Sourcing felt-soled wool boots from China
Wool felt boots with felt soles carry 4% UK duty from China across the relevant textile-upper lines. The wider heading ranges from 2% to 16%. Confirm with the relevant authority how footwear labels should identify upper, lining and sock, and outer-sole materials. Cambridge China Bridge sources wool felt boots with felt soles.
Duty depends on the upper and actual outer sole
Heading 6405 covers other footwear. For wool felt uppers with felt outer soles, the relevant textile-upper lines distinguish indoor footwear from other footwear. Both carry 4%. The table also includes leather-upper and other-upper comparisons for checking materially different constructions; these are not classifications for an unchanged wool felt boot. See the wider felt-soled wading boots guide.
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 11 October 2026, the heading carried 2% to 16% duty for goods from China, with no listed anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspensions. The textile-upper lines attach CITES and seal-product import controls. CITES-listed materials need the relevant permits for China-to-Great-Britain imports. Seal products for sale must qualify under the Inuit and other indigenous communities’ exemption and have a seal catch certificate. The leather-upper comparison also attaches the cat-and-dog-fur ban.
Send your broker the fibre composition, upper construction, sole cross-section, ground-contact materials and intended use. Confirm the commodity code and attached controls against the actual goods. A felt insole does not establish a felt outer sole. For slippers, official guidance identifies the sole by durability and ground contact. Adding rubber or plastic can change classification, so check revised samples before ordering.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wool felt uppers and felt soles, indoor boots | 6405 20 91 00 | 4% | None |
| Wool felt uppers and felt soles, other boots | 6405 20 99 00 | 4% | None |
| Construction comparison: leather or composition-leather uppers, felt soles | 6405 10 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Construction comparison: other uppers, felt soles | 6405 90 90 00 | 4% | None |
Specify the wool felt and sole construction
Specify wool content and any blended fibres separately for the upper, lining and outer sole. Agree felt thickness, firmness, surface finish, colour and acceptable shedding against retained samples. Record whether the felt sole is integral, stitched or bonded, and identify any hidden rubber or plastic layer. Avoid describing boots as waterproof solely because the felt is thick.
Approve internal length, width, instep clearance, shaft opening and ease of pulling the boot on across the size run. Agree care instructions after checking shrinkage and shape recovery using the proposed cleaning method. Confirm with the relevant authority how footwear composition labels should identify the upper, lining and sock, and outer-sole materials. Retailers must ensure the footwear they sell is correctly labelled.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative mixed-size order of indoor wool felt boots with felt soles; values are illustrative, not a quotation under 6405 20 91 00, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £135 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,135. Duty at 4% is £125.40. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,260.40, so it is £652.08. Import taxes total £777.48; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £125.40 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: measure internal length and width, compare shaft openings and instep clearance with approved samples, and check left and right boots are matched.
Felt: compare thickness and firmness at the toe, heel and sole; check thin patches, loose fibres, shedding and colour transfer to socks.
Soles: flex and rub the ground-contact felt, inspect stitching or bonding, and assess grip on the intended floor surfaces through testing and certification.
Labels and packing: match composition labels and care instructions to the supplied materials; check size allocation, dampness, mould and crushed shafts during quality inspection.
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What goes wrong
Uneven felting can leave a soft heel, a tight instep or a thin sole despite matching size marks. Soles may flatten or wear through at pressure points, while loose fibres shed onto socks. Compare production boots with the approved sample after flexing and wear checks rather than judging thickness by appearance alone.
Cleaning can shrink the boot or distort the shaft if the care instructions were agreed without trials. Damp packing can cause mould. A substituted fibre blend or added ground-contact layer can also leave labels and customs descriptions inconsistent with the goods. Record substitutions and reassess the materials before releasing stock.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on wool felt boots from China?
The relevant textile-upper lines with felt soles carry 4% duty. Indoor footwear uses 6405 20 91 00; other footwear uses 6405 20 99 00, subject to confirmation of construction and use.
Does a felt insole make a boot felt-soled?
No. Describe the actual outer sole, including layers and the materials touching the ground. Send photographs and a sole cross-section to your broker before agreeing the code.
What labels do wool felt boots need?
Confirm with the relevant authority how footwear composition labels should identify the materials of the upper, lining and sock, and outer sole, whether words or pictograms may be used, and whether labelling at least one boot of each pair is sufficient. Match labels to the actual construction.
What should I check before accepting felt boots?
Check fit across the size run, felt consistency, sole wear and grip, shedding, colour transfer and shrinkage under the proposed care method. Inspect arrivals for dampness and distorted shafts.