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Eurotunnel or ferry: which is cheaper and better?
The tunnel is faster, but is it cheaper? We compared every crossing, price by price. The honest answer: LeShuttle wins on speed, but a ferry often wins on cost. Here is the full comparison to help you choose.
Choosing between the Eurotunnel and a ferry comes down to what matters most to you: speed, price, or comfort. The LeShuttle car train crosses in just 35 minutes, but the ferry can be noticeably cheaper on the right route, and gives you space to stretch out. In this guide we compare real prices for every route, weigh up the pros and cons, and give you clear tips on which to pick, so you can book the best crossing for your trip.
Want to see exactly what your crossing costs on your travel day? Fill in the booking module below and compare the tunnel and ferry prices for your dates in seconds. Fares change from day to day and even hour to hour, rising as departures fill up and peaking on weekends and holidays, so the same route can cost very different amounts depending on when you go. Checking live prices for your own dates is the only way to see the real cost and find the best deal.
Eurotunnel or ferry: which is cheaper?
This is the question most people ask, so let us answer it straight away. The LeShuttle car train has a low starting price of around £69, but it is not always the cheapest way across. When you compare real prices route by route, several ferry crossings come in lower, especially Dover to Dunkirk and Newhaven to Dieppe. So while the tunnel is the fastest option, the ferry often wins on price.
It is not the headline “from” price that decides it. LeShuttle starts from around £69, but ferry routes like Dover to Dunkirk (from ~£46) and Newhaven to Dieppe (from ~£56) undercut it. If your priority is the lowest fare and you are flexible on route and time, a ferry usually wins. If you want the quickest crossing, the tunnel wins.
Price comparison: every route compared
Here are indicative starting prices for a car with passengers across the main crossings, so you can see exactly how the tunnel stacks up against the ferries. The two cheapest options are highlighted.
| Route | Service | Crossing time | From (GBP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folkestone → Calais | LeShuttle (tunnel) | ~35 min | ~£69 |
| Dover → Calais | P&O Ferries | ~1h 30m | ~£76 |
| Dover → Calais | DFDS | ~1h 30m | ~£77 |
| Dover → Calais | Irish Ferries | ~1h 30m | ~£70 |
| Dover → Dunkirk | DFDS | ~2h | ~£46 |
| Newhaven → Dieppe | DFDS | ~4h | ~£56 |
| Portsmouth → Caen | Brittany Ferries | ~6h | ~£162 |
| Poole → Cherbourg | Brittany Ferries | ~4h 30m | ~£128 |
| Portsmouth → Cherbourg | Brittany Ferries | ~5h | ~£127 |
| Portsmouth → Le Havre | Brittany Ferries | ~5h 29m | ~£108 |
| Plymouth → Roscoff | Brittany Ferries | ~5h 15m | ~£180 |
| Portsmouth → St Malo | Brittany Ferries | ~8h 50m | ~£167 |
Prices are indicative for a car with passengers and vary by date, time and booking conditions. The short Dover crossings and the tunnel are closest in price, while Dover to Dunkirk and Newhaven to Dieppe are often the cheapest of all. The longer western routes cost more but save a long drive through France.
Eurotunnel vs ferry: pros and cons
Price is only part of the picture. Here is how the two stack up on everything else.
🚄 LeShuttle (tunnel)
- Fastest crossing, just 35 minutes
- Up to 4 departures per hour, day and night
- No seasickness, smooth and enclosed
- Stay in your car, great with pets and nervous travellers
- Quick loading, drive on and off
- Low “from” price, but often not the cheapest
- No LPG vehicles allowed
- Only one route: Folkestone to Calais
- Less space to move around
⛴️ Ferry
- Often cheaper, especially Dunkirk and Dieppe
- Many routes, including western France
- Room to walk around, eat, rest and shop
- Accepts LPG vehicles
- Western routes save a long drive through France
- Slower, from 1h 30m up to 8+ hours
- Can be affected by rough seas
- Fewer sailings on some routes
- Pets often stay in the car or in kennels
Which should you choose? Our tips by traveller
The best option depends on your trip. Here is our honest advice for different travellers.
- Want the fastest, easiest crossing? Choose the tunnel. Nothing beats 35 minutes and up to 4 departures an hour, ideal for a day trip or a quick dash to Calais.
- On a tight budget and flexible? Take a ferry, especially Dover to Dunkirk or Newhaven to Dieppe, which are often the cheapest crossings of all.
- Travelling with a dog? The tunnel is calmer, as your pet stays in the car for just 35 minutes rather than a longer ferry crossing.
- Driving an LPG car or motorhome? You must take the ferry, as LPG vehicles are banned from the tunnel. See tunnel safety.
- Heading to western France (Normandy, Brittany)? A ferry to Caen, Cherbourg or St Malo saves hours of driving, even though the crossing is longer and pricier.
- Nervous about the tunnel or prone to claustrophobia? The ferry is open-air with room to move, though the tunnel crossing is only 35 minutes.
- Prone to seasickness? The tunnel is smooth and unaffected by the weather.
Ferry routes to France and Europe
If you have decided a ferry suits you, there is a route for almost every destination. The short Dover crossings (to Calais and Dunkirk) are quickest and cheapest for northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands and beyond. The western routes from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth take longer but drop you straight into Normandy or Brittany, saving a long drive. Ferries also run from Harwich and Hull to the Netherlands for northern Europe. Use the price checker above to compare routes, carriers and live fares for your dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Eurotunnel or ferry cheaper?
The ferry is often cheaper. LeShuttle starts from around £69, but ferry routes like Dover to Dunkirk (from ~£46) and Newhaven to Dieppe (from ~£56) are usually lower. The tunnel wins on speed, the ferry often wins on price. Compare live fares for your dates in the price checker above.
Is the Eurotunnel or ferry better?
It depends on your priorities. The tunnel is faster (35 minutes), more frequent and smoother, and better with pets. The ferry is often cheaper, has more routes, and gives you room to move around. For a quick crossing pick the tunnel, for the lowest price or a western France route pick the ferry.
What is the cheapest way to cross the Channel by car?
Usually the Dover to Dunkirk ferry (from around £46) or Newhaven to Dieppe (from around £56), which tend to undercut both the tunnel and the Dover to Calais ferries. Prices vary by date, so always compare for your exact travel time.
How much faster is the tunnel than the ferry?
The tunnel crossing is about 35 minutes, versus around 1h 30m for the short Dover to Calais ferry, and longer for other routes. Allow check-in and border time for both. The tunnel also runs up to four times an hour.
Can I take an LPG vehicle on the tunnel or ferry?
Only on the ferry. LPG-powered vehicles are banned from the Channel Tunnel for safety reasons, but ferries accept them without restriction. See our safety guide.
Which is better for travelling with a dog?
The tunnel is usually calmer for pets, as your dog stays in the car for just 35 minutes. On many ferries pets stay in the car on a lower deck or in kennels. See travelling with pets.
So, Eurotunnel or ferry? If speed and convenience matter most, the tunnel is unbeatable at 35 minutes with frequent departures. If price is your priority, a ferry, especially Dover to Dunkirk or Newhaven to Dieppe, is often cheaper, and western routes can save a long drive through France. There is no single right answer, only the right one for your trip. Use the price checker above to compare live tunnel and ferry fares for your dates and book the best crossing for you.