Estimating Landed Cost Without Guessing
Landed cost is the true price of a scarf once it is in your warehouse, not the unit price on the supplier’s quotation. Too many first-time importers compare two factories on the per-piece number and ignore freight, insurance and duty — then watch their real margin disappear. This worksheet breaks landed cost into the pieces that matter and shows where each belongs in your math. Crucially, it tells you exactly whose job it is to confirm the duty rate, because a blog is the wrong place to get a percentage.
Key Takeaways
- Landed cost = more than unit price: add product, freight, insurance, duty and handling to compare suppliers fairly.
- Use the right HS code: scarves typically fall under HS 6214.10 (woven silk) or 6117.10 (knitted).
- Confirm the duty rate with your broker: rates change and vary by destination, so never trust a fixed figure from a blog.
- Freight and insurance scale with weight: a heavier wool rung costs more to move than a silk square of the same count.
- Build the worksheet before you order: it shows which “cheap” quote is actually the expensive one.
what is landed cost and why does the unit price mislead?
**Direct answer: landed cost is the total cost to get one scarf into your hands and ready to sell — product cost plus freight, insurance, import duty and handling — and the supplier’s unit price misleads because it ignores everything that happens after the carton leaves the factory.** Two quotes at the same per-piece price can land at very different totals once you add shipping terms. A factory quoting EXW puts the freight and export handling on you; a factory quoting DDP bundles much of it in. At XY Fashion, shipping terms include DAP, EXW, FOB and DDP, so the quoted basis changes the landed math and must be noted on the worksheet.
which cost components belong in the worksheet?
**Direct answer: the worksheet should list product cost, international freight, insurance, import duty by HS code, and destination handling (customs clearance, last-mile), because leaving any one out overstates your margin and hides the true per-unit cost.** Below is the line structure to copy into a spreadsheet. Enter numbers per carton and per piece so you can compare a 10-pcs ready-stock rung against a 500-pcs bespoke rung on equal footing.
| Line | What to enter | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Product cost | Unit × qty | Per rung, 10 / 50 / 500 pcs |
| Freight | Carton weight × rate | Express 7–14 days or sea |
| Insurance | % of goods value | Usually small but include it |
| Import duty | By HS code | Confirm rate with broker |
| Handling | Clearance + last-mile | Local agent fees |
how do HS codes affect the duty you pay?
**Direct answer: the duty you pay depends on the HS code your broker assigns — scarves typically classify under HS 6214.10 for woven silk or 6117.10 for knitted — and because rates change and differ by destination, you must confirm the current rate with your customs broker or freight forwarder rather than citing any fixed percentage.** This is the one line of the worksheet you should never fill from memory. A knitted viscose infinity scarf and a woven silk square may sit in different chapters, and the applicable rate is set by the authorities in your import market, not by the supplier.
how does freight change the math for silk versus wool?
**Direct answer: freight and insurance scale with carton weight, so a dense wool rung costs more to move per piece than a light silk square of the same count, which can erase a small product-cost saving.** When you compare a silk twill square to a wool wrap, weigh the proposed carton for each and price the freight on that weight. A supplier with a slightly higher unit price but lighter, tighter packing may land cheaper than a “cheaper” supplier shipping bulky cartons. The worksheet forces this comparison instead of letting the headline price decide.
should you use EXW, FOB, DAP or DDP in the estimate?
**Direct answer: use the same Incoterms basis across every quote you compare — EXW leaves freight and export clearance to you, FOB leaves ocean freight to you, DAP leaves import duty to you, and DDP includes most of it — because mixing bases makes the worksheet meaningless.** At XY Fashion the available terms are DAP, EXW, FOB and DDP, so state which one each quote uses and convert them to a common landed figure. DDP is simplest for a first order because the duty line is pre-included, but you still verify the HS-based rate with your broker for your own records.
About the Supplier
XY Fashion — operated by YIWU MIYU APPAREL CO.,LTD, a scarf, hijab and fashion-accessory manufacturer based in Yiwu, Zhejiang, China, trading under the XY Fashion brand since 2008.
- Address: Unit 2, Building 33, Futian 3rd District, Futian Street, Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province, 322000, China
- Email: sales@xy-fashion.com / mike@xy-fashion.com
- Phone / WhatsApp: +86 153 8174 1977
- Capability: OEM and ODM custom digital and screen printing; ready stock from 1 pack (10 pcs) per style and colour; custom print programmes from 50 pcs per design; bespoke development from 500 pcs per design
- Branding: woven labels, care labels, hang tags, pouches and boxes applied against your artwork from 10 pcs per design
- Shipping: more than 60 countries, DAP / EXW / FOB / DDP, express 7–14 days to major destinations
If you want a clean comparison, ask XY Fashion for a DDP quote on a 50-pcs custom rung and a 10-pcs ready-stock rung, then confirm the HS 6214.10 / 6117.10 duty rate with your broker before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
what is landed cost on imported scarves?
Landed cost is the total to get one scarf sale-ready: product cost plus international freight, insurance, import duty by HS code, and destination handling. The supplier’s unit price alone misleads because it ignores everything after the carton leaves the factory.
which HS code applies to scarves?
Scarves typically classify under HS 6214.10 for woven silk or 6117.10 for knitted. Because rates change and vary by destination, confirm the current rate with your customs broker or freight forwarder rather than citing any fixed percentage.
how do i compare two supplier quotes fairly?
Use the same Incoterms basis for every quote — EXW, FOB, DAP or DDP — and convert each to a common landed figure on the worksheet. Mixing bases makes the comparison meaningless, since each term bundles a different set of costs.
does freight matter more for wool or silk?
Freight scales with carton weight, so a dense wool rung costs more to move per piece than a light silk square of the same count. A slightly pricier unit with tighter packing can land cheaper than a cheaper supplier shipping bulky cartons.
should a first order use DDP?
DDP is simplest for a first order because most costs including duty are pre-included, giving a predictable landed number. You should still verify the HS-based duty rate with your broker for your own records and compliance.