Sourcing cotton waffle blankets from China
Cotton waffle blankets from China carry 6% UK duty when woven or otherwise non-knitted, and 12% when knitted or crocheted. Fibre composition must be labelled. Specify the waffle structure and check dimensions after washing before approving bulk production. Cambridge China Bridge sources cotton waffle blankets.
Cotton waffle blanket duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 6301 covers blankets and travelling rugs. For cotton waffle blankets, distinguish woven construction from knitted or crocheted construction. The table separates bed and throw formats sharing the same woven cotton code.
Goods from China carry 6% duty under the non-knitted cotton lines, including the separate hand-made line, and 12% under the knitted or crocheted cotton line. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls for these cotton lines.
Confirm the fabric construction, fibre composition and finished article with your customs broker using finding your commodity code. A waffle appearance alone does not establish the construction. For the wider cotton blanket family, see cotton cellular blankets.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woven cotton waffle bed blankets, other than hand-made | 6301 30 90 90 | 6% | None |
| Hand-made cotton waffle blankets, neither knitted nor crocheted | 6301 30 90 10 | 6% | None |
| Knitted or crocheted cotton blankets with a waffle texture | 6301 30 10 00 | 12% | None |
Specify the waffle structure and washed size
Agree fibre composition, woven or knitted construction, finished dimensions, fabric weight, waffle cell shape and depth, colour and hem construction. Keep an approved physical sample showing both the unwashed texture and the appearance after the agreed care wash. State whether the ordered dimensions apply before or after washing.
Fibre composition must appear on a label; confirm requirements for label durability and legibility with Trading Standards. Approve the label wording against the fabric composition, and agree care instructions that match the wash trials. Blankets supplied to consumers in Great Britain must be safe. Include loose yarns, detachable trims and the intended use in your product review.
REACH restrictions can limit, ban or set conditions on substances. Ask a laboratory to identify relevant checks for the proposed dyes and finishes, using the actual fabric and colourways. Agree the test scope through testing and certification.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 600 woven cotton waffle blankets; illustrative order, not a quotation under 6301 30 90 90, invoiced at £7,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,400. Duty at 6% is £504. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,904, so it is £1,780.80. Import taxes total £2,284.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £504 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Texture and weight: compare waffle depth, cell regularity, fabric weight and hand with the approved sample; look for flattened areas, pulled yarns and weaving faults.
Washing: measure length and width before and after the agreed care wash; check distortion, loss of waffle definition, pilling and colour transfer.
Hems and labels: check straight edges, secure corners and stitching that does not unravel; compare the fibre label with composition evidence and the approved artwork.
Arrival and packing: open cartons from different parts of the delivery, compare shade and size, and check dampness, staining and recovery from compression. Use the inspection guide to document findings.
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What goes wrong
A blanket can match the ordered size before washing but become too short or narrow afterwards. Uneven shrinkage can twist hems and distort the waffle cells. A heavily softened sample can also conceal a lighter or flatter bulk fabric. Compare washed production samples with the approved washed sample.
Shade differences between fabric lots, dye transfer, snagged waffle yarns and loose corner stitching can make otherwise usable stock unsuitable for sale. Record defects by carton and colourway, retain affected samples, and agree the corrective action before accepting replacements.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on cotton waffle blankets from China?
Non-knitted cotton blankets carry 6% duty; knitted or crocheted cotton blankets carry 12%. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duties for these cotton lines.
Does a waffle texture mean the blanket is woven?
The surface pattern alone is insufficient. Ask for the fabric construction and inspect a sample before selecting the woven or knitted cotton commodity line.
Do cotton waffle blankets need a fibre label?
Yes. Fibre composition must be shown on a label; confirm requirements for label durability and legibility with Trading Standards. Check the cotton claim against composition evidence for the production fabric.
What should I test before ordering cotton waffle blankets?
Check washed dimensions, waffle texture, colour transfer, fabric weight and hem strength. Compare the washed production fabric with an approved washed sample.