How to Use the Overseas Purchase Shipping & Duty Calculator
When you buy from an overseas retailer or use a personal shopper abroad, the sticker price rarely tells the whole story — shipping and import duty can add a meaningful amount once the package clears customs. This calculator takes the item price, international shipping cost, and an estimated duty rate to project the total landed cost you should actually budget for.
Under current U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rules, shipments valued at $800 or less per person, per day generally qualify for the de minimis exemption, meaning no duty is assessed. Once the item price exceeds that threshold, duty is typically calculated on the item price plus shipping, based on the product's tariff classification.
Duty rates vary widely by product category — electronics, apparel, and specialty goods can all carry different rates — so the rate you enter here should be treated as an estimate. If you regularly import similar goods, checking the CBP tariff schedule for the specific product code gives a more precise figure than a flat percentage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Under current CBP rules, shipments valued at $800 or less per person, per day are generally allowed to enter duty-free under the de minimis exemption. Above that, duty is typically assessed on the full value.
When the item value exceeds $800, duty is generally calculated as a percentage of the item price plus shipping, based on the product's tariff classification. Actual rates vary by product, so check official CBP tariff schedules for precise figures.