Complete Beginner’s Guide to Importing Electronics from China

Importing electronics from China is not complicated. It’s just unfamiliar. Once you’ve done it once, the process becomes routine. The goal of this guide is to give you a clear picture of every step, from choosing a product to receiving goods at your door, so your first order goes as smoothly as possible.

This isn’t a theoretical overview. It’s what you actually do, in order, with realistic numbers attached.

Is This Right for You?

Before you do anything else, be honest about whether this makes sense for your situation.

Importing from China works well if you:

• Have at least $2,000 to $5,000 to spend on a first order (and can absorb losing some of it)
• Are willing to spend 3 to 5 months on your first import before products arrive
• Can handle the administrative side (customs, duties, freight coordination)
• Have a clear plan for selling what you import

It doesn’t work well if you’re expecting to flip a $200 investment into a business in 30 days. That’s not the model. First orders are learning experiences. You’ll spend more per unit than you will on your second or third order. Some things won’t go perfectly. Budget for it.

The importers who succeed here are patient, process-oriented, and willing to put in real research time before spending real money.

Step 1: Decide What to Import and Validate Demand

This step is where most beginners go wrong. They fall in love with a product before they know whether anyone wants to buy it.

Start with demand, not product.

Research tools that show real demand data:

• Amazon Best Sellers (shows what’s selling in your category)
• Google Trends (shows search interest over time)
• Jungle Scout or Helium 10 (paid tools for Amazon market research)
• eBay sold listings (filter by “Sold” to see what actually moved)

Look for products with:

• Consistent search volume (not spiky or seasonal only)
• Multiple competitors doing well (proves demand exists)
• Room for differentiation (you can be better, not just cheaper)
• Price points where your landed cost allows a 3x to 4x markup

For electronics specifically, good starting categories include wireless earbuds, LED lighting products, smart home devices, and phone accessories. Read our category-specific guides for consumer electronics, LED lighting, and phone accessories for detailed breakdowns.

Avoid:

• Products with heavy brand IP (counterfeit risk, customs seizure)
• Heavily regulated products (medical devices, children’s electronics, anything requiring complex certification you can’t afford)
• Products where the market leader has reviews in the hundreds of thousands (nearly impossible to displace)

Step 2: Find Suppliers

Once you know what you’re sourcing, you need to find factories to source from.

Alibaba is where most importers start. It’s the world’s largest B2B marketplace for Chinese products. You can search for products, filter by trade assurance, minimum order, and verified status, and contact suppliers directly. Expect to message 15 to 30 suppliers to get 10 responses and identify 3 to 5 worth pursuing seriously. Read our full Alibaba guide for how to work the platform.

DHgate is better for smaller orders and already-made products. MOQs are lower. Prices are slightly higher than Alibaba. It’s a good option for testing demand with small volumes before committing to a factory order. See our DHgate guide.

1688.com is the Chinese domestic version of Alibaba. Factory prices are 20 to 40% lower, but everything is in Mandarin and you’ll need a sourcing agent. Worth it at larger volumes. See our 1688 guide.

Canton Fair is the world’s largest trade fair, held in Guangzhou twice a year. The spring 2026 session Phase 1 (electronics) runs April 15 to 19. Attending once gives you face-to-face access to thousands of factories and speeds up the relationship-building that leads to better pricing.

When evaluating suppliers, compare:

• Years in business and trade history on the platform
• Response time and communication quality
• Whether they can show certificates (FCC, UL, CE, etc.) immediately
• Willingness to do a video call showing their factory

Step 3: Verify Suppliers

Never send money to a supplier you haven’t verified. This is where importers get scammed.

Basic verification steps:

1. Check their business license (Alibaba shows this for Gold Suppliers)
2. Video call the factory and ask to see the production floor
3. Search the company name and address independently
4. Look them up on China’s National Enterprise Credit Information System
5. Ask for references from other importers who have purchased from them

For any order over $5,000, consider a factory audit through a third-party service. It costs $250 to $400 and involves a verified inspector visiting the factory, confirming their capabilities, and reporting back to you.

Read our full supplier verification guide and our avoiding scams guide before you send any payment.

Step 4: Request Samples

Before you place a real order, you need to physically test the product.

Order samples from your top two or three suppliers. Most suppliers charge for samples, typically $20 to $100 per unit plus shipping. This is normal and reasonable. Beware of suppliers who offer free samples without any cost. It can be a sign they’re sending whatever they have on hand rather than the product they’d actually produce.

When you receive samples:

• Test every function the product is supposed to perform
• Measure actual specs against claimed specs (battery capacity, lumens, charging speed)
• Check build quality, finish, and materials
• Photograph and document everything

If a sample disappoints, communicate specifically what was wrong and ask for a revised sample. This process also tells you a lot about how a supplier communicates under pressure.

Our requesting samples guide covers the full process including what to put in your sample request and how to evaluate what arrives.

Step 5: Negotiate and Place Your Order

Once you’ve identified a supplier whose samples pass inspection, it’s time to negotiate and place the order.

Don’t accept the first quoted price. Negotiation is expected. Typical room for negotiation is 5 to 20% off the first quote, depending on volume and how standard the product is. Larger orders give more leverage. Repeat orders give more leverage. Building a relationship matters.

Key points to negotiate:

• Unit price at your target quantity
• Payment terms (standard is 30% deposit, 70% before shipment)
• Lead time
• Packaging specs
• Quality standards and what happens if products fail inspection

Get everything in writing. A purchase agreement or proforma invoice should detail product specifications, quantities, price, payment terms, lead time, and what happens if there’s a quality dispute.

Read our negotiating guide for specific tactics and what to put in your order agreement.

Payment methods matter. Wire transfer (T/T) is the most common method. Use Alibaba Trade Assurance when possible, because it gives you payment protection. Never pay by personal payment apps (WeChat Pay, personal PayPal) with a new supplier. See our payment methods guide.

Step 6: Arrange Quality Inspection

This step is optional but strongly recommended for your first few orders.

A pre-shipment inspection involves a third-party inspector visiting the factory when your order is 80 to 100% complete. They test a random sample from the production run and report back before your goods ship.

Standard inspection cost: $250 to $350 for a one-day inspection.

What they check:

• Quantity (is the right number of units present?)
• Product specs (do they match the purchase order?)
• Appearance and finish
• Function testing (does it work?)
• Packaging and labeling

A failed inspection gives you the chance to hold payment and require the factory to fix the problem before shipping. Without an inspection, you only find out about quality problems after goods arrive at your warehouse.

Read our quality control guide for how inspections work and how to hire an inspection company.

Step 7: Choose Your Shipping Method

How you ship depends on how heavy the shipment is, how fast you need it, and your budget.

Express shipping (DHL, FedEx, UPS) is fastest (3 to 5 days) and most expensive ($5 to $8 per kg). Good for samples and small initial orders under 100 kg.

Air freight is 5 to 10 days and costs roughly $4 to $7 per kg all in. Better than express for shipments between 100 kg and 500 kg.

Sea freight LCL (Less than Container Load) is the standard for small to medium importers. You share a container with other importers. Cost runs roughly $120 to $200 per CBM for the ocean leg, plus $50 to $90 per CBM in destination charges. Total transit time is 25 to 40 days from China to US West Coast.

Sea freight FCL (Full Container Load) is cheapest per unit but requires filling a 20-foot or 40-foot container. 20-foot containers typically hold 25 to 28 CBM. This only makes sense at significant volume.

For a full breakdown of all three options, read our sea vs. air vs. express shipping guide.

You’ll also need to understand Incoterms. FOB (Free on Board) is the most common for importers. It means the factory is responsible for the goods until they’re loaded on the ship. You’re responsible from that point. Read our Incoterms guide.

Step 8: Clear Customs

Importing goods into the US requires a customs entry. For shipments under $2,500, you can do informal entry yourself. For anything over $2,500, you need a licensed customs broker.

Customs broker cost: $150 to $500 depending on complexity.

You’ll pay:

• Import duty (varies by HTS code, typically 0 to 25% for electronics)
• Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods (additional 7.5% to 25% depending on product category)
• Harbor maintenance fee and merchandise processing fee (small percentages)

Electronics tariffs have been a moving target. As of early 2026, most consumer electronics from China carry Section 301 tariffs in the 7.5% to 25% range on top of standard import duty. Budget for this. It’s one of the biggest cost surprises for first-time importers.

Read our US customs and duties guide for the full breakdown.

Step 9: Receive Goods and Review

When your shipment arrives at your warehouse or Amazon FBA facility, do a thorough receiving inspection.

Check:

• Total unit count against your purchase order
• Packaging condition (shipping damage happens)
• Random spot testing of product function
• Label and compliance marking accuracy

Document any issues with photos immediately. You’ll need this documentation if you need to file a claim with your freight insurer or dispute quality issues with the supplier.

Realistic Timeline for Your First Order

Here’s what to expect for a typical first order:

Plan accordingly. If you need products by a specific date (holiday season, event), work backward from that date and add a buffer.

Budget for Your First Order

This is what a realistic first order budget looks like for a small electronics product (500 units, moderate complexity):

• Product cost (FOB): $2,500 to $5,000
• Sample costs and shipping: $200 to $500
• Pre-shipment inspection: $300 to $400
• Sea freight (LCL): $400 to $800
• Customs duty and Section 301 tariffs: $300 to $1,000
• Customs broker: $200 to $400
• Local delivery to warehouse: $150 to $300

Total: roughly $4,050 to $8,400 for a 500-unit order

Plan for the high end. First orders always have unexpected costs.

For a detailed breakdown of every cost component, use our import cost calculator guide.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

Skipping sample testing. Every new supplier needs to be tested. No exceptions.

Paying 100% upfront. Standard payment is 30% deposit, 70% before shipment. Paying 100% upfront removes all your leverage.

Ignoring compliance requirements. Importing electronics without FCC certification (for wireless products) can result in customs hold or forced return at your expense.

Underestimating total landed cost. The factory FOB price is not your cost. Add freight, duties, tariffs, broker fees, and delivery. Total landed cost is often 40 to 80% higher than FOB price.

Using a personal PayPal or WeChat to pay. You have almost no recourse if something goes wrong.

Ordering too much on the first order. Your first order is a test. Keep quantities low enough that a bad outcome doesn’t destroy you financially.

Not having a selling plan. Knowing where and how you’ll sell before you order is not optional. Inventory you can’t sell is a loss.

FAQ

How much money do I need to start importing electronics from China? A realistic minimum for a first order is $2,000 to $5,000 for product cost, plus another $1,000 to $3,000 for freight, duties, inspection, and broker fees. Total budget of $3,000 to $8,000 is more realistic for a proper first order at 300 to 500 units.

How long does it take to receive my first order from China? Budget 3 to 5 months for your first order, end to end. This includes time for supplier research, sample testing, production, and shipping. Sea freight from China to the US takes 25 to 40 days. Production lead time for electronics is typically 30 to 60 days.

Do I need a business license to import from China? You don’t need a special import license for most consumer products. You do need a US Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security Number for customs purposes. Most importers form an LLC before their first order. Consult a business attorney or accountant for your specific situation.

What is the safest way to pay Chinese suppliers? Alibaba Trade Assurance is the safest option for new supplier relationships because it provides payment protection. Wire transfer (T/T) is the standard for established relationships. Never use personal payment apps (WeChat Pay, personal PayPal) with a new supplier. Pay 30% deposit and 70% before shipment, not 100% upfront.

Do I need a customs broker to import electronics from China? For shipments valued over $2,500, you’re legally required to file a formal customs entry, and most importers use a licensed customs broker to do this. Broker fees run $150 to $500. For your first order, a customs broker is highly recommended regardless of shipment value, as they’ll handle the paperwork and advise on duties.

What electronics can I not import from China? Don’t import counterfeit branded products (fake AirPods, knockoff name-brand electronics). These will be seized at customs and you face legal liability. Also avoid products requiring certifications you can’t obtain (certain medical devices, radio equipment without FCC ID). Wireless products without FCC certification can also be held at customs.