Sourcing ironing board covers from China
The relevant heading 6307 textile lines carry 6% to 12% UK duty for goods from China, depending on construction and classification. You must not sell consumer products you know, or should have known, are unsafe. Approve board fit and performance under heat and steam before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources ironing board covers.
UK duty on ironing board covers
Heading 6307 covers other made-up articles. The table identifies possible textile lines for separate ironing board covers, rather than a confirmed classification for every layered cover. Give your broker the complete construction, including the face fabric, padding, coating and fastening. For complete boards, see ironing boards.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, the selected lines carry 6% duty, except knitted or crocheted articles at 12%. The supplied facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. The suspension on the selected nonwoven and other textile lines applies only to specified face masks, so it does not provide relief for ironing board covers.
The selected lines carry CITES import and export controls. The nonwoven and other textile lines also carry torture and repression import prohibitions and export restrictions; the nonwoven line has a supplementary-unit import measure. Ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable requirements for the actual goods from China. Confirm the commodity code before ordering.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knitted or crocheted textile covers, subject to classification | 6307 90 10 00 | 12% | None |
| Made-up felt covers, subject to classification | 6307 90 91 00 | 6% | None |
| Nonwoven textile covers, subject to classification | 6307 90 98 20 | 6% | None |
| Other textile covers, including woven covers, subject to classification | 6307 90 98 99 | 6% | None |
Specify board fit, padding and fastening
Supply a board outline or physical reference, including the nose shape, widest point and underside clearance. Specify whether the order includes padding or only the outer cover. Record fibre composition, fabric construction, padding material and thickness, coating, seam position, elastic or drawcord, and the cord-lock design.
Approve samples on the actual board with the intended iron and steam setting. Check movement, surface wrinkling, steam passage, dye transfer and changes to padding or coating. GOV.UK textile guidance says labels must show fibre content. Agree care instructions and pack artwork alongside the approved sample.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 800 woven ironing board covers under 6307 90 98 99, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,800. Duty at 6% is £408. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,208, so it is £1,441.60. Import taxes total £1,849.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £408 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: check the finished outline on the target board, nose coverage, edge overlap and clearance around the iron rest.
Fastening: check elastic recovery, drawcord movement, cord-lock grip and seams under tension; the fitted cover should stay in position during use.
Heat and steam: compare bulk samples with the approved sample for scorching, dye transfer, coating separation and padding movement during the agreed use trial.
Arrival: check dampness, mould, odour, pack counts, stitching and fibre labels across cartons before releasing stock.
What goes wrong
A cover described as universal may fit the board length but miss its nose shape or lack enough fabric underneath. Loose padding can bunch, weak elastic can let the cover slide, and a coating that looks smooth when new may separate during steaming. Record these acceptance points against a retained sample.
Do not approve a substitute padding or coating from photographs alone. Repeat the fit and use trial after a material change. You must not sell consumer products you know, or should have known, are unsafe; keep questionable stock aside while you investigate.
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 ironing board covers from China?
The selected heading 6307 lines carry 6% duty, or 12% for knitted or crocheted articles. The supplied facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Confirm classification for the complete cover.
Will a universal ironing board cover fit my boards?
Check it on the actual board. Length alone does not establish fit: nose shape, width, edge overlap and fastening also matter.
Can I claim the tariff suspension for ironing board covers?
The suspension recorded against the selected nonwoven and other textile lines is restricted to specified face masks. It does not provide relief for ironing board covers.
What should I test before approving a cover?
Test fit, fastening, heat and steam performance on the intended board. Check dye transfer, coating separation, padding movement and fit after the proposed cleaning process.