Sourcing air hockey tables from China

UK duty on air hockey tables

Heading 9504 covers table and parlour games alongside billiards, consoles and payment-operated games. For air hockey, distinguish ordinary tables, payment-operated games and separately imported parts. Confirm the commodity code using the finished design, payment arrangement and screen function. Treat the rows as classification candidates rather than approval for a particular model. See pool tables for the wider heading.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, the selected lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions for these lines. Import VAT is separate from duty.

The ordinary-games line attaches ivory and CITES import controls. Specify materials without ivory; listed ivory requires registration or an exemption application before sale or hire. CITES specimens need an import permit. For materials from China, have your customs broker confirm applicable documents and restrictions before shipment. The record also attaches export controls to the ordinary-games line and a cultural-goods export licence measure to every selected line; confirm requirements if subsequently exporting.

Specify airflow, the playing surface and scoring

Specify the playing area, surface material and thickness, air-hole pattern, blower, air chamber, rails, goals and puck return. Agree puck and striker dimensions against an approved sample. Record assembled dimensions, leg construction, levelling feet, access for blower replacement and whether the table is for home use or a commercial venue.

Agree how goals register, how scores reset and how play resumes after a power interruption. For payment-operated tables, define accepted payments, credit handling and timed play. Test puck movement across the whole surface with the agreed puck, rather than accepting a demonstration confined to the centre.

Confirm with the relevant product safety authority which electromagnetic compatibility requirements apply and how to handle equipment suspected of failing them. Ask for model-specific test records and assess children's versions against toy rules, including exclusions. Plan testing and certification around the complete table.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 14 air hockey tables, illustrative order only under 9504 90 80 00, invoiced at £6,500 free on board, with £1,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,500, so it is £1,500. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Surface and airflow: check flatness, blocked holes, puck drag near rails and goals, blower vibration and air leaks against the approved sample.

Scoring and payments: test goals at different puck speeds, missed or duplicate scores, reset controls and recovery after interrupted power; check payment and credit behaviour where fitted.

Assembly and access: assemble the legs and braces with supplied fasteners; check rocking, levelling, sharp edges, cable routing and access to the blower and scoring sensors.

Arrival and packing: inspect corners, rails and surface for impact or moisture damage; count pucks, strikers and fittings, and check English instructions and model identity against the order.

What goes wrong

A substituted blower, leaking air chamber or distorted surface can leave dead areas where the puck stops. Goal sensors can miss fast shots or count a puck repeatedly. Freeze the approved components and agree functional checks before shipment using the quality inspection guide.

Loose leg fixings, rails packed against the playing surface and unsupported cabinet corners can cause problems after delivery. Approve packing with the table assembled or dismantled as ordered. Keep photographs of packed goods and agree replacement access for blowers, sensors and damaged rails.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.