Declared value: what it changes and what it cannot
Under-declaring lowers duty and the compensation ceiling together. This tool shows both numbers on the same screen so the trade-off is visible.
- Declared value
- $60.00
- Parcels
- 1
- Per parcel
- $60.00
- Destination threshold
- about $200 for most consumer goods
- Compensation ceiling
- $60.00 — equals the declared figure
Below the threshold no duty is modelled, but the compensation ceiling still equals the declared value.
The number above comes from the inputs you entered, not from a partner.
Reading the result
The figure above is a range, not a quote. It comes from a census of 96 entries collected on 2026-10-05, scaled by the inputs you entered. Where a segment is a published figure rather than a modelled range, the result table says so on the row itself.
A wide range is information rather than noise: it tells you which segment is uncertain. The narrowest ranges on this site are domestic delivery and insurance; the widest are international freight and duty.
What this tool does not do
| Limit |
|---|
| It models duty from published thresholds and does not assess your shipment. |
| It is not tax or legal advice. |
| Compensation ceilings come from carrier terms and change without notice. |
Limits are stated rather than implied. A tool without stated limits cannot be checked.
Common questions about this tool
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Are the defaults reasonable? | Yes — they are the census medians for the weight band and lane you are most likely to use, and every field is editable. |
| Do the tools store anything? | No. Nothing is written to storage or sent anywhere; the hand-off between tools travels in the address bar. |
| Where do the ranges come from? | The 96-entry census. Each range carries a sample size and a collection date on the census page. |
The method behind every figure is documented on the standards page.