The Ex-Works Price Is Only the First Layer
A padel court is mostly a steel structure, combined with tempered glass, mesh, turf and LED lighting. For US buyers importing from overseas, the delivered cost stacks up in layers: the court package, ocean freight, import duties, customs fees, inland delivery and installation. Foundation, drainage, lighting power and permits sit outside that stack and are usually the largest local cost.
In 2026, the duty layer became the one most likely to move a budget. Three US trade measures matter for an imported court.
What Changed in 2026
| Measure | What it covers | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Section 232, steel and aluminum articles | Goods made entirely or almost entirely of steel, aluminum or copper | 50% |
| Section 232, derivative products | Listed products with more than 15% metal content, charged on full customs value from April 6, 2026 | 25% |
| Section 232, US-metal content | Products made abroad entirely with US steel, aluminum or copper | 10% |
| Section 232, low metal content | Products with 15% or less metal are outside Section 232, but other tariffs still apply | 0% under 232 |
| Section 301 (from July 24, 2026) | Replaced the temporary Section 122 surcharge on most goods from 60 economies | 10–12.5% |
The headline shift is the valuation basis. Before April, duty on many derivative products was split between metal and non-metal content. Now the covered rate applies to the whole declared value. For a mixed-material kit, that usually means a higher duty bill even where the headline rate dropped from 50% to 25%.
Goods of Chinese origin can also carry long-standing Section 301 duties under earlier product lists, separate from the 2026 measures above. Whether and how these stack for your court is a question for your customs broker, not your supplier.
Classification Decides the Rate
US Customs has no tariff line called "padel court". Your broker will classify the shipment under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, and that code determines which of the rows above apply. Two practical questions shape the answer:
- Is the shipment presented as one sports installation or as separate components? A complete kit may be classified as a whole, while separately invoiced steel frames, glass panels, turf and luminaires may each fall under their own codes and rates.
- How much of the value is metal? The 15% threshold and the "entirely or almost entirely" test both depend on accurate material and value data from the manufacturer.
Neither is something to guess. What you can control is the quality of the paperwork: an itemized commercial invoice and clear material data let a broker classify the goods correctly the first time and reduce the risk of delays or later adjustments.
Landed-Cost Estimator
Use this to compare quotations on the same basis. Enter your own numbers and pick the duty scenario your broker gives you. Calculations run in your browser and nothing is submitted.
Goods value on the commercial invoice.
Include origin handling if your quotation is ex-works.
For example Section 301. Ask your broker.
- Goods value
- –
- Freight
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- Import duties
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- Customs fees (approx. 0.47%)
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- Inland delivery + installation
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- Estimated landed and installed
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- Per court
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Duties are calculated on goods value only, since US customs value generally excludes international freight. Fees approximate the Merchandise Processing Fee and Harbor Maintenance Fee, which have minimums and caps. This is a planning tool, not a customs ruling. Default values are examples only.
Import vs US-Made: Compare the Right Numbers
Tariffs raise the cost of imported courts, but domestic steel has not stood still. US producer prices for steel mill products rose about 23% in the year to August 2026, against roughly 8% for the world benchmark. A US-fabricated court is not automatically cheaper once tariffs are in the picture.
The fair comparison is delivered, installed cost on the same specification. Line up glass thickness and certification, steel section and galvanizing, turf, lighting, warranty terms and installation scope before you compare totals. The manufacturer comparison guide and RFQ checklist help you build that common basis.
Ways to Manage Duty Exposure
- Get a classification opinion from a licensed customs broker before you place the order, using the supplier's real drawings and invoice structure.
- Ask whether consolidating several courts in one shipment lowers per-court freight and fees.
- Build a contingency line into the budget. Tariff rules changed several times in 2026 and can change again before goods arrive.
- Agree in the contract who pays any duty change between order and arrival.
- Keep foundation, drainage and roof works on a separate local contract so duty applies only to imported goods.
What to Ask Your Supplier Before You Order
- An itemized commercial invoice that separates steel structure, tempered glass, mesh, turf, lighting and accessories, with values for each.
- A detailed packing list with weights and dimensions per crate.
- Material data for steel and aluminum parts, including where the metal was produced.
- General arrangement drawings and product specifications your broker can use for classification.
- Clear Incoterms. SPORTENVO quotes EXW Guangzhou with export via Nansha Port, so your freight forwarder and broker take over from the factory.
- Glass and turf documentation, such as EN 12150 tempered-glass certification, for your local inspector.
Related guides: Padel Court Shipping Guide, Padel Court Cost 2026, Padel Court Installation Guide.
US Import Tariff FAQ
What tariff applies to an imported padel court in the USA in 2026?
It depends on how the court is classified under the US tariff schedule. Since April 6, 2026, Section 232 duties apply to the full customs value of covered steel and aluminum articles: 50% for goods made entirely or almost entirely of steel or aluminum, and 25% for listed derivative products with more than 15% metal content. Other duties, such as Section 301, can apply on top. A licensed customs broker should confirm the classification before you order.
Is the tariff charged on the whole court or only on the steel?
Under the April 2026 Section 232 rules, covered duties are assessed on the full customs value of the product, not only on the value of its metal content. That change can raise the duty on mixed-material kits that include glass, turf and lighting.
Does freight count toward the customs value?
US customs value is generally based on the transaction value of the goods, and international freight and insurance are normally not included. Your broker will confirm what belongs in the declared value for your shipment.
Is it still cheaper to import a padel court than to buy one made in the USA?
Often it can be, but only a full landed-cost comparison will tell. Tariffs raise import cost, while US steel prices have also risen sharply in 2026. Compare delivered, installed cost on the same specification rather than ex-works price against a local turnkey price.
What documents should a padel court supplier provide for US customs?
Ask for an itemized commercial invoice that separates steel structure, tempered glass, turf, lighting and accessories, a detailed packing list, material and country-of-origin information for steel and aluminum, and product drawings or specifications your broker can use for classification.
Sources
- White & Case, United States modifies steel, aluminum, and copper Section 232 tariffs (April 2026).
- C.H. Robinson, U.S. expands and increases Section 232 tariffs effective April 6, 2026.
- Brownstein, Tariff adjustments for derivative products containing steel, aluminum and copper (April 2026).
- Start Business by State, Construction material prices since the tariffs (2026), citing BLS producer price data.
This guide is general planning information, not legal or customs advice. Tariff rates, classification and fees change and are specific to each shipment. Confirm current rates with a licensed US customs broker before ordering. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.