Sourcing Mortice Door Locks from China
Mortice door locks from China carry 0% UK import duty across the relevant door-lock lines. Consumer locks supplied in Great Britain must be safe; match any claimed security standard to evidence for the exact model and check fit before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources mortice door locks.
Duty on mortice door locks
Heading 8301 covers base-metal locks, their parts and separately presented keys. For mortice door locks, distinguish cylinder-operated building-door locks from other building-door locks. Separately imported parts and keys have their own lines. See the wider locks guide for the rest of the heading. For vending equipment, see our vending machine lock sourcing guide. For vehicle applications, see our automotive door lock sourcing guide.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 9 October 2026, the selected door-lock, parts and key lines carried 0% duty on goods from China. The supplied tariff data records no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. This finding concerns the selected lines, rather than every product in the heading.
Confirm the commodity code from the lock mechanism and what is actually supplied. Send your broker the drawing, operating method and packing list, identifying complete locks, separate parts and separate keys.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-cylinder mortice locks for building doors | 8301 40 19 00 | 0% | None |
| Cylinder-operated locks for building doors | 8301 40 11 00 | 0% | None |
| Mortice lock parts imported separately | 8301 60 00 90 | 0% | None |
| Mortice lock keys presented separately | 8301 70 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the lock case and door fit
This guide concerns mechanical mortice door locks. Specify a deadlock or a sashlock with latch, backset, case height and depth, faceplate dimensions, fixing positions, bolt projection and door thickness. For sashlocks, agree the spindle position, spindle fit and latch handing or reversal method. Include the matching keep and screws in the approved drawing. For smart models, see our smart door lock sourcing guide. For rim models, see our rim door lock sourcing guide. For hotel card-access models, see our hotel RFID door lock sourcing guide. For sliding doors, see our sliding door hook lock sourcing guide.
Agree case, bolt and faceplate materials, finish, keying plan and keys supplied. Where the buyer asks for BS 3621, obtain current test evidence for the exact model, as explained in the reference guide. For fire-door use, check evidence for the door assembly rather than relying on a lock certificate alone.
Consumer locks supplied in Great Britain must be safe under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. Products should only be sold once compliance with applicable product safety regulations has been appropriately demonstrated. Resolve the intended use and supporting evidence before approving production.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 2,500 mechanical mortice door locks under 8301 40 19 00, invoiced at £38,000 free on board, with £2,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £40,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £40,500, so it is £8,100. 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
Fit: measure the case, backset, faceplate and fixing positions against the approved drawing; trial-fit arrival samples with the intended handles and keep.
Operation: test the supplied keys, bolt travel and latch return; check operation with the keep engaged and after tightening the fixing screws.
Materials and finish: compare production pieces with the approved material specification; check burrs, plating coverage, corrosion and loose faceplates.
Keying and packing: check keyed-alike or keyed-different batches against the agreed plan, then check keys, keeps, screws and model identification. Use the inspection guide to organise the checks.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
What goes wrong
A lock can match the sample externally but bind when its case is clamped into the door. Wrong backsets, spindle positions or keeps also create fitting problems. Test an assembled installation, rather than accepting a loose lock that turns smoothly on a bench.
Weak latch springs, rough key operation and material substitutions can undermine an otherwise matching shipment. A certificate for a similar model does not establish the ordered model's claimed rating. Keep the approved drawing, sample and model-specific evidence together, and record arrival defects by batch.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on mortice door locks from China?
The selected building-door lock lines carried 0% duty on 9 October 2026, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures recorded in the supplied tariff data.
Do mortice locks need BS 3621?
The reference guide says home insurers commonly refer to BS 3621 for door locks. Confirm the customer's intended use and obtain current evidence for the exact model where this standard is specified.
Which measurements should I send the factory?
Send backset, case dimensions, faceplate and fixing positions, bolt projection and door thickness. For sashlocks, include spindle position and fit, latch handing and the matching keep.
Can I use the same mortice lock on a fire door?
Check the evidence for the intended door assembly. The reference guide treats fire-door locks separately because the evidence covers the assembly, rather than the lock alone.