Top 5 International Removal Companies for Self-Pack Moves

Self-packing can give you more control over an international move, but services vary significantly. 

Some companies let you pack your own cartons while they handle collection and shipping. Others provide a dedicated crate or container that you load yourself, then handle the international journey. 

For UK customers, we compared five providers on the factors that matter most: control over packing and loading, shipment size flexibility, collection and delivery arrangements, customs support, storage, protection for owner-packed belongings, and the amount of work required of you. 

Our strongest overall choice is Seven Seas Worldwide with the MoveCube®. It offers a purpose-built self-pack system in which your belongings travel in a sole-use moving container while Seven Seas Worldwide manages the international transport after collection. 

UPakWeShip is a strong alternative for customers wanting a broader range of DIY crate and container formats. PSS International Removals and Anglo Pacific suit people who want to pack their own belongings while leaving more of the physical move to a traditional removals company. ALS World Movers is particularly relevant to larger self-loaded container moves. 

Transparency: this comparison is published by Seven Seas Worldwide, which is one of the companies included. All providers have been assessed against the same stated criteria using current published service information. 

At a Glance 

Seven Seas Worldwide :

Best overall purpose-built self-pack system 

You pack and load a sole-use MoveCube® 

Loading and unloading are your responsibility 

UPakWeShip :

Best for DIY format choice 

U Crates, pallets and self-load containers 

Collection arrangements vary between services 

PSS International Removals: 

Best hybrid option 

You pack; the company collects and ships 

Less control over the shipping unit itself 

Anglo Pacific:

Best traditional mover for owner-packed cartons 

You pack selected cartons while the mover manages the wider relocation 

Less suitable for customers wanting full DIY loading 

ALS World Movers :

Best for self-loading a conventional container 

You can self-pack cartons or load a shipping container 

Full-container loading requires more planning and physical work 

Service information checked 1 October 2026. Routes, charges, protection terms and service availability can change. 

How We Chose the Top 5 

To qualify, a company needed to offer an international removals service from the UK where customers can take meaningful responsibility for packing and, in some cases, loading. 

We considered: 

• How central self-packing is to the service; 

• Whether customers can load the shipping unit themselves; 

• Options for different shipment volumes; 

• Collection and delivery arrangements; 

• Customs and documentation support; 

• Storage; 

• Protection for owner-packed belongings; 

• Overall practicality for UK-origin moves. 

We did not rank companies by headline price because international removal costs depend heavily on route, volume, access and service requirements. 

No first-hand comparative testing was supplied, so the rankings are based on current published service information and editorial assessment. 

1. Seven Seas Worldwide — Best Overall Purpose-Built Self-Pack System 

The MoveCube® from Seven Seas Worldwide is designed specifically for customers to pack and load their own belongings. 

Seven Seas Worldwide brings the sole-use MoveCube® to your address. You load your packed possessions within the allocated time, after which Seven Seas Worldwide manages the international shipment. The MoveCube® is secured after loading and is only opened where authorised customs or quarantine inspections require access. 

Why Seven Seas Worldwide ranks first 

The MoveCube® combines several useful self-pack features within one service: 

• Sole-use MoveCube® space. 

• Small, Medium and Large MoveCube® sizes. 

• Free Starter Pack with packing materials and floor sheets to help plan capacity. 

• Pre-collection access checks. 

• Online shipment tracking. 

• Customs-clearance support. 

• Short-term storage on qualifying services. 

• Staged payments on most international moves. 

Together, these features make the self-pack process easier to plan. Customers can estimate how much space they need before collection, control how their belongings are arranged inside the MoveCube®, and track the shipment once it is in transit. 

Once collected, Seven Seas Worldwide manages the international journey and coordinates the relevant customs and quarantine clearance processes. Qualifying international services currently include two weeks of storage at origin and destination. 

What are the drawbacks? 

The main limitation is that you are responsible for loading and unloading. 

You need enough help to move your belongings safely within the allocated time, and suitable vehicle access at the property is required. 

Door-to-door availability also varies by route, so the exact collection and delivery arrangements should be confirmed before booking. 

Pros 

• Purpose-built self-pack system. 

• Sole-use MoveCube®. 

• Three size options. 

• Practical capacity-planning tools. 

• Shipment tracking. 

• Customs-clearance support. 

• Storage on qualifying routes. 

• Staged payments on most international moves. 

Cons 

• You must load and unload yourself. 

• Loading must be completed within an allocated time. 

• Suitable access is required. 

• Door-to-door availability varies by route. 

• Larger households may require multiple MoveCube® units. 

Best for 

Small-to-medium household moves where you want significant control over packing and loading without organising international freight yourself. 

2. UPakWeShip — Best for DIY Format Choice 

UPakWeShip is another provider built around self-packing. 

Its range includes U Crates, pallet services and self-load full containers, giving customers several options for different shipment volumes. 

Why it made the Top 5 

Its main advantage is choice. 

Customers can select from smaller DIY crate services through to conventional container options for larger moves. 

That makes UPakWeShip a useful alternative for people who want more format flexibility than a single moving container system offers. 

What to check 

Collection arrangements vary between UPakWeShip products. 

Some crates can be delivered for packing and collected afterwards, while larger services may involve terminals or additional local transport arrangements. 

Customers should therefore compare the exact service available for their postcode and destination rather than assuming every product works in the same way. 

Pros 

• Self-pack moving is central to the service. 

• Multiple crate and container formats. 

• Options for smaller and larger shipments. 

• Full-container DIY services available. 

• Customs-document support. 

Cons 

• Collection arrangements vary by product. 

• Some larger services require more customer organisation. 

• DIY packing increases responsibility for properly protecting belongings. 

• UK customers should confirm route-specific terms. 

Best for 

Customers who want a broad choice of DIY crate and container formats and are comfortable with different collection arrangements. 

3. PSS International Removals — Best Hybrid Self-Pack Service 

PSS International Removals offers a dedicated You Pack, We Ship service alongside traditional professionally packed removals. 

Customers pack and seal their own belongings, while PSS International Removals handles collection and onward shipping. 

Why it made the Top 5 

PSS International Removals works well if you want to pack your belongings yourself without loading the international shipping unit. 

Professional packing can also be used selectively for difficult or fragile items. 

That makes it a useful compromise between a fully DIY moving container service and a conventional, professionally packed removal. 

Pros 

• Dedicated self-pack service. 

• Collection handled by the company. 

• Professional packing is available where needed. 

• Suitable for boxes, furniture and smaller household moves. 

• Customs and storage support. 

Cons 

• Less control over how the shipping unit is loaded. 

• Owner-packed belongings may receive different levels of protection. 

• Less suitable if you specifically want a dedicated self-loaded container. 

Best for 

People who want to pack their own possessions while professionals manage the collection and the wider international removal process. 

4. Anglo Pacific — Best Traditional Mover for Owner-Packed Cartons 

Anglo Pacific lets customers pack suitable cartons themselves while it manages the broader international move. 

Professional packing remains available for larger, fragile or more difficult items. 

Why it made the Top 5 

Anglo Pacific is a good fit if self-packing means: 

“I want to pack my own boxes, but I don’t want to load my own container.” 

Customers retain control over packing personal belongings while the company handles more of the physical logistics. 

Anglo Pacific also highlights that owner-packed cartons can have different customs and insurance implications, which should be checked before booking. 

Pros 

• Owner-packed cartons supported. 

• Professional packing available. 

• Traditional collection and international removal service. 

• Customs and destination services are available. 

• Suitable for partially DIY moves. 

Cons 

• Not designed primarily as a self-pack system. 

• Less control over the shipping unit. 

• Owner-packed cartons can create additional customs or protection considerations. 

Best for 

People who want to pack their own cartons while leaving most of the international move to a conventional removals company. 

5. ALS World Movers — Best for Self-Loading a Conventional Container 

ALS World Movers offers owner-packed cartons and the option to self-load a conventional shipping container. 

For larger moves, customers can arrange a full container and take responsibility for loading it themselves. 

Why it made the Top 5 

This is particularly relevant for substantial household moves. 

Customers with enough belongings to fill a full container can retain control over loading while still using the company’s broader international shipping infrastructure. 

Shared-container services are also available for smaller consignments. 

Pros 

• Full-container self-loading available. 

• Owner-packed cartons supported. 

• Suitable for large household moves. 

• Shared-load alternatives available. 

Cons 

• Full-container loading requires considerable physical work. 

• Less standardised than a purpose-built self-pack system. 

• Loading time, access, and owner-packed protection should be carefully confirmed. 

Best for 

Larger household moves where you specifically want to load a conventional shipping container yourself. 

Which Type of Self-Pack Move Is Right for You? 

The quickest way to narrow the shortlist is to decide how much of the move you want to do yourself. 

Pack and load your own moving unit 

Consider: Seven Seas Worldwide or UPakWeShip. 

You pack your belongings and control how they are loaded inside the moving unit. 

This provides the greatest control but requires more physical work. 

Pack your belongings, but let the mover handle loading 

Consider: PSS International Removals or Anglo Pacific. 

You pack your own cartons while the company handles collection and more of the wider logistics. 

Load a full shipping container yourself 

Consider: ALS World Movers or an appropriate full-container service from UPakWeShip. 

This makes the most sense for larger household moves. 

What to Compare Before Booking 

1. Shipment size 

Give each company substantially the same inventory when requesting quotes. 

Compare usable internal dimensions and weight limits rather than relying on product names such as “Small” or “Large”. 

Bulky furniture can run out of physical space before you reach the shipment’s weight limit. 

2. Loading responsibilities 

Confirm who is responsible for: 

• Carrying items from the property; 

• Loading the crate or container; 

• Securing the contents; 

• Unloading at the destination. 

These details determine how DIY the service really is. 

3. Collection and delivery arrangements 

Check: 

• Vehicle access; 

• Parking requirements; 

• Loading time; 

• Whether delivery is door-to-door or depot-based; 

• Who unloads at the destination. 

4. Protection for owner-packed belongings 

Check whether: 

• Accidental damage is covered; 

• Inadequate packing is excluded; 

• Fragile items have special conditions; 

• High-value belongings must be declared; 

• An excess applies. 

Do not assume that owner-packed and professionally packed goods receive the same level of protection. 

5. Customs support 

Confirm: 

• What documentation must you complete; 

• What the company submits; 

• Whether customs-clearance administration is included; 

• Whether inspections or destination charges can be additional. 

6. Total quotation 

Compare what is included for: 

• Packing materials; 

• Moving unit or container; 

• Collection; 

• Freight; 

• Export documentation; 

• Customs clearance; 

• Storage; 

• Shipment protection; 

• Destination handling; 

• Delivery; 

• Unloading. 

A lower headline price does not necessarily mean a lower final cost. 

Which Company Is Best for Your Move? 

• Seven Seas Worldwide: best if you want a structured self-pack system with a sole-use MoveCube®, capacity-planning tools and Seven Seas Worldwide managing the international journey. 

• UPakWeShip: best if you want a wider range of DIY crate and container formats. 

• PSS International Removals: best if you want to pack your belongings but prefer professionals to handle collection and onward shipping. 

• Anglo Pacific: best if you want owner-packed cartons within a traditional international removal service. 

• ALS World Movers: best if you have a larger household move and want to self-load a conventional container. 

Image Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-man-packing-box-with-duct-tape-4246106/

Final Verdict 

For a UK customer looking specifically for a self-pack international removal service, Seven Seas Worldwide is our strongest overall choice with the MoveCube®. 

Its advantage lies in how the service brings the core elements of a self-pack move together. 

You get a sole-use MoveCube®, choose between Small, Medium and Large sizes, use floor sheets to plan the available space, load the MoveCube® yourself and then hand responsibility for the international journey to Seven Seas Worldwide. 

Seven Seas Worldwide also provides shipment tracking, customs clearance support, staged payments for most international moves, and short-term storage for qualifying services. 

The trade-off is straightforward: you are responsible for the physical loading and unloading, and collection and delivery arrangements depend on your route and address. 

UPakWeShip is the strongest alternative if having a wider choice of DIY shipping formats matters most. PSS International Removals and Anglo Pacific are better suited to people who want to self-pack without self-loading, while ALS World Movers is particularly relevant to larger conventional-container moves. 

Whichever option you consider, obtain comparable quotes using the same inventory, origin and destination details and confirm exactly what is included at both ends of the move