Sourcing knitted beanie hats from China

Duty on knitted beanie hats

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, knitted beanie hats fall within heading 6505, normally under 6505 00 90 90, at 2% duty from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded. The suspension attached to this line applies only to disposable hair nets, not beanies. The table shows beanie styles sharing this code. See the wider caps and hats guide.

The tariff attaches CITES, cat and dog fur, and seal-product import controls. Cat and dog fur products are banned from import. Seal products face a ban with limited exceptions; the traditional-hunt exemption requires a seal catch attestation. For animal-fur pom-poms, identify the species and origin before ordering. The importer should confirm the applicable CITES documentation and seal-product requirements with their customs broker.

Confirm the commodity code using the finished hat's construction, materials, lining and trims. Do not use the separate fur-felt or handmade wool beret lines simply because a knitted beanie contains wool.

Specify yarn, stretch and cuff shape

Specify fibre composition, yarn feel, knit pattern, relaxed width, crown height, intended head circumference range and stretch recovery. State whether the cuff is fixed or adjustable, whether the crown is shaped or seamed, and whether a lining is included. Agree measurement tolerances and the washing method used to assess shrinkage.

Approve a finished sample with the actual embroidery, patch or pom-pom. Check that embroidery backing does not scratch the forehead and that decoration does not stop the cuff stretching. Textile labels must show fibre content, including fur and other animal parts. Specify yarn or synthetic pom-poms explicitly if that is what you intend to buy.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 5,000 knitted beanie hats; illustrative order, FOB value and freight under 6505 00 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 2% is £168. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,568, so it is £1,713.60. Import taxes total £1,881.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £168 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit and recovery: measure relaxed width, crown height and cuff depth against the approved sample; stretch and release the opening, then check for permanent widening.

Yarn and washing: check composition against the label, compare shades across cartons, and wash samples by the agreed method to assess shrinkage, pilling and colour transfer.

Seams and trims: inspect crown seams for holes and dropped stitches; check cuff alignment, embroidery puckering, patch edges and pom-pom attachment.

Labels and packing: check fibre labels are durable and legible, and compare colour, size and carton quantities with the packing list during quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A beanie can match the sample when laid flat yet fit poorly because its opening stretches too little or stays loose after wear. Crown seams can open under tension, cuffs twist, and dense embroidery can make the forehead area stiff. Compare finished decorated hats, not just undecorated blanks.

Yarn substitutions change softness, pilling and washing behaviour. Linings can shrink differently from the outer knit and pull the hat out of shape. Record the approved yarn composition and lining, retain a reference sample, and check production samples after washing before accepting the shipment.

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.