Import from China Cost Calculator
Landed cost from a Chinese supplier, end to end.
Duty rates and thresholds change with trade policy. These are planning estimates — the entry filed with customs decides the actual charge.
Landed cost per unit
£6.69
59.2% above the FOB quote
The supplier quoted £4.20; the unit costs £6.69 in your warehouse. Import VAT of £1,213 is payable at the border but reclaimable if you are registered, so it is excluded here.
How the Import from China Cost Calculator works
The FOB price a Chinese supplier quotes is typically half to two-thirds of what the goods actually cost you delivered. Freight, duty, any additional tariffs, clearance and inland transport make up the rest, and margin calculated on the quoted price alone is fiction.
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 does FOB mean in a Chinese supplier quote?
Free on board — the supplier delivers to the port and loads the vessel, and everything after that is yours. It excludes ocean freight, insurance, duty, clearance and delivery, which is why an FOB price looks so attractive.
How much should I budget above the FOB price?
For sea freight to the UK, EU or US, commonly 25-45% on top of FOB once freight, duty, clearance and inland transport are counted, and considerably more for light bulky goods where freight dominates. Model it rather than assuming.
Should I ship by sea or air?
Sea for anything where 30-45 days is acceptable — usually five to ten times cheaper. Air for high-value, urgent goods or restocking a bestseller where being out of stock costs more than the freight premium.
What about additional tariffs?
Some destinations apply extra duties on specific Chinese-origin goods on top of the general rate. They are determined by HS code and origin, they change with policy, and they can transform the economics of a product overnight. Check current rates for your code.