Shipping from China to the UK

For consignments worth £135 or less, the seller or platform is expected to charge UK VAT (20%) at the point of sale rather than at the border. Above £135 the shipment becomes a normal import: import VAT plus customs duty at the rate for the commodity code. The £135 figure is a collection threshold, not a free allowance — VAT is a real cost either way, and the relief is scheduled to end by 2029.

UK duty depends entirely on the commodity code and can range from zero to roughly 12% for typical home and furniture lines, with some categories going higher. Send us your product list and we will check the code and duty position with your forwarder before the goods leave China, so your landed cost is decided in advance.

Yes. Commercial invoice with accurate descriptions, quantities, unit values and HS codes, plus a packing list showing how the consignment is packed. Upholstered furniture also needs the labelling that the UK fire-safety rules require, and we flag that before dispatch rather than letting it be discovered at the port.

For most home and furniture cargo yes — several of our forwarders offer duty-paid door delivery to UK postcodes. You pay one number and nothing is collected on delivery. If you prefer DAP, expect the carrier's handling fee (often around £8 for postal clearance, more for courier brokerage) on top of the duty itself.

Typically 40–55 days door to door by sea LCL via Felixstowe or Southampton, and about 6–12 days by air line. Add a few days if you need crating or testing before dispatch — we always tell you the dispatch date in writing.