MPF & HMF Calculator
This free calculator computes the two mandatory U.S. government fees on an import entry. The Merchandise Processing Fee is 0.3464% of entered value, clamped for FY2026 to a $33.58 minimum and $651.50 maximum on formal entries (flat fees apply to informal entries). The Harbor Maintenance Fee is 0.125% of cargo value on ocean shipments only, with no minimum or cap. Both figures come straight from the Federal Register notice that sets them, linked below, and we re-verify against each year's notice before updating.
Primary sources: Federal Register, Customs User Fees for FY2026 (CBP Dec. 25-10, July 23, 2025) — read directly for every figure on this page — 19 CFR 24.23, and 19 CFR 24.24.
FY2026 figures effective October 1, 2025, per the Federal Register notice cited above. The minimum and maximum adjust with inflation each fiscal year — we re-verify this page against each year's notice before updating the stamp.
Read before relying on the number
- These are the two mandatory U.S. government processing fees — not your duties, broker fees, ISF filing, exam charges, or bond premium. For the full fee picture see our complete customs-fees guide.
- MPF exemption under an FTA follows the goods' origin qualification under that agreement's rules — a claim your broker validates, not a checkbox. When in doubt, price the fee in.
- Fee figures are fiscal-year specific. This page carries FY2026 figures (effective October 1, 2025) and gets re-verified against each year's Federal Register notice before the stamp changes.
MPF and HMF FAQ
How is the Merchandise Processing Fee calculated in 2026?
Multiply the entered value of the merchandise by 0.3464%, then apply the FY2026 bounds: if the result is under $33.58 you pay $33.58, and if it exceeds $651.50 you pay $651.50. A $50,000 shipment pays $173.20; a $5,000 shipment pays the $33.58 minimum; a $200,000 shipment computes to $692.80 but pays the $651.50 cap. These bounds took effect October 1, 2025, per the Federal Register notice CBP Dec. 25-10.
What value is MPF charged on — does it include duty or freight?
MPF is assessed on the entered value, meaning the customs value of the merchandise. Duty, international freight, and insurance are not part of the base. That also means Section 301, Section 232, or other special tariffs do not increase your MPF: a shipment carrying 50% in stacked duties pays exactly the same MPF as an identical duty-free one.
Why did two different shipments pay the same MPF?
Because of the cap. Every formal entry with an entered value above roughly $188,077 computes past the $651.50 FY2026 maximum, so a $200,000 entry and a $2 million entry both pay $651.50. At the other end, every entry below roughly $9,694 pays the $33.58 minimum. The cap structure makes MPF regressive: small shipments pay a higher effective rate than large ones.
How much is MPF on an informal entry?
Informal entries (generally under $2,500) pay a flat MPF rather than a percentage: $2.69 when filed electronically, $8.06 for a manual entry not prepared by CBP, and $12.09 when CBP personnel prepare it, at FY2026 rates. For a small shipment, the difference between informal and formal treatment can matter more than the duty rate.
How is the Harbor Maintenance Fee calculated?
HMF is 0.125% of the cargo value on vessel-borne shipments, with no minimum and no maximum — unlike MPF it scales linearly forever, so a $10 million ocean shipment pays $12,500. It funds harbor dredging and maintenance under the Water Resources Development Act of 1986. It applies at U.S. ports to imports, Foreign-Trade Zone admissions, and certain domestic waterborne movements.
Does air freight pay the Harbor Maintenance Fee?
No. HMF applies only to cargo that arrives by vessel at a port subject to the fee. Air, truck, and rail shipments pay no HMF, which is one reason high-value, low-weight goods sometimes cost less all-in by air than the freight quote alone suggests. Cargo shipped by ocean to a Canadian port and trucked into the U.S. also avoids HMF, though other costs of that routing usually dominate.
Is MPF waived under USMCA and other trade agreements?
Goods that qualify as originating under most U.S. free trade agreements — including USMCA, CAFTA-DR, and the agreements with Korea, Australia, Colombia, and others listed in 19 CFR 24.23(c) — are exempt from MPF. The exemption follows the goods' qualification, not the country alone: non-originating goods from Mexico still pay MPF. HMF is separate and is not waived by FTA qualification; originating ocean cargo still pays it.
When do MPF rates change?
The 0.3464% ad valorem rate has been fixed since 2017, but the minimum and maximum adjust for inflation every fiscal year under the FAST Act. CBP publishes the new bounds in a Federal Register notice each summer, effective October 1. The FY2026 figures here ($33.58 / $651.50) were published July 23, 2025; expect the FY2027 notice around mid-2026, and this page's stamp will change only after we verify against it.
What other fees show up on an import entry besides MPF and HMF?
Typically broker fees ($150-$300+ per entry), ISF filing charges on ocean shipments ($25-$75), customs bond premiums, and possible CBP exam charges — plus the duties themselves, which usually dwarf the fees. Our customs fees guide walks every line item with a worked example, and the free customs bond calculator sizes the bond that formal entries require.
More free tools
Formal entries need a customs bond — size it with the customs bond calculator, or browse all free tools.
For general reference only. See compliance disclaimer.