⚓ English Channel · Calais → Dover

Ferry Calais to Dover –
90 min from £47 with car

Compare all 31 daily crossings – P&O Ferries, DFDS Seaways & Irish Ferries. Live timetable and best prices.

90 minCrossing time
from £47per person
31×daily sailings
£922 adults + car total
✅ P&O · DFDS · Irish Ferries 🔒 Secure booking 📶 Wi-Fi + restaurant on board 🐾 Pets welcome
🔍 Check live prices & availability
2
0
31
Daily sailings
90'
Crossing time
£47
From / person
3
Operators
Live Timetable

All crossings: Calais → Dover

Live prices and departures – always up to date.

Departs Calais Arrives Dover Duration Vessel Operator Price/Person Total (2 adults+car)

* Live prices. For 2 adults + 1 car. Prices may vary – please confirm on the booking page.

Calais ferry port – terminal overview
The Route

Calais–Dover Ferry: The World's Busiest Ferry Route

The English Channel is just 34 km wide at its narrowest point. With up to 31 daily sailings and a crossing time of only 90 minutes, Calais–Dover is the busiest ferry route on earth – and the fastest way to cross to England with your own car.

All three operators run modern ships with a restaurant, bar, duty-free shop and Wi-Fi. Park your car, head up to the open deck – after 60 minutes the White Cliffs of Dover come into view.

Book now → View timetable
Crossing Time & Duration

Calais to Dover Ferry Time: How Long Is the Crossing?

The Calais to Dover ferry crossing takes 90 minutes with P&O Ferries and Irish Ferries. DFDS Seaways takes 100 minutes. That makes it one of the fastest international ferry routes in the world – the English Channel is just 34 km wide at its narrowest point. If you are wondering how long the ferry from Calais to Dover takes, allow an extra 60–90 minutes for check-in before departure.

OperatorCrossing timeDepartures/day
P&O Ferries90 minup to 12×
Irish Ferries90 minseveral daily
DFDS Seaways100 minseveral daily

The actual ferry time from Calais to Dover on the water starts when the ship leaves Calais. After around 60 minutes, the white cliffs of Dover come into view. Want a faster option? See the ferry vs. Eurotunnel comparison.

Operator comparison

P&O Ferries · DFDS Seaways · Irish Ferries – which is best?

Three operators, one route. Each offers a slightly different experience and price level.

P&O Ferries Calais to Dover
P&O Ferries

Highest frequency on the route, including the new P&O Liberté (2023). Ideal when you need a specific departure time.

Up to 12 crossings daily
90 min crossing · restaurant, bar, duty-free
Dogs & pets permitted
Daily sailings from 01:45
From £53 / person (with car)
DFDS Seaways ferry Calais and Dunkirk to Dover
DFDS Seaways

Danish operator with large, comfortable ships. Also sails from Dunkirk–Dover (2h, often less congested).

Calais & Dunkirk departures
100 min crossing (Calais) · Business Lounge
Priority boarding available
DFDS frequent traveller programme
From £49 / person (with car)
Irish Ferries Calais Dover cheap
Irish Ferries

Best value for money on Calais–Dover. Particularly cheap early morning and late night. Perfect for flexible travellers.

Multiple crossings daily
90 min crossing · restaurant, bar, Wi-Fi
Cheapest off-peak prices 🏆
Pets allowed (pre-registration required)
From £46 / person (with car) 🏆
Prices & Costs

Calais to Dover Ferry Price: How Much Does the Crossing Cost?

The Calais to Dover ferry price with a car starts from around £46 per person. For 2 adults + 1 car, the cheapest total fare is roughly £92 (Irish Ferries, night crossing). In peak season and at busy times, prices rise to £115–130. The table below shows typical price ranges – for the exact live ferry cost on your day, use the search above.

Passengers & vehicleFrom pricePeak season
1 person + carfrom £46approx. £70
2 adults + car POPULARfrom £92£115–130
2 adults + motorhomefrom £120up to £175
Foot passengerfrom £30approx. £45
Motorcycle + riderfrom £52approx. £78

💡 The cheapest Calais–Dover ferry prices are before 06:00 and after 20:00, Tuesday to Thursday and outside the summer holidays. Irish Ferries consistently offers the lowest off-peak fares.

Ferry vs. Eurotunnel

Calais–Dover Ferry or Eurotunnel – which is better?

Both options cross the Channel. A direct comparison – Eurotunnel cost vs. ferry price, comfort, motorhome suitability and more.

⛴ Ferry Calais–Dover
Crossing time90–100 min
Price (2 adults + car)from £92 ✓
On boardRestaurant, bar, Wi-Fi, deck ✓
PetsAllowed (pre-register) ✓
Motorhome heightNo restriction ✓
Flexible rebookingFlexi tickets available ✓
Channel crossing distance34 km · 90 min
🚂 Eurotunnel (Le Shuttle)
Crossing time35 min ✓
Price (2 adults + car)£140–£220 ✗
On boardStay in your car ✗
PetsAllowed (in car) ✓
Motorhome heightMax. 2.55m ✗
Flexible rebookingFlexiPlus available ✓
Tunnel distance51 km · 35 min

💡 Summary: The ferry is usually cheaper and far more comfortable. The Eurotunnel is faster but significantly more expensive – especially in peak season. Motorhomes over 2.55m height cannot use the Eurotunnel and must take the ferry.

Travel by type

Tips for every traveller

🚗
Car & Family
  • Book 3–4 weeks ahead for the best prices.
  • Travel before 06:00 or after 20:00 – up to 40% cheaper.
  • Arrive at the port 60–90 min early for passport control.
  • Fill up in France – cheaper than in the UK.
🚐
Motorhome & Camper
  • State vehicle length & height when booking (required).
  • No height restriction on the ferry (Eurotunnel max. 2.55m).
  • Prices from around £120 for 2 adults + motorhome.
  • Book extra-long vehicle lane for vehicles over 6m.
🐾
Travelling with Pets
  • Register your pet at booking (mandatory).
  • UK entry: always check current requirements (chip, vaccination, documents) on gov.uk before travel – no guarantee.
  • Visit your vet at least 4 weeks before travel.
  • Pets stay in the vehicle on the car deck during crossing.
🏍
Motorcycle & Foot Passengers
  • Motorcycles get significant discounts vs. cars.
  • Foot passengers from around £30 per person.
  • Bicycles bookable with all three operators.
  • Coach connections Dover ↔ London Victoria.
White Cliffs of Dover – coastal walk

💡 How to get the cheapest ticket

  • Before 06:00 or after 20:00 – up to 40% cheaper than midday.
  • Tuesday & Wednesday are the cheapest days; avoid Friday evenings & Sundays.
  • Book 3–4 weeks in advance – last minute can be double the price.
  • Irish Ferries almost always has the cheapest entry-level fare.
  • Standard tickets are always cheaper than Flexi – only buy Flexi if plans are uncertain.
  • Off-peak season (Nov–Mar, outside school holidays) up to 40% cheaper than summer.
  • Catching the early ferry? Consider a hotel in Calais before your sailing – with early check-in near the terminal.

⏰ At the port – check-in tips

  • Arrive 60–90 minutes before departure at Calais ferry port.
  • In July/August and on bank holidays allow 90–120 minutes.
  • Since Brexit, entry requirements have changed – please check current document requirements on gov.uk before travel.
  • Have your booking confirmation (QR code) ready at check-in.

🎟 Flexi tickets – are they worth it?

  • Flexi tickets allow free rebooking of your crossing.
  • Around 30–40% more expensive than standard tickets.
  • Only worthwhile if your schedule is genuinely uncertain (business travel).
  • For holidays with fixed dates: standard tickets are almost always better value.

🌊 Ferry cancelled due to weather – what to do?

  • In severe storms (force 8+) ferries can be delayed or cancelled.
  • Check the Channel weather forecast 24h before departure.
  • If cancelled: operators rebook you onto the next available crossing.
On board the Calais Dover ferry – deck and restaurant
On Board

90 minutes – restaurant, bar and open deck

Despite the short crossing, all major ferries on Calais–Dover offer a full range of amenities: restaurant, self-service cafeteria, bar, duty-free shop, Wi-Fi and open decks. It is one of the best-equipped short-sea ferry routes in the world.

The P&O Liberté (built 2023, 230m, 1,500 passengers) is the newest ship on the Channel. DFDS offers a Business Club Lounge with faster boarding for premium ticket holders. Irish Ferries' Oscar Wilde is known for its generous open decks.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the Calais to Dover ferry

The crossing takes 90 minutes with P&O Ferries and Irish Ferries, and 100 minutes with DFDS Seaways. The English Channel is only 34 km wide at its narrowest point – making it one of the shortest international ferry crossings in the world. The White Cliffs of Dover come into view after about 60 minutes.
The cheapest option starts at around £92 total for 2 adults + 1 car (Irish Ferries, late night or early morning crossing). Standard midday prices in high season are typically £110–£130. Per-person prices from around £46. Use the live search above for your exact date.
The Eurotunnel (Le Shuttle) takes only 35 minutes but is considerably more expensive (typically £140–£220 for a car). The ferry takes 90 minutes but is usually cheaper and offers far more comfort: restaurant, bar, duty-free and open deck. Motorhomes over 2.55m height cannot use the Eurotunnel – the ferry has no height restriction.
Generally yes – dogs, cats and other pets are carried by all three operators, but must be registered at the time of booking. The vaccinations, deadlines and entry documents your pet actually needs depend on your country of departure and the current UK entry rules, which do change. Please check with your vet and the official UK government website at gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain well ahead of travel. This information is for general orientation only, is provided without guarantee, and does not replace checking the official sources.
Motorhomes are charged separately. Typical prices start at around £120–£175 for 2 adults + motorhome, depending on length and height. Give exact vehicle dimensions when booking. Unlike the Eurotunnel there is no height restriction on the ferry – ideal for tall vehicles.
At least 60–90 minutes before departure. In July/August and on bank holidays allow 90–120 minutes. Both the French and British border controls must be completed before boarding.
The Calais–Dover route is fully operational. Modern security checks at the port ensure smooth processing. For real-time updates on weather delays check directly with your operator.
UK entry and document requirements have changed since Brexit and continue to be updated by UK authorities. We recommend checking the current requirements (ID documents, vehicle papers, insurance) directly on the official UK government website (gov.uk) and with your motor insurer before you travel. Provided without guarantee, not legal advice.
Flexi tickets allow free rebooking but cost around 30–40% more. Only worthwhile if your travel plans are uncertain (e.g. business travel, open return date). For holidays with fixed dates standard tickets are almost always better value.
Irish Ferries usually has the lowest entry prices, especially for early morning and late night crossings. P&O Ferries offers the highest frequency (up to 12 daily) and the newest ships. DFDS Seaways is reliable and also sails from Dunkirk–Dover (less congested). Always compare all three using the live search above.
Yes – significantly. Crossings before 06:00 or after 20:00, Tuesday–Thursday, outside July/August can be 30–40% cheaper than peak times. The cheapest consistent option on this route is the early and late-night crossings with Irish Ferries.
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Find the cheapest Calais–Dover crossing

Compare all 31 daily crossings from £47/person · 2 adults + car from £92 · Live prices.

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