Import duty on custom sportswear made in China runs 12% into the UK and the EU, 18% into Canada, 5% into Australia, and 14.9% to 32% into the United States depending on how the garment is classified, before the additional China-specific duties that currently apply to US imports. On a 100-jersey order worth USD 1,200 that is USD 144 of duty into the UK and USD 216 into Canada. This page sets out the HS codes that apply to team kit, duty rates and low-value thresholds for five markets, realistic transit times, and a line-by-line breakdown of who pays what under EXW, FOB and DDP. Duty figures were verified against the official tariff databases on 10 August 2026. Freight is quoted per order and is not published here, because any published figure would be stale within weeks.
On this page
- What HS code applies to custom sportswear?
- How much import duty will I pay in my country?
- How much does it cost to ship custom jerseys from China?
- How do I read a freight quote?
- How long does air, express and sea freight take?
- What is the difference between EXW, FOB and DDP?
- Which Incoterm should a first-time importer choose?
- Worked example: duty on a 100-jersey order
- Who handles customs clearance and documentation?
- What documents do I need to import teamwear?
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources, review date and citation
What HS code applies to custom sportswear?
Classification drives everything else on this page: the duty rate, the paperwork, and whether a shipment clears in hours or in days. Custom team kit is almost always knitted from polyester or a polyester blend, which places it in Chapter 61 of the Harmonised System rather than Chapter 62. Where two headings could arguably apply, the note column explains what tips the decision, because the difference is not academic. The same jersey classified as a T-shirt and as other garments can attract materially different rates.
| Garment | HS heading (6-digit) | US HTS (10-digit) | EU / UK CN (8-digit) | Classification note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sublimated soccer / basketball jersey (knit, MMF) | 6114.30 | 6114.30.30.60 (men’s/boys’), .30.70 (women’s/girls’) — 14.9% | 6114 30 00 00 | The high-value question on any teamwear order. If the garment is instead classified as a T-shirt (6109.90.10) or as a jersey/pullover (6110.30.30) the US rate more than doubles to 32%. Get your supplier to state the code on the invoice and confirm it with your broker. |
| T-shirt style jersey (knit, MMF) | 6109.90 | 6109.90.10 — 32% | 6109 90 20 00 | Short-sleeve, no pockets, no significant ornamentation. |
| Shorts, men’s / boys’ (knit, synthetic) | 6103.43 | 6103.43.15 — 28.2% | 6103 43 00 00 | Bib and brace overalls sit at 14.9% under 6103.43.20. |
| Shorts / trousers, women’s / girls’ (knit, synthetic) | 6104.63 | 6104.63.20 — 28.2% | 6104 63 00 00 | Bib and brace overalls sit at 14.9% under 6104.63.10. |
| Sweatshirt / warm-up top (knit, MMF) | 6110.30 | 6110.30.30 — 32% | 6110 30 99 00 | US “Other” line; 17% if 23% or more wool, 6% if 25% or more leather. |
| Track suit (woven, MMF) | 6211.33 (men’s) / 6211.43 (women’s) | 6211.33.90 / 6211.43.10 — 16% | 6211 33 / 6211 43 | Knitted track suits fall in 6112.12 instead. |
| Outdoor jacket (woven, MMF) | 6201.40 / 6202.40 | 6201.40.75 / 6202.40.75 — 27.7%; water-resistant lines 6201.40.70.00 / 6202.40.70.00 — 7.1% | 6201 40 / 6202 40 | Water-resistant construction cuts the US rate from 27.7% to 7.1%. Coated or laminated shells move to 6210.40 / 6210.50 at 6.2–7.1%. |
| Polo shirt (knit, MMF) | 6105.20 | 6105.20.20 — 32% | 6105 20 10 00 | 13.6% if 23% or more wool or fine animal hair (6105.20.10.00). |
| Socks (knit, synthetic) | 6115.96 | 6115.96.90 — 14.6% | 6115 96 99 00 | 18.8% if containing lace or net (6115.96.60). |
| Caps | 6505.00 | 6505.00.15 (knitted) — 7.9% | 6505 00 30 00 | EU 2.7%, UK 2.0% — the lowest garment-related rate in the table. |
The first six digits are identical worldwide. The remaining digits are national, ten in the US HTS and eight in the EU and UK combined nomenclature, and that national extension is where most of the rate variation lives. Ask your supplier which code they will declare on the commercial invoice before the goods ship, because correcting a classification after arrival is slow and sometimes expensive.
How much import duty will I pay in my country?
Duty is charged on the customs value of the goods, which for most teamwear orders means the invoice value plus freight and insurance, depending on whether your country values on a CIF or FOB basis. On top of the base tariff, several markets apply additional duties, and almost all apply a consumption tax at the border: VAT in the UK and EU, GST in Australia. The table separates these deliberately, because they are collected differently and a single blended percentage will mislead you.
| Destination | Base duty rate | Additional duties | Import VAT / GST | De minimis threshold | Official tariff lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 14.9% under 6114.30.30; 28.2% under 6103.43.15 / 6104.63.20; 32% under 6109.90.10, 6110.30.30 and 6105.20.20 | China-origin goods also carry Section 301 List 4A at +7.5% (HTS 9903.88.15) plus IEEPA additional duties under HTS 9903.01.20 and 9903.01.24 (+10% each) and the reciprocal baseline under 9903.01.25 (+10%). Stacking depends on the Chapter 99 notes — confirm the applicable combination with a licensed broker. | No federal VAT. State sales or use tax may apply on resale. | Suspended. The $800 Section 321 duty-free exemption has been suspended for all countries since 29 August 2025 (CBP CSMS #66065494), and a separate informal entry process for international mail took effect 24 July 2026. | USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule |
| Canada | 18% (6114.30.00, MFN) | None specific to China. | 5% GST, collected by CBSA at the border on commercial imports. Provincial sales tax and the provincial portion of HST are generally assessed on casual (personal) goods rather than commercial shipments — confirm for your province. | Does not apply to commercial orders. The CAD 20 / 40 / 150 reliefs cover casual (non-commercial) goods only, and the higher CAD 40 tax and CAD 150 duty courier thresholds apply solely to goods from the US and Mexico under CUSMA. A club or reseller order is commercial and dutiable from the first dollar. | CBSA Customs Tariff 2026, Chapter 61 |
| United Kingdom | 12% on all knitted and woven garment lines checked (6103.43, 6104.63, 6105.20, 6109.90, 6110.30, 6114.30, 6115.96, 6211.33); 2% on caps (6505.00.30) | None specific to China. | 20% import VAT | Consignments of £135 or less currently enter without customs duty, with VAT collected at the point of sale instead. This relief is being withdrawn: abolition was announced at Autumn Budget 2025, draft legislation was published in July 2026, and the replacement arrangements are due by March 2029 at the latest. Still in force as at 10 August 2026. | UK Integrated Online Tariff |
| European Union | 12% on knitted and woven garments (6109.90.20, 6110.30.99, 6114.30.00); 2.7% on caps (6505.00.30) | None specific to China. | Member state standard rate, collected at import. EU law sets a floor of 15% with no ceiling; current standard rates run from 17% to 27%. | The €150 duty relief has been abolished. From 1 July 2026 a customs duty of €3 per item applies instead on consignments with an intrinsic value up to €150 (TARIC measure TM01066, Regulation 2026/382), in force until 1 July 2028. Import VAT applies from the first euro. | EU TARIC, reference date 10 August 2026 |
| Australia | 5% (6103.43.00, 6109.90.00, 6110.30.00, 6114.30.00) | 0% under ChAFTA with a valid declaration of origin. ChAFTA reached full tariff elimination on Chinese-origin goods on 1 January 2019. | 10% GST | AUD 1,000. Consignments at or below that value generally attract no duty or charges at the border and clear on a self-assessed clearance; above it a full import declaration is required and both duty and GST are payable. | ABF Customs Tariff Schedule 3, Chapter 61 |
Rates change, sometimes at short notice, and two recent changes both push landed cost up. In the United States the $800 de minimis exemption has been suspended for all countries since August 2025, so there is no longer a value below which a shipment enters duty-free. In the European Union the €150 duty relief was abolished on 1 July 2026 and replaced with a flat €3 per item on consignments up to €150. Always confirm against the official database in the last column, or ask a licensed customs broker, before you commit to a landed-cost figure.
Country guides. Each market has a full write-up with verified codes, a worked landed-cost example and market-specific traps: United Kingdom (12% duty, 20% VAT, freight dutiable on a CIF basis), European Union (12% duty, 17–27% VAT, and why the new €3 per item charge costs more than 12% on any item under €25), Canada (18% MFN, 5% GST, and why the low-value thresholds never apply to a club order), Australia (5% general, 0% under ChAFTA with a valid declaration of origin) and the United States (14.9% to 32% base, plus Section 301 and IEEPA additional duties).
Category guides. Two categories carry duty risk far above the rest of the range. Custom outdoor jackets works through the widest tariff spread of anything we make — 6.2% to 32% in the United States depending on how the shell is built — and custom polo shirts covers the 32% polo line and the 13.6% wool exception. Custom baseball jerseys flags the classification question raised by a full front placket.
How much does it cost to ship custom jerseys from China?
Freight is priced on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight, so a light but bulky consignment pays on volume. Teamwear is comparatively dense once vacuum-packed, which usually works in your favour. We quote freight separately from the garment price on every order, because the rate depends on your exact weight, volume, destination and the date you ship — carrier rates move with fuel and season, so any figure published on a website would be out of date by the time you read it.
| Mode | Typical shipment size | What drives the price | When this mode wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express courier (DHL / FedEx / UPS) | Roughly one to five cartons | Chargeable weight, remote-area surcharge, fuel surcharge, residential delivery surcharge | Small and mid-size team orders. Door to door, one invoice, no separate broker needed. Almost always the right answer at our 10-piece minimum. |
| Air freight | Several cartons up to a pallet | Chargeable weight, airport handling at both ends, customs brokerage, delivery from the destination airport | Larger orders that still have a fixed deadline. Cheaper per kilo than courier at volume, but you or your forwarder must arrange clearance and final delivery. |
| Sea freight LCL | A pallet or more | Cubic metres rather than weight, plus origin and destination terminal charges, documentation and delivery order fees | Large club or distributor orders with a long runway. The per-cbm rate looks low, but fixed destination charges apply regardless of size, so small consignments lose the advantage. |
| Sea freight FCL | A full 20ft or 40ft container | Flat container rate, plus terminal handling and haulage at both ends | Wholesale and private-label volumes. Only economical when you can fill most of a container. |
As a rule of thumb, small orders go by express courier, mid-size orders by air, and only genuinely large orders by sea. The reason is that sea freight carries fixed destination charges that do not shrink with your shipment, so on a small consignment those fees can exceed the freight itself. Tell us your destination city, quantity and required arrival date and we will quote all viable modes side by side.
How do I read a freight quote?
Because freight is quoted rather than published, the useful skill is knowing what a complete quote contains. Two quotes for the same shipment can differ by a wide margin simply because one of them leaves lines out and bills them later. Ask every supplier and forwarder to itemise against the list below, then compare like for like.
| Line item | What it covers | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Freight charge | The main leg, priced on chargeable weight or cubic metres | Confirm whether it is quoted on actual or volumetric weight |
| Fuel surcharge | Carrier fuel adjustment, revised regularly | Often quoted as a percentage rather than a fixed sum, so it moves with the base rate |
| Origin handling and export documentation | Pickup, export clearance, bill of lading or air waybill | Included under FOB and DDP; payable by you under EXW |
| Destination terminal or airport handling | Unloading and release at the arrival port or airport | The line most often omitted from a headline sea freight rate |
| Customs brokerage | Preparing and filing the import declaration | Not required under DDP; a separate fee under FOB and EXW |
| Duty and import tax | Calculated per the rates in the tables above | Under DDP this is inside the price; otherwise billed to you directly by the broker or carrier |
| Last-mile delivery | From the terminal or hub to your address | Sea freight quotes frequently stop at the terminal |
| Residential or remote-area surcharge | Applied by couriers to non-commercial or outlying addresses | Worth flagging your address type before you accept a quote |
| Storage or demurrage | Accrues if a shipment is held at the border | Avoidable in almost all cases with a correct invoice and HS code |
How long does air, express and sea freight take?
The transit time a carrier quotes is hub to hub or port to port, and it is only one part of your timeline. The realistic schedule for a teamwear order runs mockup, sample, bulk production, freight, then import clearance and domestic delivery. Customs is the least predictable stage and no carrier will guarantee it.
| Stage | Jerseys and polos | Jackets and activewear |
|---|---|---|
| Digital mockup | Free, within 24 hours | Free, within 24 hours |
| Physical pre-production sample | 5–7 days | 7–10 days |
| Bulk production after sample approval | 15–20 days | 20–25 days |
| Express courier transit | 5–7 business days to most countries | 5–7 business days to most countries |
| Sea freight transit | 20–35 days port to port | 20–35 days port to port |
| Import clearance and domestic delivery | Add 2–7 days, longer if documents are queried | Add 2–7 days, longer if documents are queried |
Counting backwards from those stages, a courier order needs roughly six to seven weeks from first enquiry to kit in hand, and a sea shipment closer to ten to twelve weeks. If your season has a fixed first fixture, tell us that date at the quote stage and we will work the schedule back from it.
What is the difference between EXW, FOB and DDP?
The three terms describe how far along the journey the seller obligation runs, and the point at which cost and risk pass to you. They are defined by the ICC Incoterms 2020 rules, and they are contractual: they change what you are buying, not just how the invoice is worded.
Under EXW (Ex Works) the seller job ends when the goods are packed and ready for collection at the factory. You arrange and pay for everything from that moment on: collection, inland transport to the port, export clearance, freight, insurance, import clearance, duty and final delivery. It produces the lowest headline unit price and the most work, and it is the term least suited to a first-time importer, because Chinese export clearance must be handled by a party holding export rights in China.
Under FOB (Free On Board) the seller delivers the goods on board the vessel at the named port of departure and handles export clearance. From that point the freight, insurance, import duty and delivery are yours. FOB is the standard choice for buyers who already have a freight forwarder they trust, because it lets you control the shipping leg and often secure better rates than the factory can.
Under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) the seller carries the goods all the way to your address and pays import duty and clearance charges. It is the only one of the three where the price you are quoted is the price you end up paying: no separate invoice arrives from a broker or carrier weeks later. The trade-off is that freight and duty are bundled into a figure you cannot itemise, so you are trusting the seller rates rather than testing them.
| Responsibility | EXW | FOB | DDP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export packing | Seller | Seller | Seller |
| Inland transport to port of origin | Buyer | Seller | Seller |
| Export customs clearance | Buyer | Seller | Seller |
| Main freight (sea or air) | Buyer | Buyer | Seller |
| Insurance | Buyer | Buyer | No obligation under Incoterms 2020; the seller carries the risk to your address, so the seller normally insures |
| Import customs clearance | Buyer | Buyer | Seller |
| Import duty and taxes | Buyer | Buyer | Seller |
| Last-mile delivery to your address | Buyer | Buyer | Seller |
| Risk transfers at | Factory door | On board vessel at origin port | Your named address |
| Who books the freight | Buyer | Buyer | Seller |
Unless a buyer specifies otherwise, Eliian quotes EXW ex-works. That is the lowest headline number and the right basis if you already have a forwarder in China who can handle export clearance on your behalf. If you do not, ask us to requote FOB Xiamen or DDP door-to-door before you compare us against anyone else, because an EXW price and a DDP price are not the same product. We ship DDP to most of the 50-plus countries we serve, and for a first-time importer that is usually the better trade. Freight is quoted as a separate line from the garment price on every order.
Which Incoterm should a first-time importer choose?
If this is your first import, DDP. Not because it is cheapest, because it usually is not, but because it removes the three failure modes that actually damage a teamwear order: a shipment held at the border over incorrect paperwork, an unexpected duty bill arriving after the budget has been spent, and a kit that misses the opening fixture because nobody was watching the clearance queue.
Move to FOB once you have imported two or three times, know your HS code, and have a forwarder who quotes you directly. EXW is worth considering only if you are consolidating goods from several Chinese suppliers into a single shipment, and even then only with a forwarder already appointed in China.
Worked example: duty on a 100-jersey order
The figures below use our published 100-piece price of USD 12 per fully sublimated soccer jersey, giving a goods value of USD 1,200, and apply the duty rates verified above. Freight is excluded because it is quoted per order, but the duty and tax lines are real and you can budget against them today.
| Destination | Duty rate applied | Duty on USD 1,200 of goods | Import VAT / GST | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 14.9% (HTS 6114.30.30) | USD 178.80 | None federally | Add Section 301 List 4A at 7.5%, a further USD 90.00. IEEPA additional duties also apply to China-origin goods — confirm the stack with your broker. If the jersey is instead classified at 32% under 6110.30.30 or 6109.90.10, base duty becomes USD 384.00. |
| Canada | 18% | USD 216.00 | 5% GST on the duty-paid value: USD 70.80 | CBSA collects the 5% GST at the border on commercial imports. Provincial sales tax is generally assessed on casual goods rather than commercial shipments. |
| United Kingdom | 12% | USD 144.00 | 20% VAT on the duty-paid value: USD 268.80 | The UK assesses duty on a CIF basis, so your freight and insurance are dutiable too — add 12% of the freight cost to the duty line. |
| European Union | 12% | USD 144.00 | Member state rate, e.g. 19% in Germany: USD 255.36 | Same CIF basis as the UK. VAT rate varies by member state. |
| Australia | 5%, or 0% under ChAFTA with a valid declaration of origin | USD 60.00, or USD 0.00 under ChAFTA | 10% GST on customs value plus duty: USD 126.00 before freight is added | Australia values on an FOB basis, so international freight is not dutiable, but GST is calculated on a landed figure that includes it. |
Two things stand out. Duty is a larger line than most first-time buyers expect — into Canada it adds close to a fifth of the goods value before any tax is charged — and the United States figure swings by USD 205 on classification alone. That is why the HS code on your commercial invoice is worth checking before the goods leave the factory rather than after they arrive.
Who handles customs clearance and documentation?
Under DDP, our forwarder does it. Under FOB and EXW you need a customs broker in the destination country; most freight forwarders either are one or work with one, and for a single teamwear shipment it is a modest fixed fee that they will state up front. In the United States an importer of record number is required; individuals can use a social security number or apply for a CBP-assigned number, and a broker will usually walk you through it. Businesses in the UK and EU need an EORI number, which is free and takes a few days, so apply before the goods ship rather than after.
What documents do I need to import teamwear?
- Commercial invoice, showing HS code, unit value, Incoterm and country of origin
- Packing list, with carton count, gross and net weight and dimensions
- Bill of lading (sea) or air waybill (air and express)
- Certificate of origin, only if claiming a preferential rate under a trade agreement
- Fibre content and care-label information, requested at clearance in some markets
- Import licence, not normally required for sportswear in any market listed above
Your supplier produces the first two and the carrier issues the third. Check the commercial invoice before the goods ship: most clearance delays on garment shipments trace back to a vague product description or a missing HS code on that single document.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship custom jerseys from China to the USA?
Freight is quoted per order rather than published, because it depends on chargeable weight, destination city and the date you ship, and carrier rates move with fuel and season. What is fixed and knowable in advance is the duty: on a 100-jersey order with a goods value of USD 1,200, US base duty is USD 178.80 at 14.9%, plus Section 301 and IEEPA additional duties. Send us your quantity and destination city and we will quote every viable shipping mode side by side.
What is the import duty on sportswear in the United States?
It depends on classification. The base rate is 14.9% if the jersey is classified under HTS 6114.30.30, and 32% if it falls under 6109.90.10 as a T-shirt or 6110.30.30 as a pullover. On top of the base rate, China-origin goods currently carry Section 301 List 4A at 7.5% under HTS 9903.88.15, plus IEEPA additional duties under headings 9903.01.20, 9903.01.24 and 9903.01.25. How those stack depends on the Chapter 99 notes, so ask a licensed broker to confirm the total before you budget.
Is DDP or FOB better for a small order?
For small orders, DDP is almost always better. Brokerage, handling and documentation fees are close to fixed, so they weigh far more per unit on a 10 or 30-piece shipment than on a 500-piece one. Move to FOB when your volumes are large enough that controlling the freight leg yourself saves more than the paperwork costs you.
How long does sea freight take from China?
Roughly 20 to 35 days port to port to most destinations, before import clearance and domestic delivery are added. Express courier to most countries takes 5 to 7 business days.
Do I need a customs broker?
Not under DDP, where the seller handles clearance. Under FOB or EXW, yes for any commercial shipment above the de minimis threshold in your country.
What is the de minimis threshold and does my order qualify?
It is the value below which a shipment enters free of duty, and it no longer helps US importers: the $800 exemption has been suspended for all countries since August 2025. In the EU the €150 relief was abolished on 1 July 2026 and replaced with a €3 per item duty. The UK still lets consignments of £135 or less in without customs duty, collecting VAT at the point of sale instead. A 100-piece teamwear order sits above every one of these thresholds in any case, so plan on paying duty.
Who pays if customs holds my shipment?
Under DDP we do: clearance is our responsibility and any duty or brokerage charge is already inside the price you agreed. Under FOB or EXW it is yours, including any storage or demurrage that accrues while the hold is resolved. Holds on garment shipments are most often caused by a vague product description or a missing HS code on the commercial invoice, which is why we put the code on every invoice we issue.
Can you ship to a residential address?
Yes, by express courier and under DDP. Carriers apply a residential delivery surcharge, and sea freight is not practical to a home address because containers and LCL consignments are released at a terminal rather than delivered to the door. If you are a club without a commercial address, express courier is the simplest option.
Sources, review date and citation
Duty rates, HS codes and low-value thresholds on this page were verified on 10 August 2026 against official sources: the USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule (US base rates and Chapter 99 additional duties), CBP guidance on the suspension of the Section 321 de minimis exemption, the UK Integrated Online Tariff and HMRC policy papers on low value import reform, EU TARIC (reference date 10 August 2026, last TARIC update 7 August 2026) and the European Commission VAT rates guidance, the CBSA Customs Tariff 2026 Chapter 61 and CBSA guidance on courier low value shipments, the ABF Customs Tariff Schedule 3 Chapter 61 and ABF low value import guidance, and DFAT guidance on ChAFTA tariff elimination. Lead times are our own operational figures. Freight rates are deliberately not published here: they depend on chargeable weight, destination and shipping date, and any figure we posted would be out of date within weeks. Ask us for a live quote instead.
Tariff rates, additional duties and de minimis thresholds change and can do so at short notice. Nothing on this page is customs advice. Confirm the applicable rate with the official database or a licensed customs broker before relying on a landed-cost figure.
Journalists, directory editors and researchers are welcome to cite the figures on this page. Please cite the company as Eliian (Xiamen Eliian Industrial and Trading Co., Ltd.). If you need a data point that is not listed, contact yunying@eliian.com and we will supply it in writing.
Related: our custom team uniform cost and MOQ guide covers per-unit pricing before freight, and our factory profile lists production capability, lead times and certifications. Country-by-country duty guides: UK, EU, Canada and Australia. Going deeper on one question: what it costs to ship custom jerseys from China to the USA, DDP vs FOB for custom sportswear, and air vs sea freight for teamwear.
How should custom jerseys be packed for retail resale?
Ask for individual polybagging with a size sticker on each bag, which is our standard, and specify anything beyond it in the quote: your own hang tags and care labels, barcodes or GTIN labels on the polybag, folded and boarded presentation, or inner cartons split by size. Retail packing is decided before production, because labels and tags have to be produced alongside the garments rather than added afterwards.