Shipping from China to the UK: what it costs in 2026.

If you buy from Taobao, 1688 or Xianyu and ship to the UK, four things decide your final price: what the item costs in RMB, what our service fee is, what freight weighs, and what UK customs charges on arrival. Only the last one is out of your control — and it is the one most agents hide.

1. The four lines you pay

Goods. The seller's price in RMB, converted at the mid-market rate plus 1.5%.

Service fee. US$7 flat up to US$50, 15% from US$50 to US$150, 10% from US$150 to US$2,000, 6% above. Each band applies only to the part of the order inside it, so a US$300 order pays US$37.

Freight. Charged per 0.5 kg on the route you pick, after we weigh the packed parcel. Air express to the UK is typically 6–11 days; sea consolidation is 35–50 days and about a third of the price.

UK duty and VAT. Parcels valued at £135 or less enter without duty, but VAT at 20% still applies. Above £135, duty depends on the category — clothing around 12%, shoes around 17%, electronics often 0%.

2. A worked example

Two items from Taobao, 4 kg packed, delivered to Manchester: goods US$300, service fee US$37, FX and card fees US$20.07, inbound handling and domestic delivery US$4.50, total before freight US$361.57. Freight weighs in at roughly US$62, so the parcel lands near US$424.

Because the declared value is under £135 once converted per item, most single-item orders clear without duty — but VAT is charged on the total including freight. That is the line customers forget.

3. What we will not do

We do not under-declare, split a shipment to dodge the £135 threshold, or describe a branded item as a gift. HMRC treats those as fraud, and a seized parcel costs more than the tax saved. If a route cannot legally carry your item, we say so before you pay.

4. How to get a real number

Send the product link, the quantity and your UK postcode. You get a written quote within two working hours with every line shown, valid for 48 hours. Nothing is charged until you approve it.

Common questions

Is it cheaper to consolidate? Yes, once you have more than one parcel: you pay one freight charge instead of several, and one handling set instead of many.

Who pays the duty? You do, as the importer. We show it in the quote so it is not a surprise at the door.

Can you ship batteries? Some routes, some capacities. Send the link and we confirm in writing before you buy.