Shipping a lift to Israel: cost, size, and what to put in it

For most olim, the lift is the biggest single moving decision. It's expensive, it arrives weeks after you do, and whatever's inside it becomes your new home. Everything you ship, you'll also unpack, find room for, and live with in an Israeli apartment.

Unpacking lifts is what our Landing service is built for, so we plan from the other end of this decision: the 40 boxes of books, the sofa that won't fit up the stairwell, the cabinet that's worth every shekel. This guide covers what a lift costs, how to choose a size, and how to fill it so the unpacking is easy.

This is organizing advice, not customs, legal or shipping advice. Olim customs benefits and shipping rules change. Confirm everything with Nefesh B'Nefesh, your shipping company and the Israel Tax Authority before you book.

What a lift to Israel costs

The honest answer is that it varies a lot: by family size, home size, where you're shipping from, and how much packing you want done for you. The best public benchmark we've found is the Nefesh B'Nefesh shipping guide (a guest post by a shipping professional, last updated April 2025). It gives these planning ranges:

• Estimated total shipping cost: $7,500–$18,000, depending on family size, home size and starting location.
• Marine insurance: about 2.5–3% of your declared value. Their examples are $1,250–$1,500 for a 20-foot container valued at $50,000, and $2,500–$3,000 for a 40-foot container valued at $100,000.
• Storage at the Israeli port (if delivery is delayed): roughly ₪110–200 a day for a 20-foot container and ₪150–300 a day for a 40-foot container. The first 1–7 days may be free, depending on your contract.
• Port fees in Israel (terminal handling, delivery order, port tax and so on) are paid by you and are not covered by the aliyah benefit. Make sure every quote lists them.
• Customs inspections are uncommon but possible. The guide suggests budgeting up to about ₪4,500 for a 20-foot container and up to ₪7,500 for a 40-foot container if an inspection happens in Israel.

Treat these as budgeting ranges, not quotes. Prices change with fuel, season and shipping lines, so get at least two or three written quotes and compare them line by line.

What drives the price up: a walk-up apartment with no elevator, a long distance from the shipper's depot, full packing service, a peak-season move (summer), and simply more volume. What brings it down: shipping less. That's where an organizer earns their keep.

Consolidated, 20-foot or 40-foot?

There are three common options:

• Consolidated (groupage) shipment. Your goods share a container with other cargo but ship under your name and your rights. NBN suggests this for small moves: a room of furniture, books and the kitchen. It may take longer to clear and deliver.
• 20-foot container. A common choice for a small family or a couple shipping furniture.
• 40-foot container. For larger families or full-house moves.

Don't guess the size. Ask shippers for a volume survey, in person or by video, based on what you've decided to ship, not on everything you own today. If you survey before you declutter, you'll be quoted for the house you're leaving.

One thing never to do is "share a lift" with another family. According to the NBN guide, it's illegal in both the US and Israel.

When to book, and when it arrives

• Contact shippers 2–3 months before your move. If you're moving in June, July or August, the NBN guide says to start before Passover.
• Plan for the late end of the arrival window. For a full container, the guide suggests landing at least 3–4 days before the earliest possible arrival date and then expecting the lift on the latest date. Transit times are estimates, not promises.
• Check that your quote is door-to-door. NBN warns against "port-to-port" quotes unless you're an experienced commercial shipper. Standard Israeli delivery includes a limited carry from the truck and a set number of flights of stairs, so if your new building is tricky, tell the shipper in advance.

That gap between landing and lift is why your suitcases matter. Pack them as if the lift might be late (our packing list has a "landing kit" section).

What to put in it

The NBN guide notes that most shipments are about half large items and half small items. Both halves deserve a hard look. Here's what we think earns its place in the container:

• Things you love and can't replace: heirlooms, art, photos, children's keepsakes, the seforim and books you actually use.
• Quality you'd pay more for here: good mattresses and bedding you know you like (check Israeli bed sizes first), quality cookware and knives, well-made furniture that fits your new rooms.
• Clothing for both seasons. Yes, Israeli winters are real, especially in Jerusalem and the hills.
• Kids' familiar things: a curated set of favorite toys, books and bedding. It helps them settle.
• Tools and hardware you rely on: a good drill, a step stool, a toolbox.
• Dual-voltage electronics. Israel runs on 230V/50Hz with type C and H plugs, so check every appliance before it goes in the lift.

What to leave behind

• 110V-only small appliances that need a transformer. They're often easier to replace.
• Oversized furniture. Measure Israeli stairwells, elevators and rooms before you ship a sectional or a king bed.
• Duplicates and "someday" items. If you haven't used it in a year, shipping it 9,000 km won't change that.
• Cheap, bulky basics you can buy easily in Israel: plastic storage, laundry baskets, flat-pack shelving.
• Anything you're unsure about customs on. Check the official customs guide first. Your shipper can advise.

Pack for the unpacking

This is the part almost nobody plans, and it's what decides whether you're living normally in three days or three months.

1. Label by destination room in Israel, not the room you're leaving: KITCHEN · DAILY, MAMAD, MACHSAN, KIDS · FIRST WEEK.
2. Number every box and keep a simple inventory on your phone (box number, room, three key items).
3. Pack a "first night" box that goes on the truck last and comes off first: sheets, towels, a kettle, a pot, a knife, toilet paper, chargers.
4. Keep the hardware with the furniture. Tape bags of screws to the piece they belong to.
5. Don't ship clutter to sort later. Every undecided box costs you twice: once to ship and once to deal with in a smaller home.

FAQ

How much does a lift to Israel cost? The NBN shipping guide estimates $7,500–$18,000 in total, depending on family size, home size and where you're shipping from. Insurance, port fees in Israel and any port storage come on top. Get written quotes.

Is a 20-foot container enough? It depends on what you ship, not on your house size. Get a volume survey after you've decided what's going.

Can I share a container with another family? Sharing a lift is illegal, according to NBN. A consolidated shipment, where the shipper groups cargo under your own name and rights, is the legal way to ship a small load.

When should I book a shipper? Two to three months ahead, or before Passover for a summer move.

When the lift arrives, we'll be there

You can't control the shipping schedule, but you can control what happens when the truck pulls up. The Landing is lift unpacking by an organizer, not just a mover. We unpack by zone, set up the kitchen and closets to fit Israeli rooms, and style the space so it feels like home. Prices are published and set by apartment size: ₪1,490 (studio to 2 rooms), ₪1,990 (3 rooms) and ₪2,690 (4 rooms).

Still abroad? A Video Walkthrough (₪300, 60 minutes) helps you decide what to ship before the surveyor comes, and the full ₪300 is credited to The Landing.

Our lift unpacking service · Book a Video Walkthrough · What to bring on aliyah · Unpacking your lift: the 5-day plan · Free: Aliyah Lift Packing List

Sources: Nefesh B'Nefesh, "Shipping Guide" (guest post by Ed Singer, A. Univers Transit; last updated April 28, 2025; nbn.org.il, accessed Oct 2026). All figures are estimates from that guide. Verify directly with your shipping company. Habayit Sheli prices are from our published price list.