US import duty on packages from China (2026)
For years, the de minimis rule (Section 321) let any shipment valued at or under $800 enter the United States free of duty. That loophole is gone. It was eliminated for China and Hong Kong on May 2, 2025, then suspended for all countries on August 29, 2025. As a result, 2026 is the first full year in which every package from China owes import duty — no matter how small the order.
How the duty is worked out
There are two paths, and which one applies depends on how your package ships:
- Courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS): you pay an ad valorem duty — the declared customs value multiplied by a combined rate. That combined rate stacks the product's base MFN duty, the Section 301 China tariff, and the current baseline tariff. For typical consumer goods this lands around 30%, and higher for apparel and footwear.
- Postal (USPS / China Post): the carrier charges the lower of that ad valorem duty or a flat per-item postal fee (about $200 per item). On a cheap item the percentage is usually cheaper; on a higher-value item the flat fee can win.
This calculator estimates both and shows the one you'd actually be charged, plus your total landed cost (goods + shipping + duty).
Typical combined rates by category
| Category | Typical combined rate |
|---|---|
| General consumer goods | ~30% |
| Electronics & gadgets | ~30% |
| Clothing & apparel | ~45% |
| Footwear | ~50% |
| Toys, games & baby | ~30% |
| Home, kitchen & furniture | ~35% |
These are estimates as of June 2026 and are deliberately editable — China tariff rates have changed several times and depend on the exact product. Use the Advanced panel to enter the precise rate for your item's HTS code.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay duty on a small package from China now?
Yes. Since the de minimis exemption ended, there is no longer a duty-free threshold for packages from China — even a $20 order is dutiable in 2026.
Who collects the duty — the seller or the carrier?
It varies. Many marketplaces (Temu, Shein, AliExpress) now collect an estimated duty at checkout. If they don't, the courier or postal service bills you the duty plus a handling fee before or at delivery.
Is the duty based on the price I paid or the retail value?
It's based on the declared customs value — normally the transaction price you paid for the goods. Shipping is added when working out your total landed cost, but the duty itself is on the goods' value.
Why does the estimate keep changing in the news?
US–China tariff policy has been highly volatile, with rates raised, lowered and renegotiated repeatedly through 2025. Always confirm the current rate for your product with CBP before relying on any estimate.