Sourcing cake boxes from China
Paperboard cake boxes from China carry 0% UK duty across the relevant heading 4819 lines, with no listed trade remedies. Packaging used for cakes must be suitable for food use. Specify the assembled internal size, board, window and intended food contact before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources cake boxes.
UK duty on paperboard cake boxes
Heading 4819 covers paper and paperboard packing containers, alongside certain office articles. Cake boxes commonly fall within folding non-corrugated cartons or corrugated boxes. Other constructions need separate classification. The table repeats the folding-carton code for different cake-box formats; these are product examples within the same tariff line.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the relevant lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff data lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. Import VAT is 20%; see UK import duty and VAT.
Confirm the construction and material with your customs broker using drawings and samples, then check the commodity code. For the wider box family, see corrugated pizza boxes. For bottle packaging, see our bottle shipping boxes guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folding cake boxes of non-corrugated paperboard | 4819 20 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Corrugated paperboard cake boxes | 4819 10 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Other paperboard cake containers, subject to classification | 4819 50 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the cake, board and assembled box
Specify internal dimensions around the cake board, clearance above decorations, the opening style and whether the base lifts out. State board composition, thickness, finish, grease resistance, window material and insert layout. Approve an assembled sample with your actual cake board, rather than approving only a flat cutting drawing.
Packaging used for food must be suitable for food use. Describe whether cake, icing or grease can touch the board, liner or window, and the intended storage conditions. Ask for supporting material information and testing matched to that use. A food-contact statement for plain board should not be treated as evidence for a different coating or window.
For paperboard made from virgin pulp, ask the relevant authority or your customs broker whether the UK Timber Regulations and timber due diligence apply to the business first placing it on the Great Britain market. Ask for fibre composition, species and country of harvest. Confirm with the relevant authority whether packaging reporting obligations apply to your business; obtain component weights by material.
Packaging must use the minimum weight and volume needed to keep the product safe and hygienic. Choose board strength and decoration clearance together, rather than adding unnecessary space around the cake.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 5,000 printed folding cake boxes, illustrative under 4819 20 00 00, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,700. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,700, so it is £1,140. 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
Fit: assemble boxes from the shipment with the approved cake board and insert; check decoration clearance, lid closure and locking tabs.
Strength: carry a representative filled box, check base sag and handle attachment where fitted, and inspect creases for splitting.
Food-contact surfaces: check for loose fibres, visible ink transfer, exposed adhesive and unusual odour; compare materials and supporting documents with the approved specification.
Arrival condition: inspect flat packs for dampness, mould, crushed corners and scuffed windows; compare print and finish with the retained sample. Use the inspection guide to agree checks before production.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A box measured externally can be too tight for the cake board once folded. A shallow lid can touch icing, while an oversized opening lets the cake board move during carrying. Check the complete assembled pack with a representative cake before approving production.
Weak creases split during assembly, bases sag under decorated cakes, and windows detach when glue application varies. Damp flat packs can arrive warped or mouldy. Record the approved board, adhesive, window and packing method so substitutions can be identified on arrival.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on cake boxes from China?
The relevant heading 4819 lines carry 0% duty in the supplied tariff data, read on 30 September 2026, with no listed trade remedies. Import VAT is 20%.
Which commodity code covers folding cake boxes?
Folding boxes of non-corrugated paper or paperboard are listed under 4819 20 00 00. Corrugated boxes have a different line. Confirm the finished construction before declaring it.
What food-contact information should I request?
Packaging used for food must be suitable for food use. Request material details and supporting evidence for the actual board, coating, liner and window under your intended cake-storage conditions.
How do I stop cake boxes arriving too small?
Specify assembled internal dimensions and approve a sample with your cake board, insert and decoration clearance. Check boxes from the shipment against that complete pack.