Should You Import? Sourcing Decision Tool
Paste your domestic supplier quote and see real savings importing the same material from verified international suppliers. Includes all duties, freight, broker fees, and drayage. Built for builders, multifamily developers, and procurement teams deciding whether direct importing is worth the complexity.
Estimates only. Section 301 tariffs and HTS classification affect final duty. Confirm with a licensed customs broker. Methodology →
Total units needed for the project.
Your existing US supplier's price per unit.
Leave on Auto to let Nexo recommend the best country.
Get your savings analysis as a 1-page PDF: break-even units, recommended origin, realistic timeline. Bring it to your next sourcing meeting.
Not ready to download? Email yourself a link that comes back to this exact calculation, no questions asked.
Potential savings: 69%
Get a sourcing plan with specific suppliers.
High savings + first-time importer = high upside if you partner with experienced sourcing. Nexo specializes in first-time-importer support. We handle suppliers, QC, freight, and broker so you do not learn customs the hard way.
- Clean import path. No active AD/CVD on this origin + material.
See full breakdown(9)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Domestic total (200 units × $250) | $50,000 |
| Import landed (Vietnam) | $15,410 |
| Total savings (domestic minus import) | $34,590 |
| Per-unit domestic ($/units) | $250 |
| Per-unit imported ($/units) | $77 |
| Per-unit savings ($/units) | $173 |
| Break-even units Order this many units or more for import to win on fixed-cost dilution. | $25 |
| Recommended origin: Vietnam Auto-recommended: cheapest viable supplier for this material. | $0 |
| Import timeline (weeks, factory cutoff to US warehouse) | $8 |
Methodology and data sources
This calculator compares your domestic supplier quote against an estimated import landed cost. Import math reuses the A1 Landed Cost stack: FOB plus ocean freight plus insurance equals CIF, then standard duty plus Section 301 if Chinese, plus AD/CVD if scope applies, plus MPF, HMF, customs broker (including ISF and bond), and drayage — see the landed cost explainer for the full waterfall behind the number on the right.
FOB benchmarks are midpoint USD per unit by material and origin, verified quarterly with Nexo's supplier network. Standard duty rates come from USITC HTSUS 2026. AD/CVD percentages reflect the most recent Federal Register continuation orders. Ocean freight uses Freightos benchmark indices May 2026 ($3,500 for major Asia and Mexico lanes, $4,500 for Europe). Drayage is $600 for residential or $1,200 for commercial destinations.
"Break-even units" divides fixed import costs (freight, broker, drayage, insurance) by the per-unit savings margin (domestic price minus FOB minus per-unit duty). It is the minimum order size where importing wins after fixed costs are diluted. The channel you pick — factory direct, distributor, or trading agent — shifts that margin meaningfully; our manufacturer vs distributor vs trading agent guide explains when each wins.
Estimates are NOT legal, customs, or financial advice. Real quotes vary by supplier, season, scope ruling, and quality tier. For deal-grade accuracy, work with a licensed customs broker and a verified supplier. Nexo connects you with both.
Sources & last update(6)
- USITC HTSUS 2026
- Federal Register (AD/CVD continuation orders)
- CBP — MPF / HMF / Bonds
- USTR Section 301
- Freightos benchmark indices
- Nexo supplier audit Q2 2026 (FOB benchmarks)
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to import construction materials or buy domestic?
Typically yes for orders above $30k or one full container: cabinets save 50-70% from Vietnam, porcelain tile saves 30-50% from Italy or Mexico, quartz saves 40-60% from India. Below 50 doors of multifamily volume or under $30k orders, domestic distributors often beat import economics once duty, freight, and warehousing are included.
How accurate is this calculator?
Estimates use Nexo benchmark FOB prices verified quarterly with our supplier network, plus USITC standard duties, USTR Section 301 rates, and Federal Register AD/CVD orders. Ocean freight uses Freightos benchmark indices. Real quotes vary plus or minus 15% based on supplier, season, and quality tier. Verify with a licensed broker before commit.
What is "break-even units" and why does it matter?
Break-even is the minimum order volume where importing beats domestic after fixed costs (freight, broker, drayage, insurance). Below that quantity, fixed costs eat the per-unit savings. Above it, every extra unit dilutes those fixed costs and the savings compound. Use it as a "go or no-go" threshold for any single import order.
Why does this exclude China for some materials?
Five categories have active AD/CVD orders making Chinese landed cost 2-6x the FOB: porcelain tile (496%), quartz (524%), wooden cabinets (265%), vanities (265%), and engineered hardwood (206%). Plus a 25% Section 301 surcharge. For these, China is rarely the right answer. We auto-recommend Vietnam, India, Mexico, or Italy depending on the material.
How long does it take to import construction materials?
Factory cutoff to US warehouse: Mexico 4 weeks (truck), Asia 8 weeks (ocean), Europe 10 weeks (ocean via East Coast). Add 2-3 weeks for production if the supplier needs to start fresh. Plan 60 days minimum for Mexico, 90-120 days for Asia/Europe. If your project deadline is under 60 days, importing rarely works. Domestic stocks win.
What is included in "import landed cost" in this calculator?
FOB (factory price), ocean freight in a 40HQ container, marine insurance (0.5% of CIF), standard customs duty, Section 301 if Chinese origin, AD/CVD if scope applies, MPF (capped at $614.35), HMF, customs broker flat ($175 including ISF and bond), and drayage from port to warehouse. For a deal-grade number, also model warehousing, last-mile, and your internal cost of capital.
What if my domestic quote is way below the calculator result?
Three possibilities: 1) Your distributor is selling at-cost to hold the account (rare, but possible). Call them for a renewal quote and see. 2) The quote excludes installation, freight, or sales tax. Verify the line items. 3) The product spec is different (thinner tile, lower quartz silica %, particleboard cabinets instead of plywood). Quote apples-to-apples before deciding.
Should I import if I have never imported before?
Only with a partner. First-time importers often miss: HTS code accuracy (wrong code = wrong duty), AD/CVD scope rulings (Chinese suppliers often hide them), supplier QC (factory video tours catch problems early), and US customs entry (ISF, bond, broker selection). The savings are real but the failure modes are expensive. Nexo specializes in first-time importer support.
Does this calculator include the cost of warehousing or financing inventory?
No. The result is "landed at port-of-arrival warehouse." If you need to hold inventory for 60+ days before install, add 2-4% of CIF per month for warehousing, plus your weighted cost of capital on the tied-up cash. For multifamily projects on a draw schedule, this can erase 10-15% of theoretical savings if not modeled.
How do I get a real quote based on this calculation?
Click "Request sourcing plan" below. Nexo replies in 24-48h with: 1) two or three verified supplier candidates for your material + origin, 2) all-in factory-direct FOB quote with photos and certifications, 3) total landed estimate with your specific HTS code and customs broker. No retainer to start. If you proceed, we either include a sourcing fee in the quote or you pay a flat finder fee.
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