Customs Duty Calculator

Q: Who pays the customs duty, me or my supplier?

It depends on your shipping terms (Incoterms). DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): the seller pays duty and tax. DAP or FOB: you, the buyer, pay at the border. Most small imports are DAP, so the buyer gets the bill from the courier or broker. Always check your contract before you order.

Q: Is this calculator's result the exact amount customs will charge?

No. It is a close estimate for planning. Customs makes the final call based on your paperwork, the exact HS code they assign, and the exchange rate on the day of entry. Use it to budget and compare suppliers, not as an official ruling.

Q: Why is my duty rate different from what my supplier told me?

Common reasons: Your supplier quoted their export country's rate, not your import rate. They used a different HS code. They did not include extra tariffs like Section 301. They quoted FOB when your country uses CIF. Your destination country's rate is the one that counts.

Q: What happens if I use the wrong HS code?

You can be fined, your goods can be held at the border, or you can pay too much duty. If customs finds the error later, they can bill you for the difference plus penalties. When in doubt, ask a customs broker or request a binding ruling from your customs agency.

Q: Does the calculator include courier or broker fees?

No. It covers duty, extra tariffs, excise, and import VAT or GST. Couriers like DHL, FedEx and UPS add their own brokerage or disbursement fee , often $10 to $50 per shipment. Add that on top of your result.

Q: Why did my duty come out as zero?

Three possible reasons: A free trade agreement covers your route. Your shipment is under the country's de minimis limit. The product itself has a 0% duty rate, like laptops or books in many countries. Check the notice box above the results table to see which one applied.

Q: Do I still pay VAT or GST if duty is zero?

Usually yes. Duty and import tax are separate charges. A laptop can be 0% duty in the UK but still owe 20% VAT on the customs value. Only the de minimis tax threshold can waive the tax part.

Q: Can I split one shipment into smaller ones to stay under de minimis?

Do not do this. Customs calls it splitting or structuring , and it is against the rules in most countries. They can combine the parcels, charge full duty, and add penalties. Ship one order as one shipment.

Q: What proof do I need to get a free trade agreement rate?

You need proof the goods were really made in that country. This is usually a certificate of origin or a signed origin statement on the invoice. Rules of origin also set how much of the product must be made locally. Without proof, customs charges the normal MFN rate.

Q: My goods were shipped from Singapore but made in China. Which one do I pick?

Pick China . Origin means where the goods were made or last changed in a big way, not where they were stored or transhipped. Picking the wrong one can miss Section 301 tariffs and give you a false low estimate.

Customs Duty Calculator

Updated Aug 5, 2026 By Jehan Wadia

Introduction

When you buy goods from another country, you often have to pay extra money at the border. This extra money is called customs duty, and you may also owe import VAT, GST, or sales tax. These costs can add a lot to your final bill, and many people are surprised by them.

This Customs Duty Calculator shows you what you will pay before your goods ship. Pick where the goods come from, where they are going, and what they are. The tool finds the right HS code (the number customs uses to sort products), applies the correct duty rate, and adds any taxes. You get a clear total landed cost in seconds. For a simpler estimate on a single item, try our Duty Calculator.

The calculator also checks for free trade agreements. If a deal exists between the two countries, your duty rate may drop to zero. It checks de minimis limits too, which are value levels below which small shipments skip duty and tax. It flags extra charges like Section 301 tariffs, excise tax, and anti-dumping duties.

You can add more than one product, switch between FOB and CIF valuation, use any currency, and compare two sourcing options side by side. Every step of the math is shown, so you can see exactly how each number was found. Save your results as a PDF or CSV to share with your team or your customs broker. Pair it with our Shipping Calculator and Freight Calculator to build a complete import budget.

How to use our Customs Duty Calculator

Tell us where your goods are going, where they were made, what they are, and what they cost. The calculator then shows your import duty, taxes, total import charges, and full landed cost, with a step-by-step breakdown.

Destination Country: Pick the country your goods are shipped to. This sets the duty rates, VAT or GST rate, and de minimis limit. Use the filter box to find a country fast.

Canadian Province / Territory: This box only shows if you pick Canada. Choose the province so the tool adds the right PST, HST, QST, or GST-only amount. Our HST Calculator and GST Calculator break those Canadian taxes down further.

Country of Origin: Pick the country where the goods were made, not where they shipped from. The tool checks for a free trade agreement and lowers your duty rate if one applies.

Describe Your Product: Type what you are importing, like "leather shoes" or "wireless earbuds". Pick the best HS code match from the list shown.

Manual HS Code: If you already know your HS or HTS code, switch to this tab and type it in. Use 6 digits for an HS code or 8 to 10 digits for a country code.

Currency: Choose the currency on your commercial invoice. The tool converts it to the destination country's currency for you. Check live conversions with our Currency Calculator, USD to CAD Calculator, or Euro to USD Calculator.

Declared Customs Value: Enter the invoice value of the goods only. Leave out shipping and insurance here.

Valuation Basis: Pick FOB for goods value only, or CIF to add freight and insurance to the duty base. The US uses FOB. The EU, UK, and Canada use CIF.

Shipping Cost: This box shows when you pick CIF. Enter what you pay to move the goods to the border. Carrier quotes can be estimated with the UPS Shipping Calculator, FedEx Shipping Calculator, or USPS Shipping Calculator.

Insurance Cost: This box also shows with CIF. Enter the cost to insure the shipment.

Number of Units: Enter how many items are in the shipment. This gives you the duty and landed cost per unit.

Exchange Rate Override: Leave this blank to use our built-in rate. Enter your own rate if your customs broker or bank uses a different one.

Add Another Product: Click this to add more line items with their own HS code, value, and units. Freight and insurance are split across all items by value.

Scenario B — Country of Origin, Declared Value, and Valuation Basis: Set these to test a second option, like buying from a different country. Click Compare to see both landed costs side by side.

Click Calculate Import Duty & Taxes to see your results. You can then download a PDF report or a CSV file of the full breakdown.

What Are Customs Duties and Import Taxes?

Customs duty is a tax a country charges when goods cross its border. When your shipment arrives, customs officers check what the goods are, where they were made, and how much they are worth. Then they charge duty, plus taxes like VAT or GST. You must pay these charges before your goods are released.

HS Codes: The Product ID Number

Every product has an HS code (Harmonized System code). It is a 6-digit number used by almost every country in the world. Many countries add more digits to make an 8 or 10-digit HTS code. The code tells customs exactly what your item is, and that code sets your duty rate. A cotton t-shirt and a laptop have very different codes and very different rates. Picking the wrong code can mean fines, delays, or paying too much. Freight carriers use a related system for pricing, which you can explore in the Freight Class Calculator.

Customs Value: FOB vs CIF

Duty is charged on a value, not just the price tag. There are two common ways to build that value:

FOB (Free On Board) — only the price of the goods. The United States uses this.
CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) — the goods plus shipping plus insurance. The EU, UK, Canada, Australia and many others use this.

CIF gives a bigger base, so the same shipment can cost more in duty in a CIF country. Because freight feeds straight into the CIF base, it pays to check your carrier's billing weight with the Volumetric Weight Calculator and your box space with the CBM Calculator.

Country of Origin and Trade Deals

Origin means where the goods were made, not where they were shipped from. This matters a lot. Many countries have free trade agreements (like USMCA, CPTPP, or the EU–Japan EPA) that cut duty to zero or near zero. To use a lower rate, you need proof of origin, such as a certificate or a supplier statement. Without proof, customs charges the normal MFN rate (Most Favoured Nation), which is the standard rate for all countries.

Import VAT, GST and Sales Tax

Most countries also charge a consumption tax at the border. It goes by different names: VAT in Europe, GST in Canada and Australia, IGST in India, Consumption Tax in Japan. This tax is usually charged on the customs value plus the duty, so it stacks on top. Use the VAT Calculator to model European rates, the Add VAT Calculator or Remove VAT Calculator for pricing work, and the Sales Tax Calculator for US state-level tax after import. The United States does not charge federal VAT at the border. Canada adds a federal GST plus a provincial part (PST, QST or HST) depending on the province.

De Minimis: Small Shipments

Many countries let low-value shipments in duty-free or tax-free. This limit is called de minimis. It is different everywhere — Australia's is high, the EU's tax-free limit is gone, and Canada's is low. If your shipment is under the limit, you may pay nothing. If it is one dollar over, the full charges can apply.

Extra Tariffs You Might Not Expect

Section 301 tariffs — extra US duties of 7.5% to 25% on many Chinese-made goods.
Reciprocal tariffs — added US rates that depend on the origin country.
Anti-dumping and countervailing duties — special duties on goods sold too cheaply or unfairly helped by a government. These can be very high and apply to things like steel, tires, tiles and furniture.
Excise tax — extra tax on alcohol, tobacco and fuel.

Landed Cost

Landed cost is the true total: the goods, the freight, the insurance, the duty, and all the taxes. This is the number you should use when setting your prices or checking your margins — run the result through our Margin Calculator or Markup Calculator to set a selling price, and the Break Even Calculator to see how many units you need to sell. Two suppliers with the same quote can have very different landed costs if one is in a country with a trade deal and the other is not.

Tips to Pay Less

Check if a trade agreement covers your route, and keep origin paperwork ready.
Use the correct HS code — small wording changes can move a product to a lower rate.
Compare suppliers in different countries before you order, and factor in production and transit time with the Lead Time Calculator.
Ship on the right terms so you know who pays the duty, and load containers efficiently using the Container Loading Calculator.
Keep clear invoices showing goods, freight and insurance separately.
If you resell online, remember platform fees stack on top of duty — check the FBA Calculator, eBay Fee Calculator, or Etsy Fee Calculator.

Rates, thresholds and exchange rates change often. Estimates are a planning guide, not a customs ruling. For large or complex shipments, talk to a licensed customs broker. For business income tax on your import profits, see our Corporation Tax Calculator and Tax Calculator.

Formulas used

Customs value (CIF or FOB basis, converted to destination currency)

CV = (G + S_{\text{freight}} + I_{\text{ins}}) \times FX, \qquad FX = \frac{FX_{\text{dest}}}{FX_{\text{invoice}}}

Preferential duty rate under a trade agreement

r_{\text{applied}} = r_{\text{MFN}} \times f_{\text{FTA}}

Per-line duty base (freight and insurance allocated pro-rata by value)

B_i = v_i \times FX + (S_{\text{freight}} + I_{\text{ins}}) \times FX \times \frac{v_i}{\sum_j v_j}

Customs duty, Section 301, reciprocal and excise charges

D = \sum_i B_i \times \frac{r_{\text{applied},i}}{100}, \quad T_{301} = \sum_i B_i \times \frac{r_{301,i}}{100}, \quad T_{\text{recip}} = \sum_i B_i \times \frac{r_{\text{recip}}}{100}, \quad E = \sum_i B_i \times \frac{r_{\text{excise},i}}{100}

Import VAT / GST (and Canadian provincial component) on the duty-inclusive base

\text{Base}_{\text{tax}} = CV + D + T_{301} + T_{\text{recip}} + E, \qquad VAT = \text{Base}_{\text{tax}} \times \frac{r_{\text{tax}}}{100}, \qquad PST = \text{Base}_{\text{tax}} \times \frac{r_{\text{prov}}}{100}

Total import charges and total landed cost

C_{\text{total}} = D + T_{301} + T_{\text{recip}} + E + VAT + PST, \qquad L = CV + C_{\text{total}}

Effective duty rate and charges as a percentage of goods value

r_{\text{eff}} = \frac{D}{CV} \times 100, \qquad \%_{\text{charges}} = \frac{C_{\text{total}}}{G \times FX} \times 100

De minimis test (customs value expressed in USD)

CV_{USD} = \frac{G + S_{\text{freight}} + I_{\text{ins}}}{FX_{\text{invoice}}}, \qquad CV_{USD} < \text{threshold} \Rightarrow r_{\text{applied}} = 0,\; r_{\text{tax}} = 0

Frequently asked questions

Who pays the customs duty, me or my supplier?

It depends on your shipping terms (Incoterms).

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): the seller pays duty and tax.
DAP or FOB: you, the buyer, pay at the border.

Most small imports are DAP, so the buyer gets the bill from the courier or broker. Always check your contract before you order.

Is this calculator's result the exact amount customs will charge?

No. It is a close estimate for planning. Customs makes the final call based on your paperwork, the exact HS code they assign, and the exchange rate on the day of entry. Use it to budget and compare suppliers, not as an official ruling.

Why is my duty rate different from what my supplier told me?

Common reasons:

Your supplier quoted their export country's rate, not your import rate.
They used a different HS code.
They did not include extra tariffs like Section 301.
They quoted FOB when your country uses CIF.

Your destination country's rate is the one that counts.

What happens if I use the wrong HS code?

You can be fined, your goods can be held at the border, or you can pay too much duty. If customs finds the error later, they can bill you for the difference plus penalties. When in doubt, ask a customs broker or request a binding ruling from your customs agency.

Does the calculator include courier or broker fees?

No. It covers duty, extra tariffs, excise, and import VAT or GST. Couriers like DHL, FedEx and UPS add their own brokerage or disbursement fee, often $10 to $50 per shipment. Add that on top of your result.

Why did my duty come out as zero?

Three possible reasons:

A free trade agreement covers your route.
Your shipment is under the country's de minimis limit.
The product itself has a 0% duty rate, like laptops or books in many countries.

Check the notice box above the results table to see which one applied.

Do I still pay VAT or GST if duty is zero?

Usually yes. Duty and import tax are separate charges. A laptop can be 0% duty in the UK but still owe 20% VAT on the customs value. Only the de minimis tax threshold can waive the tax part.

Can I split one shipment into smaller ones to stay under de minimis?

Do not do this. Customs calls it splitting or structuring, and it is against the rules in most countries. They can combine the parcels, charge full duty, and add penalties. Ship one order as one shipment.

What proof do I need to get a free trade agreement rate?

You need proof the goods were really made in that country. This is usually a certificate of origin or a signed origin statement on the invoice. Rules of origin also set how much of the product must be made locally. Without proof, customs charges the normal MFN rate.

My goods were shipped from Singapore but made in China. Which one do I pick?

Pick China. Origin means where the goods were made or last changed in a big way, not where they were stored or transhipped. Picking the wrong one can miss Section 301 tariffs and give you a false low estimate.

Should I use FOB or CIF?

Use what your destination country requires, not what you prefer.

FOB: United States, Australia, Canada (for some purposes), Japan.
CIF: EU countries, United Kingdom, most of Asia, Latin America, Africa.

The help icon next to the setting lists the main ones. CIF gives a bigger duty base, so duty is higher.

What is the difference between an HS code and an HTS code?

The first 6 digits are the HS code and are the same worldwide. Countries add 2 to 4 more digits for their own use, which makes the HTS code (US) or commodity code (UK/EU). This tool accepts 6 to 10 digits and matches to the closest heading it knows.

Why does the calculator say my HS code is a closest match?

Your code is not in the built-in index, so the tool used the nearest heading in the same chapter. The rate shown is an estimate. For an exact rate, look your full code up in your country's official tariff schedule.

How does the tool split shipping across multiple products?

It splits freight and insurance pro-rata by value. If one item is 70% of your invoice total, it takes 70% of the shipping cost into its duty base. This matches how most customs authorities allocate costs.

Which exchange rate does customs actually use?

Customs uses an official rate set by the government, usually fixed weekly or monthly, not the live market rate. That rate can differ from ours by a few percent. If your broker gives you their rate, type it into the Exchange Rate Override box for a closer match.

What are anti-dumping duties and why does the calculator warn about them?

Anti-dumping and countervailing duties are extra charges on goods sold below fair price or backed by government subsidies. They can run from 20% to over 300%. The tool flags known risk routes (like steel, tires, tiles and furniture from certain countries) but does not add them to your total, because the rate depends on your exact supplier.

Do I pay import tax on the shipping cost?

In CIF countries, yes. Freight and insurance go into the customs value, so duty and VAT are both charged on them. In FOB countries like the US, freight is left out of the duty base. This is why the same shipment costs more to import into the EU than the US.

Can I claim back the import VAT I pay?

If you are a VAT-registered business importing for business use, usually yes. You reclaim it on your VAT return using the import document (like a C79 in the UK). Private buyers cannot reclaim it. Customs duty is never refundable this way.

Why is my import tax higher than the country's VAT rate?

Because VAT is charged on the customs value plus duty and other tariffs, not just on your goods value. A 20% VAT rate on top of a 12% duty means your total charges are more than 20% of the invoice price.

How do I compare two suppliers in different countries?

Set up your main order in the top panel. Then in Scenario Comparison, pick the second country and enter that supplier's price. Click Compare. You will see both landed costs side by side, with the difference in cash and percent. A cheaper quote can end up more expensive after duty.

What are Section 301 and reciprocal tariffs?

Both are extra US-only tariffs added on top of the normal duty rate.

Section 301: 7.5% to 25% on many China-made goods.
Reciprocal tariffs: a country-based rate that applies to most origins.

They stack. A 4.9% duty item from China can end up well over 40% once both are added.

Does the tool work for personal orders, not just business imports?

Yes. Enter your order value, pick one unit, and choose your country. De minimis rules matter most for personal orders, so watch the threshold notice. Just remember couriers add their own handling fee for collecting the charges.

Why does Canada ask for a province?

Canada charges 5% federal GST at the border, plus a provincial part in most provinces. Ontario is 13% HST total, Alberta is GST only at 5%, and Quebec adds 9.975% QST. Your province changes the tax total, so the tool needs it.

Can I save or share my results?

Yes. Click Download PDF Report for a clean printable page, or Download CSV for a spreadsheet file with every charge line, rate and amount. The CSV is handy for sending to your broker or loading into your costing sheet.

How current are the duty rates in this tool?

Rates, VAT levels, de minimis limits and exchange rates are dated August 2026. Tariffs change often, especially US measures. Check your country's official tariff site before placing a large order.

What is the difference between MFN and preferential rates?

MFN (Most Favoured Nation) is the standard rate a country charges everyone in the WTO. A preferential rate is the lower rate under a trade deal, often 0%. You only get the preferential rate if you prove origin. The results panel shows both so you can see what the paperwork is worth.

Are excise taxes in this tool exact?

No, they are rough estimates. Real excise on alcohol, tobacco and fuel is often charged per litre, per pack or by alcohol strength, not as a percent of value. Use the figure as a rough guide and check your country's excise schedule for the real amount.

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