UK Import Duty Calculator
Work out your total landed cost when importing goods into the UK: customs duty, 20% VAT on goods sent from abroad, and courier handling fees.
Parcel details
Enter item category, origin, currency, price, courier, and gift status for live customs calculation.
Personal gifts sent between private individuals worth £39 or less pay 0% duty & VAT.
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How This Tool Works
Check your total landed cost before ordering from overseas marketplaces (AliExpress, Temu, Amazon US, eBay). This calculator applies HMRC Trade Tariff duty rates, calculates 20% import VAT, includes courier clearance fees (Royal Mail, DHL, FedEx, UPS), and checks the £39 gift limit and £135 duty threshold.Read our full guide: UK Import Duty & VAT Guide 2026: Calculate Landed Costs & Avoid Surprise
- 1Pick your item category to apply standard HMRC Trade Tariff rates.
- 2Choose the shipping country to check for preferential tariff rates (0% trade agreements).
- 3Enter item price and postage in seller currency for live exchange rate conversion.
- 4Select your courier to include accurate 2026 handling fees and toggle the gift exemption if applicable.
- 5Click Calculate to see your total landed cost, VAT breakdown, and border fees.
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Plain-English guide to UK import fees & customs charges
Everything you need to know before ordering items from abroad into the UK: landed costs, tax limits, courier handling fees, and HMRC trade tariff rules.
📅 Last updated: August 2026
Quick Tips
Jump-start your understanding with these essential tips
Under HMRC Notice 143, customs duty applies only if your item price exceeds £135, excluding delivery. For example, a £125 jacket with £15 postage totals £140, but pays 0% customs duty because the intrinsic item price is under £135 (20% import VAT still applies to item + delivery).
Customs duty is added to your item price first. After that, 20% VAT is calculated on the item price, shipping, and duty combined.
Parcels sent between private individuals valued at £39 or less are completely exempt from duty and VAT. Ordering from a retail website does not count as a private gift.
Even if your product qualifies for 0% duty under a trade agreement, you may still owe 20% VAT and a courier clearance fee (£8 Royal Mail, £11.50+ DHL/FedEx). <a href="/toolbox/uk-delivery-cost-checker" class="text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400 hover:underline">Compare courier costs with our UK Delivery Cost Checker tool</a>.
For orders under £135 from sites like Amazon US, eBay, Temu, or AliExpress, VAT is paid during checkout so you avoid handling fees at delivery.
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these steps to get the most from this tool
Choose the category matching your order. Fashion and footwear carry standard UK duty rates (8% to 12%), while books and most laptops carry 0% duty.
Select the country your item ships from. Goods originating in countries with UK trade agreements (like the EU) often qualify for preferential tariff rates (0% duty).
Type the price in seller currency. We convert it to GBP using live ECB mid-market exchange rates. Always include postage because HMRC taxes the combined total. Check live exchange rates with our Expat Remittance Rate Timing Planner.
Select your delivery courier (Royal Mail, DHL, FedEx, UPS) to include their exact clearance fee. Toggle the Gift switch if your parcel is a private gift under £39.
The headline card shows your total landed cost in GBP. The breakdown chart and line-by-line table show exactly how your VAT on goods sent from abroad is calculated, reflecting the import VAT rate UK cascading on the customs-inclusive value.
Scroll to the bottom reference table to compare standard duty rates across 25 categories mapped to the official HMRC Trade Tariff tool database before placing an overseas order.
Advanced Topics
Deep dives for advanced users
When buying goods online from international sellers, charges depend on the platform, item value, and sender status:
| Platform / Origin | Value | Type | Duties & VAT | Courier Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AliExpress / Temu / Shein (China) | ≤ £135 | Commercial | 20% VAT paid at checkout; £0 Customs Duty | £0 (No border hold) |
| AliExpress / Temu / Shein (China) | > £135 | Commercial | 20% import VAT + category duty collected at border | £8 - £15 (Courier fee) |
| Amazon US / eBay (USA) | ≤ £39 | Private Gift | 100% Tax Free (£0 Duty, £0 VAT) | £0 (Exempt) |
| Any Non-UK Private Seller | £39 to £135 | Private Gift | 20% import VAT collected at border; £0 Duty | £8.00 (Royal Mail) |
Zero-duty preferential rates require goods to be genuinely manufactured in a treaty country (e.g. EU, Japan, Australia). A product manufactured in China and dispatched from an EU warehouse does not qualify for zero duty. The seller must provide an origin declaration on the invoice.
Orders valued at £135 or less pay 0% customs duty. Registered overseas sellers collect 20% VAT at checkout. For consignments over £135, customs duty and import VAT are assessed at the UK border by Border Force and billed by your courier before final delivery.
A Tariff-Rate Quota is a government mechanism allowing a specific quota volume of goods to enter the UK at 0% or reduced customs duty annually. Once exhausted, standard rates apply. Use our Advanced Search tool to check live HMRC quota balances directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Avoid high street bank exchange rate markups when paying overseas suppliers or buying online. Transfer money at the real mid market rate with Wise.
We may earn a commission on purchases at no extra cost to you. While we only partner with trusted platforms through reputable affiliate networks, all services and accounts are managed directly by the provider, who will handle any customer care or account needs.
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