Sourcing replacement mannequin legs from China

0% duty under heading 9618

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 9618 covers tailors' dummies and other lay figures, automata and other animated shop-window displays. Its supplied commodity line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension listed.

The tariff attaches import and export controls on cat and dog fur. Imports and exports of that fur and products made from it are banned. Specify replacement legs without these materials and obtain a material declaration covering any surface covering.

The table shows replacement-leg variants against the same supplied commodity line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions. Before using it for loose replacement parts, ask your customs broker to confirm the commodity code using photographs, material details and the intended clothing-display use. For related parts within the wider heading, see replacement mannequin hands.

Match the leg to the existing mannequin

Send the factory an existing leg or a connector drawing, alongside photographs of the assembled mannequin. Specify left or right, straight or bent pose, overall length, thigh profile, foot shape, material, colour and gloss. Record the hip connector dimensions, locking direction and whether the base rod enters the foot or calf.

Approve a replacement sample on the actual torso and base. Check that it locks without forcing, preserves the stance and allows trousers and footwear to be fitted. Where the legs are intended for or foreseeably used by consumers in Great Britain, general product safety rules apply and require safety in normal or reasonably foreseeable use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 300 straight-pose replacement mannequin legs under 9618 00 00 00, invoiced at £2,500 free on board, with £590 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,090. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,090, so it is £618. 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

Compatibility: fit sampled legs to the buyer's torso and base, checking connector engagement, locking direction, alignment and unwanted movement.

Finish: compare colour and gloss with the approved sample, checking the hip rim, knee, ankle and toes for cracks, chips, exposed fibres and sharp fittings.

Base connection: check the rod socket position and fixing, then assemble the figure and check that the replacement leg preserves a stable stance.

Packing: protect connectors and toes separately, prevent movement inside cartons, and check that pose and left or right identification match the packing list.

What goes wrong

A leg can look correct yet fail to lock into the torso because its connector differs. A changed calf socket or foot angle can prevent the base rod from seating. Paint mismatch becomes obvious beside the retained leg, while poorly protected hip rims and toes can arrive chipped.

Keep the approved connector drawing and assembled sample as the inspection reference. Check fit before approving the finish, and repeat assembly checks on arrival before distributing the parts. See quality inspection explained.

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.