Sourcing toe socks from China

Duty on toe socks by fibre

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 6115 covers knitted or crocheted socks and other hosiery. This guide concerns ordinary toe socks with separate toe pockets. The selected lines all carry 12% duty for goods from China. For the wider heading, see socks and hosiery.

The supplied record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing duties and no suspensions for these lines. It attaches CITES import and export controls to 6115 94 00 00 and 6115 99 00 00; the selected cotton and synthetic lines have no attached controls. If protected-species fibres are proposed, confirm the applicable CITES import documents with APHA and your customs broker before ordering.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual fibre composition and product construction. Use the table as a starting point for the yarn specification, rather than treating a supplier's description of the socks as a classification decision.

Specify toe pockets, yarn and fit

Specify the yarn blend, individual toe-pocket lengths and widths, spacing between pockets, seam position and seam bulk. Include foot length, heel position, cuff height, stretch recovery, colour references and the intended size range. Approve fitting samples across that range, including the shape of the big-toe pocket and the fit around the smaller toes.

Textile products must show their fibre composition. Check that the labelling or marking is durable, legible, visible and accessible. Match the packaging artwork to the actual yarn blend. Businesses importing or selling consumer products are responsible for their safety. Agree wash, colour-transfer and seam checks for the ordered material and construction.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative mixed-size order of cotton toe socks for a small retailer under 6115 95 00 00, invoiced at £8,000 free on board, with £1,200 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,200. Duty at 12% is £1,104. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,304, so it is £2,060.80. Import taxes total £3,164.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,104 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Toe pockets: check each pocket against the approved dimensions and fitting sample. Examine the joins between pockets for holes, tight stitching and loose yarn loops.

Pairing and fit: check left and right orientation, matching sizes, heel position and cuff recovery. Try production samples on the agreed foot forms or wear-test panel.

Washing: compare pocket dimensions, foot length, colour and elastic recovery before and after the agreed wash procedure. Check for twisting and seams that become uncomfortable.

Labels and packing: match fibre composition, size, colour and barcode to the contents. Inspect pairs from different cartons on arrival and record discrepancies in the inspection report.

What goes wrong

A sample can fit the foot while its smaller toe pockets are too short or narrow. Flat foot-length measurements miss this. Bulky seams and tight joins between pockets can also undermine comfort. Keep the approved fitting sample and pocket measurements available for production and arrival checks.

Yarn substitutions or changed knitting tension can alter stretch and wash shrinkage. Poor pairing can leave packs with mismatched sizes or the wrong foot orientation. Compare delivered stock with the approved sample and check the fibre label whenever the factory proposes a material change.

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.