Landed Cost Calculator

What Goes Into Your Landed Cost

Most first-time importers get surprised by the gap between the product price and what they actually pay to get goods through US customs. The invoice from your supplier is just the starting point. On top of that, you have tariff duties, customs fees, and often freight and insurance costs that together can add 15% to 80% or more to your base cost. I have seen importers budget only for the product price and then scramble when CBP holds their shipment pending a duty payment they did not expect.

This calculator breaks down the major cost components so you can plan ahead. Here is what each piece means and why it matters for your bottom line.

Customs Duties

Duties are the biggest variable in your landed cost. They are calculated as a percentage of your declared value (the transaction value, which usually means the price you paid the supplier). Right now, every import faces at least the 10% Section 122 tariff — see tariffs today for the full current rate stack. On top of that, your goods might be subject to Section 232 surcharges (50% on steel, aluminum, and copper), Section 301 surcharges (7.5% to 100% on Chinese goods), and the regular MFN duty rate set by your product's HTS classification. These all stack, meaning a steel import from China could face 10% + 50% + 25% or more in combined duties — the China tariff rate breakdown walks through the 35% effective math on consumer electronics. Country-specific profiles differ: see EU tariffs for the 10% + 50% steel math (and the full EU import duty breakdown with the MFN + MPF + HMF stack on a $30,000 French wine shipment), or tariffs in South Korea for how KORUS zeros the MFN base on qualifying goods. Product-specific rates can swing wildly: Chinese furniture tariffs run 35% effective on a sofa container, tire tariffs stack to 120%+ on Chinese producers with active AD/CVD orders, and the threatened Trump pharma tariffs of 100% on patented branded drugs would put a $1M Irish drug shipment at $1.1M in duty. Country choice still drives the biggest swings on consumer goods — importing from Vietnam to the US costs 10% Section 122 plus MFN, while imported foods from Mexico enter at 0% under USMCA on a $25,000 avocado container (HMF only — about $31). Taiwan sourcing lands a $40,000 PCB container at $4,189 in entry duty (10.5% effective) — roughly $10,000 cheaper than the same container from China. And import duty from Russia is a different beast entirely: Column 2 rates plus 122-277% AD margins on urea, with most categories outright banned under post-2022 sanctions.

Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF)

CBP charges a Merchandise Processing Fee of 0.3464% of the declared value on most formal entries. There is a minimum of $31.67 and a maximum of $614.35 per entry. This fee applies regardless of the tariff rate, so even duty-free goods under an FTA still pay MPF. The only exception is goods qualifying under certain preferential programs. It is a small percentage, but on high-value shipments it adds up, and on small shipments the $31.67 minimum can be a noticeable cost.

Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF)

If your goods arrive by ocean vessel, CBP collects a Harbor Maintenance Fee of 0.125% of the declared value. This funds the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, which pays for dredging and maintaining US ports. Air freight shipments are exempt. Like the MPF, this applies even to duty-free goods. It is a small number but it is there, and this calculator includes it so your total estimate reflects what you will actually pay at the port.

Freight and Insurance

The calculator focuses on customs-related costs, but keep in mind that freight (ocean, air, or ground) and cargo insurance are significant parts of your total landed cost. Ocean freight rates have been particularly volatile since the Strait of Hormuz disruption in April 2026, with rerouted shipments adding 10-15 days of transit time and substantially higher per-container rates on affected lanes. Get current freight quotes from your forwarder before finalizing any cost projections.

Tips from the Trenches

After helping hundreds of importers estimate their costs, a few patterns stand out. First, always use your actual transaction value, not an estimate. CBP will use the invoice price, and undervaluing goods is a compliance risk that can result in penalties. Second, check whether your goods qualify for FTA preferential treatment. The rules of origin can be complex, but the savings on MFN duties are often worth the paperwork. Third, if you are importing from China, model your costs with and without Section 301 tariffs, since the product classification determines whether 301 applies and at what rate. Our tariff calculator can help you explore rates by country and product before you run the full landed cost numbers here.