Ferry prices: summer 2026 France-UK crossings
Find out which routes are cheapest and whether night or day travel is best
The Portsmouth-Le Havre ferry crossing is the cheapest route per km for couples travelling between the UK and France next June
Gail Heaton/Shutterstock
Booking a ferry can be a challenge when considering which route to take, and when.
With a total of 11 ferry routes linking southern England to northern France alone, The Connexion looks at tips to help make the most cost-effective selection for summer 2026, based on recent data shared by ferry booking guide, FerryGoGo.
Research figures compare return prices for couples, and for families (two adults, two children) with a car, travelling on either overnight crossings or day routes between the UK and France.
We highlight the average costs of summer crossings during peak season (August 1-8) and ‘shoulder’ season (June 23-30 – the period between peak and off-peak season), and point out which routes are the least expensive.
Average ferry prices for a family of four with a car
The month and time of travel can impact the price of a ferry crossing – especially if it is an overnight journey.
Day crossings can appear cheaper than night ferries as the overall price tends to be lower. However, there is not much of a difference when considering the cost per km – roughly €1.60 for a family of four with a car.
Day ferries cost roughly €359 in late June and increase by some 30% to about €470 in early August, according to the data provided by FerryGoGo.
Night ferries to France typically cost around three times more on average than day ferries, with a price tag of roughly €1,004 in June and €1,056 in August – a jump of around 5%.
Note that average night ferry data includes crossings between the UK and Channel Islands.
The total cost of night ferries increases as they travel a further distance (such as those leaving from Ireland), and a cabin is included in the price (therefore ‘saving’ on paying for a hotel).
Passengers can also save money during shoulder season. Day routes to France cost approximately €0.40 per person per km during this period, and night routes are almost identical, at an average of €0.41 per person per km.
Average ferry prices for a couple with a car
The average cost per km for a couple travelling by ferry with a car is €1.30.
Day ferries cost roughly €281 in late June and increase by some 50% to about €422 in early August.
Night ferries to France typically cost €895 in June and €956 in August – a jump of around 7%.
Passengers can also save money during shoulder season, when day routes cost approximately €0.65 per person per km, and night routes are roughly €0.71 per person per km.
The cheapest ferry routes
The least expensive day crossing for a family of four is Newhaven-Dieppe, costing €267 in August and €244 in June.
Newhaven-Dieppe is also the cheapest day route for couples during peak season (€230), however Dover-Dunkirk is the most inexpensive during shoulder season (€218).
Portsmouth-Le Havre is the cheapest route per km for couples, costing €0.83 in June, with an overall total of €283.
The most expensive day route per km by far is Dover-Calais. Families pay €3.15 per km during shoulder season, while couples pay €2.70 per km.
Ferries from the UK to France could also be subject to an extra tax of €15 per person if a proposed law on cruise ships comes into force in the new 2026 budget.
When it comes to night crossings, Portsmouth-Cherbourg is the shortest and cheapest crossing for families, costing €681 in August and €594 in June. However, it is the most expensive route if considering the price per km (€2.20).
The same goes for couples: €626 in August, €516 in June, and €1,91 per km.
Rosslare-Dunkirk is the cheapest night route per km for families, costing €1.16 in June, with an overall total of €1,432.
The same is also true for couples – almost identical to family pricing: €1.14 in June, with an overall total of €1,412.
Note that FerryGoGo research is based on journey prices for next summer as currently shown (November and early December, 2025).
Purchasing ferry tickets before Christmas, when many operators run early-bird deals and other promotions, can help to save “around 20-25% on the full fare compared with booking late in spring,” states the FerryGoGo website.
