How Much Does It Actually Cost to Import a Product to the U.S. in 2025?
- Parviz Sadikov
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Is this import deal actually profitable?” — you’re not alone.
Many small brands and first-time importers underestimate the true landed cost of getting products from Vietnam, India, or China to the U.S. That mistake can kill your margins before your first shipment even arrives.
In this guide, we’ll break down every hidden cost, show you how to calculate your true price per unit, and give you a real-world example from a $15,000 container deal I personally closed.
What Is “Landed Cost”?
Landed cost is the total cost of a product once it has arrived at your door in the U.S., ready to be sold or distributed. It includes:
Product cost (FOB or EXW)
International shipping (freight)
Customs duties and taxes
Port and handling fees
Inland delivery to your warehouse
Optional: insurance, inspection, broker fees
👉 If you skip any of these, you’re setting yourself up for a margin disaster.
FOB vs. CIF vs. EXW – What’s the Difference?
Let’s clear up a common confusion:
FOB (Free on Board): You pay for the goods until they’re loaded onto the ship. You handle shipping from there.
CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight): The supplier covers the shipping and insurance to your port.
EXW (Ex Works): You’re responsible from their warehouse door onwards — the riskiest option for beginners.
For first-time importers, FOB is the safest middle ground: transparent, flexible, and easier to compare quotes.
Real Example: Coconut Shipment from Vietnam
Here’s a breakdown from a real container deal I worked on for desiccated coconut from Vietnam:
Cost Component | Amount (USD) |
Product (FOB) | $11,200 |
Ocean Freight | $2,100 |
Insurance | $120 |
Port + Customs Fees | $900 |
Inland Trucking (US) | $680 |
Total Landed Cost | $15,000 |
👉 Final landed cost per kg = $1.92
How to Calculate Yours (Fast)
You don’t need to do margin math on napkins. I built a free online Landed Cost Calculator to help you plug in product cost, shipping, and destination — and instantly see your breakeven price per unit.
– it’s optimized for first-time importers and DTC brands.
Tip: Add 10–15% buffer on your first shipment to cover unexpected charges (especially port and broker fees).
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Margins
🚫 Forgetting port unloading fees (can be $400–800 depending on port)
🚫 Not checking the HTS code for accurate import duty rate
🚫 Trusting “all-inclusive” quotes from freight forwarders without line-item clarity
🚫 Skipping inland freight estimates (trucking from port to warehouse can be $500+ easily)
Import Duty: How to Look It Up
Want to know how much duty you’ll pay on your product?
Go to the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule: https://hts.usitc.gov
Search your product category (e.g. “coconut”, “plastic container”)
Find your HTS code and look at the column 1 duty rate
Pro Tip: If you’re not sure, ask your supplier for the code they use—but always verify it.
Final Thoughts
Importing to the U.S. can be a profitable move — but only if you understand the full cost structure up front. The best importers aren’t the ones who find the cheapest supplier... they’re the ones who understand their real margins better than anyone else.
If you want to go deeper, try out the [Landed Cost Calculator] and grab my free cheat sheet with the 5 import cost traps to avoid.
First one!