Estimate import duty, landed cost, and effective rate for international trade planning.
Import duty (customs duty) adds cost to an imported product. Even when the rate seems moderate, it can materially change the final landed cost.
Most countries calculate duty on the CIF value (product + freight + insurance). The US uses FOB value (product only). This affects how much duty is paid on the same shipment.
An import duty calculator can help compare sourcing options, estimate margin pressure, and test import scenarios before ordering.
An import duty calculator helps estimate how customs charges affect the cost of bringing goods into a market. It is useful for planning, budgeting, and scenario testing before import decisions are made.
This tool uses product value, tariff rate, shipping cost, and insurance cost to give a planning-level estimate of import duty (customs duty), total landed cost, and effective rate. It is not a substitute for official customs classification or professional trade advice.
Import duty — also called customs duty — is calculated by multiplying the customs value of the goods by the applicable tariff rate:
Import duty = customs value × tariff rate ÷ 100
The customs value depends on the valuation method used by the destination country. The two main systems are CIF and FOB, explained in the next section. In simplified planning calculations, the product value is commonly used as the duty basis.
Worked example: A product has a declared value of $10,000. Shipping is $500 and insurance is $100. The applicable tariff rate is 5%.
Brokerage fees and local taxes (such as VAT or sales tax) are not included in this estimate. They are destination-specific and can add substantially to the total.
Most countries use one of two systems to determine the customs value on which duty is calculated:
Using the same shipment — $10,000 product, $600 freight, $100 insurance, 5% duty rate — the two bases give different results:
| Valuation basis | Duty calculated on | Import duty at 5% | Commonly used by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIF | $10,700 (product + freight + insurance) | $535 | UK, EU, most countries |
| FOB | $10,000 (product value only) | $500 | United States |
This calculator applies the tariff rate to the product value you enter and shows shipping and insurance as additional cost lines in the total. To model a CIF scenario, enter the product price as the product value and add freight and insurance separately. To model a FOB scenario (duty on product value only), enter the product price and leave shipping and insurance at zero for the duty calculation.
These figures are broad illustrative ranges only. The actual duty rate for any shipment depends on the specific commodity code (HS code), country of origin, destination country, applicable trade agreements, preference schemes, anti-dumping measures, safeguard duties, and quotas in effect at the time of import. Always check the official tariff schedule for the destination country and the specific HS code before making trade or sourcing decisions.
| Product type | Typical US range | Typical UK / EU range |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer electronics | 0–3.9% | 0–14% |
| Clothing and apparel | 12–32% | 6–12% |
| Footwear | 8–48% | 3.7–17% |
| Food products (processed) | 0–20% | 0–13.5% |
| Motor vehicles | 2.5–25%+ | 6.5% |
| Steel and metal products | varies widely | 0–12% |
| Toys and games | 0% | 0–4.7% |
These are general guidance ranges only. Origin-specific surcharges, anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties, and safeguard measures can apply on top of the standard rate and are not reflected above. Check the official tariff schedule for the destination country for exact current rates.
Tariff rates are set by law and can change. Import duty planning should account for the fact that rates are not always stable, particularly for trade-sensitive categories. Common reasons rates change include:
A tariff calculator is most useful as a scenario-planning tool: test different rate assumptions to see how changes would affect landed cost before committing to a sourcing or pricing decision. Always verify the current rate for the specific commodity code and country of origin before making trade decisions.
Landed cost is the total cost of getting an imported product to its destination. Looking at the tariff rate alone can significantly understate the real financial impact of importing.
A complete landed cost calculation typically includes:
Landed cost formula (simplified): product value + import duty + freight + insurance + brokerage + local taxes
This calculator covers the first four components. Brokerage and local taxes require destination-specific information and are not included in this estimate.
A simplified duty calculation is a useful starting point for budgeting, but real import costs can differ for several reasons:
For exact customs treatment, verify the HS code, applicable rates, and destination-specific procedures before importing.
Import duty is calculated by multiplying the customs value of the goods by the applicable tariff rate. Customs value is typically either the CIF value (Cost, Insurance, Freight — used in the UK, EU, and most countries) or the FOB value (Free On Board — used by the US). For example, a $10,000 product shipped CIF with $500 freight and $100 insurance gives a CIF customs value of $10,600. At a 5% duty rate, the import duty is $530. This calculator uses the product value you enter as the duty basis and shows shipping and insurance as additional cost components.
CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) includes shipping and insurance in the customs valuation. Most countries — including the UK and EU — calculate import duty on the CIF value. FOB (Free On Board) is the product value at the point of export, before freight and insurance. The US calculates customs duty on the FOB value. On a $10,000 product with $600 freight and $100 insurance at a 5% rate: a CIF-basis country charges duty on $10,700, giving $535 import duty; a FOB-basis country charges duty on $10,000 only, giving $500.
Rates vary widely by product type and destination country. Consumer electronics attract 0–14% in most markets. Clothing can attract 6–32%. Food products range from near zero to 20% or more depending on type. The binding rate for any shipment depends on the product's HS tariff code, the country of origin, and the destination country's official tariff schedule. Preference schemes from trade agreements can reduce or eliminate duty for qualifying goods.
It depends on the destination country. Countries using CIF valuation — including the UK, EU, and most of the world — calculate import duty on the combined total of product value, freight, and insurance. Countries using FOB valuation, primarily the US, calculate duty on product value only, before shipping and insurance are added. This calculator includes shipping and insurance as separate inputs so both scenarios can be tested.
Landed cost is the full cost of getting an imported product to its destination. It typically includes product value, import duty, freight, insurance, customs brokerage fees, and applicable local taxes such as VAT or sales tax. This calculator covers the first four components. Brokerage fees and local taxes require destination-specific information and are not included in this estimate.
For connected calculations, see the Loan Calculator, Working Days Calculator, and Mortgage Calculator.