Le Shuttle is quicker. The ferry gives you a break from the car, takes foot passengers and has room for the dog to stretch out. Here's how they compare, fact by fact, so you can pick the one that suits your trip.
Every fact below comes from Eurotunnel Le Shuttle's own site, the ferry operators' sites, the Port of Dover or GOV.UK, and I checked them on 10 November 2026. Ferryu compares ferries and doesn't sell Le Shuttle tickets, so I've stuck to what each company says about itself.
The short answer
- Fastest crossing: Le Shuttle. It says the trip through the tunnel takes 35 minutes, and between November 2024 and October 2025 the average was 35 minutes 17 seconds. The Dover–Calais ferries take about 90 to 100 minutes.
- Most departures: Le Shuttle runs up to 4 departures an hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. DFDS runs up to 30 Dover–Calais crossings a day.
- On foot: only the ferry. Le Shuttle doesn't take foot passengers, and of the Dover–Calais operators, only P&O Ferries does.
- Pets: on Le Shuttle, you, your passengers and your pets stay in the vehicle the whole way. On the ferry, pets stay in the car unless you book a pet lounge: P&O's Pet Lounge (dogs only) or Irish Ferries' Pet Den.
- LPG cars: take the ferry. Le Shuttle says it doesn't accept any vehicle fitted with LPG or dual-fuel tanks.
If speed matters most, it's Le Shuttle. If the crossing is part of the holiday, it's the ferry.
If speed matters most, it's Le Shuttle. If the crossing is part of the holiday, it's the ferry.
Side by side
| Le Shuttle | DFDS Dover–Calais | DFDS Dover–Dunkirk | P&O Dover–Calais | Irish Ferries Dover–Calais | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crossing | 35 minutes | 100 minutes | From 2 hours | Around 90 minutes | About 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Departures | Up to 4 an hour | Up to 30 a day | Up to 22 a day | 11 to 15 a day | Up to 20 a day |
| Foot passengers | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Check-in | Arrive 1 to 2 hours before | – | – | Closes 90 minutes before (with a vehicle, see below) | 1 hour before (cars) |
| Pets | Stay in the vehicle | – | – | In the car, or the Pet Lounge (dogs) | In the car, or the Pet Den |
A dash means I couldn't confirm it on the operator's own pages. P&O's own pages disagree on two points: its Dover–Calais page says check-in closes 90 minutes before departure, while its FAQ says 60 minutes with a vehicle, and it gives both "up to 15" and "a minimum of 11" sailings a day. Irish Ferries' help centre says up to 20 sailings a day. Go by your booking confirmation.
The crossing itself
On Le Shuttle you stay with your vehicle, though you can get out to stretch your legs. Boarding starts 25 minutes before departure. The terminal has duty free, food and toilets, and a ticket covers up to 9 people per vehicle, with as much luggage as you can fit in the car.
On the ferry, your car stays parked on the car deck while you use the facilities on board. DFDS has restaurants open 24/7, a duty free shop, a children's play area and room to explore outside on deck. P&O has a Club Lounge with an all-inclusive food and drink offer on Dover–Calais. Irish Ferries' Oscar Wilde has restaurants, a shopping area and a children's play area.
Pets
On Le Shuttle, every pet is checked in at Pet Reception, which Le Shuttle says takes a few minutes. Arrive at least 90 minutes before your departure, and you can take up to 5 pets per vehicle.
On P&O, all pets stay in the vehicle unless you've booked the Pet Lounge, which is for dogs only. It comes with complimentary refreshments and its own outside deck area, from £12 each way. <!-- until:2026-12-10 --> Irish Ferries' Pet Den gives your pet a space near you, with a dedicated outdoor walkway.
Whichever you choose, GOV.UK says you need an animal health certificate from your vet to take a pet to the EU. If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you can't use a pet passport to enter the EU, even one issued in the EU. Le Shuttle's pets page still mentions the EU pet passport, so go by GOV.UK.
Motorhomes, caravans, LPG and electric cars
Le Shuttle carries caravans, campervans and motorhomes, up to 18 metres for the vehicle and trailer combined. Vehicles taller than 1.85 metres go on its single-deck carriages.
On gas, Le Shuttle doesn't accept vehicles fitted with LPG or dual-fuel tanks. For gas bottles in campervans and caravans, it allows tanks up to 47 kg, less than 80% full, with the appliance switched off for the whole crossing. P&O asks you to declare, isolate and secure all gas bottles, up to a combined 47 kg. If your car runs on LPG, check with the ferry operator before you book.
If you're driving an electric car, Le Shuttle has charging points in its terminal car park.
Border controls
You clear border controls before you leave the UK either way. Le Shuttle says the UK and French governments run them at its terminal. GOV.UK says the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) started on 12 October 2025, and that any EES checks are done at the border before you leave the UK, whether you go via Dover or Le Shuttle. It may take extra time.
Weather
DFDS says its timetables may change with the weather. Le Shuttle says you won't have to worry about seasickness or the weather on its trains.
Getting there
- Le Shuttle, Folkestone: leave the M20 at junction 11A and drive straight to check-in. In France, its terminal is at Coquelles, just outside Calais.
- Ferry, Dover: follow the A20 to the Eastern Docks roundabout for the Dover ferry terminal. The Port of Dover asks you to arrive no more than 2 hours before your ferry leaves.
- In France: Le Shuttle says the Calais ferry port is around 15 minutes' drive from its terminal, and DFDS says Dunkirk is less than 25 miles north of Calais.
Compare the ferries
The Dover to Calais and Dover to Dunkirk route pages show who sails, the crossing times and the latest fares I've found. Heading off on a day trip? See my guide to day trips to France by ferry.
