Our Mission
Every year, thousands of first-time importers lose money because they didn't know their true landed cost before placing a China order. They saw a $6 FOB price, projected a healthy margin, and then discovered — at customs — that their actual cost was $10 per unit once duties, freight, and fees were factored in.
Import Cost Calc was built to close that information gap. We provide free, accurate, and China-specific import calculators so that every importer — whether they're sourcing their first container or managing a $5M annual import program — can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our calculators are built from published government schedules, public platform fee tables, common freight and sourcing formulas, and practical importer assumptions. We try to make the planning logic transparent and to show clearly where an estimate ends and a live quote or professional review should begin.
Our Methodology
We follow a strict content and accuracy standard for every calculator on Import Cost Calc:
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Published reference points: Where a calculator depends on published schedules or fee tables, we anchor it to the relevant source family such as CBP, USTR, Amazon, IATA, or common inspection standards.
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Ongoing review: We revisit high-volatility pages when assumptions, fee tables, or regulations materially change, and each page carries its own last-updated date.
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Real-world examples: Every calculator page includes a worked example using realistic China importing scenarios, not hypothetical numbers.
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Editorial review: Content is edited for clarity, internal consistency, and alignment with the public reference material used for planning.
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Privacy first: All calculations run in your browser. We never store, transmit, or share any values you enter into our calculators.
What We Cover
- 🏛️ Import Duties & Taxes Priority 1
- 🚢 Freight & Shipping Priority 2
- 💰 Product Costing Priority 3
- 🏭 Manufacturing & Quality Priority 4
- 💳 Payment & Finance Priority 5
- 📦 Amazon & eCommerce Priority 6
- ✅ Compliance & Regulations Priority 7
- 🔍 Sourcing & Negotiation Priority 8
Important Disclaimer
Import Cost Calc calculators provide estimates for planning purposes only. All results should be verified with a licensed customs broker, freight forwarder, or relevant regulatory authority before making import decisions. See our full Disclaimer.
Editorial Focus Areas
We organize our content around the core topics importers need to pressure-test before placing orders and booking freight.
Customs & Compliance
Coverage of HTS classification concepts, duty planning, Section 301 exposure, and customs documentation basics.
Freight & Logistics
Coverage of freight mode comparisons, shipment volume math, transit timing, and quote-checking frameworks.
eCommerce Sourcing
Coverage of Amazon, ecommerce, and unit-economics calculators used to test margin before inventory is ordered.
Quality Control
Coverage of AQL sampling, inspection cost planning, lead times, defect impact, and production-risk tradeoffs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Import Cost Calc
Are the calculators free?
Yes — all 100+ calculators on Import Cost Calc are completely free to use, with no account required, no email sign-up, and no paywalled features. We're funded by advertising, not subscriptions.
How accurate are the results?
Our calculators are designed to produce accurate estimates based on current published rates. However, actual costs vary based on your specific HTS classification, freight forwarder rates, customs entry timing, and carrier surcharges. Always confirm final costs with your freight forwarder and customs broker before placing orders. Our results are best used for planning, comparison, and budgeting — not for filing customs entries.
How often are rates updated?
We update pages when assumptions, fee tables, or regulatory inputs materially change. Each calculator page shows its own "Last updated" date so you can judge how fresh that page is before relying on it for planning.
Do you store the data I enter?
No. All calculations are performed locally in your browser using JavaScript. We never receive, transmit, or store any values you enter — your product costs, supplier prices, and import volumes remain completely private. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Can I suggest a new calculator?
Absolutely. We regularly add new calculators based on user requests. If there's a China import calculation you need that we haven't built yet, please contact us with your suggestion and we'll evaluate it for our next release.