Rates checked on 27 October 2026.
As of 27 October 2026, duty calculators based on the US tariff schedule put most China-made gym equipment entering the US at about 24.6% before fees: a 4.6% base (MFN) rate plus Section 301 layers of 7.5% and 12.5% (the forced-labor layer added on 24 July 2026). Some steel items follow a different stack under Section 232. For the EU, confirm the current third-country duty line on the EU TARIC database — do not rely on a cached percentage. Check every rate with your customs broker before you order.
What changed in July 2026
On 24 July 2026 the temporary 10% Section 122 tariffs expired. The same minute, new Section 301 “forced labor” tariffs took effect on imports from 60 economies. For China, trade counsel at Honigman reports the new layer is 12.5% on top of the existing Section 301 duty. A short in-transit exception covered goods already loaded before the effective date and entered before 12:01 a.m. on 28 July 2026.
The policy basis is the USTR press release of 23 July 2026. The China 12.5% figure and the Section 232 exemption language come from the Honigman alert of 24 July 2026. USTR’s release names the 12.5% rate for “all other investigated economies”; Honigman names China explicitly. Always re-read both on the day you cost a shipment.
Gym equipment tariffs in the US: the current stack
Most commercial cardio and strength machines — treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, rowers, benches — sit under the general exercise-equipment heading used by duty calculators. Those calculators, based on the US tariff schedule and checked against third-party tools as of late October 2026, add up as follows. This total is not published as a single figure by USTR or Honigman.
| Layer | Rate (indicative) | Since / note | Source type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base (MFN) duty | about 4.6% | standing rate for most exercise equipment | duty calculators based on the US tariff schedule |
| Existing Section 301 | 7.5% for most exercise equipment (other Chinese goods often pay 25%) | List 4A for this heading | duty calculators; Honigman notes the wider 25% list |
| Forced-labor Section 301 | 12.5% | 24 July 2026 | USTR; Honigman (China named) |
| Indicative total before fees | about 24.6% | as of 27 October 2026 | duty calculators — check with your broker |
| Merchandise processing + harbor maintenance | small ad valorem fees on top | apply to most formal entries | your broker’s entry worksheet |
Rates as of 27 October 2026; check current rates with your customs broker. Do not treat the table as a binding classification.
Commercial cardio and plate-loaded strength usually follow that stack when they are classified as general exercise equipment. Racks and Smith machines need a closer look. Honigman states that goods already subject to Section 232 (steel, aluminum, copper and their derivatives, among others) are exempt from the 12.5% forced-labor layer. Those items then pay a different stack — base rate + existing Section 301 + Section 232 — not 24.6%, and never “24.6% plus 232”. Whether a frame or plate set falls under 232 is a classification question for the broker. Rubber flooring sits under a different heading, so its rate differs.
We don’t print tariff classification codes on this site. Your broker confirms the line for each SKU before you place the order.
Gym equipment import duty in the EU
EU duty on China-origin exercise apparatus is usually much lower than the US stack, and import VAT at the destination country’s rate is often the larger cash-flow item. Third-party mirrors of the EU tariff schedule still show a low single-digit third-country duty for adjustable-resistance exercise apparatus, but rates move and lines split. Before you budget any EU duty percentage, open the official EU TARIC consultation tool, look up the exact goods line for your product, and read the third-country duty in force on your entry date. Non-adjustable equipment may use a different line. Preferential origin under an EU free-trade agreement can reduce or remove the duty — that is also a broker question, not a factory promise.
For most EU gym buyers we speak to, freight, lead time and VAT cash flow matter more to landed cost than the customs duty itself. Confirm the line on TARIC; then cost VAT and inland delivery the same way you would for any other capital equipment.
Freight in late October 2026
Ocean rates are moving weekly. Because rates change week to week, we don’t reprint percentage moves here. Treat any freight quote as dated. The Loadstar has reported carriers using blank sailings on Asia–Europe strings to support rates — blank sailings mean fewer weekly sailings, tighter space and a higher risk that a late booking rolls to the next vessel.
Practical takeaway: lock space earlier than you did in quieter seasons, ask your forwarder for the current Shanghai–destination trend in percent terms (not a single dollar figure), and build a few days of buffer into fit-out calendars. We do not publish freight dollar amounts.
How to budget landed cost
- Factory quote — FOB or EXW unit price for the agreed configuration (voltage, plug, colour, logo). No TMAX list prices appear on this page; ask for a quote.
- Ocean freight — container or LCL to your destination port, dated for the week you sail.
- Import duty — apply the broker’s rate stack to the customs value your entry uses.
- Customs fees — merchandise processing, harbor maintenance (US) or equivalent EU entry costs.
- Inland delivery — port to site, liftgate or forklift as needed.
- Install and commissioning — local labour, electrical tie-in, staff training.
A simple placeholder formula:
Landed cost ≈ factory quote + freight + (duty × customs value) + fees + inland + install
Fill every term with numbers from your broker and forwarder. Do not copy a blog percentage onto a purchase order.
Five ways buyers are managing the duty
- Order timing. If a rate change has a published effective date, talk to your broker about entry timing and in-transit rules. Don’t gamble on rumours.
- Mixed-model consolidation. With MOQ 1 unit, a gym can trial one treadmill or one rack before a full floor. Distributors can mix cardio and strength in one container to spread freight.
- Spec choice. Don’t over-spec options you will never use. Extra steel accessories can change classification risk as well as cost.
- Binding classification. Ask the broker for a written classification (and, where available, a binding ruling) before you scale a repeat SKU.
- Clean origin documents. Keep commercial invoices, packing lists and certificates consistent with where the goods were made.
We don’t recommend relabelling, under-invoicing or routing through a third country to change origin. Origin follows where the product is made. Suppliers who offer those shortcuts are offering you a compliance problem, not a discount.
What we do on our side
TMAX Fitness (Shandong TMAX Machinery Technology Co., Ltd.) has built commercial strength and cardio in Dezhou, China, since 2015. The factory covers 21,378 m² with monthly output of 2,000–3,000 units, which helps multi-site and peak-season calendars. Equipment ships to 80+ countries.
Commercial strength and cardio are built to EN ISO 20957 Class S. Quality systems and test reports include ISO 9001, CE, and SGS and TÜV reports. Lead time is 7–30 days. Minimum order is 1 unit. Warranty is 1 year on the whole machine, wear parts included. Voltage is 110–220 V with the plug set to the destination market. OEM logo, frame colour and packaging are available on request.
That is the factory side of landed cost: predictable lead time, room to pilot one unit, and documents your broker can work with. For how buyers work with us day to day, see why buyers choose TMAX. When you are ready with an equipment list and a destination port, request a quote.
FAQ
What tariff does gym equipment from China pay in the US in 2026?
As of 27 October 2026, duty calculators based on the US tariff schedule put most China-made exercise equipment entering the US at about 24.6%: a 4.6% base rate, a 7.5% existing Section 301 tariff and the 12.5% forced-labor Section 301 tariff in force since 24 July 2026. Processing and harbor fees come on top. Check current rates with your customs broker.
What changed for gym equipment tariffs in July 2026?
On 24 July 2026 the temporary 10% Section 122 tariffs expired. The same minute, new Section 301 “forced labor” tariffs took effect on imports from 60 economies. For China the new layer is 12.5%, added to the existing Section 301 tariff. A short in-transit exception covered goods already on the water and entered by 28 July. See the USTR release (23 Jul 2026) and the Honigman alert (24 Jul 2026).
Do steel racks and plate-loaded machines pay the same tariff as treadmills?
Not always. Most cardio and strength machines are classified as general exercise equipment and follow the same stack. Some steel products are covered by Section 232 metals tariffs instead, and goods under Section 232 are exempt from the new forced-labor layer, so their total is calculated differently. Rubber flooring is classified separately. Ask your broker to classify each item before you order.
Does the EU charge import duty on Chinese gym equipment?
Yes, but EU third-country duty on exercise apparatus is typically low compared with the US stack, and import VAT is often the larger line. Confirm the exact duty for each product on the EU’s official TARIC database for your entry date. Non-adjustable equipment may use a different line. For many EU buyers, freight, lead time and VAT cash flow matter more than the duty itself.
Who pays the import duty, the supplier or the buyer?
The importer of record pays US or EU import duty. That is usually the gym, distributor or their forwarder, not the factory. Your landed cost is: factory quote + ocean freight + duty + customs fees + inland delivery + installation. We don’t recommend any supplier who offers to change origin labels or undervalue invoices to cut duty. Origin follows where the product is made.
Planning a 2027 gym fit-out? Send your equipment list and destination port for a quote → request a quote.