Need it in Nigeria this week or next? Get a free air freight quote — tell us the weight, contents and destination, and we’ll connect you with a trusted UK–Nigeria air cargo operator. One enquiry, matched to the right service. You pay the operator directly.
We’re a connection service, not a carrier — which means the rates below are honest typical market rates for this corridor, not one company’s price card. Your exact quote depends on the operator, weight and destination.
Air freight rates to Nigeria (per kg)
Lagos is the corridor’s busiest and cheapest air lane; other states carry a modest premium because cargo clears through Lagos or Abuja before onward movement.
| Destination | Air rate (guide) | Minimum weight | Handling | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos | from ~£5/kg | typically 8–10kg | typical ~£20 | 5–7 working days* |
| Abuja | from ~£6/kg | typically 8–10kg | typical ~£20 | 5–7 working days* |
| Port Harcourt | from ~£6/kg | typically 8–10kg | typical ~£20 | 5–7 working days* |
| Kano | from ~£6/kg | typically 8–10kg | typical ~£20 | 5–7 working days* |
| Other states | from ~£6/kg | typically 8–10kg | typical ~£20 | 5–9 working days* |
* Guide transit assuming normal customs clearance — peak periods (December especially) can add days. Sea shipments face a bigger risk: Apapa and Tin Can Island congestion can add 5–15 days, which is precisely why urgent cargo flies.
Standard air cargo rates
Standard air cargo — from ~£5/kg to Lagos, ~£6/kg elsewhere — is the workhorse rate. It suits anything that matters but can wait a week: clothing, electronics, medicines with a stable shelf life, business samples, gifts ahead of an event. Bulky-but-light items are charged on volumetric weight (L × W × H in cm ÷ 5,000), so a duvet can “weigh” more than a laptop.
Express air cargo rates
Express runs at ~£10/kg with typical delivery in 3–4 working days. Roughly double the standard rate for roughly half the time — worth it for documents with deadlines, urgent spare parts, or anything where a missed date costs more than the freight. For everything else, standard saves you ~£5 on every kilogram.
Minimum weight & handling fee
Two small print items to know before you compare quotes. Most operators set a minimum chargeable weight of 8–10kg — a 2kg parcel is billed as if it were 8–10kg, so small senders do better consolidating items into one shipment. And a handling fee of typically ~£20 applies with most operators, per shipment rather than per item. Neither is a hidden charge; both should appear on any written quote you accept.
How fast is air freight to Nigeria?
Speed is the whole point of choosing air, so here are straight numbers rather than promises.
Standard air delivery times
Standard air cargo typically arrives in 5–7 working days door to destination city — collection or drop-off in the UK, uplift on a scheduled flight, customs clearance in Nigeria, then delivery or pickup. Allow 5–9 working days for states beyond Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano. These are guides, not guarantees: Nigerian customs peaks — the Detty December rush above all — can add days, and no operator controls a clearance queue. Sea’s equivalent risk is far larger (Apapa/Tin Can congestion adds 5–15 days), which keeps air the reliable choice for anything time-bound.
Express air delivery times
Express shipments typically land in 3–4 working days, moving on the earliest available uplift with priority clearance handling. Same caveat, honestly stated: customs congestion in a peak week can stretch even express by a day or two.
What you can send by air
Air cargo suits high-value, low-bulk goods — the things you’d rather not have sitting on the ocean for six weeks.
Popular items: electronics, documents, clothing
Phones, laptops and tablets travel constantly on this route, as do documents, clothing, shoes, cosmetics, medicines and foodstuffs that can’t survive a sea transit. Because small items are charged at the 8–10kg typical minimum, the worked guide prices below assume Lagos rates:
| Popular item | Air (guide, to Lagos) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop (2–3kg) | ~£40–£50 | charged at minimum weight |
| Mobile phone | ~£40–£50 | charged at minimum weight |
| TV 32–55in | Get a quote | volumetric weight applies |
| Suitcase 23kg | ~£115 | at ~£5/kg, plus ~£20 handling |
Declare electronics accurately and take the operator’s insurance option — it’s a small percentage of declared value and worth every kobo on a £900 phone.
What you cannot send by air
Aviation rules are strict, and operators will refuse (or worse, offload) prohibited cargo. Not by air: loose lithium batteries and power banks outside devices, aerosols, perfumes in bulk, flammable liquids, gas cylinders, paints, fireworks, weapons and ammunition, and cash. Perishables need prior agreement. Nigerian customs also restricts certain imports regardless of mode — if in doubt, WhatsApp us the item on 07587484631 before you pack it. Asking costs nothing; a seized box costs everything.
How to book air freight to Nigeria
The process through a connection service is deliberately simple — one enquiry, no ringing round five operators:
- Send your details — weight (or a good estimate), contents, destination city, and whether you need collection. Use the quote form, WhatsApp 07587484631, or email [email protected].
- Get matched — we pass your enquiry to a UK–Nigeria air cargo operator suited to the job and they come back with a firm price, typically the same day.
- Confirm and hand over — drop your cargo at the operator’s receiving point, or arrange collection (available across East London and the East of England). You pay the operator directly.
- Delivery in Nigeria — to the door or the operator’s local office, across all 36 Nigerian states. How tracking works on this corridor is explained in how it works.
Packing for air freight
Air cargo is handled fast and stacked tight, so pack for pressure, not just distance. Use double-walled boxes, fill voids so nothing rattles, and cushion electronics in their original boxes where possible. Keep each box under 30kg for safe handling. Label with the receiver’s full name, Nigerian address and two phone numbers — one Nigerian number minimum. And keep an inventory list per box: it speeds clearance and settles any dispute before it starts.
Air vs sea — which should you choose?
The honest rule of thumb: air for speed and value density, sea for weight and volume. At typical market rates, air runs ~£5–£6/kg against £2.50–£3.50/kg by sea — but air lands in 5–7 working days while sea takes 4–8 weeks plus possible Apapa/Tin Can delays of 5–15 days. Under ~30kg of urgent or valuable goods, air usually wins outright once sea minimums and the wait are counted. Bulk foodstuff, furniture, appliances, barrels and vehicles belong on the water — see sea freight to Nigeria, or compare full costs on the price list.
Door-to-door air freight
If you’d rather not carry boxes anywhere, door-to-door covers both ends: collection can be arranged across East London and the East of England — including Ilford, Barking, Romford, Walthamstow and Dagenham, plus Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk — with delivery to all 36 Nigerian states. Collection adds a charge over drop-off, quoted by postcode and load. Full coverage details are on the door-to-door page and the collection areas hub.
Why book through Send Cargo To Nigeria
Send Cargo To Nigeria is an enquiry and introduction service — shipments are carried out by independent freight operators. That model works in your favour four ways:
- One enquiry instead of five phone calls — we match your job to an operator who actually runs air cargo on this route.
- Published typical rates — most companies on this corridor won’t print a number; our guide prices are on this page and the price list, dated July 2026.
- No payment on this site — you pay the operator that carries your cargo, directly, with 100% of the price agreed in writing first.
- WhatsApp-first answers on 07587484631 — including the awkward questions about duty, prohibited items and volumetric weight.
Air freight to Nigeria — FAQs
How much is air freight to Nigeria per kg?
Typical market rates run from ~£5/kg to Lagos and from ~£6/kg to Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and other states, plus a handling fee of typically ~£20. Express service is ~£10/kg. Your exact quote depends on the operator, weight and destination — request one free.
How long does air cargo to Nigeria take?
Standard air cargo typically takes 5–7 working days to Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano, and 5–9 working days to other states. Express lands in 3–4 working days. Peak-season customs congestion can add days — December is the busiest month on the corridor by far.
What is the minimum weight for air freight?
Most operators on the UK–Nigeria route set a minimum chargeable weight of 8–10kg. Anything lighter is billed at the minimum, so a 2kg parcel costs the same as an 8kg one — consolidating several small items into one shipment is the easy saving.
Can I send electronics and phones by air?
Yes — phones, laptops and tablets are among the most-shipped items on this route, provided batteries are installed in the devices rather than loose. Expect the 8–10kg minimum charge on small items (~£40–£50 guide to Lagos), declare values accurately, and take insurance on anything expensive.
Is express air freight available?
Yes. Express air cargo runs at ~£10/kg at typical market rates and typically delivers in 3–4 working days, against 5–7 days for standard service. It’s the right call for deadline documents and urgent parts; for everything else, standard at ~£5–£6/kg costs about half as much.
Do you offer door-to-door air delivery?
Yes — collection can be arranged across East London and the East of England (IG, RM, E17, CM, SS, CO, LU, PE, AL, WD, SG, NR and IP postcodes), with delivery to all 36 Nigerian states. Collection is quoted separately from the per-kg rate; drop-off at the operator’s receiving point is cheaper.
What can’t I send by air?
Loose lithium batteries and power banks, aerosols, flammable liquids, gas cylinders, paints, fireworks, weapons, ammunition and cash are barred from air cargo, and perishables need prior agreement. Nigerian customs adds its own import restrictions. One WhatsApp message to 07587484631 before packing saves a seized box later.
How do I book air freight?
Send one enquiry — the quote form, WhatsApp 07587484631, or [email protected] — with weight, contents and destination. We match you with a UK–Nigeria air operator who confirms a firm price, typically the same day. You pay that operator directly once you accept; no payment is taken on this site.
Get an air freight quote
Five to seven working days from your hands to theirs — start with one message.
Request your free air freight quote · WhatsApp/call 07587484631 · [email protected]
Comparing options? Check the full price list, weigh up sea freight, or start from shipping to Nigeria from the UK.