Sourcing slate house signs from China

Duty on slate house signs

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 6803 covers worked slate and articles of slate or agglomerated slate. Slate house signs sit within the other worked slate articles line, 6803 00 90 00. This is the only supplied tariff line relevant to house signs.

The duty for goods from China is 0%. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for this line. Import VAT is normally 20%; see UK import duty and VAT.

Confirm the material and finished article with your customs broker using finding your commodity code. For roofing, wall slates and other articles, see the wider slate guide.

Slate, lettering and mounting specifications

Specify natural or agglomerated slate, colour variation, face texture, dimensions, thickness, edge finish and fixing-hole positions. Agree the lettering method, engraving depth, paint infill and any surface treatment. Send approved artwork showing the exact address, punctuation, font and alignment. Keep a signed sample showing acceptable stone variation and lettering contrast.

For signs intended for consumers in Great Britain, the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 apply. Do not sell signs you know or should have known are unsafe. Assess sharp edges, splitting around holes and the risk of the sign falling. Specify the supplied fixings and mounting instructions, then trial the complete assembly on the intended wall surface.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: A small wholesale batch of engraved slate house signs, illustrative only under 6803 00 90 00, invoiced at £2,600 free on board, with £305 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,905. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,905, so it is £581. 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

Lettering: compare every personalised sign with its approved artwork and order record; check spelling, alignment, engraving and paint coverage.

Slate: inspect faces, backs and edges for cracks, loose layers, chipped corners and metallic inclusions; compare thickness and colour with the approved sample.

Mounting: check hole positions, clearance for screws and spacers, and the fit of supplied hardware; look for cracking during trial installation.

Packing: check individual cushioning, corner protection and separation between signs. On arrival, photograph damaged packaging and inspect the enclosed signs. Use the quality inspection guide to brief the inspection.

What goes wrong

Personalisation errors make otherwise sound signs unusable. Rough slate can leave shallow lettering difficult to read, while uneven paint infill changes the appearance. Holes drilled near weak layers can cause splitting during mounting. Agree the artwork and inspect a finished sample with its actual fixings before approving production.

Loose packing leads to chipped corners and broken plaques. Pyrite inclusions can rust and stain the stone outdoors. Ask the factory to identify metallic inclusions, agree rejection criteria and compare weather-exposed samples before making durability claims.

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.