How Long Does It Take to Ship Tiles from Italy to New Zealand?

One of the most common questions we receive is:
“If I order Italian tiles, how long until they arrive here in New Zealand?”

The short answer: around 4-5 months from order to delivery.

The long answer is a step-by-step journey, because bringing Italian porcelain or ceramic tiles halfway across the world isn’t like ordering a pair of shoes online. Here’s exactly what happens.

Step 1 Building the container (1–2 months)

We import tiles from Italy using 20 foot containers. To keep shipping efficient (and cost-effective for our customers), we need to fill a container before it can leave.

Depending on demand, this usually takes one to two months.

Step 2 Collection from the factories (2–3 weeks)

Once the container is confirmed, the shipping company starts coordinating with the factories.

All the factories we work with are in the Sassuolo area, near Modena, the heart of Italian tile manufacturing. Trucks go around collecting each order and consolidating everything into the single container. This process adds another two to three weeks.

Step 3 Loading at the port

When the container is complete, it’s transported to the port in La Spezia Italy, ready to be loaded onto the first vessel.

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Step 4 The voyage (60–80 days)

This is the longest part of the journey. Typically, the container will travel on two different vessels:

• One vessel from Italy to Singapore
• Another vessel from Singapore to New Zealand

Sometimes an extra vessel is involved, depending on shipping schedules.

Most routes go through the Suez Canal, but there are cases where ships are redirected around Africa before reaching Singapore. These decisions are made entirely by the shipping company.We don’t control the routing or the scheduling.

That’s why the sea journey alone takes anywhere from 60 to 80 days.

Step 5 Customs and final delivery (1 week)

When the vessel docks in Lyttelton, the container goes through customs clearance. Once processed, it’s delivered to our Christchurch warehouse. This final stage typically takes about a week.

Why it adds up to 4–5 months

Put all the steps together building the container, factory collections, port logistics, the voyage, and customs clearance. The total timeline sits between four to five months from when an order is placed until it arrives with us.

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What this means for your project

Knowing the shipping timeframe is half the battle. The next step is making sure your tiles arrive when you need them.

Get in touch with us early, we can advise you on upcoming container schedules and help you secure your Italian tiles in time for your renovation or build.

You can also use our Free Tile Price Guide to get an idea of costs before you start planning.

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