Sourcing metal door number plates from China

UK duty on metal door number plates

Heading 8310 covers base-metal address plates, numbers and similar plates. Non-illuminated metal door number plates fall within this family. The table shows different products sharing the same commodity line. See the wider metal nameplates and sign plates guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 26 October 2026, commodity code 8310 00 00 00 carries 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls.

Confirm the material and whether the plate includes a permanently fixed light source before choosing the commodity code. Illuminated signs are classified separately. The import duty and VAT guide explains the calculation.

Specify the number, finish and fixing

Specify the metal, thickness, plate dimensions, corner shape, lettering style and exact number or address. Approve artwork showing spacing and orientation. State whether the marking is engraved, etched, stamped or printed, and agree fill colour, surface finish and acceptable variation against a physical sample.

Specify screw holes, studs or adhesive backing and the intended door or wall surface. Agree suitable fixings and installation information. For outdoor plates, describe exposure to rain, sunlight and coastal conditions, then agree finish and adhesion checks before production.

For consumer use in Great Britain, the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 require safe products. Check sharp edges and insecure fixings as practical safety risks. Where reasonable, traceability information on the product or packaging must include the producer's name and address and a product reference or batch identifier.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 800 engraved aluminium door number plates under 8310 00 00 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,300. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,300, so it is £660. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Artwork: compare each supplied design with the approved number, address, font and layout; check carton contents against the order's design quantities.

Edges and dimensions: check burrs, corners, flatness, plate size and hole positions; trial-fit the supplied screws or studs.

Outdoor finish: inspect coating coverage, engraving and colour fill; run the agreed weathering and rub checks on production samples.

Fixing and packing: test backing on the intended surface, check fixings are present and protect finished faces from rubbing in transit. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspection.

What goes wrong

Wrong numbers and reversed artwork make otherwise sound plates unusable. Shallow engraving or weak colour fill can lose contrast outdoors. Uneven coating and poorly finished edges leave visible defects; plates packed face to face can arrive scratched.

Adhesive tested only on smooth factory samples may release from a textured door. Misplaced holes can prevent installation or distort a thin plate when tightened. Approve a mounted sample on the intended surface and repeat the agreed checks on production goods before dispatch.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.