Harbor maintenance fee (HMF) and MPF calculator
The harbor maintenance fee (HMF) is 0.13% of the customs value of goods arriving by ship. The merchandise processing fee (MPF) is 0.35% of the value of a formal entry, with a minimum of $34.58 and a maximum of $670.86. On a $20,000 sea shipment that is $25.00 HMF and $69.28 MPF.
HMF = customs value × the HMF rate (sea freight only) · MPF = customs value × the MPF rate, kept between the minimum and the maximum per entry
Free, no sign-up. Pure maths: nothing you type is looked up anywhere.
FY2027 rates, in force 2026-10-01 to 2027-09-30.
Worked example
A $20,000 shipment by sea is a formal entry (the threshold is $2,500).
HMF: $20,000 × 0.13% = $25.00.
MPF: $20,000 × 0.35% = $69.28, between the $34.58 minimum and the $670.86 maximum, so $69.28.
Together: $94.28 on the entry (FY2027 rates, in force 2026-10-01 to 2027-09-30).
Where HMF and MPF sit in your costs
Both fees are charged on the customs value of the entry, usually what you paid the factory, and come on top of the import duty and tariffs. They are small next to duty but they are per entry, so on a small order the MPF minimum can add noticeably to every unit.
Spread over the units in the shipment they become part of your landed cost per unit, with freight (see the CBM calculator for the volume) and the customs broker's fees.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays the harbor maintenance fee?
The importer of record. It is collected on the customs entry with duty and MPF, usually through your customs broker, who passes it on in the invoice.
Does MPF apply to air shipments?
Yes. MPF is charged on formal entries whether the goods arrive by sea, air or land. HMF is the one that applies to sea freight only, so an air shipment pays MPF but no HMF.
What are the MPF minimum and maximum?
For fiscal year 2027 (2026-10-01 to 2027-09-30) the MPF on a formal entry is 0.35% of the value, at least $34.58 and at most $670.86. CBP adjusts both every fiscal year from 1 October.
What is an informal entry?
A shipment valued under $2,500 can usually be entered informally. It owes a small flat MPF instead of the percentage: $2.77 per entry in fiscal year 2027 when the entry is filed electronically, which is how a broker or carrier usually files it. A manually filed or CBP-prepared informal entry pays a different flat amount that the calculator does not estimate.
Is this an official CBP calculator?
No. It is an independent estimate from Cap Engine, which is not affiliated with US Customs and Border Protection. Your customs broker's entry is the final figure.
Related tools
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Factory price plus freight, duty, MPF, HMF and import fees, per unit.
- CBM calculator
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