Shipping Guide · Updated October 2026
US customs bonds for imports from China
Which bond you need, what it really costs, what it covers — including ISF — and who posts it when your shipment moves DDP.
Quick answer: any formal US entry needs a customs bond — continuous bonds run roughly $270–650 a year at the $50,000 minimum coverage, single-entry bonds from about $15–75 per shipment. A few containers a year: the continuous bond usually wins, and it covers your ISF filings.
- Every formal US entry over $2,500 needs a customs bond under 19 U.S.C. 1623 — no bond on file, no cargo release.
- A continuous bond runs roughly $270–650 a year at the $50,000 minimum coverage set by 19 CFR 113.62, and covers every entry at every port for 12 months.
- Single-entry premiums start at $15–75, but add the separate ISF bond and per-entry fees and the practical cost is closer to $50–100 per shipment.
- The break-even sits at roughly 3–5 entries a year; above that the continuous bond wins on both price and paperwork.
- Since August 29, 2025, the $800 de minimis exemption is suspended for all countries, so small parcels that once cleared duty-free now need formal treatment.
- A bond is not cargo insurance — it guarantees duties, taxes and penalties to CBP; the goods themselves need separate cover.
What a customs bond is — and when you need one
A customs bond is a financial guarantee to CBP that duties, taxes and fees will be paid and the entry regulations followed. Every formal ocean entry into the US requires one — that means any shipment valued over $2,500, and every ocean container also needs the bond to stand behind its ISF filing, whatever the value. The requirement comes from 19 U.S.C. 1623 and CBP's bond rules in 19 CFR Part 113 (CBP Bonds).
The bond is separate from your freight and from the duties themselves: it does not pay your duties, it guarantees somebody will if the importer of record does not. That is why sureties check the importer before issuing, and why repeated violations push premiums up.
- No bond, no release. CBP will not release cargo without an active bond on file, and storage and demurrage keep accruing while the entry sits unresolved.
- The $2,500 line. Entries above that value are formal and bondable; some regulated goods need one regardless of value.
- ISF timing. The ISF must be filed 24 hours before vessel loading — a continuous bond stands behind it automatically, while single-entry shipments need a separate ISF bond.
- Coverage. Activity 1 import bonds start at $50,000; the continuous formula is the greater of that minimum or roughly 10% of last year's duties, taxes and fees.
Continuous vs single-entry: costs and coverage
A continuous bond is an annual policy with a minimum $50,000 coverage — set at the greater of that minimum or 10% of your annual duties, taxes and fees. Premiums typically run $270–650 a year for standard importers. It covers every entry at every US port for 12 months, plus the ISF filings on all shipments.
A single-entry bond covers one shipment at a minimum premium of roughly $15–75, but the coverage must equal about three times the entry value — so a $30,000 container needs a $90,000 bond, and the premium scales with it. If you import more than two or three containers a year, the continuous bond is normally cheaper as well as simpler.
| Entries per year | Single-entry, effective $50–100 per entry | Continuous, $270–650 a year | Cheaper option |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | $100–200 | $270–650 | Single-entry |
| 4 | $200–400 | $270–650 | Around break-even |
| 6 | $300–600 | $270–650 | Continuous |
| 12 | $600–1,200 | $270–650 | Continuous |
Illustrative 2026 market ranges, not our quote — actual premiums depend on the surety and the bond amount.
Who posts the bond — importer of record, forwarder, DDP
The bond principal tracks the importer of record. On FOB and EXW purchases that is you, and you buy the bond through your customs broker. On a DDP shipment the seller-side party acting as importer of record posts the bond, which is why DDP pricing includes it rather than leaving you to arrange one.
One caution: being freed from posting a bond does not free you from accuracy. Whoever is named on the entry carries the legal liability for its truth, which is why we insist on accurate HS codes and descriptions even on shipments where we handle everything.
How we handle bonds on the US lane
On freight-only shipments we coordinate the bond with the destination broker alongside the ISF and entry filing. On DDP it is included: bond, ISF, entry, duties and delivery under one itemized quote.
If you are a first-time importer we will tell you plainly which option fits your volume this year — and, as your volume grows, when switching to a continuous bond starts saving money.
Sources
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-19/chapter-I/part-113 — eCFR (U.S. Government Publishing Office) — 19 CFR Part 113: customs bond requirements and bond types
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-19/chapter-I/part-113/subpart-A/section-113.62 — eCFR — 19 CFR 113.62: the $50,000 minimum continuous bond amount
Frequently asked questions
How much does a continuous customs bond cost?
For most importers, $270–650 a year at the minimum $50,000 coverage. Importers with duties above $50,000 a year need proportionally more coverage — about 10% of the annual total — and pay a higher premium, but the per-entry cost is still far below buying single-entry bonds.
Does a continuous bond cover ISF filings?
Yes. A continuous bond with activity code 1 stands behind your ISF filings on every shipment, which is one of the reasons CBP prefers it: late or inaccurate ISF triggers liquidated damages against the bond, up to $5,000 per filing.
Is a single-entry bond enough for one container?
For a one-off shipment, yes — it is the normal choice for occasional importers. Just budget the full premium: coverage must be around three times the declared value, so the premium on a high-value container can approach the annual cost of a continuous bond.
Who arranges the bond on a DDP shipment?
The party acting as importer of record — on our DDP shipments, we do, through the destination broker, and the cost sits inside the itemized quote. You never have to contact a surety company.
Importing from China and not sure which bond fits your volume?
Apply the 3–5 entries rule: below that, single-entry bonds per shipment; above it, a continuous bond. Send us the cargo details and the shipments you expect this year — we will tell you which option fits, and if we handle the entry, the bond sits inside the itemized quote, usually answered within 24 hours.
Need a quote for your shipment?
Tell us the cargo, the container type and where it needs to go. We come back with an itemized rate, usually within 24 hours.