Sourcing wig display heads from China

0% duty on wig display heads

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 9618 covers tailors' dummies and other lay figures, including the display figures covered here, and animated shop-window displays. The supplied tariff has a single commodity line, 9618 00 00 00. The table shows wig display head variants using that same line, rather than separate tariff subdivisions.

Goods from China carry 0% duty, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty or 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. For heads supplied with hair or fur coverings, ask the supplier to identify the material and exclude cat and dog fur.

Confirm the commodity code using photographs, material details and the intended display use. Describe the goods as wig display heads rather than simply ornaments. For the wider product family, see mannequins and dress forms.

Specify head shape, wig fit and base

Specify plastic, fibreglass or foam; head circumference and height; face shape; neck length; shoulder profile; colour and finish. State whether the head is freestanding or mounts on a separate stand, and agree the mounting-hole dimensions. Fit your actual wig to the sample: the cap should sit correctly without stretching or slipping.

Distinguish display use from pinning or styling. If pins will be used, ask for a suitable pin-compatible sample and check repeated insertion. Agree the cleaning method and test it on the finish. Heads sold to consumers in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005; assess stability and exposed edges.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 300 fibreglass wig display heads (illustrative order and values) under 9618 00 00 00, invoiced at £4,200 free on board, with £590 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,790. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,790, so it is £958. 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

Wig fit: measure the agreed head dimensions and fit the intended wig; check cap position, slippage and clearance around the ears and neck.

Finish: compare colour and facial detail with the approved sample; check paint transfer, mould seams, dents and cracks around the neck.

Base and mounting: check that the head sits level, remains stable with the wig fitted and engages securely with the agreed stand.

Packing: check protection around the face and neck, separation from loose fittings and movement inside the carton; repeat these checks on arrival.

What goes wrong

A head can match the catalogue photograph yet stretch the wig cap, leave it loose or hide the hairline. Lightweight heads may tip with the intended wig fitted, mounting holes may not fit existing stands, and paint can transfer onto light-coloured lace. Approve the sample with your own wig and stand.

Foam can arrive dented, while hollow heads can crack at the neck when cartons allow movement. Agree packing around these vulnerable areas and inspect unpacked samples before shipment. Use the quality inspection guide to turn the approved sample into inspection checks.

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.