Customs Bond: Continuous vs Single Entry and Bond Amount Calculator
Work out the US customs bond amount: a continuous bond is 10% of a year's duties, taxes and fees with a $50,000 minimum; a single entry bond is the value plus duties, or three times the value for goods under other agencies.
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The bond amount is not what you pay: a surety charges a premium on it, often a small share of the amount. CBP can ask for a higher bond (for example for antidumping duties or new tariffs). Ask a licensed customs broker or surety for the final amount.
Bond amount
80,000USD
10% of duties, taxes and fees
73,400USD
Continuous bond = 10% of duties, taxes and fees in 12 months, at least $50,000, rounded up to the next $10,000 ($100,000 above $1 million)
How a customs bond works
A customs bond is a guarantee, from a surety company to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), that an importer will pay the duties, taxes and fees it owes and follow the import rules. A bond is needed for every formal entry (generally goods worth more than 2,500 USD) and for many other imports. This page explains the two kinds and calculates the bond amount CBP expects.
What is a customs bond?
Three parties are involved: the importer (principal), the surety that issues the bond, and CBP (the beneficiary). If the importer does not pay, CBP claims from the surety, which then recovers from the importer. You buy the bond from a surety, usually through your customs broker, and pay a premium that is a small share of the bond amount.
Continuous bond vs single entry bond
| Continuous bond | Single entry bond | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | All entries for 12 months, renewing each year | One shipment |
| Amount | 10% of duties, taxes and fees paid in the last 12 months, at least 50,000 USD | Entered value + duties, taxes and fees; 3 × the value for goods under another agency |
| Best for | Regular importers (several entries a year) | A one off import |
How CBP sets the continuous bond amount
Take 10% of the duties, taxes and fees you paid in the past 12 months (or expect to pay in the next 12 if you are new). If that is under 50,000 USD, the bond is 50,000 USD. Above that, round up to the next 10,000 USD, and above 1,000,000 USD to the next 100,000 USD. Example: 734,000 USD of duties in a year → 73,400 → an 80,000 USD bond. With tariffs raised on many goods since 2025, many importers' duties have grown and CBP has asked them to raise their bonds; check yours at renewal. Estimate the duties with the US tariff calculator.
Customs bond cost
The bond amount is not the price. The surety charges a yearly premium on it, which depends on the amount and on your finances and history. Ask your broker or surety for a quote.
Canada: customs security
In Canada the equivalent is the security an importer posts with the CBSA to get goods released before paying (release prior to payment). Under CARM it is set from the importer's monthly duties and taxes. Many small importers use their customs broker's security instead. Confirm the current amount with the CBSA or your broker.
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المزايا
- Continuous bond amount
- Single entry bond amount
- $50,000 minimum and rounding
- Other agency (FDA, USDA) rule
- PDF summary
- Canada security explained
الأسئلة الشائعة
What is a customs bond?
A guarantee from a surety to US Customs and Border Protection that the importer will pay duties, taxes and fees and follow import rules. It is needed for formal entries.
How much is a continuous customs bond?
10% of the duties, taxes and fees paid in the last 12 months, with a minimum of 50,000 USD, rounded up to the next 10,000 USD (100,000 USD above 1 million).
What is the difference between a continuous and a single entry bond?
A continuous bond covers every entry for a year; a single entry bond covers one shipment. Importers with more than a few entries a year usually save with a continuous bond.
Do I need a customs bond for a small shipment?
Formal entries, generally goods over 2,500 USD, need a bond. Informal entries below that usually do not, though some goods always need a formal entry.
How much does a customs bond cost?
You pay a yearly premium to the surety, a small share of the bond amount, set by the surety. The calculator gives the bond amount, not the premium.
Is the calculator free?
Yes. No sign up. It runs in your browser, and you can copy the result or save it as a PDF.