Sourcing knitted leg warmers from China

8% or 12%, depending on construction

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6117 covers other made-up knitted or crocheted clothing accessories and knitted parts. For leg warmers within this heading, the elasticated or rubberised accessory line carries 8% duty from China and the other accessory line carries 12%. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions. The table repeats these lines for plain and patterned designs; pattern alone does not change the line.

The tariff attaches CITES, cat and dog fur, and seal-product import controls. If a China-sourced style contains CITES-protected material, an import permit is required for Great Britain. Imports of cat and dog fur and products containing it are banned. Seal products face an import ban; ask your customs broker to confirm whether any exception and supporting documents apply before ordering a seal-containing style.

Give your broker the yarn composition, cuff construction, details of added elastic or rubber and a finished sample to confirm the commodity code. Do not choose the lower rate simply because the knit stretches. For wider accessory background within this heading, see the knitted neck gaiters guide.

Specify the tube, cuffs and yarn

Specify the fibre blend, yarn feel, knit structure, finished length, relaxed circumference and agreed stretched circumference. Define whether the leg warmer is straight or shaped, where each cuff sits and whether it uses added elastic. Approve the fit on the intended wearer, including over leggings, and agree acceptable cuff pressure and recovery after stretching.

For sale in Great Britain, textile labels must show fibre content, including fur and other animal parts. Consumer products must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Agree the label text, washing instructions, colour references and pair packaging before bulk production. For children's styles, check loose yarn loops and detachable trims during sample approval.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 3,000 pairs of elasticated knitted leg warmers; illustrative order and values 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 circumference against the approved specification, stretch the cuffs and check that they recover without slipping or digging in.

Knit and pairing: check dropped stitches, holes, seam bulk and loose yarn ends; compare the colour, length and pattern placement within each pair.

Washing and wear: wash bulk samples using the agreed care instructions, then check shrinkage, twisting, pilling, cuff recovery and colour transfer.

Fibre and labels: compare bulk fibre-test results with the label, check any wool or cashmere claim, and confirm that size markings and packed pairs match the order.

What goes wrong

A cuff can fit at first and then lose recovery, letting the leg warmer slide down. Excessive cuff tension can make the same nominal size uncomfortable. Loose knitting can lengthen or twist after washing, while raised stitches can snag. Mismatched pairs, bulky seams and dark yarn rubbing onto light leggings are faults to check against the approved sample before 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.