Free sourcing tools for hardware buyers

Why we build tools, not just guides

A guide tells you how import duty works. A tool tells you what it will cost your order. We started with the question buyers ask most before placing an order from China — “what will this actually land at after duty and tax?” — and turned it into a calculator you can use in ten seconds.

Every tool here is free and runs entirely in your browser. We do not gate them behind an email form, because a calculator you can’t use without signing up isn’t a tool, it’s a lead magnet pretending to be one.

What’s here so far

The Import Tariff & Landed-Cost Calculator estimates duty, VAT or GST, and total landed cost by product category and destination — including the 2026 changes to EU de-minimis thresholds and US de-minimis thresholds that quietly raise the real cost of low-value parcels.

More tools are on the way: an MOQ-versus-unit-cost breakeven calculator and a certification-cost estimator are next. If there’s a number you keep working out by hand before every order, tell us and we’ll consider building it.

How the landed-cost calculator works

The calculator asks for four things: product category, FOB or EXW value, shipping mode, and destination country. It then applies the most common duty rate for that HS chapter, adds VAT or GST where relevant, and shows a landed-cost estimate.

For example, a $12,000 shipment of Bluetooth speakers from Shenzhen to Rotterdam by sea might land at roughly $14,100–$14,600 after 0% EU duty on most consumer electronics, 21% Dutch VAT, and freight forwarder fees. The same shipment to the US by air could land closer to $13,800–$14,200 depending on the freight rate and whether US customs requires a formal entry.

The calculator is not a customs declaration. It is a planning number. Always confirm the exact HS code with your freight forwarder or customs broker before you ship, especially for products that sit on the edge of two classifications — such as power banks, which can fall under batteries or adapters depending on how they are declared. For the official U.S. classification reference, see the Harmonized Tariff Schedule.

What the calculator does not cover

The calculator does not include freight insurance, storage fees, inland trucking at destination, or customs examination charges. It also does not cover anti-dumping duties, which apply to some products like solar panels and certain aluminum goods. For high-value or regulated shipments, get a forwarder quote in writing before you finalize your pricing.

When to use the calculator

Use it before you negotiate final pricing with a supplier. If your target retail margin is 3x landed cost and the calculator shows landed cost is 35% higher than you assumed, you need to push on FOB price, shipping mode, or product design before you sign a PO.

Use it again when you compare suppliers in different regions. A factory in Shenzhen quoting $8.50 per unit FOB Shenzhen may not beat a factory in Ningbo quoting $8.20 per unit if the Ningbo shipment needs an extra inland leg and different freight consolidation.

Use it when you plan certification. Certification costs are not part of the landed-cost calculator today, but they are part of total first-order cost. A CE + FCC test program for a simple electronic device typically runs $2,500–$6,000, and a device with a radio module can add $1,500–$3,000 for RF and SAR testing. Our certification guide breaks this down in detail.

Tools we are building next

The next calculator will compare MOQ and unit cost. It answers a question we hear constantly: “Should I accept the supplier’s 5,000-unit MOQ to get a 12% lower unit price, or pay more per unit at 1,000 units?” The tool will factor in storage cost, capital tied up, risk of unsold inventory, and obsolescence risk for chips with short lifecycle windows.

After that, a certification-cost estimator will let buyers pick product type, target markets, and radio modules, then return a realistic testing budget and timeline. This is useful for hardware startups that need to include certification in a fundraising plan or milestone schedule.

How to give feedback

If a calculator gives you a number that does not match your real-world experience, or if you want a tool for a specific decision, message us on WhatsApp at +86 158 0518 9230. We build these for our own sourcing work first, and we improve them when buyers point out edge cases we missed.

Related reading

• Import electronics from China to the USA — duty rates, formal vs informal entry, and common mistakes.
• Import electronics from China to the EU — VAT, IOSS, and the 2026 de-minimis changes.
• China electronics MOQ negotiation — how to lower minimum order quantities without destroying the relationship.
• CE and FCC certification for electronics made in China — testing timelines, costs, and documentation.
• How to source electronics from China — the full process from spec to shipped order.