Sourcing hotel mattress protectors from China
Hospitality mattress protectors classified as filled bedding under heading 9404 carry 2% UK duty from China, with no trade remedy recorded. Textile labels must show fibre content. Confirm the construction before using this heading. Cambridge China Bridge sources hospitality mattress protectors.
2% duty on protectors classified as filled bedding
Heading 9404 covers bedding fitted with springs, stuffed or internally fitted with material, or made from cellular rubber or plastics. This guide concerns filled hospitality mattress protectors. The table repeats the relevant commodity lines for different constructions; it does not establish classification for an unfilled cover.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 5 October 2026, the listed lines carry 2% duty on goods from China. The supplied record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. It attaches cat and dog fur import and export controls: imports and exports of that fur and products made from it are banned. It also lists a cultural-object export licence control; confirm its relevance with your customs broker if re-exporting.
Send your broker the fabric composition, filling, membrane details, photographs and intended use to confirm the commodity code. Do not assume every item called a mattress protector belongs here. For another filled bedding product within the wider heading, see weighted blankets.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filled quilted mattress protectors, subject to classification | 9404 90 90 00 | 2% | None |
| Feather or down-filled mattress protectors, subject to classification | 9404 90 10 00 | 2% | None |
Specify fit, filling and laundry performance
Specify mattress dimensions and depth, skirt stretch, elastic position, face fabric, filling material and weight, quilting pattern and any waterproof membrane. Distinguish a fitted protector from a zipped encasement. Approve a sample on the hotel's actual mattress and retain it for comparison with production.
Agree wash and drying conditions with the hotel's laundry, then check fit, shrinkage, filling movement, seam strength and membrane adhesion after laundering. For waterproof products, agree a repeatable leakage check covering the face and vulnerable seams. Set acceptance criteria for rustling, surface feel and drying performance.
Textile labels must show fibre content, including fur and other animal parts. Businesses importing or selling consumer products are responsible for their safety. Ask the hotel to state its fire-performance specification and arrange testing and certification against the actual protector construction.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 600 filled hospitality mattress protectors under 9404 90 90 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £1,080 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,080. Duty at 2% is £141.60. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,221.60, so it is £1,444.32. Import taxes total £1,585.92; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £141.60 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: check dimensions and skirt depth on the intended mattress before and after laundering; look for corners lifting or elastic slipping.
Barrier: inspect membrane coverage, pinholes and separation; repeat the agreed leakage check after washing and drying.
Construction: compare fabric, filling and quilting with the approved sample; inspect skipped stitches, open seams and exposed filling.
Arrival: unpack samples from different cartons; check dampness, odour, staining, size labels and fibre information against the purchase specification.
What goes wrong
A protector can fit when new and become too tight after laundering. Elastic may lose recovery, filling can bunch between quilt lines, and a membrane can separate or leak around stitching. A factory's wash sample may use a different membrane or fabric from the shipment.
Freeze the approved construction and laundry procedure in the purchase specification. Compare production samples with the retained sample and repeat fit and leakage checks before shipment and on arrival. Keep results tied to the supplied batch.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on hospitality mattress protectors from China?
The supplied tariff record shows 2% for filled bedding lines under heading 9404, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm that the protector's construction belongs in the chosen line.
Does every mattress protector use heading 9404?
Do not assume so. This guide concerns filled bedding. Give your broker the fabric, filling, membrane details and photographs before agreeing the commodity code for an unfilled cover or encasement.
How do I check a waterproof protector for hotel use?
Agree the hotel's wash and drying procedure, then check leakage, membrane adhesion, seams and mattress fit after laundering. Compare production samples with the approved construction.
What labels do mattress protectors need?
Textile labels must show fibre content, including fur and other animal parts. Check the proposed label against the supplied materials and keep laundry instructions consistent with your tested procedure.