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- By Wei Landgraf
Shipping Your Belongings to Sint Maarten: Container Costs, Customs & What to Bring
The honest answer most expat-help websites won’t give you: ship less than you think you should. The cost of shipping anything 1,800 nautical miles to a small Caribbean island is significant, and most things cost less to buy locally or replace once you arrive.
I’ve watched enough container deliveries land at the SXM port to have opinions. Here’s the practical version.
Key Takeaways
- 20-foot container from East Coast US/Canada: $4,000-$7,500 plus customs and handling.
- 40-foot container: $6,500-$11,000.
- Customs duty on personal goods: typically 5-15% of declared value, but personal effects of new residents have exemptions.
- What to ship: family heirlooms, specific tools, custom-fit clothing, irreplaceable items.
- What NOT to ship: standard furniture, most electronics (220V system mostly compatible but specifics matter), most appliances, anything bulky that you can replace locally.
- Plan 6-10 weeks from US East Coast packing to delivery in SXM.
Container vs partial-shipment vs no-shipment
Option A: Full 20-ft container ($4-7.5K total cost)
Useful when you have: – Antique or family-heirloom furniture – Significant tool or workshop equipment – Wine collection – Custom built-in cabinets or unique items – Multi-generational possessions
Door-to-door full-service costs $7-12K with packing, port fees, customs, delivery to your SXM address.
Option B: Partial container / consolidator (LCL. Less than Container Load)
Pay for cubic-foot space within a shared container. Cheaper for 100-300 cubic feet.
Costs: $2,000-$4,500 typically.
Useful for: smaller shipments, single-room moves, just-the-essentials.
Option C: Air freight or express courier
For specific items urgently needed. Far more expensive per pound but faster.
Costs: $200-$800+ per box of moderate size.
Option D: No shipment. Buy local
Many retirees ship nothing. Furnish locally, buy electronics locally, replace what you owned.
This is what I recommend for most snowbirds and a meaningful share of full-time retirees.
What's worth shipping
- Family heirlooms with sentimental or historical value.
- High-quality leather furniture if you're particular and your specific piece would be hard to replace.
- Custom-tailored clothing.
- Specific kitchen tools you use daily and find unsatisfactory in stores.
- Vinyl record collections, art collections, book collections.
- Personal vehicles. See below; usually not worth it but possible.
- Pets and their supplies (separate logistics).
What's not worth shipping
- Standard furniture. SXM has multiple furniture stores at North American price points. Shipping a $1,500 couch costs $400-$800 in container space; replacing it locally avoids the friction.
- Most appliances. SXM uses 110V/220V (depends on building). North American 110V appliances generally work; 240V appliances often don't. Verify before shipping.
- Most electronics. Buying locally is sometimes cheaper than shipping when you factor space cost. Exceptions: high-end audio, custom workstations.
- Cars. US/Canadian vehicles can be imported but customs duties (typically 25-30% of value) plus shipping ($1,500-$3,000) often make it more expensive than buying a comparable used vehicle on island.
- Cleaning supplies, paper products, anything available locally.
Customs and duty
For new residents bringing personal effects, SXM has provisions for exempting household goods used for at least 6 months prior from customs duty, on a one-time basis.
To qualify: – Goods must be 6+ months old (your existing belongings, not newly purchased). – Filed within reasonable time of residency establishment. – Filed through licensed customs broker. – Detailed inventory required.
For non-qualifying goods or excess imports: – Standard duty rates: 5-15% depending on category. – Vehicles: typically 25-30%. – New furniture/appliances purchased for shipment: full standard duty. – Tobacco, alcohol: high duties.
The customs broker is essential. Choose one with retiree-relocation experience. Cost: $400-$800 typically.
The shipping process
Step 1: Inventory and pack (in home country)
Use a professional packer if your shipment is substantial. Detailed inventory with declared value is required for customs.
Step 2: Origin port (East Coast US/Canada)
Most SXM-bound shipments depart from Miami, Jacksonville, or East Coast Canada. Container loaded; bill of lading issued.
Step 3: Ocean transit
Typical East Coast US to SXM: 7-14 days transit time, plus 5-10 days at port loading and queue.
Step 4: Arrival in SXM
Container arrives at Pointe Blanche cargo port or sub-port. Customs processing begins.
Step 5: Customs clearance
Your customs broker submits inventory and documentation. Allow 5-15 business days for clearance.
Step 6: Delivery
Container or consolidated shipment delivered to your SXM address. Unload. Typically you handle this with hired help.
Total timeline: 6-10 weeks from packing to delivery.
Costs in detail
For a typical North American retiree’s full move:
| Line | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Packing services (origin) | $1,000-$3,000 |
| 20-ft container freight (door-to-door) | $4,000-$7,500 |
| Origin port handling | Included |
| Ocean transit | Included |
| SXM port handling fees | $300-$700 |
| Customs broker | $400-$800 |
| Customs duty (if applicable) | $0-$3,000+ depending on goods |
| Local delivery | $200-$500 |
| Total | $5,900-$15,500 |
Budget conservatively. Some retirees find unexpected duties or delivery surprises.
Specific items worth special mention
Vehicles
Importing a US/Canadian vehicle is possible but rarely cost-effective:
- Shipping: $1,500-$3,000
- Duty: 25-30% of vehicle value (assessed at SXM market value, not your purchase price)
- Conversion / certification: variable
- Result: typically you pay 30-50% more than buying an equivalent vehicle in SXM
Exceptions: classic cars, specific specialty vehicles, vehicles with sentimental value.
Boats
If you own a boat in the US/Canada and want to bring it: yes, but plan carefully. Yacht-delivery captains run from East Coast to SXM; shipping a smaller boat in a container is also possible. Costs $5,000-$30,000+ depending on size and method. Customs treatment for personal-use vessels has its own rules; talk to a customs broker.
Wine collections
Possible. SXM allows imports under personal-use exemptions. Climate control during shipping matters. Consider refrigerated container or LCL with thermal protection.
Firearms
Strongly discouraged. SXM has tight gun-import regulations. Most retirees do not bring firearms.
Pharmaceuticals
Bring a 90-day supply for the move period. Long-term: most prescriptions can be filled locally at competitive prices. Some specialty drugs may require sourcing through international pharmacies.
Common questions
Should I keep things in storage in the US/Canada and ship later?
Often yes. Many retirees keep storage for 6-12 months while they decide what they actually need in SXM. Storage rates of $100-$300/month are cheaper than rushed shipping decisions.
What’s the cheapest way to ship a few boxes?
USPS Express, FedEx, or DHL for small parcels. Costs $50-$300 per box depending on weight and speed. Useful for emergency items.
Can I ship my own car?
Yes, possible but rarely cost-effective. See vehicles section above.
How do I track the shipment?
Most major carriers (Crowley, Tropical Shipping, Seaboard Marine) offer container tracking via online portals.
What about insurance during shipping?
Always buy full-replacement-value cargo insurance. Container losses and damage do happen. Insurance typically 1-3% of declared value.
What if my container is delayed in customs?
Most delays are paperwork-based and resolve in 5-15 business days. Have your customs broker handle communications.
Can I ship things ahead of my arrival?
Yes. Many retirees ship before they move so the container arrives within a few weeks of their arrival. Coordinate timing carefully.
What’s the worst story you’ve heard?
A US retiree shipped a 40-ft container of mostly standard furniture. Total cost-to-deliver including duties hit $14K. He could have bought equivalent furniture in SXM for $8K. That’s the cautionary tale.
What to do next
01
Inventory your belongings honestly. What’s irreplaceable? What’s standard?
02
Get quotes from at least two shipping companies (Crowley, Tropical Shipping, etc.).
03
Ask each quote for customs broker recommendations.
04
Decide on container vs partial vs no-ship strategy.
05
Build a 6-10 week timeline buffer between packing and arrival.
06
Read pet relocation if pets are part of your move.