PickGlobeUK import duty and VAT calculator
Estimate what an order from abroad costs once it reaches Great Britain.
Loading the calculator. Without JavaScript, open the rules below.
- Up to £135 there is no duty and the seller charges 20% VAT at checkout.
- Over £135 you pay duty and VAT to the carrier before delivery, plus a handling fee.
- The £135 duty relief is due to be removed by October 2028 at the latest.
How we calculate
We take the item price and shipping you enter, the category and the origin, and apply the destination's published rules.
- Value. The UK and Ireland use price plus shipping. Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US use the goods price for duty.
- Duty. The typical rate for the category from the official tariff, or 0% when a trade agreement may apply (it needs proof of origin). The US adds its extra tariff by origin.
- Tax. VAT or GST on the value plus duty. Under each country's limit the seller normally charges it at checkout.
- Fees. A typical published carrier handling fee, and government charges where they exist.
Your exact duty rate depends on the product's tariff code. Use the official lookup linked under the rules to check it. Amounts are in the destination's currency, so enter the price in that currency.
The rules we use
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Up to £135 | No customs duty. The overseas seller charges 20% UK VAT at checkout on goods plus postage. |
| Over £135 | Duty at the tariff rate on goods plus postage and insurance, then 20% import VAT on that plus the duty. The carrier collects both before delivery and adds a handling fee (DHL Express: £11 or 2.5% of the duty and VAT, whichever is more). |
| Duty rates (typical) | Clothing 12%, shoes 8%, costume jewellery 4%, gold or silver jewellery about 2%, electronics 0%, cosmetics 0%, toys 0%, books 0%, furniture 0% (the tariff shows ranges; see the lookup). |
| EU origin | Duty 0% for goods that meet the UK-EU origin rules, if you can prove origin. |
| Not an import | Goods sent from within Great Britain are not imports. Northern Ireland has different rules. |
The £135 duty relief is due to be removed on a date the Treasury sets, by October 2028 at the latest.
Checked on 27 October 2026.
Sources and last checked
- United Kingdom, checked 27 October 2026: GOV.UK Tax and duty on goods sent from abroad; GOV.UK VAT and overseas goods sold directly to UK customers (£135); HMRC policy paper: Reforming customs rules for low value imports (13 Jul 2026); Draft legislation page with operative date; UK VAT rates; UK Trade Tariff; DHL Express UK duties and taxes; UK Trade Tariff (GOV.UK) (look up your exact rate)
Estimate for planning only. This is not customs or tax advice. The carrier and the customs authority decide the final amount, and the rules change. Other countries: Overview of all countries Canada US Australia. Read more: Customs duties and importing: the guide.