.import-duty-calculator-wrapper {
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
background: #fff;
padding: 20px;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
.calculator-container {
background: #f8f9fa;
padding: 25px;
border-radius: 8px;
border: 1px solid #e9ecef;
margin-bottom: 30px;
}
.calc-grid {
display: grid;
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gap: 20px;
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@media (max-width: 600px) {
.calc-grid {
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.input-group input, .input-group select {
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padding: 12px 20px;
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font-weight: bold;
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.result-row.total {
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Understanding US Import Duty and Landed Cost
Importing goods into the United States requires navigating complex customs regulations. The total cost of importing products involves more than just the purchase price; it includes tariffs, taxes, and specific user fees charged by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This calculator helps importers estimate the Total Landed Cost of their shipments.
How is US Import Duty Calculated?
Unlike some countries that calculate duty on the CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) value, the United States generally calculates ad valorem customs duties based on the FOB (Free on Board) value of the goods. This means the duty percentage is applied only to the commercial value of the product itself, excluding international shipping and insurance costs.
The formula is simply:
Duty Amount = Commercial Value × Duty Rate
The Duty Rate is determined by the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code assigned to your specific product.
Additional Customs Fees: MPF and HMF
Beyond the standard duty rate, importers are often subject to two primary administrative fees:
1. Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF)
The MPF applies to almost all entries. For Formal Entries (shipments valued over $2,500), the MPF is an ad valorem rate (typically 0.3464%) with a minimum and maximum cap.
- Rate: 0.3464% of the goods' value.
- Minimum: Approximately $31.67 (values adjust annually).
- Maximum: Approximately $614.35 (values adjust annually).
Note: Informal entries (valued under $2,500) generally carry a smaller, fixed fee depending on whether the entry is manual or electronic, typically ranging from $2.00 to $9.00.
2. Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF)
The HMF is only applied to goods arriving via Ocean Freight at US ports. It does not apply to air freight or land cargo.
- Rate: 0.125% of the goods' value.
- Cap: There is no maximum cap for the HMF.
What is Total Landed Cost?
The Total Landed Cost is the final metric that determines your true profit margin. It represents the sum of the product cost, shipping/freight charges, insurance, customs duties, and all associated port fees (MPF/HMF). Calculating this accurately ensures you don't underprice your products when selling domestically.
function calculateImportDuty() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var goodsValue = document.getElementById('goodsValue').value;
var dutyRate = document.getElementById('dutyRate').value;
var shippingCost = document.getElementById('shippingCost').value;
var mode = document.getElementById('transportMode').value;
var resultDiv = document.getElementById('results');
var errorAlert = document.getElementById('errorAlert');
// 2. Clear previous errors
errorAlert.style.display = 'none';
errorAlert.innerHTML = ";
// 3. Validation
if (goodsValue === " || dutyRate === " || shippingCost === ") {
errorAlert.innerHTML = "Please fill in all fields (Goods Value, Duty Rate, and Shipping Cost).";
errorAlert.style.display = 'block';
resultDiv.style.display = 'none';
return;
}
var val = parseFloat(goodsValue);
var rate = parseFloat(dutyRate);
var ship = parseFloat(shippingCost);
if (val < 0 || rate < 0 || ship < 0) {
errorAlert.innerHTML = "Values cannot be negative.";
errorAlert.style.display = 'block';
resultDiv.style.display = 'none';
return;
}
// 4. Calculations
// Duty Calculation (US uses FOB Value typically)
var dutyAmount = val * (rate / 100);
// MPF Calculation (Formal Entry Logic)
// Rate: 0.3464%
// Min: $31.67 (approx current FY)
// Max: $614.35 (approx current FY)
// Logic: Even if duty is free, MPF often applies.
// Informal entries (<$2500) are handled differently, but for a general calculator
// using Formal logic protects the user from underestimating, or we apply simple logic.
// Let's implement Formal Entry logic as it's the standard risk.
var mpfRate = 0.003464;
var mpfMin = 31.67;
var mpfMax = 614.35;
var mpfAmount = 0;
// Simplified logic: If value < 2500, it's often informal entry ($2.22 electronic).
// However, many commercial imports use formal entry regardless.
// We will use the Formal Entry calculation for accuracy on larger shipments,
// and a flat estimated rate for small shipments if desired,
// but strict formal logic is safer for estimation.
if (val < 2500) {
// Informal entry estimation (Electronic)
mpfAmount = 2.22;
} else {
// Formal Entry
var rawMpf = val * mpfRate;
if (rawMpf mpfMax) {
mpfAmount = mpfMax;
} else {
mpfAmount = rawMpf;
}
}
// HMF Calculation
// Only applies if mode is Ocean
var hmfAmount = 0;
if (mode === 'ocean') {
hmfAmount = val * 0.00125;
}
// Totals
var totalFees = dutyAmount + mpfAmount + hmfAmount;
var totalLandedCost = val + ship + totalFees;
// 5. Output Formatting
var formatter = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', {
style: 'currency',
currency: 'USD',
});
document.getElementById('resValue').innerText = formatter.format(val);
document.getElementById('resDuty').innerText = formatter.format(dutyAmount);
document.getElementById('resMpf').innerText = formatter.format(mpfAmount);
document.getElementById('resHmf').innerText = formatter.format(hmfAmount);
document.getElementById('resTotalFees').innerText = formatter.format(totalFees);
document.getElementById('resLandedCost').innerText = formatter.format(totalLandedCost);
// Show results
resultDiv.style.display = 'block';
}