Search live Dover to Calais ferry prices
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The Dover to Calais ferry
Three companies sail from Dover to Calais: P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries. P&O gives the crossing as about 90 minutes and DFDS as 100 minutes. P&O lists 11 crossings a day, and DFDS's timetable for the week of 14 October 2026 also shows 11, from 00:35 to 21:10. Direct Ferries counts 31 sailings a day across the three operators.
Fares change with the date, the departure time and your vehicle, and P&O says booking early gets its best fares. Because three companies sell the same short crossing, the cheapest sailing on a given day can be with any of them. The search on this page shows all three for your date, so you can compare before you book.
French passport checks take place in Dover before you board. Gov.uk says EU Entry/Exit System registration is also done at Dover, before you leave the UK, so allow time for it. P&O closes check-in 90 minutes before departure; DFDS and Irish Ferries close it 60 minutes before for cars.
- Three operators: P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries
- 90 to 100 minutes, depending on the operator
- Departures day and night: 31 a day across the three (Direct Ferries)
- Foot passengers with P&O Ferries only; DFDS is vehicles only
- French border and Entry/Exit System checks are done in Dover
Dover to Calais ferry times
| Direction | Sailings | Usual departure times | Crossing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover to Calais, DFDS | 11 a day in the week checked | 00:35 to 21:10 | 1 hour 40 minutes |
| Dover to Calais, P&O Ferries | 11 a day | Day and night; search your date | About 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Dover to Calais, Irish Ferries | 9 a day (Direct Ferries) | Search your date | About 1 hour 30 minutes (Direct Ferries) |
DFDS times are from its timetable for the week of 14 October 2026. P&O figures are from P&O's route page; Irish Ferries figures are from Direct Ferries' route data.
Source: dfds.com, checked 14 October 2026. Timetables change by season; the search shows the sailings for your date.
What to know about the Dover to Calais crossing
- Foot passengers
- P&O Ferries carries foot passengers. Check-in closes 90 minutes before departure, a shuttle bus takes you to the Entry/Exit System facility and back to the port, and you leave the ship about 30 minutes after docking. DFDS does not take foot passengers on its Dover routes. (poferries.com)
- Check-in: P&O Ferries
- Closes 90 minutes before departure. (poferries.com)
- Check-in: DFDS
- Closes 60 minutes before departure. (dfds.com)
- Check-in: Irish Ferries
- 1 hour before departure for cars, motorcycles and most other vehicles; 90 minutes for coaches. (irishferries.com)
- Changing your sailing
- DFDS lets you travel up to 4 hours before or after your booked time if there is space. (dfds.com)
- Pets
- With DFDS, pets stay in the car during the crossing. P&O does not allow pets with foot passengers. (dfds.com)
- What affects the fare
- The date, the departure time and your vehicle. P&O advises booking early for its best fares. (poferries.com)
- Passports and entry
- For France, your UK passport must have been issued less than 10 years before you arrive and be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. Short stays are limited to 90 days in any 180. Under the EU Entry/Exit System, a first visit means registering fingerprints and a photo. If you leave through Dover, gov.uk says this is done at the border before you leave the UK. Children aged 11 or under do not give fingerprints. (gov.uk)
Where the ferry leaves from and arrives
- Dover
- Port of Dover, Kent. Irish Ferries puts it about 2.5 hours from central London. French border checks are done in Dover before you board, and P&O foot passengers are taken by shuttle bus from the terminal to the Entry/Exit System facility and back. (poferries.com)
Alternatives to the Dover to Calais ferry
- Dover to Dunkirk: DFDS's other Dover route: 2 hours, vehicles only, and under 30 minutes from the Belgian border.
- Newhaven to Dieppe: DFDS from Newhaven to Normandy in about 4 hours. Takes foot passengers.
Ports & operators on this route
Dover to Calais ferry — common questions
How long does the Dover to Calais ferry take?
About 90 minutes with P&O Ferries and 100 minutes with DFDS, according to each operator. Direct Ferries lists Irish Ferries at about 90 minutes.
What is the best price for the Dover to Calais ferry?
We don't quote prices because they change by the hour. The fare depends on the date, the departure time, your vehicle and how flexible your ticket is, and P&O says booking early gets its best fares. The search on this page compares all three operators for your date.
What are the Dover to Calais ferry times?
Sailings run through the day and night. DFDS's timetable for the week of 14 October 2026 has 11 departures from Dover, from 00:35 to 21:10, and P&O lists 11 crossings a day. Search your date for the full list across all three operators.
How many ferries a day go from Dover to Calais?
P&O lists 11 crossings a day and DFDS's current timetable shows 11; DFDS advertises up to 30. Direct Ferries counts 31 a day across P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries.
Which companies sail Dover to Calais?
P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries.
Can foot passengers use the Dover to Calais ferry?
Yes, with P&O Ferries. Foot-passenger check-in closes 90 minutes before departure, a shuttle bus takes you to the Entry/Exit System checks and back, and pets cannot travel with foot passengers. DFDS does not take foot passengers on its Dover routes.
What time should I check in for the Dover to Calais ferry?
P&O Ferries closes check-in 90 minutes before departure. DFDS closes it 60 minutes before. Irish Ferries asks cars and most other vehicles to check in 1 hour before, and coaches 90 minutes before.
Can I take my dog on the Dover to Calais ferry?
Yes, if you travel by car: DFDS says pets stay in the car during the crossing. P&O does not allow pets with foot passengers.
Where do the Entry/Exit System checks happen for Dover to Calais?
In Dover. Gov.uk says that if you travel through Dover, EES checks are done at the border before you leave the UK. On a first visit you give fingerprints and a photo.
Related ferry routes
Where these facts come from
Checked by the CheapFerries editorial team on 2026-10-14. Operators change timetables and rules, so confirm details for your sailing when you book.
- poferries.com www.poferries.com/en/routes/dover-to-calais
- dfds.com www.dfds.com/en-gb/passenger-ferries/ferry-crossings/ferries-to-france/dover-calais
- irishferries.com www.irishferries.com/uk-en/routes-and-times/dover-calais/
- directferries.co.uk www.directferries.co.uk/dover_calais_ferry.htm
- gov.uk www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements
- gov.uk www.gov.uk/entry-exit-system