Ship Pallet From the USA to Ireland
Introduction: Ship Pallet from the USA to Ireland
Shipping a Pallet from the USA to Ireland: Donations and Tradeshow Freight
Ireland may be a small country — 5 million people, roughly the size of Indiana — but its role in the US-EU business relationship is outsized. Over 1,000 US companies operate in Ireland, and the country hosts major international trade events, pharmaceutical industry conferences, and technology sector gatherings that draw exhibitors and freight from the USA throughout the year.
A pallet makes sense when the shipment is too large or too varied for standard boxes: a load of donated goods heading to an Irish charity, or exhibition materials bound for the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) or The Convention Centre Dublin (The CCD). Both types of shipment pass through EU customs and are subject to Irish VAT (23% standard rate), though each has specific conditions and possible relief options.
Ireland is an EU member state, so all pallet freight from the USA enters through EU customs administered by Revenue. Import declarations are filed through Ireland’s Automated Import System (AIS). For business importers, Ireland’s Postponed VAT Accounting (PVA) allows Irish-registered companies to defer the 23% import VAT, significantly improving cash flow on large commercial pallet shipments.
Shipping smaller quantities? See our box shipping service. Moving to Ireland? See our luggage page. For crate shipments, see our crate page.
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What Can You Ship When Shipping Pallet from the USA to Ireland
International Pallet Shipping from USA to Ireland — What You Can and Can’t Ship
Shipping from the USA to Ireland is generally simple, and most items are allowed. At the end of this page, you’ll find a detailed list of items that are not permitted for international shipping.
When shipping pallets from the USA to Ireland, people usually ship larger, heavier, or bulk items that are not suitable for regular boxes.
Common items include:
Commercial goods (products for business or resale)
Auto parts and machinery
Furniture and home goods
Bulk personal effects (moving items in large quantity)
Electronics and equipment
Trade show or exhibition materials
Pallet shipping is ideal when you have multiple boxes or oversized items, as it keeps everything secure and can reduce the cost per unit.
If you’re unsure whether your item is allowed, contact Expediship — we’ll help you confirm before shipping.
Shipping Cost & Transit Time for Shipping Pallet from the USA to Ireland
Our prices are highly competitive — that’s why so many customers choose Expediship for shipping Pallet from the USA to Ireland. We offer affordable rates with reliable, professional service, guiding you step by step through the entire shipping process for boxes, luggage, and parcels.
Delivery to Ireland typically takes around 5 business days, not including customs clearance time, which may vary depending on Ireland government processing.
Below are estimated starting prices for shipping Pallet from the USA to Ireland. Final cost depends on box size, pickup address, and delivery city.
| Weight Range | Starting Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| 150–200 lbs | From $3.91/lbs |
| 201–300 lbs | From $3.73/lbs |
| 301–400 lbs | From $3.40/lbs |
| 401–500 lbs | From $3.05/lbs |
| 501–600 lbs | From $2.82/lbs |
| 601–700 lbs | From $2.51/lbs |
| 701–800 lbs | From $1.52/lbs |
| 801+ lbs | From $1.2 — for larger shipments, please contact customer service for an exact quote. |
Note: Prices are estimated starting rates for air freight shipments. Expediship offers door-to-door service with full tracking and customs guidance.
Shipping a Donation Pallet from the USA to Ireland: Customs Rules
Shipping a Donation Pallet from the USA to Ireland: Customs Rules
Ireland follows EU customs law for donated goods. Donated goods from the USA are not automatically exempt from customs duty or VAT. Pallets of donated goods are subject to EU customs duty (at applicable TARIC rates) and Irish VAT of 23% on the CIF value — the same as commercial goods. The charitable nature of the shipment does not create an automatic customs exemption.
EU humanitarian relief exemption
Under EU Regulation 1186/2009, approved Irish humanitarian organisations may qualify for relief from customs duty and VAT on goods donated for distribution to people in need. Established Irish charitable organisations with existing Revenue customs relief status include Trócaire at trocaire.org(the official overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland), the Irish Red Cross at redcross.ie, and the Society of St Vincent de Paul at svp.ie. Contact the receiving Irish organisation before shipping to confirm their Revenue customs clearance procedure for donation pallets.
For most donation pallets to smaller or unregistered Irish charities, full customs duty and 23% VAT will apply on the CIF value. The receiving Irish organisation handles customs clearance and VAT payment before goods are released.
Ireland’s Postponed VAT Accounting for registered charities
Registered Irish charities that hold Revenue VAT registration may be able to use Postponed VAT Accounting (PVA) to defer the VAT on imported donation pallets. Under PVA, the 23% import VAT is declared in the charity’s VAT return rather than paid upfront at customs. For charities that regularly receive donation pallets from the USA, this significantly reduces the cash flow burden of importing goods. Details are at revenue.ie.
Shipping Tradeshow Pallets from the USA to Ireland: Key Venues
Shipping Tradeshow Pallets from the USA to Ireland: Key Venues
Ireland’s two main event and exhibition venues — the RDS in Dublin and The Convention Centre Dublin — between them host most of the major international trade and professional events that draw US exhibitors to Ireland.
The RDS (Royal Dublin Society) — Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
The RDS is Ireland’s largest indoor event venue, located in Ballsbridge in south Dublin. Established in 1731, the RDS has a long history of hosting Ireland’s major agricultural, commercial, and cultural events. Today it operates as a modern multi-hall exhibition and events complex with approximately 38,000 square metres of indoor space and extensive outdoor grounds. The RDS is located 3 kilometres from Dublin city centre and approximately 11 kilometres from Dublin Airport, accessible by the DART coastal rail line.
US companies exhibit at the RDS for events including:
Showcase Ireland — January, Ireland’s Creative Expo, Europe’s best-performing design and craft trade show (Europe’s largest trade show in this category in recent years)
AIRTEC International (aerospace, aviation, and defense) — a biennial event for the aerospace industry
Various building, construction, technology, food industry, and professional events throughout the year
The official RDS website is rds.ie.
The Convention Centre Dublin (The CCD) — Spencer Dock, Dublin 1
The CCD is Ireland’s purpose-built international convention and congress centre, opened in 2010 on the North Docks waterfront at Spencer Dock. It is Ireland’s premier large-scale congress destination, regularly hosting international medical, scientific, pharmaceutical, and technology congresses. The CCD has capacity for up to 8,000 delegates in its largest configuration and 32 meeting rooms.
US companies send delegates, speakers, and exhibitors to events at The CCD including major international pharmaceutical, medical, and health technology congresses — relevant given Ireland’s position as one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical exporters per capita. The official CCD website is theccd.ie.
For both venues, ExpediShip ships tradeshow pallet freight from any US address with door-to-venue delivery, full Revenue customs documentation through the AIS, and ATA Carnet support for temporary imports.
ATA Carnet for Tradeshow Pallets to Ireland
ATA Carnet for Tradeshow Pallets to Ireland
Ireland, as an EU member state, fully accepts ATA Carnets for commercial samples, exhibition and tradeshow materials, and professional equipment. If your tradeshow booth, display equipment, and product samples will return to the USA after the Irish event, an ATA Carnet allows temporary import without paying EU customs duty or Irish VAT of 23% on the shipment.
The ATA Carnet is issued in the USA by the US Council for International Business (USCIB) at uscib.org. Allow 5 to 10 business days for processing. US customs endorses it at departure; Revenue endorses it on arrival at Dublin Airport. All goods listed on the Carnet must be re-exported from Ireland (and from the EU) before the Carnet expires — up to 12 months from the date of issue. From April 2026, ATA Carnets for EU countries including Ireland are issued exclusively in digital format (eCarnet).
Ireland-specific note: Dublin Airport serves as both the primary passenger airport and the main air cargo hub for Ireland. All crate and pallet freight from the USA to Ireland typically lands at Dublin Airport and is processed through Revenue’s Customs and Excise office at Dublin Airport. The Revenue customs office at Dublin Airport is accessible for ATA Carnet endorsement processing. If you have time-sensitive tradeshow freight, coordinate with ExpediShip on the expected Revenue clearance window at Dublin Airport — processing times for ATA Carnet endorsements at Dublin Airport are generally efficient for well-documented shipments.
Consumable items — printed brochures, giveaways, food samples — cannot be listed on the ATA Carnet because they will not be re-exported. Ship these separately on a standard commercial invoice. Irish VAT at the applicable rate (23% for most items, 0% for food) will apply on their declared CIF value.
Book your Irish tradeshow pallet at least 3 weeks before the event.
Documents Required for Pallet Shipments from the USA to Ireland
Documents Required for Pallet Shipments from the USA to Ireland
For all pallet shipments:
Commercial Invoice or Pro Forma Invoice — itemised list of all goods, quantities, declared values in USD, TARIC codes, country of origin, and CIF value. Required by Revenue for the AIS import declaration.
Detailed Packing List — layer-by-layer description of all pallet contents.
Air Waybill — transport document prepared by ExpediShip.
AIS Import Declaration — filed by ExpediShip’s Irish customs partner through Revenue’s Automated Import System.
EORI Number — the Irish importing entity must have a valid EU EORI number. Irish business EORI numbers are formed from the company’s Irish Tax Registration Number (TRN) preceded by “IE.”
For donation pallets (additional):
Donation Letter from the US Organisation — signed letter confirming charitable purpose, contents, and Irish recipient.
Acceptance Letter from the Irish Organisation — confirming use.
EU Regulation 1186/2009 Humanitarian Relief Documentation — if applying for VAT and duty relief.
For tradeshow pallets (additional):
ATA Carnet — from USCIB before departure.
Exhibitor Confirmation — official letter from the RDS, The CCD, or the relevant Irish venue.
We Deliver Pallets to All Parts of Ireland
Dublin — RDS (Ballsbridge), The CCD (Spencer Dock), Dublin Airport cargo zone, and all Dublin city and county addresses.
Cork — major pharmaceutical manufacturing hub. Freight destination for US pharma and medtech companies.
Galway — medtech industry hub. Destination for medical device and technology pallet shipments.
Limerick, Waterford, and all other Irish cities and counties — ExpediShip delivers to every Eircode in Ireland’s 26 counties.
Insurance Options for Shipping Boxes, Pallets, Crates, or Luggage from the USA to Ireland
Every shipment automatically includes $100 of cargo insurance free of charge — if anything is lost or damaged, you are covered up to $100 at no extra cost. Need more protection? Add full coverage for just 3% of the declared value when requesting your quote. For eligibility rules, non-insurable items, and how claims work, see our Shipping Insurance Guide.
International Shipping Prohibitions and Restrictions
Ship from USA to Ireland — Know What You Cannot Ship
Certain items cannot be received, stored, shipped, imported, or exported due to government regulations, safety concerns, or international trade laws. Transactions involving these commodities are strictly prohibited, regardless of the shipment’s origin or destination.
Note: These items are completely forbidden to be exported or imported between countries.
Shipping Process
Ship Pallet from USA to Ireland
Frequently Asked Questions When Shipping Pallet from USA to Ireland
Yes, in most cases. Irish VAT of 23% applies to donated goods from the USA on the CIF value. EU customs duty may also apply depending on the type of goods. Approved humanitarian organisations may qualify for EU Regulation 1186/2009 relief — the Irish Red Cross at redcross.ie is among the established Irish organisations with existing Revenue customs relief status. Contact the Irish recipient to confirm their customs clearance approach before shipping.
PVA allows Irish VAT-registered businesses and organisations to defer import VAT to their periodic VAT return rather than paying it upfront at customs. For charities that regularly import pallets from the USA, PVA eliminates the cash flow burden of pre-funding 23% VAT at customs clearance. Details are at revenue.ie.
Yes. Ireland, as an EU member state, requires all wooden packaging material from non-EU countries to comply with ISPM-15 phytosanitary standards — heat-treated or fumigated timber with the official IPPC stamp. Revenue customs enforces this at Dublin Airport and Irish ports. Non-compliant wooden pallets will be treated at the importer’s expense or refused entry. Plastic pallets require no ISPM-15 treatment.
At least 3 weeks before the event. This covers ATA Carnet processing through USCIB (5 to 10 business days), documentation, 4 to 5 business days of air freight transit to Dublin Airport, and Revenue AIS clearance and delivery to the venue.
Via air freight to Dublin Airport, pallet shipments typically arrive in 4 to 5 business days. Revenue customs clearance through AIS is generally efficient for well-documented commercial shipments.