In this guide
What goes into the total cost of buying from 1688 to the UK?
Add goods, China delivery, purchasing and payment charges, China handling, freight, customs services, applicable import charges and final UK delivery. State which figures are confirmed, estimated or excluded. For a planning cost per saleable unit, divide the total for that delivery scope by the stock you expect to make available for sale.
Choose the destination and the comparison basis
The listing price on 1688 covers only part of a UK stock purchase. Start your calculation with the exact products, quantities and receiving address. Decide whether you are comparing cash required for the order or a stock-cost figure prepared with your accountant. Keep that basis consistent. Record confirmed amounts, estimates and excluded charges separately so an attractive subtotal does not hide an unfinished quotation.
Build a cost sheet with identifiable lines
Give each charge a description, currency, source and date. For every estimate, record what must be confirmed. WorldFirst’s buying guides cover purchasing and payment considerations; your own cost sheet needs to extend through the proposed UK delivery. Ask providers to state the start and end points of their service.
- Goods by SKU, plus samples, tooling or custom packaging where applicable.
- Supplier delivery within China and any collection charge.
- Purchasing support, currency conversion and payment charges.
- Receipt, checks, storage, consolidation, labels and repacking.
- International freight, cover, export and destination handling.
- Customs services, applicable import charges and UK delivery.
Get the packaging information early
Request carton count, packed dimensions and gross weight. Mark provisional figures clearly if the goods have not been packed. Ask the freight provider which weight or volume basis it will use and when final charges are fixed. A change in packaging can affect the shipment quotation. Compare quotations using the same measurements, route and receiving conditions before choosing a service.
Check import charges and responsibilities
Use current GOV.UK guidance to establish classification, valuation, customs and product requirements for the goods. Ask who will be recorded as importer and who prepares the declaration. If a quote includes tax-related charges, get a written explanation of what is covered and which records you receive. The treatment of those amounts in your accounts depends on your circumstances; keep the supporting information for your accountant. Check the requirements for the intended destination; rules can differ between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Translate the order total into a useful unit figure
Add the confirmed and estimated costs needed for the same delivery scope. Divide by the units you expect to have available for sale, using a stated assumption for any samples or other units held back. If the shipment contains different products, choose an allocation method that reflects the cost driver. Heavy or bulky products may use a different share of freight from small items.
- Keep supplier goods cost attached to the relevant SKU.
- Allocate shared freight using the agreed weight or volume basis.
- Assign product-specific testing or packaging to the affected stock.
- Show the effect of changed quantities or carton measurements.
Worked example before applicable import taxes
Simplified planning illustration with invented amounts: these are not a quotation or current rates. Goods £1,000 + China delivery £40 + purchasing/payment £60 + China handling £50 + freight/UK delivery £250 = £1,400. For 200 saleable units, £1,400 ÷ 200 = £7 per unit before excluded import taxes. Add the applicable import taxes separately when assessing the cash needed. If only 180 units are expected to be saleable, the same invented subtotal gives £1,400 ÷ 180 = £7.78 per saleable unit before excluded import taxes. Keep the reason for held or unavailable stock beside that assumption.
| Cost line | Illustrative amount | Scope note |
|---|---|---|
| Goods | £1,000 | Confirmed specification and quantities assumed |
| China delivery | £40 | Supplier delivery in China |
| Purchasing and payment | £60 | Combined planning allowance |
| China handling | £50 | Handling scope assumed for this example |
| Freight and UK delivery | £250 | Same destination and delivery scope assumed |
| Subtotal before excluded import taxes | £1,400 | £1,000 + £40 + £60 + £50 + £250 |
| Planning cost per saleable unit | £7 | £1,400 ÷ 200 saleable units |
| Applicable import taxes | Not calculated | Add separately for the actual goods and import arrangement |
Allow for decisions that can change the total
Ask about the cost of holding goods, returning items to a supplier, splitting a shipment or changing a warehouse booking. Include a clearly labelled planning allowance where a cost remains uncertain. Keep the allowance separate from a provider’s quoted charge. Your stock deadline also matters: an earlier dispatch or a late supplier order can lead to a different transport decision and a revised total.
Reconcile the estimate after delivery
Save the approved quotation with final invoices, shipment measurements, customs records and the warehouse receipt. Compare the estimate with what you actually paid and the stock received. Identify whether each difference came from an assumption, a service change or an error. That record gives you a more reliable basis for replenishment and helps you decide which supplier and shipping arrangement to use again.
Fill the freight and handling lines in your cost sheet
The delivery service explains the handling and shipping work that can sit behind your cost sheet. You can email or WhatsApp us with the figures and shipment details you already have to discuss the remaining scope.
Questions before you order
Can I calculate UK stock cost from the 1688 listing price?
Use the confirmed supplier price for the actual variants and quantities, then add the services needed to reach your UK destination. Keep estimates and excluded charges visible. Confirm the accounting treatment of import taxes and other amounts for your business with your accountant.
How should shared freight be split between different products?
Choose a stated allocation basis that reflects the charge, such as the weight or volume used in the freight quotation. Keep goods costs and product-specific charges attached to their SKUs. Reconcile the planning allocation with the final invoice and stock received.
Are the amounts in the worked example current shipping rates?
The example uses invented amounts to show the calculation. It excludes applicable import taxes and cannot be used as a quotation. Your figures depend on the goods, packed measurements, service scope and destination.
Sources & further guidance
- WorldFirst UK: How to buy from 1688
- WorldFirst UK: China wholesale websites for UK importers
- GOV.UK: Import goods into the UK, step by step
These references provide platform, payment or import background. The purchasing checklists are our practical guidance. Check the current terms and official requirements for your product and destination.
Product acceptance, inspection scope, charges and delivery arrangements need to be agreed for your order.