US Import Duty Calculator
Find your HTS code, choose the country of origin and enter your goods value, freight and insurance. The calculator uses live rates from the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule and adds the Merchandise Processing Fee and Harbor Maintenance Fee.
The interactive calculator needs JavaScript. It finds the HS code for your product, lists the live US rate lines from the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, then estimates duty, the Merchandise Processing Fee and the Harbor Maintenance Fee.
How US import duty is calculated
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) charges duty on the transaction value: the price paid for the goods when sold for export to the United States. Unlike the UK and EU, international freight and insurance are normally not part of the dutiable value when they are shown separately.
Import duty = transaction value × the HTS duty rate for your code and country of origin.
The US has no federal import VAT. Instead, most formal entries pay a Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF), and goods arriving by sea pay a Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF).
| Goods value (transaction value) | $10,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Import duty at 5% | $500.00 |
| MPF at 0.3464% (minimum $34.58) | $34.64 |
| HMF at 0.125% (sea freight) | $12.50 |
| Duty and fees payable | $547.14 |
Extra US tariffs
On top of the normal HTS rate, some goods pay extra duties: Section 301 tariffs on many goods from China, Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminium and some other products, and other measures that have changed often since 2025. They can add more than the normal duty.
These change too often to calculate safely, so the calculator shows them as warnings and does not add them. Check CBP's current guidance or ask a customs broker before quoting.
Rates that can lower your duty
- Free trade agreements such as USMCA (Canada and Mexico), KORUS (South Korea) and others can give a lower or zero rate, if the goods meet the rules of origin and you can prove it.
- Goods from Cuba, North Korea, Russia and Belarus pay the much higher Column 2 rates, and some are prohibited.
Fees per entry
| Merchandise Processing Fee (formal entries) | 0.3464%, minimum $34.58, maximum $670.86 (from 1 October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Harbor Maintenance Fee (sea freight) | 0.125% of the cargo value |
| Customs broker and bond | Charged by your broker; not included |
Before you import into the US
- Decide who is the Importer of Record and get a customs bond, usually through a licensed customs broker.
- For ocean freight, the Importer Security Filing (ISF, "10+2") must be filed before the goods are loaded.
- Classify each product under the 10-digit HTS code; the duty sits on the 8-digit line.
- Keep the commercial invoice, packing list and any certificate of origin.
Important
All figures are estimates, not customs advice. Check the classification, origin rules and any extra measures before you rely on a number.
Frequently asked questions
Is US import duty charged on shipping costs?
Normally no. The US charges duty on the transaction value of the goods; international freight and insurance are excluded when they are shown separately on the invoice.
Is there VAT on imports into the US?
No. The US has no federal VAT. Formal entries pay the Merchandise Processing Fee, sea shipments pay the Harbor Maintenance Fee, and state sales tax may apply when goods are sold.
Does the calculator include Section 301 tariffs?
No. Section 301, 232 and similar extra tariffs change often, so they are shown as warnings for the code and origin and are not added to the total.
Where do the rates come from?
From the Harmonized Tariff Schedule published by the US International Trade Commission, fetched live when you search.
What is an HTS code?
The US version of the international HS code. The first six digits are international; the US adds digits to make an 8-digit rate line and a 10-digit statistical code used on the entry.
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