Shipping a Moroccan chandelier abroad: what to expect
How a large brass lamp is packed, which carrier takes it, how long it takes, what customs will charge, and what to check about the wiring when it arrives.
A Moroccan chandelier can be shipped anywhere a courier goes. It is wrapped in felt, blocked inside a made-to-measure crate or double box, and sent by express courier; you pay the shipping up front and the import duty and VAT on arrival. Here is what each step involves, so there are no surprises.
Why we quote shipping piece by piece
Couriers charge by weight — but for bulky items, by volumetric weight: the size of the package converted to a notional weight. A 1 m chandelier weighs relatively little and takes up a great deal of space, so its crate, not its metal, sets the price. A bowl in a small box is a completely different sum. That is why there is no single international rate on the site: write to us before you order and we will price it with the carrier.
How it is packed
- The lamp is cleaned and the bulbs removed.
- Any part that comes apart is taken apart and packed separately.
- Each piece is wrapped in wool felt, then blocked with board so that nothing touches the walls of the crate.
- The crate or double-walled box is made to the lamp's size.
No plastic foam: wool felt and recycled board, as for everything we send.
Carrier and transit time
Large pieces go by express courier with tracking and insurance. To Europe, transit is usually a few working days from collection; further afield, a little longer. The courier's estimate for your address comes with the quote.
Customs, duty and VAT
- The destination country charges import duty and VAT (or sales tax), based on the value of the piece and the shipping.
- The courier normally collects these before delivery, sometimes with a small handling fee.
- Lamps and light fittings are classed under customs heading 9405. We include a full commercial invoice with the shipment.
- Rates vary by country. If you want to know in advance, your national customs website will have a calculator.
Voltage and fittings
- Europe and most of Africa, the Middle East and Asia: 220–240 V, like Morocco. E14 and E27 lamp holders are standard. Nothing to change.
- UK: 230 V; the lamp works, but it arrives with a European plug or bare wires for a ceiling rose — have an electrician fit it.
- USA and Canada: 120 V and E26 lamp holders. The shade and structure are fine; the holders and wiring should be checked or replaced locally before use.
Whatever the destination, a ceiling chandelier should be installed by a qualified electrician. Choosing the bulb afterwards is covered in which bulb to use in a Moroccan lamp.
If something arrives damaged
Photograph the packaging and the piece before you unpack any further, and tell us the same day. The shipment is insured for its full declared value; we deal with the carrier and either repair or replace the piece — see shipping and returns. Brass dents can usually be taken out at the bench.
Back to buying handmade metalwork from Marrakech, or see our Star chandelier.
Questions people ask
- How much does it cost to ship a chandelier from Morocco?
- It depends on the packed dimensions, the weight and the destination, because couriers charge by whichever is greater of actual and volumetric weight. A large chandelier in a crate is priced very differently from a small pendant in a box, so we quote each one before you order.
- Do I pay customs on a lamp shipped from Morocco?
- Usually yes: the destination country charges import duty and VAT or sales tax on arrival, collected by the courier before delivery. Lamps and light fittings fall under customs heading 9405.
- Will a Moroccan lamp work in the USA?
- Morocco uses 220 V mains and E14/E27 fittings; the USA and Canada use 120 V and E26 fittings. The lamp shade is unaffected, but the lamp holders and wiring should be checked or replaced by a local electrician before use.
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