Sourcing wooden door thresholds from China
Wooden door thresholds from China carry 0% to 2% UK duty, depending on the timber species and commodity line. The business first placing them on the Great Britain market must exercise timber due diligence. Specify the profile and moisture target before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources wooden door thresholds.
Duty depends on the timber species
Heading 4418 covers builders' joinery and carpentry of wood. Its doors, frames and thresholds lines include wooden door thresholds. Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, coniferous and other non-tropical wooden thresholds carried 0% duty from China. Tropical wood specified in the chapter's additional note carried 2%; the other tropical-wood threshold line carried 0%.
The threshold lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. Each carries a cultural-object export licence entry. Government guidance requires a UK export licence for objects of cultural interest leaving Great Britain for destinations outside the UK. Ask your customs broker to confirm how the attached entry applies to your goods.
Give your broker the timber species, construction and finished profile to confirm the commodity code. The wooden doors and flooring guide covers the wider heading. Keep timber due diligence separate from classification: confirm with the relevant authority what harvest-legality checks the first business placing these timber products on the Great Britain market should complete. For timber roof coverings, see sourcing wooden roofing shingles.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door thresholds of tropical wood specified in chapter additional note 2 | 4418 21 10 00 | 2% | None |
| Door thresholds of other tropical wood | 4418 21 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Door thresholds of coniferous wood | 4418 29 50 00 | 0% | None |
| Door thresholds of other non-tropical wood | 4418 29 80 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the threshold profile and installation
State whether the threshold is for an internal doorway or an exposed entrance. Provide a cross-section drawing showing overall width, height, rebates, bevels, seal grooves and fixing positions. Agree lengths, machining tolerances and the fit against the door frame and finished floor. For the matching frame, see our guide to sourcing wooden door frames.
Specify the species throughout, solid or laminated construction, permitted knots and repairs, finish, end-grain treatment and target moisture content. Ask for species, harvest-country and supporting legality documents before ordering, including for any core or veneer. Confirm with the relevant authority which timber due diligence requirements apply to builders' joinery within this heading.
Approve a sample fitted with the intended frame, door and seals. For a fire-rated application, check evidence for the complete tested doorset and its threshold arrangement before accepting a supplier's claim.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of oak door thresholds for a joinery business under 4418 29 80 00, invoiced at £12,700 free on board, with £1,530 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £14,230. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £14,230, so it is £2,846. 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
Profile: compare sampled thresholds with the approved drawing; check rebates, seal grooves, fixing holes and trial fit against the frame.
Moisture and shape: measure moisture against the agreed target at packing and on arrival; check bow, twist, splits and uneven bearing surfaces.
Construction and finish: check species records, laminated joints, end-grain coverage, coating consistency and damage along exposed edges.
Packing: check thresholds are supported along their length, separated to prevent rubbing and protected from moisture. Record findings at quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
A threshold can match the overall dimensions but have the wrong rebate or seal groove, leaving the door unable to close as intended. Moisture changes can produce bowing or splits; poorly bonded laminations can separate, and exposed end grain can absorb water.
Use the approved cross-section and fitted sample as acceptance references. Check arrival moisture before installation, photograph damaged packs and isolate affected goods. If species or harvest records are missing, ask the relevant authority whether further evidence is needed to complete any applicable timber due diligence.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on wooden door thresholds from China?
The threshold lines carry 0% or 2%. Coniferous and other non-tropical wood are 0%; the specified tropical-wood line is 2%, and other tropical wood is 0%. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty is recorded.
Do wooden thresholds need timber due diligence?
Confirm with the relevant authority whether builders' joinery under heading 4418 is covered by timber due diligence requirements. Ask what harvest-legality checks the business first placing it on the Great Britain market should complete, including for wood in cores and veneers.
What should I put on a wooden threshold drawing?
Show the cross-section, length, width, height, rebates, bevels, seal grooves and fixing positions. State tolerances, species, construction, finish and the intended frame and floor interface.
How do I check thresholds when they arrive?
Compare the profile with the approved sample, measure moisture and check bow, twist, splits, bonding and finish damage. Trial-fit a threshold with the intended frame, door and seals before releasing the batch.