The cheapest ferry to France is almost always the short one: Dover to Calais, from £63 each way for a car with passengers. Which operator is cheapest changes per day and per sailing, so the real saving comes from when you travel, which ticket you pick and comparing all three operators for your date.
Cheapest fares from Dover at a glance
These are the lowest one-way fares we see for a car on the Dover to Calais crossing. Ferry fares include the passengers in the car, so the price per person drops with every seat you fill.
| Option | From (one way) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| P&O Ferries | £63 | Car and up to 9 people, about 90 minutes; the only operator that also takes foot passengers, from about £32 |
| DFDS | £114 | Car and up to 5 people, about 100 minutes |
| Irish Ferries | £55 same-day return | Car and up to 5 people, out and back within 24 hours, Tuesday to Thursday (£93 on other days) |
| Le Shuttle | £59 Day Trip, £98 Short Stay Saver, £124 Standard | From Folkestone, 35 minutes, price per car |
Lowest fares we found in October 2026. On popular dates prices are much higher, so always check the live price for your own date. All fares and ticket types are on our prices page.
8 ways to pay less for your ferry to France
- Compare the three operators for your exact date. DFDS, Irish Ferries and P&O Ferries all use dynamic pricing, and the cheapest one differs per day and even per sailing. Checking only your usual operator is the most common way to pay too much.
- Travel when others do not. Midweek sailings and the early morning, late evening and night departures are usually the cheapest. Fridays, Saturdays and the school holidays are the most expensive. Today’s departures are on our timetable.
- Book early, but only when your plans are fixed. Fares rise as a sailing fills up. The cheapest tickets have limited or paid changes, and a flexible ticket costs more, so a cheap fare you have to change can end up the most expensive option.
- Never just turn up at the port. Tickets bought at the port are sold at a turn-up-and-go rate that is well above the online price.
- Pick a ticket that matches your trip. For a day in Calais, a ferry day return or a Le Shuttle Day Trip is far cheaper than two singles. For a few days away, look at short-stay returns.
- Fill the car, or leave it at home. The fare is per car, so four people pay little more than one. Travelling alone or as a couple on a short trip? Parking in Dover and walking on with P&O can be cheaper; our parking calculator works it out.
- Skip the extras on a 90-minute crossing. Lounge access and priority boarding are nice, but rarely worth it on the short crossing. Bring your own snacks and drinks.
- Weigh ferry against Le Shuttle honestly. Le Shuttle is faster and its Day Trip fare can be very cheap, but a Standard ticket is often dearer than the ferry. Our operator comparison shows the differences.
Is a longer route ever cheaper?
On the ticket price alone, rarely: no crossing is shorter than Dover to Calais, and fares grow with the distance. A longer route can still save money overall if you live in the south or west of England, or if you are heading for Brittany, Normandy or western France. An overnight ferry from Portsmouth saves you a hotel night and hundreds of miles of driving and fuel. Count the whole trip: fuel, tolls, a hotel and your time. Our overview of alternative routes to France compares the options.
Questions about cheap ferries to France
Which is the cheapest ferry from Dover to Calais?
It changes per date. P&O Ferries advertises the lowest one-way fare (from £63 for a car with up to 9 people), DFDS starts at £114, and for a day out Irish Ferries has same-day returns from £55. On a specific day any of the three can be cheapest, so compare them for your sailing.
Is Le Shuttle cheaper than the ferry?
Usually not. The Le Shuttle Day Trip fare starts at £59 each way, while an Irish Ferries same-day return starts at £55 for the car. For a longer stay a Standard ticket starts at £124 each way, against £63 with P&O. Le Shuttle is faster, though, and leaves from Folkestone.
When is the cheapest time to take the ferry to France?
Outside the school holidays, from Monday to Thursday, and on early morning, late evening or night sailings. The most expensive times are Fridays and Saturdays in the summer holidays.
Is it cheaper to travel as a foot passenger?
For one or two people, yes: the lowest P&O foot passenger fare we found is about £32 each way. Only P&O carries foot passengers on this route, on a few sailings a day. See our foot passenger page.
Find the cheapest sailing for your date
Compare P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries between Dover and Calais in one search, and see right away which one is cheapest.