Tariff Impact Calculator

How to Use This Calculator

1. Pick your destination — United States or European Union, since the rules differ.
2. Select the origin country — China carries additional US tariffs most other countries don't.
3. Choose a product category — duty rates vary a lot between electronics, apparel, footwear, and general goods.
4. Enter price and shipping — the calculator fills in a starting duty rate you can override.
5. Read the total landed cost — the chart breaks down exactly where the extra cost comes from.

Why Online Orders Cost More in 2026

For years, low-value parcels from overseas sellers entered the US and EU without paying duty — the "de minimis" exemption. That loophole is a major reason ultra-cheap orders from AliExpress, Shein, and Temu could undercut local retailers so heavily. Both the US (2025) and the EU (1 July 2026) have now closed it, in different ways: the US applies a percentage-based duty to every parcel regardless of value, while the EU adds a flat handling fee to parcels under €150 instead of a full duty assessment.

The practical effect is the same either way — a purchase that looked like a bargain at checkout can cost noticeably more once it clears customs. Knowing roughly how much before you buy turns an unpleasant surprise into a normal part of comparing prices.

Tracking Online Purchases Over Time

A single order's extra cost might feel small, but frequent overseas orders add up over a year. Log what you actually spend — including the real landed cost, not just the sticker price — in the Budget Tracker to see the true total, with no sign-up and everything stored privately on your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my AliExpress/Shein/Temu order suddenly cost more?

Until 2025, US-bound parcels valued at $800 or less entered duty-free under the 'de minimis' rule. That exemption was suspended for all countries by executive action in 2025 and remains suspended in 2026 — every commercial parcel now gets a customs entry and pays duty, regardless of value. The EU made a similar change on 1 July 2026, replacing its de minimis exemption for parcels under €150 with a flat customs handling fee (this calculator defaults to €3) on top of the VAT that already applied.

Why is China treated differently from other countries?

US imports from China carry additional Section 301 tariffs stacked on top of the general MFN (most-favored-nation) duty rate that applies to imports from anywhere. That's why this calculator's default duty rate is higher when you select China as the origin — the same product shipped from a country without those additional tariffs faces a lower rate.

Is the duty rate shown exact?

No — it's an editable starting estimate, not a lookup of your product's exact HTS code. Real duty depends on the precise tariff classification of your item, which can vary even within one category (a cotton T-shirt and a synthetic jacket are taxed differently, for example). Use the rate shown as a ballpark, adjust it if you know your product's actual classification, and check an official tool (US CBP's HTS search, or the EU's TARIC database) before a large purchase.

What happened with the Supreme Court tariff ruling?

On 20 February 2026, the US Supreme Court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the president to impose tariffs, striking down the broad 'reciprocal' tariffs that had applied to most countries. That ruling did not affect the Section 301 tariffs on China (a separate legal authority) or the de minimis suspension (based on CBP's own authority, not IEEPA). This calculator's defaults reflect the post-ruling landscape as of September 2026 — given how fast this area keeps changing, treat every number here as a snapshot, not a permanent rate.

Does the EU charge duty on every parcel now too?

Not quite the same way as the US. For parcels valued at €150 or less, the EU replaced its old duty exemption with a flat handling fee (around €3) instead of a percentage-based duty — the VAT that already applied to all import values since 2021 is unchanged. Ad valorem duty by category only kicks in above that €150 threshold, which is why this calculator switches its formula depending on which side of €150 your order falls on.

How is this different from a landed-cost calculator for importers?

Import/export tools built for businesses ask for a precise HS code and are built around bulk shipments and formal customs entries. This calculator is aimed at an individual deciding whether to place one online order — it asks for the inputs a shopper actually has (price, where it ships from, roughly what kind of item it is) and gives a fast, adjustable estimate instead of requiring customs expertise.

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