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Customs Duty Calculator — The $800 Duty-Free Allowance

How much can you bring into the US duty-free (2026)? Returning resident (away 48+ hours): $800 of personal purchases (once per 30 days); a non-resident visitor: $100 only. Above the exemption, personal-use goods pay a flat 3% on the next $1,000, then regular rates (estimates) beyond.

Resident exemption$800
Visitor exemption$100
Worked example — resident with $1,150 of goods$1,150 − $800 = $350 × 3% = $10.50
Beyond the 3% bandregular category rates (estimates) — same-household residents may combine allowances
Alcohol1 L · 21+
Tobacco200 cigarettes
Prohibitedmeat and fresh produce

Customs Duty Calculator — The $800 Duty-Free Allowance

Inputs

Personal purchases brought with you — $100 exemption per person.

$
$
Default scenario: visitor · 1 traveler · 2 items worth $230 — edit inputs
Estimated customs duty owed
$3.90
≈ 14.6 SAR (pegged rate)
Total declared value
$230
Allowance
$100
Above exemption
$130
3% band (first $1,000)
$3.90

$100 × 1 travelers = $100. No combining like residents — each visitor's $100 applies to their OWN goods only; one valuable item cannot be split across travelers.

Alcohol: 1 L · 21+ · state rulesTobacco: 200 cigarettesMeat & fresh produce: prohibitedCuban goods: banned
Estimated duty rates beyond the 3% band
  • Watches & jewelry: Commonly estimated at 5.5%–6.5% — high-value, easily spotted
  • Clothing & shoes: Typically estimated in the 8%–20% range depending on material
  • Electronics: Many consumer devices are duty-free (0%) — check the HTS code
  • Perfume & cosmetics: Commonly duty-free if not containing alcohol; otherwise low single digits (estimate)
Formula: basket ($230) − allowance ($100) = $130; then 3% × $130 = $3.90. Federal rules (2026); states may add their own taxes.
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How the duty is computed

Enter your trip details to get travel figures based on current, -specific numbers.

  1. 1

    Step 1

    Pick your status: returning resident ($800 exemption after 48+ hours abroad) or visitor ($100).

  2. 2

    Step 2

    Enter your purchases and party size — same-household residents may combine allowances.

  3. 3

    Step 3

    We apply 0% within the exemption, a flat 3% on the next $1,000, and regular rates (estimates) beyond.

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Tips

  • 1

    Prices for move with season — re-check near your travel dates.

  • 2

    Use local currency figures for ; card rates add conversion fees.

  • 3

    Book ahead when visiting in peak season.

Common Mistakes

  • Budgeting with peak-season averages.

  • Ignoring visa lead times before booking.

FAQs

How much can I bring back into the US duty-free?

Coming back from abroad with shopping? A US resident returning after 48+ hours outside the country (at most once every 30 days) gets an $800 personal exemption on purchases. Non-resident visitors keep a smaller $100 exemption — that tier is in the calculator too.

Can my spouse and I combine our exemptions for $1,600?

Yes — family members living in the same household and traveling together may pool their exemptions: a couple gets $1,600, a family of four up to $3,200, and the combined amount can be applied to one big-ticket item. One catch: a child's exemption cannot cover alcohol or tobacco.

What happens if I go over $800?

You do not lose the exemption — the first $800 stays duty-free and only the excess is taxed. A resident bringing back $950 in purchases pays 3% on $150, just $4.50. The key is to declare everything: hiding purchases risks seizure and penalties even when the overage is small.

How does the flat 3% duty rate work?

For personal or household-use goods, CBP charges a flat 3% on the first $1,000 above your exemption instead of looking up each item's tariff code. Example: $1,850 in purchases → $800 free, 3% on the next $1,000 = $30, and the last $50 at regular HTS duty rates (estimates).

How much duty do I pay on jewelry and watches?

They are the items CBP catches most often — valuable and easy to carry. Past your exemption they are assessed at regular duty rates, commonly in an estimated 5.5%–6.5% range. Before you travel, register personal jewelry on CBP Form 4457 so you are not charged duty on pieces you took out with you.

What are the alcohol limits, and does my state matter?

Federal rules give each traveler 21 or older one liter of alcohol duty-free, carried on your person after a 48+ hour trip, for personal use. States layer their own rules on top: some cap incoming quantities and levy state alcohol taxes, so check your state's alcohol beverage authority.

Do gifts for family count against my exemption?

Gifts carried in your luggage count toward your $800 exactly like your own purchases — there is no separate allowance for them. The separate $100-per-person-per-day rule applies only to gifts mailed from abroad, and it excludes alcohol, tobacco, and perfume worth more than $5 retail.

Do I have to declare everything I bought abroad?

Yes — list every purchase on your customs declaration. Declaring honestly usually avoids a penalty even when duty is owed, while concealment can mean seizure and fines far larger than the duty itself. Declare any food too: meats and fresh produce are routinely seized.

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