Sourcing projection screens from China

0% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, apparatus and equipment for photographic laboratories and projection screens, heading 9010, carried 0% on goods from China on every line: automatic film and paper developing apparatus, other photographic laboratory equipment, projection screens, and parts. No line carried an anti-dumping measure.

Projectors and displays are covered in our monitors, projectors and digital signage guide. Screen brackets and mounts sold separately are classified by material, so confirm the commodity code. For industrial displays, see our open-frame monitor sourcing guide.

Neighbouring codes to rule out

Screens and projectors are priced very differently at the border. Projection screens are 0% under 9010 60 00 00, but a colour video projector of heading 8528 was 14% on goods from China when read, and slide or film projectors of heading 9008 were 0%. If a supplier quotes a screen and projector as a set, ask for separate prices so each is declared under its own code and duty is not charged on the whole set at the higher rate.

Electrical safety and venues

Motorised screens with mains motors fall under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 and electromagnetic compatibility rules, with UKCA or CE marking in Great Britain, a declaration of conformity and WEEE obligations; radio remote controls add radio equipment rules. Schools, theatres and conference venues often ask for a fire classification of the screen fabric, so ask the supplier for the test report.

Specifying screens

Specify viewing size and aspect ratio, fabric type and gain, black border and drop, case size and colour, motor type, noise and limit setting, control (RF, IR, 12 V trigger), mounting, tension system, and packing for long cases.

Worked duty example

Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 300 motorised projection screens under 9010 60 00 00. At £36,000 free on board and £2,400 to ship and insure, the customs value is £38,400. With 0% duty on projection screens, the only charge is import VAT: 20% of £38,400, or £7,680. VAT-registered businesses usually recover that in their next return. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.

Inspection checklist

Fabric: unroll samples and check flatness, waves, creases, seams and colour uniformity with a projected test pattern.

Motor and control: run each sample through repeated cycles, check limit stops, noise and remote and trigger operation.

Packing: check long cases are in rigid cartons with end protection, since bent cases are the usual transit damage.

What goes wrong

Screen orders fail on fabric waves, motors and transit. Fabric develops waves or edge curl, gain or colour differs from the sample, motors drift past limits or are noisy, and cases arrive bent.

Test with a projected pattern, cycle the motors, and specify rigid packing. See our quality inspection guide.

Cambridge China Bridge sources projection screens for UK AV installers and education suppliers, from a first trial order to scheduled full containers; the factory's minimum per size is stated in the quote. See small orders.