Sourcing keyboards and electric guitars from China

A flat 2%

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, keyboard instruments other than accordions, such as organs, digital pianos and synthesisers, and other electric instruments such as guitars, carried 2% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure. For synthesisers, see our guide to sourcing electronic synthesisers.

Acoustic guitars, pianos and amplifiers are in other headings; confirm the commodity code. For wind instruments, see our brass and woodwind sourcing guide.

Electrical safety and connectivity

Mains-powered instruments and power adapters fall within the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 and need EMC evidence with UKCA or CE marking. Bluetooth or app-connected keyboards are radio equipment and connectable products under PSTI, and all bring WEEE duties.

Playability and brands

For digital pianos, specify key action, polyphony, sound source and speakers; for guitars, specify wood, neck, frets, pickups and setup. Test samples with a player. Body shapes and headstocks that copy famous brands can infringe designs and trademarks; the IP guide explains the risk.

Worked duty example

An invented example rather than a quote: 300 88-key digital pianos, commodity code 9207 10 30 00, bought for £54,000 free on board, with £6,000 of freight and insurance, so £60,000 is the value customs works from. Duty at the 2% rate for digital pianos is £1,200. VAT at 20% applies to £61,200, so £12,240. A VAT-registered buyer usually recovers the VAT, so the border adds £1,200 to the landed cost. See calculating UK import duty and VAT for the method.

Inspection checklist

Electrical and radio evidence: test reports for the exact model to BS EN IEC 62368-1 for safety and BS EN 55032 and BS EN 55035 for EMC, with Bluetooth models covered by ETSI EN 300 328, the power adapter checked for the UK plug, fuse and rating, and the declaration of conformity matched to the model.

Playability: every key on digital pianos played at soft and hard velocities and checked for even response, sustain pedal and sockets tested, and on guitars action height, fret levelling and intonation measured against the setup specification, with pickups and switches checked through an amplifier for hum and crackle.

Materials and packing: woods declared by species so any CITES-listed timber such as Brazilian rosewood is identified and permitted, finish checked for runs and cracks, and packed instruments drop-tested with a sequence such as ISTA 2A and shipped with humidity protection.

What goes wrong

Digital pianos fail at the keys, the speakers and the power supply. Keys click, stick or trigger at different velocities across the keyboard, a note goes dead after shipping when a sensor strip works loose, and cabinets buzz at certain pitches. The sustain pedal may have the wrong polarity for standard pedals, and adapters arrive with the wrong plug or without UK safety marking. On electric guitars, sharp fret ends, high action and crackling pots are the usual complaints.

At inspection, play every key at soft and hard velocities, sweep low notes at full volume listening for buzz, test headphone and pedal sockets, check the adapter and plug, and pair any Bluetooth or app connection. Drop-test the packed carton, because shipping damage to keybeds is the costly return.

Packing and inspection

Instruments need shock-proof packing and humidity control in transit. At inspection, play every key or string, check electronics, finish and fret ends.

Cambridge China Bridge sources digital pianos, keyboards and electric guitars, with safety, playability and brand questions settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works.

Upright and grand pianos are a different product with their own duty lines; see our acoustic pianos guide.

Related guides: Instrument strings and accessories from China. See also our drums and percussion sourcing guide.