Most pet shipping companies will not tell you what anything costs until you hand over your details. We would rather show the numbers.
Below is what each part of an international pet move actually costs, where the figure comes from, and when it was last checked. Government fees are exact, because they are public record. Airline freight is calculated from the one published live animal tariff in the industry. Your vet sets their own fees and that line comes from your clinic, and we time the visit so the paperwork lands inside its validity window.
Pick your destination and your pet’s size band. Every figure comes from a published tariff or government fee schedule, verified July 2026.
Pick your route for an itemised breakdown. Each page shows what every component costs, who charges it, and where the figure comes from.
Not listed? Ask us and we will price your route.
| Component | Typical range | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Airline freight | $690 to $4,900 depending on crate size and route | Airline |
| IATA crate | $65 to $378, more for a custom giant build | Retailer |
| USDA export endorsement | $101 to $275 per certificate | USDA APHIS |
| Rabies titer test, where required | $79 to $90 lab fee | Laboratory |
| Import permit, where required | $0 to about $600 | Destination government |
| Quarantine, where required | $0 to about $1,900 and up | Destination government |
| Vet exam, health certificate, blood draw | Set by your clinic | Your vet |
| Ground transport at either end | Quoted per route | Us or a local partner |
| Our coordination | Itemised on your invoice | Us |
Two of these lines come from your own clinic. Your vet prices the exam, the certificate paperwork and the blood draw, and every practice sets its own rates, so ask for a quote when you book the visit. We handle the timing so each piece lands inside its validity window.
Airlines charge on chargeable weight, which is whichever is greater: actual weight, or a volume figure derived from the crate. For pets, the volume figure almost always wins.
A size 400 crate works out to roughly 66 kg of chargeable weight whatever is inside it, while the dog and crate together might weigh 25 kg. That gap is why two similar dogs can be quoted very differently, and why a crate one size larger than necessary is an expensive mistake.
The divisor is published by Air Canada Cargo at 166 cubic inches per pound.
Of the three largest US airlines, only American still carries pets as cargo for the general public. United has ended its PetSafe programme, and Delta has a global embargo on household pet cargo. Checked pet travel on all three is limited to certain military and government orders.
American is also the only major carrier that publishes a live animal tariff openly. Everyone else quotes on request, which is why so few pet shipping sites show a freight figure at all. We compare the three in our US airline pet policies guide.
Tell us the route, the breed and roughly when you want to travel. Request a quote and we will reply with an itemised plan, a timeline and clear next steps, usually within two business hours.
© 2026 Pet Travel Advisors. All rights reserved.
