CBP Fees Calculator: MPF, HMF, and Formal Entry Costs in 2026
Estimate common CBP fees for US imports, including Merchandise Processing Fee, Harbor Maintenance Fee, and formal-entry cost checks.
CBP fees are predictable if you separate the line items
A CBP fees calculator should not treat every charge as a tariff. US Customs and Border Protection collects or administers several different fee types, and each has its own trigger. For most small importers, the recurring federal fees are MPF and HMF.
For an all-in import estimate, use the US import tariff calculator. For CBP fee mechanics, start with the table below.
Core CBP fee lines
| Fee | Applies to | 2026 planning method |
|---|---|---|
| Merchandise Processing Fee | Most formal entries | 0.3464% of entered value, subject to min/max |
| Harbor Maintenance Fee | Covered waterborne imports | 0.125% of merchandise value |
| Informal entry fee | Some low-value entries | Depends on processing path |
| Manual surcharge | Certain manual processing situations | Fixed surcharge when applicable |
Example
For a $40,000 ocean shipment:
| Line | Estimate |
|---|---|
| MPF | $138.56 before min/max check |
| HMF | $50.00 |
| CBP fee subtotal | $188.56 |
This does not include HTS duty, Section 301, broker fees, bond cost, freight, or domestic delivery.
Best next step
If your shipment is only an ocean fee estimate, use an HMF calculator. If it is a full import-cost decision, calculate the entire landed cost because duty and Section 301 can be much larger than CBP user fees.
Is MPF paid to CBP?
Yes. MPF is a CBP user fee collected during the customs entry process.
Is HMF paid on air freight?
Usually no. HMF is tied to covered waterborne cargo. Air and truck-only shipments usually do not trigger HMF, though they may still trigger MPF.