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Know the real cost before you wire the US supplier
A Yeti tumbler quoted at $14 ex-works lands at £20.51 in London once UK duty, VAT, ocean freight and broker fees come in. We do that math for any US product — Olaplex, DeWalt, Patagonia, KitchenAid, Buffalo Trace, bulk soy — into the UK, EU, Canada, Australia, India or Mexico.
Plan the order before you place it
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Quick Landed Cost Estimate
Edit any number — duty, freight, MOQ — to see the impact on your per-unit landed cost instantly.
Why the US over Asia
Six reasons buyers are rerouting orders back to US suppliers
Free-trade preferences, calmer supply chains, smaller MOQs, and stronger brand recognition do most of the work. Headline numbers below — full case at /why-us.
🤝
0% destination duty with FTAs
USMCA (CA, MX), AUSFTA (AU), KORUS (KR), and 11 more zero out destination duty on most US-origin lines. Saves 5–8% per shipment vs the same goods from a non-FTA origin.
🏷️
"Made in USA" still sells
67% of UK and 71% of Japanese shoppers perceive US-made as higher quality. Yeti retails at 2× generic Asian-made alternatives and outsells them.
📦
MOQs that don't bankrupt you
Most US wholesalers ship from existing inventory — 50 to 500 units. Asian factories want 1,000–5,000. Test a SKU with 96 Yeti tumblers, reorder once velocity proves out.
⚡
Shorter lanes to UK and EU
NY/NJ → Felixstowe in 10–14 days. East Asia → Felixstowe takes 28–35. That 18-day gap is the difference between a clean Q4 launch and an Amazon stockout.
🛡️
Real legal recourse
US suppliers operate under US contract law and have D&B records, BBB profiles, and US assets. If product arrives counterfeit, you have practical legal options. Try that with an anonymous offshore supplier.
📅
No seasonal factory shutdown
Many overseas factories close 2–3 weeks of national-holiday shutdown each year. US suppliers close for federal holidays — a day at a time. Removes 4–6 weeks of annual planning friction.
💵
USD: one FX leg, tightest spreads
Buying from a typical overseas supplier means double FX (your currency → USD → their local currency) with spreads on both ends. Direct US sourcing collapses that to one leg — roughly $1,000–$1,500 saved on a $50k order, every order.
🏦
Reserve-currency stability
USD holds ~58% of global central-bank reserves and settles ~88% of trade. Forwards and hedges are deep and cheap. Emerging-market buyers especially: USD-priced contracts hold up when your local currency wobbles.
Start Here
The Import Calculators That Matter Most
These are the core tools every cross-border buyer needs. Duties, freight, landed cost, tariffs, and quality inspection — start with these before anything else.
Landed Cost Calculator — Total Cost of Importing from the US
Calculate the full landed cost per unit when importing from the US to the UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Indi…
Open Calculator →India Import Duty Calculator — US to India Customs Costs
India has no FTA with the United States, so MFN rates apply: BCD (10–20%) + SWS (10% of BCD) + IGST (5–18…
Open Calculator →UK Landed Cost Calculator — US to UK Total Import Cost
From Los Angeles to Southampton, calculate every cost: UKGT commodity duty, 20% Import VAT, freight, insu…
Open Calculator →Australia Landed Cost Calculator — US to Australia Import Cost
From Los Angeles to Fremantle, calculate the complete cost: AUSFTA-preferential duty, 10% GST, sea freigh…
Open Calculator →Canada Import Duty Calculator — US to Canada
Canadian customs tariff applies to transaction value.…
Open Calculator →EU Customs Duty Calculator — US Imports
The EU applies its Common Customs Tariff on CIF value.…
Open Calculator →India IGST Import Calculator — US to India Tax & Duty Cost
IGST is recoverable as input tax credit for GST-registered importers — but only if filed correctly.…
Open Calculator →Air Freight Cost Calculator from the US
When sea freight is too slow, air freight delivers in 5–10 days.…
Open Calculator →AQL Sampling Calculator — Quality Inspection Sample Size
AQL 2.5 is the industry standard, but how many units does your inspector actually need to check?…
Open Calculator →Incoterms Cost Calculator — EXW vs FOB vs CIF vs DDP
EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP — each Incoterm shifts risk and cost differently between buyer and seller.…
Open Calculator →Amazon FBA Fee Calculator 2026 — Updated Fee Schedule
FBA fees depend on product size tier, weight, and category.…
Open Calculator →Sea Freight Cost Per KG Calculator
Sea freight averages $0.05–0.15/kg for FCL vs $0.30–0.80/kg for LCL — but air freight costs $3–8/kg.…
Open Calculator →North America
Choose the Landing Market Before You Quote
The same the US shipment behaves differently in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico once tariff stacking, low-value treatment, and VAT or GST are applied.
🇨🇦 Canada
Duty basis: Transaction value (similar to CIF)
Low-value rule: CAD $20 for commercial imports
🇲🇽 Mexico
Duty basis: Customs value declared in the pedimento / value declaration
Low-value rule: No broad the United States-shipment de minimis; express rules are channel-specific
All Calculator Categories
Every Number You Need to Import from the US
Organized by topic — from duties and freight to AQL quality control and Amazon FBA profit.
Import Duties & Taxes
Calculate 2026 import duty, VAT, GST, and IGST on goods shipped from the US to the UK, EU, Australia, Canada, India and other destinations.
Priority 1 - Duty & tariff planning
Browse →
Freight & Shipping
Calculate sea freight LCL/FCL, air freight, dimensional weight, and CBM costs from US ports (LA/LB, NY/NJ, Houston, Savannah) to global destinations.
Priority 2 - Freight quote planning
Browse →
Product Costing
Calculate landed cost, profit margin, break-even, MOQ cost, and total cost for goods imported from the US. Know your numbers before you place an order.
Priority 3 - Landed cost & margin checks
Browse →
Manufacturing & Quality
AQL sampling, defect rate cost, production lead time, factory capacity, tooling, and quality inspection ROI calculators for US-made products.
Priority 4 - QA, defects & lead times
Browse →
Payment & Finance
Wire transfer fees, letter of credit costs, USD/local FX impact, early payment discount, working capital, and trade finance calculators for US-import buyers.
Priority 5 - Cash flow & payment terms
Browse →
Marketplace & eCommerce
Amazon FBA UK/EU/CA/AU profit, US-supplier-to-Amazon total cost, private label ROI, product launch budget, and eCommerce margin calculators for cross-border
Priority 6 - FBA & marketplace margins
Browse →
Compliance & Regulations
Estimate CE marking, UKCA, FCC equivalence, destination compliance (TGA, NMPA, CDSCO), REACH/RoHS, and EAR export-control costs for US-sourced goods.
Priority 7 - Compliance before shipment
Browse →
Sourcing & Negotiation
US supplier price comparison, factory audit cost, trade show ROI, sourcing agent fee, sample order cost, and US-export quote calculators for global buyers.
Priority 8 - Supplier comparison & MOQ
Browse →
Understanding Import Costs
Why FOB Price Is Only Half the Story
Every importer learns this the hard way: a product quoted at $8 FOB from a US industrial cluster doesn't cost $8 to land in your warehouse. By the time you add freight, insurance, customs duty, tariffs, broker fees, and local delivery — that $8 product often costs $12–14 per unit.
Our calculators break down every cost component so you know your true landed cost per unit before you commit to an order — not after your shipment arrives.
- Freight (sea/air) adds 5–20% to product cost
- import duty add 7.5-100% depending on the HTS line
- The current U.S. temporary surcharge adds 10% through July 24, 2026 unless changed
- Standard HTS duties add 0-37% depending on product
- destination clearance fee, destination port fee, broker, and local delivery often add $450-900 per shipment
- Insurance is typically 0.35–0.5% of CIF value
Typical Cost Breakdown: $10,000 FOB Order into the U.S.
Total Landed Cost
$15,965
50.1% above FOB price — that's the real cost to land in your warehouse.
All Tools — Free, No Sign-Up
All Import Calculators
Browse by import workflow — from duty checks and freight quotes to compliance, sourcing, and margin planning.
UK Import VAT Calculator — US to UK Customs Costs
Post-Brexit, the UK charges Import VAT at 20% on (CIF + UKGT duty). VAT-registered importe…
Open Calculator →EU Customs Duty Calculator — US Imports
The EU applies its Common Customs Tariff on CIF value.…
Open Calculator →UK Landed Cost Calculator — US to UK Total Import Cost
From Los Angeles to Southampton, calculate every cost: UKGT commodity duty, 20% Import VAT…
Open Calculator →Australia Import Duty Calculator
Australia charges 10% GST on (FOB + freight + insurance + duty). AUSFTA may reduce your du…
Open Calculator →Australia Landed Cost Calculator — US to Australia Import Cost
From Los Angeles to Fremantle, calculate the complete cost: AUSFTA-preferential duty, 10% …
Open Calculator →Canada Import Duty Calculator — US to Canada
Canadian customs tariff applies to transaction value.…
Open Calculator →Canada GST Import Calculator
Federal GST (5%) applies nationwide. In ON, NS, NB, NL, and PEI, HST (13–15%) replaces it.…
Open Calculator →De Minimis Threshold Calculator - Duty-Free Limit by Country
Compare shipment value against major de minimis thresholds. Updated for the current U.S.…
Open Calculator →India Import Duty Calculator — US to India Customs Costs
India has no FTA with the United States, so MFN rates apply: BCD (10–20%) + SWS (10% of BC…
Open Calculator →India IGST Import Calculator — US to India Tax & Duty Cost
IGST is recoverable as input tax credit for GST-registered importers — but only if filed c…
Open Calculator →Section 122 Tariff Expiry Calculator — July 24, 2026 Deadline
Calculate the impact of the Section 122 temporary 10% import surcharge expiry on July 24, …
Open Calculator →CBM Calculator — Cubic Meter Calculator for Sea Freight
Cubic meters determine your LCL rate and whether you should upgrade to FCL.…
Open Calculator →Sea Freight Cost Calculator — US to other markets/UK/Australia
Compare LCL vs FCL sea freight from any US port.…
Open Calculator →Air Freight Cost Calculator from the US
When sea freight is too slow, air freight delivers in 5–10 days.…
Open Calculator →LCL Freight Calculator — Less than Container Load Cost
LCL rates are quoted per CBM with a minimum of 1 CBM.…
Open Calculator →Dimensional Weight Calculator — Air Freight DIM Weight
Courier and air freight charge on whichever is greater: actual weight or dimensional weigh…
Open Calculator →Container Capacity Calculator — 20ft & 40ft Carton Fitting
A 20ft container holds 25–28 CBM, a 40ft holds 55–60 CBM, and a 40HQ holds 68 CBM.…
Open Calculator →Cargo Insurance Calculator — Marine Freight Insurance Cost
Marine cargo insurance costs 0.3–0.5% of CIF value — roughly $150 on a $30,000 shipment.…
Open Calculator →Incoterms Cost Calculator — EXW vs FOB vs CIF vs DDP
EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP — each Incoterm shifts risk and cost differently between buyer and sell…
Open Calculator →Sea vs Air Freight Calculator — True Cost Comparison
Sea saves 60–80% on freight but ties up cash for 30–45 extra days.…
Open Calculator →Shipping Lead Time Calculator
Total lead time = production + inland transit + port handling + ocean transit + customs + …
Open Calculator →Demurrage Calculator
Free days expire fast — demurrage is $75–250/day for containers, detention is $50–150/day …
Open Calculator →Sea Freight Cost Per KG Calculator
Sea freight averages $0.05–0.15/kg for FCL vs $0.30–0.80/kg for LCL — but air freight cost…
Open Calculator →Freight Forwarder Quote Calculator
Freight forwarder quotes include 15–25 line items.…
Open Calculator →Landed Cost Calculator — Total Cost of Importing from the US
Calculate the full landed cost per unit when importing from the US to the UK, EU, Canada, …
Open Calculator →Import Profit Margin Calculator — US sourcing ROI
Gross margin on paper is meaningless without landed cost.…
Open Calculator →Amazon FBA Import Calculator from the US
Amazon FBA eats 30–45% of your selling price in referral fees, fulfillment, storage, and a…
Open Calculator →Wholesale Import Price Calculator — US to Reseller
Setting wholesale price too low kills your margin; too high kills velocity.…
Open Calculator →MOQ Calculator — Minimum Order Quantity Cost from the US
MOQ determines your initial cash outlay.…
Open Calculator →Price Per Unit Calculator Import
The true cost per unit includes freight allocation, duty, destination clearance fee, broke…
Open Calculator →Break Even Import Calculator
How many units do you need to sell to cover your landed cost, overhead, and platform fees?…
Open Calculator →Sample Order Cost Calculator
Samples from the US cost $50–500+ including DHL/FedEx express shipping ($5–12/kg).…
Open Calculator →Product Markup Calculator Import
Keystone markup (2×) on landed cost is the traditional rule. But Amazon sellers need 3–4× …
Open Calculator →Reseller Margin Calculator — US Import to Retail
Margin erodes at every distribution level: importer → distributor → retailer.…
Open Calculator →Currency Exchange Impact Calculator Import
A 5% move in USD/USD on a $50,000 order is $2,500 gone.…
Open Calculator →Currency Exchange Price Calculator
A supplier quote in a foreign currency can swing 2–5% between the quote date and payment d…
Open Calculator →Import vs Domestic Manufacturing Calculator
import vs domestic manufacturing calculator — the United States FOB is cheaper — but by ho…
Open Calculator →Inventory Carrying Cost Calculator for Importers
Inventory sitting in your warehouse costs 20–30% of its value per year in storage, insuran…
Open Calculator →Reorder Point Calculator for US Imports
Reorder too late and you stock out for 6–8 weeks. Too early and you tie up cash in excess …
Open Calculator →Economic Order Quantity Calculator
EOQ balances ordering cost against holding cost to minimize total inventory expense.…
Open Calculator →Shopify Product Cost Calculator Import
Shopify charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction plus your plan fee.…
Open Calculator →eBay Import Profit Calculator from the US
ebay import profit calculator — eBay charges 12.35% final value fee plus payment processin…
Open Calculator →Profit Margin Calculator Importer
Gross margin, operating margin, and net margin tell three different stories.…
Open Calculator →AQL Sampling Calculator — Quality Inspection Sample Size
AQL 2.5 is the industry standard, but how many units does your inspector actually need to …
Open Calculator →Defect Rate Cost Calculator — Quality Failure Impact
A 3% defect rate sounds small — until you calculate the cost of returns, replacements, neg…
Open Calculator →Quality Inspection Cost Calculator — Factory Audit
A full-day pre-shipment inspection costs $250–450.…
Open Calculator →Production Lead Time Calculator
Factory-quoted lead times are optimistic by 30–50%.…
Open Calculator →Factory Capacity Calculator — Manufacturing Output
Does your supplier have the capacity to handle your order without subcontracting?…
Open Calculator →OEM vs ODM Cost Calculator — Manufacturing Options
OEM means your design in their factory — more upfront cost but full IP control.…
Open Calculator →Tooling Mold Cost Calculator
Injection molds cost $3,000–50,000 and last 50,000–500,000 cycles.…
Open Calculator →Product Testing Cost Calculator
CPSC, ASTM, EN71, RoHS, REACH, Prop 65, UL, FCC — testing costs $500–30,000+ depending on …
Open Calculator →Product Certification Cost Calculator
CE, FCC, UL, CPSC, FDA — each certification costs $2,000–50,000.…
Open Calculator →Packaging Cost Calculator
Inner packaging, master carton, poly bag, barcode label, insert card, and custom-printed b…
Open Calculator →Product Labeling Compliance Cost
Country of origin, material content, care labels, UPC/EAN barcodes, and regulatory marks —…
Open Calculator →Rejection Rate Impact Calculator — Cost of Failed Inspections
A rejected container means re-inspection, rework, delayed launch, and potential air-freigh…
Open Calculator →Factory Audit Cost Calculator
A factory audit costs $300–800/day covering facility, quality system, social compliance, a…
Open Calculator →MOQ Optimization Calculator — Find Your Ideal Order Size
Ordering exactly at MOQ maximizes per-unit cost. Ordering 2× MOQ can drop FOB 10–20% but t…
Open Calculator →Sample to Production Timeline
From first sample request to containers on the water: 12–20 weeks is realistic.…
Open Calculator →International Wire Transfer Fee Calculator for American Suppliers
International wire transfers to the United States cost $25–50 in bank fees plus 1–3% in hi…
Open Calculator →Letter of Credit Cost Calculator
An L/C costs 1–3% of order value in bank fees plus document preparation.…
Open Calculator →Trade Finance Cost Calculator for Importers
Supply chain finance, invoice factoring, and purchase order financing cost 8–24% APR.…
Open Calculator →Payment Terms Impact Calculator — 30/60/90 Days Effect
Shifting from 30/70 to 50/50 payment terms changes your cash flow timeline by weeks.…
Open Calculator →Currency Hedging Cost Calculator Import
A forward contract locks your USD/USD rate for 3–12 months. The premium is 0.…
Open Calculator →PayPal vs Wire Transfer — US Supplier Payments
PayPal charges 4.4% + fixed fee for cross-border supplier payments. Wire transfers cost $2…
Open Calculator →Early Payment Discount Calculator — Is Early Pay Worth It?
A 2% discount for paying 20 days early (2/10 net 30) equals ~36% APR.…
Open Calculator →Working Capital Calculator Import Business
From 30% deposit to final payment to inventory arrival to first sale — your cash is locked…
Open Calculator →Import Credit Line Calculator
Your import credit line needs to cover 2–3 shipments in transit simultaneously.…
Open Calculator →Private Label ROI Calculator — US sourcing
Private label from the US requires $5,000–20,000 upfront for tooling, samples, compliance,…
Open Calculator →Amazon Seller Profit Calculator with US Landed Cost
Revenue minus COGS minus FBA fees minus PPC minus returns minus storage = your actual Amaz…
Open Calculator →Amazon FBA Fee Calculator 2026 — Updated Fee Schedule
FBA fees depend on product size tier, weight, and category.…
Open Calculator →Amazon PPC Break Even Calculator
If your ACoS exceeds your gross margin, every PPC sale loses money.…
Open Calculator →Amazon Product Launch Budget Calculator — US Private Label
Amazon product launch = inventory + PPC budget + photography + A+ content + first 90 days …
Open Calculator →Amazon Brand Registry ROI Calculator for Importers
Amazon Brand Registry costs $350–500 for a trademark plus 8–12 months of waiting.…
Open Calculator →Wholesale to Retail Markup Calculator for Importers
Wholesale-to-retail markup varies by channel: 2× for brick-and-mortar, 2.5–3× for Amazon, …
Open Calculator →eCommerce Import Profitability Calculator
Whether you sell on Shopify, WooCommerce, or Etsy — the math is the same.…
Open Calculator →CPSC Compliance Cost Calculator for US Imports
Children products need CPSIA testing ($2,000–$8,000), a CPC certificate, and tracking labe…
Open Calculator →FDA Import Cost Calculator — US Imports
FDA-regulated imports require prior notice, facility registration, and product-specific co…
Open Calculator →REACH RoHS Compliance Cost Calculator
REACH covers 224 substances of very high concern; RoHS restricts 10 hazardous substances i…
Open Calculator →Country of Origin Calculator Import
Rules of origin determine duty rates, FTA eligibility, and marking requirements.…
Open Calculator →CE Marking Cost Calculator — US to EU Compliance
CE marking is mandatory for EU sale. Self-declaration costs $2,000–5,000; Notified Body in…
Open Calculator →FCC Certification Cost Calculator for Electronics
FCC Part 15 testing for unintentional radiators costs $2,000–5,000.…
Open Calculator →UL Certification Cost Calculator for US Products
UL listing for electrical products costs $10,000–50,000+ including initial testing, factor…
Open Calculator →Prop 65 Compliance Cost Calculator
California Prop 65 applies to nearly every consumer product. Testing costs $500–3,000 per …
Open Calculator →ASTM Compliance Cost Calculator — US Imports
ASTM F963 testing covers mechanical hazards, flammability, chemical content, and small par…
Open Calculator →major US trade shows (NRF, ASD, MAGIC, CES) Trade Show ROI Calculator
major US trade shows (NRF, ASD, MAGIC, CES) trade show roi calculator — major US trade sho…
Open Calculator →Sourcing Agent Fee Calculator
Sourcing agents charge 5–10% of order value or $200–500/day.…
Open Calculator →Total Sourcing Cost Calculator
Total sourcing cost = product + agent fee + samples + inspection + travel + freight + duty…
Open Calculator →Import Process
The 5 Stages of Importing from the US
Every successful import follows these stages. Our calculators support you at each step.
01
Sourcing
Find Your Product & Supplier
Source on ThomasNet, Global Sources, or major US trade shows (NRF, ASD, MAGIC, CES). Request samples. Audit factories. Compare MOQs and unit pricing across 3–5 suppliers before committing.
↓
02
Costing
Calculate Your Landed Cost
Before ordering, know your true cost: FOB + freight + insurance + duties + fees = landed cost. This is your profit floor. Never order without this number.
↓
03
Production
Order & Quality Inspection
Place your purchase order with defined AQL standards. Schedule a pre-shipment inspection — catching defects in the US costs a fraction of fixing them after arrival.
↓
04
Logistics
Freight & Customs Clearance
Book sea or air freight, arrange cargo insurance, file ISF 24h before loading. Clear customs with the right HS code and duty classification. Know your costs before goods ship.
↓
05
Growth
Sell & Reorder Profitably
Measure actual profit vs projected. Track your inventory. Plan reorders using lead time data so you never stock out or overstock. Scale what works, cut what doesn't.
Freight from the US
Compare US Export Shipping Options
The right shipping method depends on your product weight, urgency, and margin. Here's how they compare.
Sea Freight (LCL)
Less than Container Load — ideal for 1–15 CBM shipments. Freight is charged per cubic meter. Most cost-effective for mid-size orders that don't fill a container.
25–40 day transit
LCL Cost Calculator →
Sea Freight (FCL)
Full Container Load — 20ft or 40ft container. Best value for large orders over 15 CBM. You pay a flat rate regardless of volume within the container.
20–35 day transit
Container Calculator →
Air Freight
Fastest option — 3–7 days door to door. Charged by chargeable weight (actual vs dimensional, whichever is greater). 4–8× more expensive than sea freight per kg.
3–7 day transit
Air Freight Calculator →
US Export Import Snapshot: May 6, 2026
These are the current U.S.-facing planning facts most likely to change landed cost assumptions.
$308.4B
U.S. goods imports from the US in 2025, based on the USTR country profile
178
destination duty exclusions extended through November 10, 2026 for specific tariff lines
10%
Temporary U.S. import surcharge in force from February 24, 2026 through July 24, 2026 unless changed
$800
Section 321 amount remains in statute, but commercial duty-free de minimis treatment is currently suspended
Import Education
Understanding Landed Cost: The Complete Guide
The single most important concept for any importer. Here's what it is, why it matters, and how to calculate it correctly.
What Is Landed Cost?
Landed cost is the total cost of importing a product from the US into your warehouse — including every expense from the factory door to your receiving dock. It's the true cost of each unit you import, and the floor for any pricing decision.
Landed cost differs from FOB (Free on Board) price by including:
- ✓ Ocean or air freight — typically 5–20% of FOB value
- ✓ Cargo insurance — 0.35–0.5% of CIF value
- ✓ US import duties — 0–37.5% based on destination HS code
- ✓ import duty — 7.5% or 25% on US-origin goods
- ✓ Destination Clearance & Port Fees fees — US customs processing fees
- ✓ Customs broker fee — $150–350 per shipment
- ✓ Local delivery/drayage — port to your warehouse
Why Landed Cost Calculation Matters
A product with a $6 FOB price might have a landed cost of $9.50 per unit. If you price your product at $18 expecting a 67% gross margin, your real margin is only 47% — before Amazon fees, returns, or advertising.
Getting landed cost right is the difference between:
- ✓ Knowing your minimum viable selling price before you order
- ✓ Comparing multiple suppliers on true cost, not just FOB price
- ✓ Accurately projecting cash flow for your import budget
- ✓ Negotiating freight rates with data, not guesswork
- ✓ Setting prices on Amazon, Shopify, and wholesale that are actually profitable
Lead Time Planning
Typical US Export Timeline
Plan reorders around every stage — missing one deadline cascades through the entire shipment.
01
Days 1–14
14 days
Sample & Approval
Order samples from 2–3 suppliers. Test quality, fit, and compliance. Approve final sample before committing to production.
💡 Always get a physical sample — photos miss defects
→
02
Days 15–50
~35 days
Production
Factory manufactures your order. 15–20 days for simple goods; 30–45 days for complex or large orders. Book freight now.
💡 Confirm production start in writing with your supplier
→
03
Days 48–52
4 days
Pre-Shipment Inspection
Third-party AQL inspection before goods leave the factory. 1 day on-site, $250–350. Catch defects before they ship.
💡 Non-negotiable — $300 saves thousands in returns
→
04
Days 52–75
~23 days
Ocean Transit
Sea freight: 14–35 days port to port. Air freight: 3–7 days. File ISF 24 hours before loading. LCL adds 7–10 days for consolidation.
💡 Book 4–6 weeks early during peak season (Jul–Oct)
→
05
Days 75–82
7 days
Customs & Delivery
US customs clearance: 1–5 days. Local drayage to warehouse: 1–3 days. Have your entry documents ready before the vessel arrives.
💡 Use a licensed customs broker for first imports
Why Import Cost Calc
Built for Importers, Not General Audiences
Every calculator, formula, and example on Import Cost Calc is specific to the the US importing context.
Published Reference Basis
Where a page depends on published schedules or fee tables, we describe the reference basis and separate planning benchmarks from live quotes and filing advice.
Dated Review Notes
High-volatility topics change. Each page carries its own last-updated date so you can judge whether the assumptions are fresh enough for your use case.
US-Sourcing Pricing, Always
Our examples use real US-to-US shipping routes, real a US industrial cluster supplier scenarios, and real tariff situations importers face — not generic math that doesn't apply to your situation.
No Account, No Data Collection
All calculations happen in your browser. We don't store your import figures, product details, or supplier information. Completely private, completely free, forever.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Importing from the US
The total cost depends on your product, quantity, shipping method, and import duties. As a general rule, expect to pay 20–50% above your FOB (factory) price by the time goods reach your warehouse. A $10,000 FOB order typically incurs $1,000–2,000 in freight, $500–3,000 in duties and tariffs, and $400–800 in fees, for a landed cost of $12,000–16,000. Use our Landed Cost Calculator to get your specific estimate.
For current U.S. entries, start with the entered value (usually the transaction value excluding international freight and insurance). Basic HTS duty, destination duty, and the current destination VAT or GST are applied to that customs value when applicable. destination clearance fee is 0.3464% with a $33.58 minimum and $651.50 maximum per entry, and destination port fee is 0.125% on ocean cargo only. Use our Import Duty Calculator for a line-by-line breakdown.
Sea freight is almost always cheaper than air for shipments over 100 kg. LCL (Less than Container Load) sea freight costs $50–100 per CBM, while air freight costs $5–10 per chargeable kg — making air typically 4–8× more expensive. However, air freight's faster transit time (7 days vs 25–35 days) reduces inventory carrying costs, which can partially offset the premium for fast-moving, high-value goods. Use our Sea vs Air Calculator to compare total costs including inventory savings.
import duty are additional duties imposed by the US on US goods since 2018–2019. Most US goods pay 7.5% (List 4A) or 25% (Lists 1, 2, 3) in additional tariffs on top of standard HTS duty rates. They apply to goods with the US country of origin. To check if your product is on a destination duty list, look up your 10-digit destination HS code at the USTR destination duty database. Our destination duty Calculator calculates your combined total duty.
AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) is the maximum acceptable percentage of defective products in a batch. It's the international standard (ISO 2859-1) for determining how many units to inspect and how many defects trigger rejection. For imports from the US, AQL 2.5 is standard for consumer goods — meaning you inspect a statistically valid sample and accept the batch if defects are 2.5% or fewer. Use our AQL Calculator to determine your exact sample size based on order quantity and inspection level.
CBM stands for Cubic Meter — the standard unit of volume measurement for sea freight. It's calculated as: CBM = Length (m) × Width (m) × Height (m). For centimeter measurements: divide L × W × H by 1,000,000. LCL sea freight is priced per CBM (typically $50–100/CBM for US-to-USA). A 20ft container holds 25–28 CBM; a 40ft container holds 55–65 CBM. Use our CBM Calculator to get your total volume and LCL freight estimate.
For formal entries (shipments with commercial value over $2,500), you're not legally required to use a customs broker — but it's highly recommended. A licensed customs broker correctly classifies your goods (preventing costly reclassifications), files your entry accurately, coordinates with the freight forwarder, and handles any destination customs queries. Broker fees are typically $150–350 per shipment. For your first several imports, a broker's knowledge far outweighs the cost.
Finding a reliable US suppliers requires due diligence beyond ThomasNet's star ratings. Key steps: (1) Verify the supplier is a manufacturer, not just a trading company — request factory photos and business license. (2) Order samples from 3–5 suppliers and compare quality. (3) Request a factory audit from SGS, Bureau Veritas, or Intertek. (4) Check trade references and ask for existing customer contacts. (5) Start with a small trial order before committing to full MOQ. a US verified supplier (D&B/BBB-rated) status and Trade Assurance are baseline filters, not quality guarantees.
The most common payment term with US suppliers is 30% deposit before production, 70% before shipment (T/T 30/70). For new supplier relationships, expect 50% deposit. As trust builds over multiple orders, you may negotiate better terms like 30/70, net 30 after B/L, or letters of credit. Always use secure payment methods: bank wire (T/T), a US escrow service (Escrow.com), or L/C. Avoid Western Union, MoneyGram, and cryptocurrency for large orders — these offer no recourse if goods don't arrive as described.
Import Duties & Tariffs: What Importers Must Know
Every product imported from the US from the US is subject to customs duties based on its destination tariff schedule (HTS) code — a 10-digit number that classifies every traded product. Standard rates range from 0% for semiconductors and scientific equipment to 37.5% for certain footwear and apparel.
import duty still add 7.5% or 25% on many covered tariff lines, and some strategic sectors now carry 50% or 100% destination duty rates. Separate White House action also imposed a temporary 10% import surcharge effective February 24, 2026 through July 24, 2026 unless changed. USTR also extended 178 destination duty exclusions through November 10, 2026, so classification to the exact tariff line still matters.
The U.S. also charges a destination clearance fee (destination clearance fee) of 0.3464% of entered value with a $33.58 minimum and $651.50 maximum per entry, plus a destination port fee (destination port fee) of 0.125% on ocean cargo only. A licensed customs broker typically costs $150-350 per shipment and is still the standard workflow for formal entries over $2,500.
How Amazon Sellers Use the US Import Calculators
For Amazon FBA sellers sourcing from the US, profit margin calculation is a multi-step process that begins well before the product page goes live. The sequence that determines success or failure:
- ✓ Research the target selling price and Amazon referral fee (8–20%) for the category
- ✓ Calculate FBA fulfillment fees based on product dimensions and weight
- ✓ Work backward to determine the maximum allowable landed cost per unit
- ✓ Get FOB quotes from suppliers and calculate total landed cost
- ✓ Verify the margin works before placing the order — not after
Amazon sellers who use our FBA Import Calculator and ThomasNet-to-Amazon Profit Calculator catch margin problems before they become loss-making inventory.