Duty on Clothing, Shoes and Accessories
Clothes, shoes, hats, watches, jewelry and bags: what Customs charges on each.
Clothes and shoes are the number one thing Bahamians buy online, and most clothing and footwear pays the same duty rate whatever it's made of, from T-shirts and underwear to sneakers and sandals. A few accessories are treated very differently: handbags, wallets, watches, sunglasses and jewelry come in duty free, while hats pay one of the higher rates.
Children's clothing in small sizes is duty free; you'll find it on the baby and kids page. Because clothing is light, freight is usually a small part of the cost, and the duty and VAT make up most of the customs bill.
The items people ask about most
- Wearing Apparel (Other)20% duty
- Tennis Shoes20% duty
- Shoes/Slippers20% duty
- Handbagsduty free
- Watchesduty free
- Watches (Smart)duty free
- Jewelry (Gold/Silver/Platinum)duty free
- Sunglasses (Other)duty free
- Hats45% duty
- Walletsduty free
Every clothing and accessories rate
27 items. Rates checked October 2026 against Bahamas Customs. Search, or tap an item to see what it would cost to bring home.
Tap an item to see what it would cost to bring home.
| Item | Duty | Levy |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing and accessories | 20% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 20% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 20% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 20% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 20% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 45% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 10% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 20% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | Free | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 45% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 10% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | Free | None |
| Clothing and accessories | Free | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 20% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 20% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 20% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 20% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 20% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | Free | None |
| Clothing and accessories | Free | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 20% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 20% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | Free | None |
| Clothing and accessories | Free | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 25% | None |
| Clothing and accessories | Free | None |
| Clothing and accessories | 20% | None |
Showing 27 of 27 items.
Example: $120 sneakers weighing 3 lb
What it costs to bring home with Mr. Ship It, freight and customs together:
| Freight (3 lb) | $8.99 |
| Package protection | $1.80 |
| VAT on our services | $1.08 |
| Duty (20% duty) | $24.00 |
| Customs processing fee | $10.00 |
| Customs VAT (10% of the landed cost) | $16.30 |
| Total on top of the $120.00 price | $62.17 |
Freight is charged on the actual or box-size weight, whichever is greater. Get a figure for your own order from the shipping calculator.
Questions
- Which clothing and accessories items are duty free in The Bahamas?
- Handbags, Jewelry (Costume), Jewelry (Gold/Silver/Platinum), Sunglasses (Other), Sunglasses (Prescription), Wallets, Watches and Watches (Smart) come in duty free. VAT and the processing fee still apply.
- What is the highest duty rate on clothing and accessories?
- 45%, on Costumes other than Textile and Hats. VAT is then charged on the duty as well as the item.
- Does VAT apply on top of duty?
- Yes. VAT of 10% (5% on listed health and hygiene goods) is charged on the landed cost: the price you paid plus duty, the processing fee, any environmental levy and freight.
- Who decides the final duty?
- Bahamas Customs. It classifies every shipment from the supplier's invoice. These rates are a guide to help you estimate before you buy; when you ship with Mr. Ship It we declare your package and show the charges on your bill.
Duty rates by category
Rates are based on information published by Bahamas Customs and are a guide only. Customs decides the final classification and charges for every shipment. For official rates, visit bahamascustoms.gov.bs.
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