About the Import Duty Calculator
This import duty calculator estimates what a shipment really costs once it clears customs. Enter the value of the goods, the freight and insurance, the duty rate for your product’s tariff (HS) code and the import VAT, GST or sales-tax rate of the destination country. It returns the customs value, the duty, any additional excise or tariff surcharge, the import tax and the landed cost in total and per unit.
It is built for small importers, e-commerce sellers sourcing from overseas, and anyone buying a large item from abroad who wants to know the bill before it arrives. You can switch between CIF valuation (goods + freight + insurance, used by the EU, UK, India and most of the world) and FOB valuation (goods only, broadly how the United States, Canada and Australia value imports).
Duty rates depend on the exact tariff classification and the country of origin, so look your rate up in the destination’s official tariff schedule. Import VAT is usually charged on the customs value plus duty and excise, which this calculator assumes; a de minimis threshold can be set so low-value shipments pay no duty.
With the default inputs, the total landed cost is $13,884.00. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the import duty calculator
- 1Enter the invoice value of the goods, plus freight and insurance to the destination.
- 2Choose CIF or FOB valuation to match the importing country.
- 3Look up the duty rate for your product’s HS code and enter it with any extra tariffs.
- 4Enter the import VAT/GST rate and any de minimis threshold.
- 5Add broker fees and the number of units to see the landed cost per unit.
Formula and method
The customs value (CV) is the base that duty is charged on. Under CIF valuation it includes international freight and insurance; under FOB valuation it is the transaction value of the goods alone. Duty is the tariff rate for the product’s HS code multiplied by the customs value, and any additional duty, excise or tariff surcharge is charged the same way.
Import VAT or GST is then applied to the customs value plus duty and excise — a tax on a tax, which is how the EU, UK, India and many other countries calculate it. Some FOB countries add transport costs back for the tax base (Australia charges GST on the customs value plus duty, freight and insurance), so with the FOB option this calculator slightly understates Australian GST. The landed cost adds everything you pay to get the goods to your door, including broker and handling fees, and dividing by the number of units gives the cost per unit you should price against.
- CV
- Customs value (valuation base)
- d
- Customs duty rate for the tariff code
- t
- Import VAT / GST rate
Worked examples
$10,000 shipment into the UK (CIF, 5% duty, 20% VAT)
The customs value is $10,000 + $800 freight + $100 insurance = $10,900. Duty at 5% is $545, and 20% VAT on $11,445 is $2,289. Adding the $150 broker fee gives a landed cost of $13,884, or $138.84 per unit.
US import at FOB with a 25% extra tariff and no VAT
Under FOB valuation only the $20,000 goods value is dutiable. Base duty at 3.5% is $700 and the 25% additional tariff adds $5,000. With freight, insurance and $300 of fees the landed cost is $27,700 — $55.40 for each of 500 units.
Australian order below the A$1,000 threshold
Goods worth A$800 are under the A$1,000 threshold, so no duty is charged. GST at 10% still applies to the A$860 price including shipping (for low-value goods Australia has the seller collect GST at the point of sale), giving A$86 of tax and a landed cost of A$946.
Frequently asked questions
How is import duty calculated?+
Import duty is the tariff rate for your product’s HS code multiplied by the customs value. Most countries use the CIF value (goods + freight + insurance); the US, Canada and Australia generally use the value of the goods without international freight.
Is VAT charged on top of customs duty?+
Yes, in most VAT/GST countries import VAT is calculated on the customs value plus the duty and any excise, so you pay VAT on the duty too. Registered businesses can normally reclaim import VAT on their VAT return.
What is landed cost?+
Landed cost is the total cost of getting a product to your door: the purchase price plus freight, insurance, customs duty, import taxes and broker or handling fees. It is the number you should use to set prices and margins.
Where do I find the duty rate for my product?+
Classify the product with its Harmonized System (HS) code, then look the code up in the destination’s tariff database — for example the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule (hts.usitc.gov) or the UK Trade Tariff (gov.uk/trade-tariff).
What is a de minimis threshold?+
It is the value below which imports enter without duty (and sometimes without tax). In Great Britain, non-excise goods worth £135 or less pay no customs duty but still pay VAT. The United States has suspended its $800 de minimis exemption for shipments from all countries, so low-value US imports are now dutiable. Thresholds change, so check the current figure with the destination customs authority.
Tax results are estimates based on published rules and simplified assumptions. They are not tax advice — check official guidance or a tax professional for your situation.