Ask how much a US customs bond costs and you may get two different numbers. One is the bond amount, the coverage that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requires. The other is the premium, the price a surety charges to issue that coverage. Only the first follows a published formula. This guide shows how to work out the bond amount for a single entry bond or a continuous bond, and what to ask before you accept a premium quote.
Quick look
- The bond amount is not the same as what you pay. You pay the premium, plus any collateral the surety asks for.
- A continuous bond is at least $50,000, or 10% of the duties, taxes and fees from the previous 12 months, whichever is greater.
- A single entry bond is generally at least the entered value plus all duties, taxes and fees that apply.
- Restricted merchandise needs a single entry bond of three times its value, so that bond can be far larger than the shipment.
- CBP's guide sets out bond amounts. It does not publish a premium schedule, so get premiums in writing from your broker or surety.
Customs bond amount vs premium: two different numbers
A customs bond is a contract between the importer and a surety, with CBP as the party it protects. The bond amount is the limit of that protection. If an importer does not pay what it owes CBP, the surety can be called on up to that limit, and the surety can then seek the money back from the importer.
The premium is the fee for arranging that coverage. It is a business price set by the surety, so it can differ between providers. A surety may also ask for financial statements or collateral. Treat those as part of the real cost when you compare quotes, and add the result to your landed cost .
Continuous bond cost: how the amount is set
A continuous bond covers your entries over a one-year period. According to CBP's public guide, the minimum Activity Code 1 bond is $50,000 or 10% of the duties, taxes and fees from the previous 12 months, whichever is greater. Amounts are set in $10,000 steps up to $100,000, and in $100,000 steps above that.
These examples use made-up numbers to show the math:
| Duties, taxes and fees, previous 12 months | 10% | Continuous bond amount |
|---|---|---|
| $120,000 | $12,000 | $50,000 (the minimum applies) |
| $640,000 | $64,000 | $70,000 (rounded up to the next $10,000) |
| $1,250,000 | $125,000 | $200,000 (rounded up to the next $100,000) |
If you had no imports in the previous year, the amount is based on what you estimate for the next 12 months, and it still cannot be less than $50,000.
Key point: when duty rates go up, the 10% figure goes up with them. An importer whose volume has not changed can still outgrow its bond. Unpaid CBP bills can also increase the amount CBP calculates.
Single entry bond cost: how the amount is set
A single entry bond, which CBP calls a single transaction bond, secures one transaction. Generally, the amount cannot be less than the total entered value plus all duties, taxes and fees that apply. As an example with made-up numbers, a shipment with an entered value of $40,000 and $10,000 in duties, taxes and fees needs a bond of at least $50,000.
CBP's guide lists exceptions that change the math:
- Restricted merchandise: three times the value of that merchandise, and not less than $100.
- Unconditionally duty-free merchandise: the bond may be 10% of the total entered value, unless another category applies.
- Antidumping and countervailing duties: if CBP finds a continuous bond alone would put revenue at risk, it may require a single transaction bond tailored to that risk. See our guide to antidumping duty scope .
The ISF bond is a separate number
Searches for "ISF bond fee" often mix this up with the import bond. Under CBP's guide, a bond used only to meet Importer Security Filing requirements must be at least $10,000 as a single transaction bond, or at least $50,000 as a continuous bond. Read more in ISF filing and bond claims .
Single entry or continuous: how to compare the cost
The comparison is not about the bond amount. It is about what you will actually pay over a year:
- Count how many formal entries you expect in the next 12 months.
- Work out the bond amount for your typical shipment and for a continuous bond.
- Ask for written premium quotes for both, including any collateral and renewal terms.
- Multiply the single entry premium by your number of entries, and compare that with the annual premium.
For the difference in how the two bonds work, see continuous bond vs. single entry bond .
Common questions
Is the bond amount what I pay?
No. The bond amount is the coverage limit. What you pay is the premium, plus any collateral the surety requires.
Can I pay cash instead of using a surety?
CBP may accept cash or U.S. obligations in place of a surety, in an amount equal to the bond that would otherwise be required. That means the full bond amount is tied up, and not only a premium.
Can CBP ask for a bigger bond later?
Yes. CBP reviews bonds and may require additional security if it finds a bond insufficient, such as a larger continuous bond or a single transaction bond.
Why don't you list premium prices here?
Premiums are set by each surety and depend on the importer and the goods, so any figure here could mislead you. Ask for a written quote on your own shipment.
How do we start?
Tell us what you are importing, your expected number of shipments and your estimated value. We review it and come back with a specific recommendation.
Risk control comes first in our sourcing decisions, and we sit on the buyer's side, not the supplier's. On the shipments we purchase, our US company is the importer of record, and the customs bond is in our name. Tell us what you are sourcing .