Footwear duty into the United Kingdom: 2%–16%
Footwear imported into the United Kingdom carry customs duty of between 2% and 16%, with most items at 16%, plus import VAT of 0% to 20% depending on the exact goods, effective 1 January 2021, whatever the country of origin. In the United Kingdom, consignments at or under £135.00 are relieved of duty, though import VAT still applies.
177 origins qualify for a preferential rate below the 16% standard, all at 0%. None of them changes the worked example: at £77.00 that consignment is already under the £135.00 relief threshold, so no duty is charged whatever the origin. Preference starts to matter above it. Claiming a preferential rate requires proof of origin at customs; without acceptable proof the standard rate applies.
- Route
- Any origin → United Kingdom
- Customs duty
- 2%–16%, median 16%
- Import VAT
- 0%–20% by goods
- Duty assessed on
- Goods value plus freight and insurance (CIF)
- Low-value treatment
- Consignments at or under £135.00 are relieved of duty, though import VAT still applies
- Typical clearance fee
- £8.00, charged by the carrier
- Commodity codes covered
- 5
- Last verified
- 23 August 2026
Rates by commodity code
| HS code | Description | Duty | In force since | Instrument |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6402.99 | Other footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics, other | 16% | S.I. 2020/1430 | |
| 6403.51 | Footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of leather, other footwear with outer soles of leather | 8% | S.I. 2020/1430 | |
| 6404.11 | Footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of textile materials, footwear with outer soles of rubber or plastics | 16% | S.I. 2020/1430 | |
| 6404.19 | Footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of textile materials, other | 16% | S.I. 2020/1430 | |
| 6405.10 | Other footwear | 2% | S.I. 2020/1430 |
A worked example
A £77.00 order of other footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics, other (HS 6402.99) with £10.00 shipping, imported into the United Kingdom, lands at £112.40 — £25.40 of that is charges due on arrival.
| Goods value | £77.00 |
|---|---|
| Shipping and insurance | £10.00 |
| Customs duty · No duty — below the relief threshold | £0.00 |
| Import VAT · 20% | £17.40 |
| Carrier clearance fee | £8.00 |
| Charges due on arrival | £25.40 |
| Total landed cost | £112.40 |
Order value is an assumed figure converted from euros at an illustrative rate, for the sake of a realistic example. Use the calculator for your actual numbers.
Origins with a preferential rate
| Agreement | Preferential rate | vs standard | Saving on the example |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARIFORUM14 countriesAntigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago | 0% | -16.0pp | Relieved |
| Central America6 countriesCosta Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama | 0% | -16.0pp | Relieved |
| Channel Islands2 countriesGuernsey, Jersey | 0% | -16.0pp | Relieved |
| CPTPP All Members excluding Canada10 countriesAustralia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam | 0% | -16.0pp | Relieved |
| Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) - Comprehensive Preferences43 countriesAfghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo - Kinshasa, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia | 0% | -16.0pp | Relieved |
| Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) - Enhanced Preferences17 countriesAlgeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville, Cook Islands, Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Niue, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu | 0% | -16.0pp | Relieved |
| Eastern and Southern Africa States4 countriesMadagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe | 0% | -16.0pp | Relieved |
| European Union28 countriesAustria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden | 0% | -16.0pp | Relieved |
| OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories)11 countriesAnguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, St Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands | 0% | -16.0pp | Relieved |
| SADC EPA5 countriesBotswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia | 0% | -16.0pp | Relieved |
| Best rate comes from different agreements by commodity code1 countryIndia | 0% | -16.0pp | Relieved |
| Named individually in the tariff36 countriesAlbania, Andorra, Cameroon, Canada, Ceuta, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Egypt, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Georgia, Ghana, Iceland, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Melilla, Moldova, Morocco, North Macedonia, Norway, Palestinian Territories, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine | 0% | -16.0pp | Relieved |
The worked example falls under the £135.00 duty relief threshold, so no duty is charged whatever the origin. These rates apply above it.
Where Northern Ireland charges differently
Northern Ireland applies the EU Common External Tariff rather than the UK Global Tariff. On 3 of the 4 commodity codes compared here the two differ; on the rest they are identical.
| Commodity code | This page | Northern Ireland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 640411Footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of textile materials, footwear with outer soles of rubber or plastics | 16% | 16.9% | +0.9pp |
| 640419Footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of textile materials, other | 16% | 16.9% | +0.9pp |
| 640510Other footwear | 2% | 3.5% | +1.5pp |
Duty rates only. Northern Ireland follows EU customs rules on low-value consignments and UK rules on VAT, so the total charge on a parcel is not simply this page’s figure with the rate swapped. Goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are a separate regime again.
Editor's note
Footwear carries the widest spread of any category on this site, and the thing that moves it is not what the shoe is for.
Duty follows the upper material and the sole material together. A trainer with a textile upper and a rubber sole sits at 16%; a leather shoe with a leather sole sits at 8%; some moulded and slip-on constructions sit at 2%. The same brand, the same price, the same shipment — three different rates. If a listing does not say what the upper is made of, the rate on this page may not be the one you are charged.
Sizing matters too, and it is why several footwear headings show no single rate here at all. The tariff splits some codes by insole length, so children’s sizes and adult sizes of the same shoe are charged differently. Where that happens the heading has no one true rate and we publish none rather than pick the more flattering half.
Above the relief threshold, origin is worth checking before anything else: most of the origins listed on this page bring 16% to nothing, which on a pair of trainers is more than the shipping.
Check your own order
Common questions
How much is customs duty on footwear imported into the United Kingdom?
Between 2% and 16% depending on the exact commodity code, with a median of 16%, effective 1 January 2021.
Is there a threshold below which I pay nothing on a parcel to the United Kingdom?
Consignments at or under £135.00 are relieved of duty, though import VAT still applies.
Is import VAT charged on top of the duty in the United Kingdom?
Yes. the United Kingdom charges 0% to 20% import VAT, calculated on the customs value plus the customs duty itself.
What would a typical order actually cost?
A £77.00 order with £10.00 shipping attracts £25.40 in charges on arrival, for a total landed cost of £112.40.
Classification notes
- 03020 UK VAT standard rate
- 03026 UK VAT zero rate
- CD785 The list of non-eligible locations and their postal codes is available at the following address: List of non-eligible locations
- EU003 According to The Special Provisions of Section II (A) (3) of the Preliminary Provisions of the Combined Nomenclature the suspension of customs duties for goods for certain categories of ships, boats and other vessels and for drilling or production platforms shall be subject to conditions laid down in the relevant provisions of the European Union with a view to customs control of the use of such goods.
- RT001 To claim preference under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Document Code 9081 must be declared in D.E. 2/3 in addition to the appropriate Certification of Origin Document Code detailed below: 9U01 – CPTTP Certification of Origin made out by the exporter 9U02 – CPTTP Certification of Origin made out by the producer 9U03 – CPTTP Certification of Origin made out by the importer Unless made out in Viet Nam, Brunei or Malaysia a Certification of Origin for import into the UK can be self-certified. Certifications of Origin made out in Viet Nam, Brunei and Malaysia must be certified by the exporting customs authority. Information on declaring these Document Codes in D.E. 2/3 can be found in the CDS guidance on GOV.UK The Minimum Data Requirements for what should be included in a Certification of Origin is set out in Annex I of the CPTPP Origin Reference Document (available on the GOV.UK link).
- TM510 1. Customs duties shall be suspended in respect of goods intended for incorporation in the ships, boats or other vessels classified at the following CN codes 8901 10 10; 8901 20 10; 8901 30 10; 8901 90 10; 8902 00 10; 8903 91 10; 8903 92 10; 8904 00 10; 8904 00 91; 8905 10 10; 8905 90 10; 8906 10 00; 8906 90 10 for the purposes of their construction, repair, maintenance or conversion, and in respect of goods intended for fitting to or equipping such ships, boats or other vessels. 2. Customs duties shall be suspended in respect of: (a) goods intended for incorporation in drilling or production platforms: (1) fixed, of subheading ex 8430 49, operating in or outside the territorial sea of Member States, or (2) floating or submersible, of subheading 8905 20, for the purposes of their construction, repair, maintenance or conversion, and in respect of goods intended for equipping the said platforms. (b) tubes, pipes, cables and their connection pieces, linking these drilling or production platforms to the mainland.
- CD568 The placing on the market and the import to, or export from, the United Kingdom of cat and dog fur, and products containing such fur is prohibited (see Art. 3 Regulation (EC) No 1523/2007 as transposed into UK law).
- CD603 Seal products may only be placed on the market when accompanied by an attesting document or written notification of import and a document giving evidence of where the products were acquired (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1850 as retained in UK law).
- CD730 Seal products being imported to be placed on the UK market are controlled by Regulation (EU) 2015/1850 as retained in UK law. Listed goods require documentary evidence before import is allowed. Certificates C679, C680 or C683 may apply. Goods not listed in this regulation are exempt from the Certification requirements. If the documentation presented for verification contains references to the European Union or the Union’s market, it may nevertheless be verified. In such cases, the words "EUROPEAN UNION" and "UNION'S MARKET" should be struck out on verification, substituting (respectively) "UNITED KINGDOM" and "MARKET IN THE UNITED KINGDOM", and these amendments should be initialled.
- CD754 Advice on using document code Y986: The importer has checked relevant legislation and guidance and confirms declared goods benefit from the military exemption (Article 11.1) or the ecodesign exemption (Article 11.2) of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain). The declared goods are exempt from prohibition for placing on the market in Great Britain (Annex III of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014) on the basis that the declared goods are demonstrated to be military equipment or where the goods are demonstrated to comply with Directive 2009/125/EC where due to higher energy efficiency during its operation, its lifecycle carbon dioxide equivalent emissions would be lower than those of equivalent equipment which meets relevant ecodesign requirements and does not contain hydrofluorocarbons. Supporting evidence is required. This declaration may be audited. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bans-on-f-gas-in-new-products-and-equipment-current-and-future. For further information relating to goods affected by Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain), please refer to https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fluorinated-gas-f-gas-guidance-for-users-producers-and-traders.
- CD755 Advice on using document code Y926: The importer has checked relevant legislation and guidance and confirms declared goods are not concerned by Article 11.1 Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain). Or The declared goods are concerned by, but do not fall within the prohibitions listed in Annex III of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain). https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bans-on-f-gas-in-new-products-and-equipment-current-and-future. Supporting evidence is required. This declaration may be audited. Undertakings must have sufficient quota or quota authorisation to cover the amount of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) imported in excess of 100 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent per calendar year. You must be registered on the GB FGas Service to undertake a quota transaction. For further information relating to goods affected by Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain), please refer to https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fluorinated-gas-f-gas-guidance-for-users-producers-and-traders.
- CD756 Advice on using document code Y054: The importer has checked relevant legislation and guidance and confirms declared goods containing fluorinated greenhouse gas and placed on the market in Great Britain are labelled in accordance with Article 12, paragraph 1 of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain). https://www.gov.uk/guidance/labelling-f-gas-equipment-you-produce-import-or-install. For further information relating to goods affected by Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain), please refer to https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fluorinated-gas-f-gas-guidance-for-users-producers-and-traders.
- CD757 Advice on using document code Y053: The importer has checked relevant legislation and guidance and confirms declared goods containing fluorinated greenhouse gas and placed on the market in Great Britain are not required to be labelled in accordance with Article 12, paragraph 1 of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain). https://www.gov.uk/guidance/labelling-f-gas-equipment-you-produce-import-or-install. For further information relating to goods affected by Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain), please refer to https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fluorinated-gas-f-gas-guidance-for-users-producers-and-traders.
- CD763 Advice on using document code Y950: The importer has checked relevant legislation and guidance and confirms declared goods are not refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) equipment pre-charged with hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as defined in Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain). The importer must provide evidence that the goods are not RACHP equipment. Or The importer must provide evidence that the RACHP equipment does not contain HFCs or mixtures containing HFCs. This declaration may be subject to audit. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/import-export-or-manufacture-equipment-pre-charged-with-f-gas For further information relating to goods affected by Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain), please refer to https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fluorinated-gas-f-gas-guidance-for-users-producers-and-traders.
- CD767 Advice on using document code Y123: Undertaking declares that they are registered on the GB FGas Service in accordance with Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain). Undertaking declares that they are registered on the GB F Gas Service in order to comply with fluorinated greenhouse gas reporting requirements in accordance with Article 19 of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain). You must be registered on the GB FGas Service to apply for quota or conduct a quota transaction if needed (import hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)) in excess 100 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent in bulk or HFCs pre-charged in refrigeration, air conditioning or heat pump equipment (RACHP) in order to comply with Article 14 (1) and Article 15 (1) of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain). https://www.gov.uk/guidance/applying-for-quota-to-produce-or-import-f-gas https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/incumbent-f-gas-quota-holders-and-authorisation-managers-in-great-britain You must be registered on the FGas Service to submit an annual activity report as required by Article 19 of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain). You must be registered on the GB FGas Service to submit a verification document in accordance with Article 14 (2) of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain) if you import more than 100 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent pre-charged in RACHP equipment in a calendar year. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/record-and-report-f-gas-and-equipment-you-produce-or-import#verification-documents https://register.fluorinated-gas.service.gov.uk/register/index For further information relating to goods affected by Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain), please refer to https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fluorinated-gas-f-gas-guidance-for-users-producers-and-traders.
- CD768 Advice on using document code Y124: Undertaking importing less than 100 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent of fluorinated greenhouse gases per calendar year specified in Article 19.1 of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain) for bulk imports, or less than 500 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent per calendar year specified in Article 19.4 for products and equipment imports, and therefore not covered by the reporting requirement, and is not registered on the GB FGas Service. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/record-and-report-f-gas-and-equipment-you-produce-or-import https://www.gov.uk/guidance/calculate-the-carbon-dioxide-equivalent-quantity-of-an-f-gas For further information relating to goods affected by Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain), please refer to https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fluorinated-gas-f-gas-guidance-for-users-producers-and-traders.
- CD769 Advice on using document code Y976: Undertaking declares that they are not registered on the GB FGas Service. The undertaking has only imported goods that do not require registration in accordance with Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain). Or Undertaking declares that they have imported less than 100 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in bulk or in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment (RACHP), and do not need to obtain quota/quota authorisations and therefore do not need to be registered on the GB Fgas Service. For further information relating to goods affected by Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain), please refer to https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fluorinated-gas-f-gas-guidance-for-users-producers-and-traders
- CD770 Advice on using document code 9066: Undertaking declares goods are imported directly to Northern Ireland. Goods are to be placed directly on the market in Northern Ireland and are not released for free circulation in Great Britain.
- CD771 Undertakings that import cylinders containing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) or mixtures containing HFCs and undertakings importing refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) equipment should provide the total tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent for the consignment. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/calculate-the-carbon-dioxide-equivalent-quantity-of-an-f-gas. For further information relating to goods affected by Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain), please refer to https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fluorinated-gas-f-gas-guidance-for-users-producers-and-traders.
- CD772 Undertakings that are registered in the GB FGas Service in accordance with Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain) and have selected Y123 should provide their GB FGas Organisation ID as provided by the Environment Agency. For further information relating to goods affected by Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (as retained in UK law and as applicable in Great Britain), please refer to https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fluorinated-gas-f-gas-guidance-for-users-producers-and-traders.
39 further sanctions and trade-control notices apply to these commodity codes. They govern whether the goods may be traded, not what they cost, and are listed at the source rather than repeated here.
Sources
- S.I. 2020/1430 — effective
- S.I. 2020/1430 — effective
- S.I. 2020/1430 — effective
- S.I. 2020/1430 — effective
- S.I. 2020/1430 — effective
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