Customs Brokerage and Entry Fee Calculator

What This Calculator Does and Why It Matters

When goods cross into the United States, the landed cost of those goods includes a lot more than the price you paid the supplier. Customs duties, broker fees, merchandise processing fees, harbor maintenance fees, ISF filing charges, and bond costs can add thousands of dollars to a single shipment — and many importers are caught off guard by the total bill.

This free customs brokerage and entry fee calculator helps importers, freight forwarders, and procurement teams estimate their full US customs cost before a shipment arrives. Enter your commercial value, freight, insurance, duty rate, and broker fee structure, then toggle on any applicable additional charges to get an itemized fee breakdown instantly.

For a deep reference on US tariff classifications and duty rates, the US International Trade Commission Harmonized Tariff Schedule is the definitive source for finding the correct duty rate for any product.

How to Use This Calculator

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Enter the commercial value of your shipment in US dollars — this is the invoiced value of the goods.
2. Add the freight cost and insurance cost. These together with commercial value form the CIF value on which duties are assessed.
3. Enter the applicable duty rate as a percentage. If you are unsure of your rate, look up your HTS code on the USITC tariff schedule.
4. Select the entry type — formal entry for shipments over $2,500, informal entry for $800 to $2,500, or Section 321 for shipments under $800.
5. Select your broker fee structure and enter either the flat fee or the percentage your broker charges.
6. Check or uncheck the additional fee boxes for MPF, HMF, ISF filing, import bond, and CBP exam fees based on your shipment.
7. Click Calculate Fees to see a full itemized cost breakdown and estimated total import cost.

The Formula Explained

Breaking Down the Formula

US customs duties are calculated on the CIF value of a shipment — that is the commercial value plus freight plus insurance. The duty is then applied as a percentage of that CIF total. On top of duty, several standard government fees apply to most formal entries.

CIF Value = Commercial Value + Freight + Insurance. Import Duty = CIF Value × Duty Rate %. MPF (formal entry) = CIF Value × 0.3464% (minimum $31.67, maximum $614.35). HMF = CIF Value × 0.125%. Total = Duty + Broker Fee + MPF + HMF + ISF + Bond + Exam Fees.

Example Calculation with Real Numbers

A company imports $25,000 worth of goods from China. Freight is $2,500 and insurance is $300. CIF value = $27,800. With a 7.5% duty rate, the import duty is $2,085. The MPF on a formal entry is $27,800 × 0.3464% = $96.30. HMF adds $34.75. The customs broker charges a $200 flat fee. ISF filing adds $35. Total estimated import cost before freight (already counted in CIF) is $2,451.05. This is the number that needs to be built into landed cost calculations before the shipment ever leaves the origin port.

For importers who regularly move freight, pairing this tool with the import duty and tax calculator gives an even more comprehensive view of your total landed cost across different product categories and duty scenarios.

When Would You Use This

Real Life Use Cases

This calculator is useful for anyone who imports physical goods into the United States. Small business owners sourcing products from overseas, procurement managers at mid-size manufacturers, and freight forwarders building shipment cost estimates all need accurate customs cost data before committing to an import decision.

E-commerce sellers who source internationally need to know their true landed cost to price products correctly and protect their margins. An unexpected $3,000 customs bill on a $20,000 shipment can turn a profitable order into a loss. Running a cost estimate through this calculator before placing a purchase order prevents that kind of surprise.

Importers who also ship LTL or FTL domestically after clearing customs might find the LTL vs FTL shipping cost comparison calculator helpful for planning the full domestic leg of their supply chain cost as well. For companies managing bonded shipments, also see the customs brokerage and entry fee calculator to keep all your import cost estimates in one place.

Specific Example Scenario

An e-commerce brand is comparing two suppliers — one in Vietnam and one in Taiwan — for the same product. The Vietnam supplier offers a lower unit price, but goods from Vietnam may be subject to additional tariff rates. By running both scenarios through this calculator with the respective duty rates and CIF values, the buyer can see that the Taiwan supplier actually produces a lower landed cost per unit despite the higher invoice price. The math only works when all customs costs are included in the comparison.

Tips for Getting Accurate Results

Always Look Up Your HTS Code and Duty Rate First

The single biggest variable in any customs cost estimate is the duty rate, and it varies dramatically by product. A 0% rate on certain industrial components versus a 25% rate on tariff-list goods can change your landed cost by thousands of dollars. Before you enter a duty rate into this calculator, verify the correct rate using your HTS code on the USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule or confirm it with your licensed customs broker.

Use CIF Value as the Duty Basis, Not Just the Commercial Invoice

US customs duties are assessed on the CIF value — commercial value plus freight plus insurance — not just the invoice price. If you enter only the invoice value without including freight and insurance, your duty estimate will be lower than the actual amount CBP will assess. This calculator handles this correctly as long as you enter all three values.

Account for Entry Type Before Calculating MPF

The merchandise processing fee structure is different depending on entry type. Formal entries (over $2,500) get a percentage-based MPF with a minimum and maximum cap. Informal entries (under $2,500) carry a flat $2 fee. Section 321 shipments (under $800 per day per person) are typically duty-free and MPF-free. Selecting the correct entry type in this calculator ensures the MPF calculation is accurate for your shipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a customs broker and do I need one?

A licensed customs broker is a private party authorized by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to act as your agent in clearing goods through customs. For formal entries (over $2,500), most importers use a broker because the documentation requirements are complex. For informal entries or Section 321 de minimis shipments, a broker is optional but can still be helpful for high-volume shippers.

What is the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF)?

The MPF is a user fee charged by CBP on most imported goods. For formal entries, it is set at 0.3464% of the entered value, with a minimum of $31.67 and a maximum of $614.35 per entry. For informal entries the MPF is $2. Goods from certain countries with free trade agreements may be exempt from MPF — check with your broker for country-specific rules.

What is the Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF)?

The HMF is a fee assessed on goods imported by water and is charged at 0.125% of the cargo’s value. It applies to ocean and inland waterway shipments. Air freight shipments are not subject to HMF. The fee is collected to fund dredging and maintenance of US ports and harbors.

What is an ISF filing and why does it cost money?

The Importer Security Filing (ISF), also called 10+2, is a mandatory data submission required by CBP at least 24 hours before a shipment is loaded at the origin port. Customs brokers charge a filing fee to submit this data on your behalf. This calculator estimates that fee at $35, which is a typical rate — though actual broker fees may vary.

When do I need an import bond?

A customs bond is required for all formal entry shipments (over $2,500) and for any shipment subject to other government agency requirements regardless of value. You can either get a single-entry bond for each shipment or a continuous bond if you import regularly. The continuous bond is usually more cost-effective for businesses that import multiple times per year.

What is a Section 321 de minimis entry?

Under Section 321 of the Tariff Act, goods imported by one person on one day with a retail value of $800 or less are eligible for duty-free and tax-free entry. This threshold has made it popular with direct-to-consumer e-commerce brands shipping individual packages from overseas fulfillment centers directly to US consumers. CBP has been actively reviewing enforcement of this provision.

What happens during a CBP exam and what does it cost?

CBP may select any shipment for a physical or document examination to verify that the goods match the declared information. There are two main types — a tailgate exam (container is examined at the port) and a VACIS exam (non-intrusive imaging). Exam costs, which are passed to the importer, typically range from $200 to $500 or more depending on the type and port. This calculator uses $350 as a standard estimate.

Can I use this calculator for ocean freight, air freight, and trucking shipments?

Yes. The duty and MPF calculations apply regardless of mode of transport. The HMF, however, only applies to ocean and inland waterway shipments, not air freight. When entering costs for an air freight shipment, leave the HMF checkbox unchecked to get an accurate estimate. For detailed per-mile freight cost analysis on the domestic side, the trucking cost per mile calculator is a helpful companion tool.

Conclusion

Customs costs are a real and often underestimated component of the total landed cost of imported goods. Duties, broker fees, government processing fees, and compliance costs can collectively add 5% to 15% or more to the value of a shipment. The only way to plan effectively is to calculate these costs accurately before the goods ship.

Use this free customs brokerage and entry fee calculator to run cost scenarios before every import order. The more precisely you understand what customs will cost, the better you can price your products, protect your margins, and build a resilient supply chain.