Calais - Folkestone
Ferry to England
Calais - Folkestone
Ferry to England
Fares for the Calais to Folkestone crossing usually range somewhere between $146* and $1206*. Most travellers pay around $709* for a Calais Folkestone ferry ticket, and the cheapest fares on this route begin at $146*. Bringing a car along typically brings the average fare up to $689*.
Fares vary according to passenger count, vehicle type, the route itself and what time you sail. Figures come from fares searched in the previous 30 days, don't include service fees, and were last checked August 26.
There's a quick way to stack up ferry fares and operators from around the world side by side, so you can pick the crossing that best suits you. Getting in early tends to open up the widest choice of prices and sailing times.
Direct Ferries has discounts running throughout the year. Where a senior discount applies to your crossing, it's applied the moment you pick the matching age bracket in the passenger section of your search.
If you're a student or recent graduate, a 5% discount is up for grabs. Head to our partner Student Beans to confirm your status and you'll receive a code to enter at checkout.
A handful of Spanish and Italian ferry routes also offer a resident discount — choose the "Residents" option if it appears during your search and the lower fare is applied straight away. You'll usually need to show proof of address, like a residency card or certificate, when you check in.
Sailings on the Calais Folkestone route generally kick off from Calais at around 00:16, and the last departure of the day is usually around 23:57.
You certainly can — with a short crossing and sailings running daily, Calais to Folkestone is an easy day trip. Taking a vehicle, where possible, gives you the freedom to explore a bit further once you land.
Yes, LeShuttle carries vehicles on the Calais to Folkestone route. Check our Deal Finder for up-to-date car ferry pricing on this crossing.
Whether a caravan or campervan is welcome on board the Calais to Folkestone ferry comes down to the ship and operator running the sailing. Pop your travel details into our Deal Finder, and we'll check the operators on this route for you.
Bicycles aren't currently accepted on sailings between Calais and Folkestone.
No, foot passengers can't currently travel on sailings between Calais and Folkestone.
Pet owners are in luck — LeShuttle allows pets on board between Calais and Folkestone. Travelling with a pet on this crossing costs an average of $764.
Fares reflect searches from the last 30 days, exclude service fees, and were last checked August 26.
Before you bring a pet on board, it helps to have the following sorted:
It depends on which operator you're sailing with — some ferries keep pets in your vehicle for the whole trip, while others have dedicated pet areas, kennels, or even pet-friendly cabins. Our Deal Finder lays out the options so you can pick the crossing that works for your pet.
There's a bit to know before travelling with a guide or assistance dog. Let our customer service team know in advance, or mention it to the ferry operator when you book, so everything's arranged ahead of time.
Carry any certification or documentation your dog needs, since you could be asked to show it at boarding or partway through the crossing.
Rules for guide dogs and assistance dogs can differ from general pet policy, even on sailings where pets aren't otherwise allowed. Reach out to our customer service team to check what applies to your sailing, or visit our Special Assistance Help page for more detail.
Whether the Calais to Folkestone route has an overnight sailing depends on a mix of factors. Search with your travel dates, and we'll show you whether an overnight option exists, plus current timetables, crossing times and daytime alternatives.
Note that overnight sailings can occasionally take a bit longer than daytime crossings.
What you'll need to travel varies by route, so it pays to check ahead of your sailing. A valid passport is typically required for the Calais to Folkestone crossing, along with any visa or national ID required for your nationality. As rules depend on both where you're from and where you're headed, our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide is worth a read to avoid any hold-ups at check-in.
Booking couldn't be simpler — select your departure port, arrival port and travel date to see everything on offer. From there, you can weigh up alternative routes and departure times to land on the best fit.
Look for early-booking deals and flexible fare types, like upgrades or flexi-tickets, which give you room to change plans later. Double-check details such as passenger numbers and vehicle specs as you go, to keep the booking process painless.
You'll get a confirmation email the moment your booking goes through. From there, how your boarding pass turns up depends on the operator.
Some operators send the boarding pass straight away, while others want you to check in at the port. Where it's on offer, online check-in through the Direct Ferries app can save you time at the terminal.
Ticket desks tend to sit right by the ferry terminal. Building in some extra time before you sail means you won't be rushed collecting tickets and getting checked in.
Have your confirmation email and valid photo ID — a passport or identity card — ready at check-in. If a pet's travelling with you, bring their vaccination and insurance papers, and hold onto proof of address if you booked with a resident discount.
A gap in sailings from Calais to Folkestone on your chosen date usually comes down to something like a timetable adjustment, limited space, or a seasonal dip in service. Try a different date, or browse other options with our Route & Port finder.
Generally speaking, booking your Calais to Folkestone ferry sooner rather than later pays off — earlier bookings usually mean lower fares and more choice of departure times and cabins.
A few weeks' lead time is usually enough to catch a good deal, though fares can still move around depending on the season and what's left available.
More routes than anyone else.
Compare fares, times & routes in one place.
Change plans easily with flexi tickets.
Book e-tickets & manage trips in-app.
Live ship tracking & real-time updates.
Top-rated customer support when you need it.
| Calais - Folkestone Ferry Route Prices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Average Price with Car | $689 | |
| Average Price with Motorbike | $247 | |
| Average Campervan Price | $797 | |
| Calais - Folkestone Ferry Route Summary | |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Destination | England |
| No. of Operators | 1 |
| Operators | LeShuttle |
| Average Price | $709 |
| Average Pet Price | $764 |
| Average Daily Sailings | 39 |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 267 |
| Average Sailing Duration | 35 m |
| Fastest Sailing Duration | 35 m |
| First Ferry | 00:16 |
| Last Ferry | 23:57 |
| Distance | 45 Nautical Miles |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 1 August 2026.
The French town and major sea port of Calais is located in northern France and lies on the English Channel coast, around 21 miles across the English Channel from the English Port of Dover. On a clear day it is possible to see the White Cliffs of Dover, across the Strait of Dover. Calais' old town, known as Calais-Nord, is surrounded by canals and harbours and lies on an artificial island. The more modern part of Calais, known as St-Pierre, is located to the south of the old town.
Visitors to the town can take in the Tour du Guet which is situated in the Place d'Armes in the old town. Built in the 13th century, the structure was originally a water tower which was subsequently used as a lighthouse until 1848.
The port of Calais is well known to many visitors from the UK and is the 4th largest port in France, by passenger numbers. It is the main gateway into France for many UK visitors and is less than 3 hours by car from Paris, Brussels and London and is connected to several motorways. On average a ship departs from Calais every 30 minutes, with around 50 departures to Dover each day, with a crossing time of about 75 minutes.
The town and port of Folkestone is located on the south east coast of England, in the county of Kent, and lies on the English Channel coast. The town sits at the southern end of the North Downs , where they meet the sea, and unlike the white chalk cliffs at nearby Dover, the cliffs at Folkestone are of Greensand and Gault clay. The Pent Stream which cuts through the cliffs at Folkestone provided the original haven for fishing vessels and cross channel boats. Part of Folkestone also falls within the boundaries of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the nearby Brockhill Country Park, to the west of the town, has a lovely lake and footpaths and links to the Royal Military Canal at nearby Hythe.
The town also has two important Battle of Britain landmarks. The first is the Kent Battle of Britain Museum which is the oldest Battle of Britain museum in the UK, and the second is the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne.
The town's harbour is now mainly used by the town's fishing fleet and also by pleasure boats.
