Do electric wheelchairs need FDA approval?

Yes — powered wheelchairs are FDA Class II medical devices requiring 510(k) premarket notification. The 510(k) process costs $15,000–40,000 and takes 6–12 months. Your Chinese manufacturer must also have FDA establishment registration. Non-compliant imports are seized at the border by FDA and CBP.

Are electric wheelchairs exempt from Section 301 tariffs?

Yes — HTS 8713 (wheelchairs and invalid carriages) is excluded from all Section 301 tariff lists. Basic duty is also 0%. This makes powered wheelchairs one of the few Chinese products with zero import duty. This creates a significant cost advantage over domestic manufacturing.

What battery certification is required?

UL 2272 (battery system safety) for the complete battery pack. UN38.3 for transportation. Individual cells should be UL 1642 listed (preferably Samsung, LG, or Panasonic cells). Total certification cost for battery system: $8,000–15,000. Medicare coverage additionally requires specific battery capacity minimums.

🛍️ Product Niches

Importing Electric Wheelchairs from China — Cost Calculator

Calculate landed cost, 0% duty + 0% Section 301, freight, and compliance costs for importing electric wheelchairs from China.

Updated: 2026-04-18

Planning Reference

Reviewed April 2026

Reference Basis

Based on published official rules and benchmark market inputs relevant to this page.

Planning Note

Use these numbers for planning and quote-checking, then confirm final charges with the official tariff database, your broker, or your freight provider.

Deprioritize

importing electric wheelchairs from china
High SERP difficulty

Unit FOB Price USD

Order Quantity

Est. Freight Cost USD

Basic Duty Rate (HTS 8713) %

Section 301 Tariffs %

Customs/Broker Fee USD

Local Delivery USD

The Economics of Importing Electric Wheelchairs

Importing electric wheelchairs from China requires understanding a specific cost structure. At HTS 8713, the combined duty is 0.0% (0% basic + 0% Section 301).

Typical FOB: $450/unit at MOQ 50 units, freight ~$2000/shipment.

Compliance

FDA Class II medical device — 510(k) clearance mandatory before import. CMS (Medicare) requirements for reimbursement eligibility. RESNA/ANSI wheelchair standards. UL 2272 for battery system. ISO 7176 for wheelchair safety testing. HCPCS coding for insurance billing.

Shipping

Heavy (30–80 kg per unit). Lithium battery requires UN38.3 + Class 9 DG declaration. A 40ft container holds 60–120 wheelchairs depending on model. Partial KD packing (remove footrests, fold frame) saves 20% CBM. Medical device labeling must be on exterior packaging.

Sourcing

Primary hub: Shanghai and Jiangsu (medical mobility device manufacturers).

Margins

Retail/wholesale $1,500–5,000. Gross margin 35–50%. B2B to DME (Durable Medical Equipment) dealers is the primary channel. Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement drives the US market. Direct-to-consumer via Shopify is emerging but requires extensive compliance documentation.

Tips for China Importers

Every niche has specific duties and compliance. A toy might have a 0% duty but high compliance costs (CPSC testing), whereas furniture might have low testing costs but a 25% Section 301 tariff.
Freight impacts products differently. Heavy or bulky items (furniture, steel) are often crippled by shipping costs, whereas high-value electronics cost pennies to ship per unit.
Use specialized suppliers. Sourcing electronics from Yiwu or apparel from Shenzhen often leads to poor quality. Stick to the specialized manufacturing clusters for your specific product niche.
Check target market regulations. Product requirements change drasticly depending on where you import to. A charger legal in the US requires a different plug and CE certification in the EU.
Always calculate landed cost first. Never decide to source a product based on FOB price. Run the complete landed cost calculation to ensure the margins are viable in your product sector.