Last reviewed: May 2026
Import Cost Guide is a practical import cost estimation website for small importers, e-commerce sellers, online retailers and businesses that want to understand potential import costs before buying or shipping goods.
Our goal is to make import duty, import VAT and landed cost estimates easier to understand by combining user-entered assumptions, official tariff data where available, and transparent calculation logic.
What Import Cost Guide helps with
Importing goods can involve more than just the supplier price. Shipping, insurance, customs value, duty, import VAT, broker fees and other costs can all affect the final landed cost.
Import Cost Guide is designed to help users answer practical questions such as:
- How much could it cost to import this product?
- What might the landed cost be after duty, VAT, shipping and fees?
- What is the estimated cost per unit?
- Does the import still leave enough margin?
- Which assumptions should be checked before placing an order?
- When should a commodity code or duty rate be verified professionally?
Who this site is for
Import Cost Guide is built for people who need practical cost estimates before making import decisions, including:
- Small importers
- Shopify and e-commerce merchants
- Amazon and marketplace sellers
- Online retailers comparing supplier prices
- Small businesses importing goods for resale
- Businesses comparing sourcing options and landed cost scenarios
The site is especially useful when users want to test different assumptions, such as product value, shipping cost, duty rate, VAT rate, broker fees, number of units and selling price.
What this site is not
Import Cost Guide is not a customs broker, freight forwarder, tax adviser, accountant, law firm or government authority.
The information and calculator results shown on this website should not be treated as customs, tax, legal or professional advice.
Our estimates are designed to support planning and comparison, not to replace professional verification or official customs guidance.
How our calculators work
The calculators use editable assumptions entered by the user, such as product value, shipping cost, insurance cost, broker fees, currency, number of units and selling price.
When a supported 10-digit commodity code is entered, the UK Import Duty & Landed Cost Calculator can try to retrieve official UK tariff data and use it in the estimate when a simple duty or VAT rate can be detected.
If official tariff data cannot be loaded, or if a simple rate cannot be safely extracted, the calculator uses the duty and VAT rates entered in the form.
Why transparency matters
Import costs can vary depending on classification, origin, valuation, shipping terms, customs treatment and additional measures. A single hidden calculation is not enough.
That is why Import Cost Guide aims to show:
- The formula used
- The assumptions entered by the user
- The duty and VAT rates used
- Whether official tariff data or entered rates were used
- When tariff data was last retrieved
- Whether additional tariff checks may be needed
Current focus
The current focus of Import Cost Guide is the United Kingdom, starting with the UK Import Duty & Landed Cost Calculator.
Future versions may expand to more countries, more routes, more product categories, exchange-rate sources, product-to-commodity-code mapping and more detailed landed cost scenarios.
Why estimates need verification
Import duty and VAT estimates can be affected by factors that may require separate review, including commodity code classification, rules of origin, preferential treatment, trade remedies, quotas, excise duties, controls, licences and non-standard import scenarios.
Before placing a significant order or making a commercial import decision, users should verify the final commodity code, duty rate, VAT treatment and customs requirements with official sources or a qualified professional.
Our approach
Import Cost Guide is built around a simple principle: every estimate should be understandable.
Instead of hiding the logic, the site aims to make formulas, assumptions, data sources and limitations visible so users can better understand where an estimate comes from and what still needs to be checked.
Contact
If you believe something on Import Cost Guide is unclear, outdated or should be corrected, please contact us through the contact page.