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What it costs to import from the US to

Forwarder fees, shipping, customs duty and VAT for a phone, compared across 4 US package forwarders. Cheapest estimated total first.

Duty
Import duty 10% on phones and smartwatches, 5% on laptops and tablets, 20% on most other goods, plus a 7% surcharge on the duty.
VAT
VAT 7.5% on the price, shipping, duty and levies, 0% on smartwatches. The estimate adds the 1% CISS and 0.5% ETLS levies; a 4% FOB levy announced in 2025 may apply instead.
Duty-free limit
Nothing to pay up to $300, for four imports a year, since September 2025.
Batteries
Used devices with lithium batteries cannot go by USPS, so expect DHL, FedEx or UPS.

Checked October 2026

Show totals in
$600 phone to Nigeria, 0.3 kg (0.6 lb) Estimated totals include the item, US sales tax, forwarder fees, shipping, duty and VAT.
# Forwarder Courier Fees + sales tax Shipping Duty + taxes Total Link
1 Forwardme UPS WorldWide Expedited4-8 days · From a quote ₦0 ₦54,581 ₦175,005 Shipping ₦54,581 · Fees and sales tax ₦0 · Duty and taxes ₦175,005 ₦1,026,773$773 Visit
No sales tax in Delaware. Free membership and free package processing. Consolidation is $3.25 per package on the free plan; Premium, $9.50 a month, promises lower shipping rates.
2 MyUS DHL Express2-5 days · From a quote ₦0 ₦63,190 ₦176,688 Shipping ₦63,190 · Fees and sales tax ₦0 · Duty and taxes ₦176,688 ₦1,037,065+₦10,292 Visit
Florida charges 7% sales tax in Sarasota, but this address is on the state list of certified forwarding agents, so sellers that apply the list do not charge it. A seller that ignores the list will charge 7%. Premium membership is free for 30 days, then $9.99 a month. This estimate assumes the free month.
3 Ship To Box FedEx Economy4-8 days · From a quote ₦22,587 ₦46,503 ₦173,427 Shipping ₦46,503 · Fees and sales tax ₦22,587 · Duty and taxes ₦173,427 ₦1,039,704+₦12,930 Visit
No sales tax in Delaware. Free standard membership, $2 receiving fee per box, plus a $15 lithium battery fee on devices. Free consolidation.
4 Shipito DHL Express2-4 days · From a quote ₦16,276 ₦131,376 ₦190,011 Shipping ₦131,376 · Fees and sales tax ₦16,276 · Duty and taxes ₦190,011 ₦1,134,851+₦108,078 Visit
No sales tax in Oregon. Oregon is the default address for Premium members; free accounts default to Torrance, CA, where sales tax applies. Premium membership, $10 a month, for the tax-free Oregon address, plus a $2.25 processing fee per package.

Shipping comes from each forwarder's own calculator, quoted at 1 lb and 5 lb and interpolated in between, so it is an estimate, not a live price. Check the forwarder's calculator before you buy. Devices with lithium batteries only go by services that accept them, usually DHL, FedEx or UPS, so most postal and budget services are left out.

Buying a refurbished iPhone? Compare prices from US sellers

Before you buy a phone in the US

  • iPhone 14 and later models sold in the US have no SIM tray and work only with eSIM. Check that your carrier offers eSIM, or pick an iPhone 13 or earlier, which takes both.
  • Pick an unlocked phone. One locked to a US carrier will not work with your local SIM or eSIM.
  • Any charger in the box has a US plug. Most phone, tablet and laptop chargers accept 100 to 240 V, so a plug adapter is enough.
  • The warranty and returns are the US seller's. The return window starts when the parcel reaches your forwarder's US address, and a repair or return means paying to ship it back to the US.

How Nigeria taxes this phone

Duty and taxes for the cheapest option above, in the order customs applies them.

Charge Rate Amount
Import duty 10% ₦85,177
Surcharge on duty 7% ₦5,962
CISS levy 1% ₦7,972
ETLS levy 0.5% ₦4,259
VAT 7.5% ₦71,635
Total duty and taxes ₦175,005

Importing to Nigeria: common questions

Is there a duty-free limit for parcels to Nigeria?

Yes. Since September 2025, express parcels worth $300 or less pay no duty or taxes, for up to four imports a year per person.

What do I pay above $300?

Import duty from the ECOWAS tariff, a 7% surcharge on that duty, the CISS levy of 1% of the price, the 0.5% ETLS levy, then 7.5% VAT on the total. The levies are an estimate. Customs announced a 4% FOB levy in 2025 to replace CISS, and we could not confirm whether it applies to parcels.

Can I import shoes into Nigeria?

Nigeria's import prohibition list covers most footwear, with exceptions for sports shoes and canvas shoes. We could not confirm whether the ban applies to a personal parcel, so ask your forwarder first.

Which forwarder is cheapest to Nigeria?

For a $600 phone weighing 0.3 kg (0.6 lb), Forwardme comes out cheapest in our estimate at $773 delivered, using UPS WorldWide Expedited. The order changes with weight and item type, and shipping prices are estimates, so check the forwarder's calculator before you buy.

Can I use a forwarder to buy from Apple's online store?

No. Apple's US online store ships only to US addresses and cancels orders sent to freight forwarder addresses. Retailers such as Amazon, Back Market or eBay sellers are the usual route, and their return and warranty terms can change once a parcel leaves the US.

The same phone, shipped elsewhere

Cheapest estimated total for a $600 phone in each country we cover. Each country has its own page.

Sources

Rules checked in October 2026. Exchange rates from 1 Oct 2026, Rates By Exchange Rate API. RefurbMe has no referral deals with these forwarders; the order is always the cheapest estimated total.