Switzerland Import Duty & VAT Calculator
Rates last verified 2026-06-03.
Work out what your imports will actually cost to land in Switzerland — before you commit to an order or a shipment. This calculator computes any customs duty and the import VAT, then totals everything into a single landed cost.
Switzerland isn't in the EU, so goods clear customs at the border. The main charge for most imports is import VAT — 8.1% standard, 2.6% reduced (food, books, medicines) — charged on the CIF value plus any duty. Crucially, Swiss customs duty is by weight, not value, so it's usually small for light consumer goods.
Enter your figures in the calculator above to see your full landed cost.
How import duty and VAT work in Switzerland
Two charges apply: customs duty (by weight) and import VAT. For most consumer goods the duty is small, and the VAT is the main number.
Customs value (the VAT base)
Import VAT is charged on the CIF customs value — the price of the goods plus transport and insurance to the Swiss border — plus any customs duty. On FOB or EXW terms, add the international freight and insurance to reach the customs value.
Customs duty — by weight, not value
This is the unusual part: Swiss customs duty is based on the gross weight of the goods (Swiss francs per 100 kg), not a percentage of their value. So the "duty rate %" field in this calculator is only an approximation. For heavy goods, look up the weight-based duty and enter its effective amount; for most light consumer goods the duty is small or nil, and the VAT dominates.
Import VAT (8.1% / 2.6%)
VAT is 8.1% at the standard rate, with a reduced 2.6% rate for food, non-alcoholic drinks, books, magazines and medicines. It's charged on the customs value plus any duty.
The de minimis
Import VAT isn't collected when it would amount to CHF 5 or less — roughly a customs value under CHF 62 at the 8.1% rate (about CHF 193 at the 2.6% rate). Customs duty is likewise only charged when it would exceed CHF 5. Separately, since 2025, foreign mail-order sellers with over CHF 100,000 of Swiss small-consignment turnover must register and charge Swiss VAT at checkout.
Other charges
Customs clearance and handling are private costs entered here as an estimate.
Incoterms: what your supplier price already includes
The Incoterm decides what's already inside the supplier's price, and therefore what you add to reach the CIF customs value that VAT is charged on.
EXW (Ex Works). Goods only — add origin handling, export clearance, foreign inland freight, international freight and insurance to Switzerland.
FOB / FCA. The supplier has cleared and loaded the goods at origin; you add international freight and insurance to reach the customs value.
CFR / CPT. International carriage is in the price; you still add insurance.
CIF / CIP. Freight and insurance to Switzerland are both included — that figure is essentially your customs value.
DAP / DDP. Under DDP the seller has handled the Swiss VAT and any duty. Under DAP they deliver but you account for the VAT.
The Switzerland-specific point
Because customs duty is by weight (and usually small), the thing the Incoterm really drives is your CIF value, which sets the 8.1% (or 2.6%) VAT. Pick the term that matches your invoice; for heavy goods, also look up the weight-based duty and add it.
Worked example: CHF 5,000 shipment
Take a consignment of CHF 5,000 of general goods, bought FOB, with CHF 600 of freight and CHF 50 of insurance. The goods are light, so we'll assume a negligible weight-based duty (0) and apply the standard 8.1% VAT.
| Line item | Basis | Amount (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| Goods (FOB) | supplier price | 5,000 |
| International freight | 600 | |
| Insurance | 50 | |
| Customs value (CIF) | goods + freight + insurance | 5,650 |
| Customs duty | by weight (negligible here) | 0 |
| VAT @ 8.1% | 8.1% of customs value + duty | 457.65 |
With negligible weight-based duty, the VAT base is just the CIF value of CHF 5,650, and VAT at 8.1% is CHF 457.65.
5,000 + 600 + 50 + 0 + 457.65 = CHF 6,107.65.
The only meaningful charge is CHF 457.65 of VAT — about 9% on top of the goods value (once freight and insurance are in the base). For heavy goods, add the weight-based customs duty; for food, books or medicines, the VAT drops to 2.6%.
Switzerland import duty rates by product category
Representative CIF-basis duty rates for common product categories imported into Switzerland. Actual rates depend on the exact HS classification — treat these as a starting point and confirm your code with the official tariff. Rates last verified 2026-06-03.
| Product category | Import duty | VAT |
|---|---|---|
| General goods (standard VAT) | 0%Swiss customs duty is by gross weight (CHF/100 kg), not value — enter the looked-up weight duty if significant; for light goods it's often negligible. The 8.1% VAT is the main charge. | 8.1% |
| Food & non-alcoholic drinks (reduced VAT) | 0%Foodstuffs may carry an agricultural weight-based duty — verify; the headline difference is the reduced 2.6% VAT. | 2.6% |
| Books & medicines (reduced VAT) | 0%Generally little or no weight-based duty; the key point is the reduced VAT rate. | 2.6% |
| Toys & games | 0%Swiss customs duty is charged by gross weight (CHF/100 kg), not value — for light toys it is usually small or nil; verify the weight duty for your exact HS code. The 8.1% VAT is the main charge. | 8.1% |
| Furniture & lighting | 0%Duty is by gross weight (CHF/100 kg), not value — heavy furniture can attract a meaningful weight duty, so look up the rate for your HS code; the 8.1% VAT applies on top. | 8.1% |
| Cosmetics & skincare | 0%Swiss duty is levied by gross weight (CHF/100 kg) rather than value — for light cosmetics it is typically small or nil; verify the weight duty for your exact HS code. | 8.1% |
| Jewellery & watches | 0%Duty is by gross weight (CHF/100 kg), not value — jewellery and watches are light, so the weight duty is generally negligible; confirm the rate for your HS code. | 8.1% |
| Kitchen & homeware | 0%Swiss duty is charged by gross weight (CHF/100 kg), not value — for typical homeware it is small or nil, but heavier metal or ceramic items can add up; verify your HS code. | 8.1% |
| Sporting goods & fitness | 0%Duty is by gross weight (CHF/100 kg), not value — heavy fitness equipment can attract a meaningful weight duty, so look it up for your HS code; light sports gear is usually negligible. | 8.1% |
| Bags, luggage & leather goods | 0%Swiss duty is by gross weight (CHF/100 kg), not value — leather bags and luggage are relatively light, so the weight duty is usually modest; verify the rate for your HS code. | 8.1% |
| Automotive parts & accessories | 0%Duty is levied by gross weight (CHF/100 kg), not value — heavier metal parts can attract a noticeable weight duty, so look up the rate for your exact HS code. | 8.1% |
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Frequently asked questions
How is Swiss customs duty calculated?+
Unusually, by weight — Swiss customs duty is a specific amount per 100 kg of gross weight, not a percentage of value. So for light consumer goods it's often small or nil, while heavy goods can carry a meaningful duty. Look up the weight-based rate for your goods; this calculator's duty field is an approximation you enter as an effective amount.
What is the Swiss import VAT rate?+
8.1% standard, with a reduced 2.6% rate for food, non-alcoholic drinks, books, magazines and medicines. VAT is charged on the CIF customs value plus any customs duty. On a CHF 5,650 customs value with no duty, VAT at 8.1% is CHF 457.65.
Is there a tax-free threshold for imports to Switzerland?+
Import VAT isn't collected when it would be CHF 5 or less — roughly a customs value under CHF 62 at the 8.1% rate (about CHF 193 at the 2.6% rate). Customs duty is only charged when it would exceed CHF 5. Since 2025, large foreign mail-order sellers must register and charge Swiss VAT at checkout instead.
Does Switzerland's VAT base include freight?+
Yes — import VAT is charged on the CIF customs value, which includes the cost of the goods plus transport and insurance to the Swiss border, plus any customs duty. So freight and insurance are inside the VAT base. If you bought FOB, add them to reach the customs value.
Is this an official quote from Swiss customs?+
No. This is an estimate to help you plan. Your actual VAT and any weight-based duty depend on the goods, their weight and value, determined at clearance by the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG). Treat the figures here as indicative and confirm before relying on them.
Sources
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Estimates only — not customs, tax, or legal advice. Duty and tax depend on exact HS classification and current rules; always confirm with the official customs authority before relying on these figures. Read the full disclaimer.