Sourcing jigsaw puzzles from China

Duty by puzzle material

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 November 2026, heading 9503 covers puzzles of all kinds as well as toys. Within the puzzle lines, hand-made wooden puzzles under 9503 00 61 10 and other wooden puzzles under 9503 00 61 90 carry 0% duty from China. Other puzzles under 9503 00 69 00 carry 4%. The cardboard and plastic examples in the table share that commodity line.

The supplied puzzle lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. Each attaches a DCMS Export Licence entry. The tariff note provides a document waiver for qualifying recently manufactured goods. Ask your customs broker to confirm how that entry applies to your shipment and any later export.

Confirm the material and manufacturing method using our commodity code guide. For mixed toy sets, see the wider toys and games guide. Budget separately for import VAT using our import duty and VAT guide.

Specify the board, artwork and cutting pattern

Specify the intended user, piece count, assembled dimensions, board material and thickness, surface finish, cutting pattern and retail box. For wooden puzzles, identify the timber or engineered board, coating and edge finish. Approve physical print samples so the box image, puzzle image and reference sheet match.

For products within the toy regulations, the importer must check the manufacturer's conformity assessment, declaration of conformity, technical documentation and relevant marking before sale in Great Britain. CE or UKCA marking can be used through the applicable conformity route. Agree the required compliance documents before production; our testing and certification service can help define the checks.

Consumer puzzles must be safe to use. Establish whether your specific design falls within toy legislation rather than assuming that every puzzle classified under the toy tariff heading is legally a toy.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 400 boxed cardboard jigsaw puzzles, illustrative order under 9503 00 69 00, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £1,300 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,300. Duty at 4% is £252. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,552, so it is £1,310.40. Import taxes total £1,562.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £252 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Completeness and fit: assemble sampled puzzles, check for missing or duplicate pieces, and compare the finished outline with the approved design.

Print and board: check colour against the approved sample, image registration, lifting paper, warped board, glue marks and loose cutting dust.

Wooden edges: check for splinters, rough cuts, chipped coatings and pieces that bind or break during assembly.

Labels and packing: compare the retail artwork and compliance details with the approved version, and check sealed bags, crushed boxes and moisture damage.

What goes wrong

A complete-looking bag can contain duplicate pieces and omit another shape. Worn cutting tools leave pieces joined together, while loose fit makes the assembled image fall apart. Thin or damp board curls, printed layers lift, and the box can show artwork that differs from the puzzle inside.

Use an assembled approval sample and check production samples against it. Inspect wooden edges and retail cartons before shipment, then repeat completeness and condition checks on arrival. Our quality inspection guide explains how to agree inspection criteria.

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.