If you are moving an entire house worth of stuff to the US, how are the moving costs calculated? For example, is it by weight and/or by volume? Is there a standard measure - e.g., you have to pay for an entire container, or half a container, or is it smaller?

The reason I'm asking well in advance of having to move, is that I'd like to do some sort of cost-benefit analysis on our stuff. So, for example, if the costs are calculated by volume, I might get rid of some larger, less expensive stuff (like big IKEA couch), but if I have to buy a minimum part of a container, I might take it with me. I'm trying to get a sense, so I have plenty of time to sell or give away.

It's done by volume. You're basically paying for either a half or a full container. At least that's my experience.

thanks - does that mean you have to have at least half a container (i.e., you pay for half, even if you have less?) and, what is the volume of a shipping container, if you know (actually, can probably google, but in case anyone knows off the top of their head ...)

Shipping containers are usually 40 feet long, not sure about volume. When we moved here, we pretty much filled up a 40 ft container...contents of a 4 bedroom house plus library. When we recently moved within Switzerland we had enough crap for a little more than 3 smallish moving trucks, but I think the terrace furniture and plants took up half a truck. I think those trucks are 25 cubic meters, but I might be wrong. it also depends if you have big weird-shaped crap or boxes. I say crp, but obviously I am very attached to my stuff as I keep moving it with me.

Yes, that's basically it. Ocean containers have a standard dimension

http://www.foreign-trade.com/reference/ocean.cfm

Do you guys know the cost of a shipping container? I think I would only need half a container. Don't wanna part with my books and clothes.

Depends on where you moving it to and from what port. You should just email a few shipping companies and get an estimate.

You can also get either a 20' container or a whole 40' container. It's a bit more expensive for sea crates here as they have to drive up to Rotterdam (or another port depending on where you're going) so that jacks up the price along with it just being part of the added feature of Switzerland itself.

Yes, dump Ikea stuff. It isn't worth what you paid for originally, much less adding on 12k chf to ship it in a crate overseas.

If, by dumping junk you don't have enough to fully fill or mostly fill a 20' crate, sometimes there are movers who will mix and match folks who just need a little space and piggy back them along with another move. However, I've not heard of this being done in a while and it may be another casualty of Homeland Security's Fun-O-Rama.

And, unfortunately, halving the volume doesn't halve the cost. It does take it down a bit though.

When we moved here we stuffed everything into the jeep and had it loaded into a cargo container in LA. It only cost about $2000 when all was said and done.. If you dont count roadtripping from Idaho to LA and CH to Rotterdam and back..... Still cheaper than a normal cargo crate for some reason and we got to keep our vehicle... Unfortunately the company we shipped with went out of business very shortly after they shipped our car.. We were lucky to get it shipped at all but they sent it to rotterdam instead of italy... I read on forums that some people couldnt get ahold of the company at all (like us) and there car was still in the warehouse.. There were hundreds of cars there, some close to $100k..

If you on;ly need half the container, they will seal ur half and fill the rest with other stuff.

I had 29m3 volume in a 20ft container and it cost 8950chf's from Switzerland to Florida.

My wife and I have about 15-20 moving boxes worth of personal belongings and what not that we are planning to ship to New Hampshire. Do you recommend we do the same thing? or is there a cheaper solution?

You may be able to get it put onto 1 or 2 pallets and sent that way somehow. I'm sure I have heard of people doing that. Will try and find out where I heard that.
BEst thing to do is start getting some quotes in and chat with those companies in the know.

Depending on how big or heavy they are, you can always just pay to take them on the flight with you.. Sounds crazy (is crazy) but we managed 14 pieces of PACKED to the max luggage with us (including a 3 month old baby and 2 dogs) on our flight from LA to Zurich. Its getting more and more expensive for extra luggage, but if you dont have furniture, its too expensive and time consuming (may take up to a year to arrive) to ship in a container.

Measure and weigh EVERYTHING and get as many quotes as you can, they vary greatly and theyre free.