Landed cost on China imports: how to estimate it before you order
Costs & pricing · Updated
Landed cost is the total cost to get a product from the supplier in China to your door in the US, ready to sell. It is the number that actually decides your margin, and it is the number most first-time importers underestimate.
Here is what goes into it and how to estimate it before you place an order.
What landed cost includes
- Goods cost: the supplier's price for the products.
- Freight: air or sea, from the China pickup to US delivery.
- Duty: a percentage of the goods value, set by the HS code.
- Customs and broker: the entry filing and handling.
- Last-mile delivery: from the US port or airport to your address.
A worked example
Say you buy $4,000 of goods, ship 120 kg by air at $10 per kg ($1,200), and your product carries a 10% duty ($400). Add roughly $250 for customs, broker, and delivery. Your landed cost is about $5,850, or 46% over the goods price.
That 46% is the number you price against, not the original $4,000. Skip it and a product that looked profitable can sell at a loss.
How to keep it predictable
The freight and handling side is where surprises usually come from: fuel surcharges, port fees, and a separate customs invoice after delivery. An all-in quote that bundles freight, customs, broker, and delivery into one price removes that variability, leaving only the goods cost and duty to confirm up front.
FAQ
What is landed cost?
Landed cost is the total cost to get a product from the supplier to your door ready to sell: goods, freight, duty, customs and broker fees, and last-mile delivery. It is the real cost you should price your margin against.
How do I estimate import duty?
Duty is a percentage of the goods value, set by your product's HS code. Confirm the HS code and its duty rate before ordering, then multiply by the goods value to estimate the duty portion of your landed cost.
How can I make landed cost predictable?
Get an all-in freight quote that bundles freight, customs, broker, and delivery into one price. That removes the usual surprises (fuel surcharges, port fees, a separate customs bill), leaving only goods cost and duty to confirm up front.
Shipping a small load from China?
Get one all-in quote: freight, customs, and delivery handled.
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