Sourcing knitted knee warmers from China
Knitted knee warmers from China under heading 6117 carry 8% to 12% UK duty: 8% for elasticated or rubberised accessories and 12% for other accessories. Fibre content must be labelled. Agree cuff fit and wash performance before bulk production. Cambridge China Bridge sources knitted knee warmers.
Knee-warmer duty: 8% or 12%
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6117 covers made-up knitted or crocheted clothing accessories and their knitted parts. For knee warmers classified as accessories, 6117 80 10 00 covers elasticated or rubberised goods at 8%; 6117 80 80 00 covers other goods at 12%. The supplied tariff records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. The table shows material variants sharing these codes.
The UK Trade Tariff attaches CITES, cat and dog fur, and seal-product import controls. CITES specimens need an import permit. Imports of cat and dog fur, including products containing it, are banned. Seal products for sale in Great Britain must qualify under the Inuit and other indigenous communities’ exemption. For a China shipment containing animal-derived materials, ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable controls and documents before ordering.
Send the yarn composition, construction details, elastic specification and product photographs to your broker to confirm the commodity code. This guide concerns knee warmers bought for warmth. Describe the intended use clearly rather than relying on a supplier's description of a support sleeve. For the wider accessory range, see knitted leg warmers.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elasticated knitted acrylic knee warmers | 6117 80 10 00 | 8% | None |
| Other knitted acrylic knee warmers | 6117 80 80 00 | 12% | None |
Specify knee coverage and cuff fit
Specify yarn composition, knit structure, finished length, relaxed and stretched opening measurements, cuff depth and weight per pair. State whether the warmer is worn against skin or over trousers. Approve fit samples while standing, sitting and bending the knee: the cuff should hold the sleeve without digging in, and the fabric should cover the intended area without bunching behind the knee.
Agree seam position, yarn feel, colour, matching within each pair and the washing method before production. Textile labels must show fibre content, including fur and other animal parts. Test bulk yarn against wool or cashmere claims. Do not sell knee warmers you know, or should have known, are unsafe; assess cuff pressure and detachable decorations when reviewing samples.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: 3,000 pairs of elasticated knitted knee warmers, illustrative only under 6117 80 10 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,400. Duty at 8% is £512. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,912, so it is £1,382.40. Import taxes total £1,894.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £512 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit and recovery: measure length and openings across sizes and colours; stretch the cuffs repeatedly and check that they recover without rolling or leaving the sleeve loose.
Knitting and seams: inspect for dropped stitches, holes, exposed elastic, bulky joins and loose yarn ends; compare the feel and weight with the approved sample.
Washing and colour: wash bulk samples by the agreed method, then check shrinkage, twisting, pilling and cuff recovery; check dark yarn for colour transfer.
Labels and pairing: compare fibre-test results with labels, check care instructions against the agreed washing method, and confirm matching sizes and colours within each packed pair.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A warmer can fit when new but slide down after washing because the cuff loses recovery. A tight cuff can roll into a narrow band, while a bulky seam can rub behind the knee. Compare washed bulk samples with the approved fit sample before accepting stock.
Other failures include pilling at the knee, mismatched pairs, dark dye transfer and wool claims that do not match the yarn. Record the agreed measurements, appearance and wash performance in the order, then check bulk goods against them.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on knitted knee warmers from China?
For knee warmers classified under heading 6117, elasticated or rubberised accessories carry 8% duty and other accessories 12%. The supplied tariff records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Do knitted knee warmers need fibre labels?
Yes. Textile labels must show fibre content, including fur and other animal parts. Check the bulk yarn against the label rather than accepting a wool or cashmere description without testing.
How do I stop knee warmers slipping down?
Agree cuff fit and stretch recovery on samples worn while standing, sitting and bending the knee. Repeat the fit check after washing; a snug new sample can become loose.
What should I check before accepting bulk knee warmers?
Check dimensions, cuff recovery, seams, pilling, colour transfer and fibre labels. Open packed pairs to confirm matching sizes and colours, and compare washed samples with the approved sample.