← All articles · 2026-06-28
Short answer: DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) means all import duties, customs fees, and freight costs are included in the price you pay upfront—your order arrives at your door with nothing extra owed to customs or the courier.
If you’ve ever ordered something from overseas and been hit with an unexpected customs bill before the package would be released, you’ve experienced what DDP is designed to prevent. Here’s how it works and why it matters for bulk custom apparel.
International shipping has two main cost structures:
DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) — The seller ships to you, but import duties and taxes are your responsibility. The courier may hold the package and contact you for payment before delivering. The fee can be 10–35% of the declared value, depending on the product category and origin country.
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) — The seller arranges and pays for everything: freight, customs clearance, import duties, and last-mile delivery. You pay one price. The package is delivered to your door with nothing additional owed.
DDP is more expensive for the seller to arrange, but it means zero customs surprises for you.
Custom apparel is commonly manufactured in Asia and shipped to the US. Import duties on textile goods from most countries currently run in the range of 15–35% of declared value (the exact rate depends on garment type, fabric content, and trade policy—rates have been volatile in 2025–2026 and continue to change).
On an order of 100 custom shirts valued at $800, a 25% duty rate would mean $200 in unexpected fees at delivery under a DDU arrangement. That’s a significant cost that could arrive as a surprise bill after you’ve already budgeted the order.
Under DDP, those duties are calculated and included in your quoted price. What you approve in the quote is what you pay—nothing more.
| Included in DDP | Not typically included in DDP |
|---|---|
| International freight | Local sales tax (applied by your state, not at customs) |
| Export customs clearance | Re-delivery if no one is home |
| Import duties and tariffs | Storage fees if delivery is refused |
| US customs clearance fee | |
| Domestic last-mile delivery |
Always confirm with your supplier what exactly is covered in their DDP quote. A reputable supplier will confirm in writing that duties are included and that you will not receive any bill from customs or the courier.
All Togethread orders to the US ship DDP. The price in your final invoice includes everything—production, quality check, international air freight, customs duties, and delivery to your door. There is no separate shipping invoice and no customs bill waiting for you at delivery.
You’ll receive a tracking number when your order ships so you can follow it the full way. Orders are typically in transit 5–10 business days from the ship date.
Does DDP shipping cost more than regular shipping? The landed cost (your total cost) is usually similar either way—DDP just front-loads the duty payment instead of collecting it at delivery. The difference is predictability: with DDP you know the full cost upfront; with DDU you don’t know until customs assesses it.
What if my order is held at customs? Under a properly arranged DDP shipment, your order should not be held at customs—the customs broker handles clearance before delivery. If a delay occurs, the supplier’s freight forwarder handles it; you’re not responsible for communicating with customs.
Can I track my order door-to-door? Yes. Togethread provides a tracking number that covers the full journey. You can also use the Track your order page on our site.
Related: Ordering custom shirts overseas: is it safe? · Order custom shirts overseas for less · FAQ
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