6,000. That covers the airline cargo fee, an IATA crate, vet exam and health certificate, USDA endorsement, import permit, and customs clearance. Destinations with mandatory quarantine cost substantially more.

Why is shipping a pet to Australia or New Zealand so expensive?

Australia and New Zealand require a rabies titer test months in advance, an import permit, and mandatory government quarantine on arrival. Quarantine boarding alone adds $2,000–$8,000, pushing a typical full-service move to $8,000–$15,000 per pet.

What's the cheapest way to ship a pet?

For small pets, flying in-cabin is cheapest at $95–$200. For larger pets, shared ground transport (about $0.50–$1.00 per mile) beats private transport. Handling your own vet visits and USDA paperwork instead of paying for full-service can save several hundred dollars.

Does a bigger dog cost more to ship?

Yes. Pet size is the single biggest cost factor for air travel because airlines bill by volumetric weight — the size of the crate, not just the pet's weight. A giant breed can cost two to three times more than a small dog on the same route.

Ready for exact numbers?

An estimate gets you a budget. For your real price, compare verified, IPATA-certified shippers that serve your route and request quotes.

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