Sourcing window air conditioners from China

Window air conditioner duty and refrigerant controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8415 covers air-conditioning machines with a motor-driven fan and elements that change temperature and humidity. Self-contained window units fall within its fixed-unit branch. The selected complete-unit and parts lines all carry 2% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions recorded.

The tariff attaches restrictions on entry into free circulation and fluorinated greenhouse gas import controls to every selected line, including the other-refrigerant lines. New equipment must not use ozone-depleting substances. Obtain the refrigerant identity and charge from the factory, assess the HFC quota position, and ask your customs broker to confirm the applicable declaration documents before shipment.

Confirm the commodity code from the complete specification and refrigerant. The parts rows cover separately imported air conditioner parts; individual components may need another heading. See the wider air conditioner and heat pump guide for other configurations.

Specify window fit, drainage and cooling performance

Give the factory the window opening dimensions and opening direction. Agree the cabinet size, mounting support, sealing panels, external projection, ventilation clearances and condensate drainage arrangement. Specify cooling capacity, operating conditions, noise, electrical supply, plug, controls and access for filter cleaning. Test the proposed mounting kit in a representative window before approving production.

For HFC-charged equipment imported into Great Britain, confirm with the Environment Agency or your customs broker which annual import thresholds trigger F-gas service registration, quota authorisations and a declaration of conformity certifying quota coverage. Calculate the annual total from each model's refrigerant and charge before ordering.

Ask for model-specific electrical safety and performance reports, the declaration of conformity and CE or UKCA marking for Great Britain supply. Suppliers must prepare energy labels, product information sheets and supporting technical documentation. Electrical equipment must have clear, legible instructions in easily understandable English. Arrange testing and certification checks against the actual model.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 40 self-contained window air conditioners, not pre-charged with HFCs under 8415 10 10 90, invoiced at £28,000 free on board, with £4,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £32,000. Duty at 2% is £640. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £32,640, so it is £6,528. Import taxes total £7,168; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £640 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit and support: check cabinet dimensions, mounting brackets, sealing panels and fasteners against the approved sample. Assemble the kit and check that supports hold the cabinet without obstructing the window or ventilation.

Cooling and drainage: run sampled units under agreed conditions. Record cooling performance, compressor cycling, vibration and noise. Check condensate behaviour at the installation angle stated in the manual.

Refrigerant and documents: compare the refrigerant and charge on the nameplate with the specification and leak-test records. Match the model identifiers across the energy label, product information sheet, reports and declaration.

Arrival condition: inspect cartons, cabinet corners, coil fins, filters, controls and mounting kits for damage or missing items. Check electrical safety test records and record faults through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A unit can meet its cooling specification yet fail to fit the buyer's window. Sealing panels may leave gaps, brackets may conflict with the frame, and the cabinet may block opening or ventilation. Poor drainage can send condensate indoors. Approve an installed sample with the complete mounting kit and drainage instructions.

Other failures include refrigerant substitutions, leaking joints, bent coil fins, excessive vibration and energy documents for a different model. Freeze the approved refrigerant, compressor, controls and cabinet specification in the purchase order. Agree replacement filters, remotes and control boards, and check production samples against the approved unit before shipment.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.