Sourcing camping tent footprints from China

Duty and classification for tent footprints

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 6306 covers tarpaulins, awnings, tents, sails and camping goods. This guide concerns separate textile footprints placed beneath camping tents. HMRC's published classification guidance recognises ground sheets within this heading. For the wider tent family, see canvas bell tents.

The listed candidate lines carry 12% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure, suspension or attached import control in the supplied tariff facts. The heading's suspension is restricted to tents for setting up field hospitals, including temporary canopies; it does not describe separate camping footprints.

The table gives candidate categories rather than confirmed classifications for every footprint. Send your broker a finished sample, fibre composition, coating details and intended use, and confirm the commodity code. Do not select a tent code simply because the footprint fits a particular tent.

Specify the tent fit and waterproof construction

Supply the tent model and a dimensioned drawing showing the footprint outline, corner positions and attachment points. Agree how far the footprint sits inside the tent floor edge so exposed fabric does not collect rainwater. Approve a sample fitted beneath the actual tent, rather than accepting a matching model name.

Specify the base fabric, fabric mass, coating material and coated face, seam construction, reinforcement patches and attachment hardware. Agree waterproofness, abrasion and tear tests with the supplier, including testing after folding and wet storage. Record whether the footprint is for ground protection only or also supports a separate pitching arrangement.

Consumer products supplied in Great Britain must be safe under general product safety rules. Review exposed fittings, loose attachment loops and intended use as part of the product assessment. Ask testing and certification support to confirm the fibre-labelling scope for the finished construction.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 800 textile tent footprints, subject to code confirmation under 6306 90 00 90, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,800. Duty at 12% is £1,176. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,976, so it is £2,195.20. Import taxes total £3,371.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,176 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: lay the footprint beneath the specified tent and check the outline, attachment alignment, orientation and clearance from the floor edge.

Fabric and coating: compare bulk material with the approved sample; check for pinholes, coating gaps, peeling, tackiness and leakage after folding.

Attachments: pull loops, buckles and eyelets; inspect reinforcement stitching, sharp edges and seam damage under tension.

Packing: check model identification, agreed material information, dryness and storage instructions; open cartons across the shipment during quality inspection.

What goes wrong

An oversized footprint can collect rain and direct it beneath the tent. Incorrect corner spacing makes attachments pull diagonally, while an unmarked orientation creates avoidable fitting errors. Check fit with the actual tent and keep the approved outline drawing with the production sample.

A coating can look uniform while leaking at pinholes or seams. Folding can expose weak adhesion, and damp packing can leave mould or stuck surfaces. Agree tests on production material, inspect reinforcement patches and reject wet packing before shipment.

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.