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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 6 US package forwarders. Cheapest estimated total first.

Duty
No duty under SAR 1,000. Above it, 0% on electronics; this estimate uses 5% for other goods, and the real rate may be higher.
VAT
VAT 15% on every import, even when no duty is due, plus a SAR 15 customs fee.
Duty-free limit
SAR 1,000, about $267, counting shipping and insurance.
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 Saudi Arabia, 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 Aramex8-15 days · From a quote SAR 0 SAR 95 SAR 369 Shipping SAR 95 · Fees and sales tax SAR 0 · Duty and taxes SAR 369 SAR 2,714$724 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 FedEx Economy5-9 days · From a quote SAR 0 SAR 96 SAR 369 Shipping SAR 96 · Fees and sales tax SAR 0 · Duty and taxes SAR 369 SAR 2,715+SAR 2 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 DHL Express2-4 days · From a quote SAR 64 SAR 75 SAR 366 Shipping SAR 75 · Fees and sales tax SAR 64 · Duty and taxes SAR 366 SAR 2,755+SAR 41 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 Stackry DHL Worldwide Express2-5 days · From a quote SAR 54 SAR 135 SAR 375 Shipping SAR 135 · Fees and sales tax SAR 54 · Duty and taxes SAR 375 SAR 2,814+SAR 101 Visit
No sales tax in New Hampshire. No membership, $2 receiving fee per package, plus a $12.50 hazmat fee on phones and smartwatches. Consolidation is $3 per package.
5 Planet Express DHL Express Worldwide1-6 days · From a quote SAR 8 SAR 286 SAR 398 Shipping SAR 286 · Fees and sales tax SAR 8 · Duty and taxes SAR 398 SAR 2,941+SAR 227 Visit
No sales tax in Oregon. Planet Express also has a tax-free address in Fort Pierce, FL and one in Torrance, CA, where sales tax applies. Free mailbox, $2 mail-out fee per package. Consolidation needs Premium, $10 a month.
6 Shipito DHL Express2-4 days · From a quote SAR 46 SAR 430 SAR 419 Shipping SAR 430 · Fees and sales tax SAR 46 · Duty and taxes SAR 419 SAR 3,145+SAR 432 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 Saudi Arabia taxes this phone

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

Charge Rate Amount
Customs duty SAR 0
Customs declaration fee SAR 15
VAT 15% SAR 354
Total duty and taxes SAR 369

Importing to Saudi Arabia: common questions

Is there a duty-free limit for parcels to Saudi Arabia?

Yes. Personal online purchases worth less than SAR 1,000, shipping and insurance included, pay no customs duty.

Do I still pay VAT under SAR 1,000?

Yes. ZATCA charges 15% VAT on all imported goods, including goods exempt from customs duty, plus a SAR 15 declaration fee on online store parcels.

How much duty applies above SAR 1,000?

Phones, laptops and other electronics are 0%. We could not confirm the Saudi rates for clothing, shoes, cosmetics and supplements, so the estimate uses the 5% GCC rate, and the real rate may be higher.

Which forwarder is cheapest to Saudi Arabia?

For a $600 phone weighing 0.3 kg (0.6 lb), Forwardme comes out cheapest in our estimate at $724 delivered, using Aramex. 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.