International Shipping Duties Calculator
Calculate the customs duty owed on an international shipment, factoring in the duty-free threshold, product value, shipping, and insurance. Useful for importers and online shoppers crossing customs limits.
Last updated: September 2026
Formula below · 1 source (Wikipedia) · Updated Sep 2026
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About this calculator
Many countries waive import duty when a shipment's value is at or below a duty-free threshold (de minimis value). The exemption is all-or-nothing: once the value exceeds the threshold, duty is charged on the whole value, not just the part above it. The taxable base used here is the CIF value — product value + shipping + insurance. Duty = (CIF > threshold) ? CIF × duty rate / 100 : 0. The destination factor then applies that country's VAT or GST to the duty-inclusive value (1.0 for the USA, which has no import VAT; 1.05 Canada GST; 1.19 Germany; 1.20 UK; 1.21 Belgium): Total = (CIF + Duty) × destination factor. Thresholds differ by country (EU €150 for duty, UK £135, Canada CAD 20 for most origins), and the United States suspended its $800 exemption for all countries on August 29, 2025, so enter 0 for U.S. imports. Note that U.S. Customs values goods excluding international freight and insurance, so the CIF base slightly overstates U.S. duty.
How to use
Suppose you buy goods worth $950, pay $60 shipping and $15 insurance, into a destination with a $200 duty-free threshold, a 10% duty rate and no VAT (factor 1.0). CIF value = $950 + $60 + $15 = $1,025. Because $1,025 is above the $200 threshold, duty applies to the full value: $1,025 × 10/100 = $102.50. Total landed cost = ($1,025 + $102.50) × 1.0 = $1,127.50. Shipping the same goods to the UK (×1.20 for 20% VAT) would raise the landed cost to ($1,025 + $102.50) × 1.20 = $1,353. A $180 order would stay under the threshold and pay no duty.
Frequently asked questions
What is a duty-free threshold and how does it affect my import costs?
A duty-free threshold, or de minimis value, is the maximum CIF (cost + insurance + freight) value of a shipment that can enter a country without incurring customs duty. Below this amount, goods clear customs automatically at zero duty. Thresholds vary widely: the EU sets it at €150, Australia at AUD 1,000 and Canada at CAD 20, while the United States suspended its $800 threshold for all countries on August 29, 2025. If your shipment exceeds the threshold, duty applies to the entire value, not just the amount above it. Planning purchases around these thresholds can result in meaningful savings.
What is CIF value and why is it used as the basis for customs duty?
CIF stands for Cost, Insurance, and Freight — it represents the total cost of goods at the point of entry into the destination country. Customs authorities use CIF value as the duty base because it reflects the full economic value of the import, including what it cost to transport and protect the goods. Using only the product price would understate value and allow importers to artificially reduce duty by inflating shipping costs or vice versa. The formula in this calculator sums product value, shipping cost, and insurance to arrive at the correct CIF figure before applying the duty rate.
How do I find the correct duty rate for my imported product?
Duty rates are assigned based on a product's HS (Harmonized System) code — a standardized international classification system with over 5,000 product categories. You can look up HS codes and their corresponding duty rates using official government tools such as the US International Trade Commission's tariff database (hts.usitc.gov) or the EU's TARIC database. Rates differ not only by product type but also by the trade relationship between the exporting and importing countries — preferential trade agreements can reduce rates to zero. Always classify your product carefully, as misclassification can lead to penalties or unexpected charges at customs clearance.