Import Cost Calculator
Every charge from supplier to warehouse.
Duty rates and thresholds change with trade policy. These are planning estimates — the entry filed with customs decides the actual charge.
Cost per unit delivered
£8.03
60.7% above the invoice value
The invoice was £5,000; the shipment costs £8,033 in your warehouse. Clearance, port and inland alone add £720, and none of it appears on the supplier's quotation.
How the Import Cost Calculator works
Importers routinely budget for the invoice and the freight and are surprised by the rest. Clearance, port handling, terminal charges, inland transport and the broker's fee together often add more than the duty does — and none of them appear on the supplier's quotation.
Not financial advice. Marketplace fees change, and they vary by country, plan and seller status. Every rate here is an editable default, not a quoted price — check the platform's current fee schedule before you price a product against it. This is not tax or business advice.
Frequently asked questions
What charges should I expect beyond goods and freight?
Customs duty, import VAT or GST, customs clearance and brokerage, terminal handling at the port, documentation fees, inland transport to your warehouse, and possibly demurrage if the container is not collected promptly.
What is demurrage and how do I avoid it?
A daily charge once a container sits at the terminal beyond its free time, typically three to seven days. It escalates quickly. Avoid it by having clearance documents ready before arrival and transport booked in advance.
How much does customs clearance cost?
Commonly £50-150 per entry for a straightforward shipment, more where multiple commodity codes, licences or inspections are involved. It is charged per entry rather than per unit, so it favours fewer larger shipments.
Should I use a freight forwarder or arrange it myself?
A forwarder for anything containerised or unfamiliar — they handle booking, documentation, clearance and inland transport as one service. Arranging separately can be cheaper but requires knowing what to book and when.