Importing Kitchen Cabinets to the US: Landed Cost
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When drawings are ready but the freight and duty lines are still blank, it can be hard to tell what the cabinets will cost at your door. To import custom cabinetry from China into the United States, start with an itemized FOB or CIF quotation and ask a licensed U.S. customs broker for a written landed-cost estimate before approving production. Give the broker the drawings, materials, product origin, manufacturer and exporter names, quantities, declared values, named ports, and expected entry date. Under FOB, the buyer arranges ocean freight and any cargo insurance. Under CIF, the seller pays ocean freight and arranges insurance to the named destination port, while risk transfers when the goods are loaded in China. The U.S. importer remains responsible for customs entry and applicable duties. Add the broker’s charges, destination fees, inland delivery and unloading.
1. Give the broker the information before you order
- Ask for an itemized quotation and a named port under FOB or CIF Incoterms® 2020. Separate cabinets, vanities and other goods by line. Ask which packing and origin charges the quote includes.
- Identify the U.S. importer of record and appoint a licensed broker if you plan to use one. Give them the draft commercial invoice, packing list, origin and manufacturer information, transport details and expected entry date.
- Before loading, have the broker confirm importer registration and bond, who will file the ocean Importer Security Filing and when, which entry documents they need and whether TSCA Title VI documentation, a Lacey Act declaration, or ISPM 15 wood-packaging requirements apply. After release, arrange delivery and unloading with your local carrier.
2. Put each charge on the right side of the quote
| Cost | FOB | CIF |
|---|---|---|
| Export clearance and delivery on board at the origin port | Seller. | Seller. |
| Ocean freight and cargo insurance | Buyer arranges freight and decides on cover. | Seller pays freight to the named U.S. port and arranges minimum cover unless otherwise agreed. |
| U.S. customs entry, duties, bond and broker charges | Buyer/importer. | Buyer/importer. |
| Terminal handling, exam or storage charges, drayage, final delivery and unloading | Ask the forwarder and carrier for separate prices and exclusions. | Verify what the seller’s freight contract already covers at the named port. Quote remaining charges separately. |
Under both rules, risk generally passes once the goods are on board at origin. The quote’s CIF value and the U.S. customs value are separate questions. Give the broker the actual invoice and separately stated freight and insurance so they can verify the valuation basis.
Blank landed-cost worksheet
Use one copy for each quotation. Fill in values only after the responsible party confirms them in writing.
| Item | Who pays | FOB | CIF | Confirmed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goods and packing | _____ | _____ | _____ | Seller |
| Ocean freight | _____ | _____ | _____ | Forwarder |
| Cargo insurance | _____ | _____ | _____ | Insurer |
| Customs entry and duties | _____ | _____ | _____ | Customs broker |
| Destination handling and storage | _____ | _____ | _____ | Forwarder or terminal |
| Delivery and unloading | _____ | _____ | _____ | Local carrier |
3. Ask the broker to confirm these duty items in writing
- HTSUS classification, customs value, product origin and Chapter 99 codes for each product line. Ask how a mixed shipment is split.
- Section 232 scope, any Section 301 or other measures, and whether wooden cabinets or components fall under AD/CVD orders A-570-106 and C-570-107.
- Manufacturer/exporter combination, current CBP cash-deposit instructions, applicable exclusions, and how the measures combine for the expected entry date. Ask which amounts are estimates and which might change.
Verified published reference: Proclamation 10976 established a 25% additional Section 232 rate for covered kitchen cabinets and vanities and covered parts, subject to its scope and exceptions. The December 31, 2025 amendment deferred the scheduled increase to January 1, 2027. See the original proclamation and amending proclamation.
Unverified for a specific NOVARTE shipment: the actual tariff lines and rates, manufacturer/exporter-specific AD/CVD cash deposit, combined duties, and total landed cost. No shipment estimate is quoted on this page.
Questions about importing custom cabinets
Can I import custom kitchen cabinets from China to the US?
Yes. Start with an itemized quote and identify the U.S. importer of record. Give a licensed U.S. customs broker the product specifications, materials, manufacturing origin, manufacturer, exporter and expected entry date. Ask for a written classification and landed-cost estimate before paying a production deposit. The broker should confirm which declarations and duty measures apply to your shipment.
How do I calculate the landed cost of custom kitchen cabinets from China to the United States?
Start with the seller’s itemized FOB or CIF price. Add any freight or insurance excluded from that price, then add the broker’s estimated duties and fees, entry and bond costs, destination handling, inland delivery and unloading. Ask the forwarder which port charges the freight contract already covers. Keep storage, inspection and site access as separate contingencies to avoid double counting.
What is the difference between FOB and CIF for kitchen cabinets shipped from China to the US?
Under FOB, the seller delivers the goods on board at the named origin port and the buyer arranges ocean freight and decides on cargo insurance. Under CIF, the seller pays freight to the named destination port and arranges the required minimum insurance unless the parties agree otherwise. In both cases, risk transfers on board at origin and the importer handles U.S. entry.
What documents does a US customs broker need for an ocean shipment of custom cabinets from China?
Start with the draft commercial invoice, packing list, transport details and manufacturer, exporter and origin information. Ask who files the ocean Importer Security Filing and when, and confirm importer registration and bond. Supply material and wood-packaging details so the broker can determine whether TSCA Title VI, Lacey Act or ISPM 15 requirements apply.
How can US homeowners verify factory quality checks for custom cabinets before shipment?
Ask for photos or short clips tied to the approved drawings and finish sample. Start with diagonals, door and drawer operation, and visible gaps. Check the finish in daylight and ask for a physical sample. For the packing review, match the room labels to the order and save photos showing the condition of the cabinets before wrapping.
How to use this guide
Ask the broker for a written landed-cost estimate, then compare the two quotations using the same packing list, route and delivery scope.
Official sources for the broker conversation
- CBP · Importer responsibility and ocean ISF
- CBP · Customs valuation and freight/insurance
- EPA · TSCA Title VI · USDA APHIS · Lacey Act · USDA APHIS · Wood packaging
- USITC · HTSUS 9903.76.03 and Chapter 99
- U.S. Commerce · A-570-106 review notice · C-570-107 case record
- ICC · FOB and CIF responsibilities
NOVARTE United States · Share your drawings and destination
Factory facts
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