How the calculator works
The two routes cost money in different places. On DHgate, the seller's price usually includes shipping, but every seller ships separately, so a five-item order from four sellers means four parcels, each with its own tax handling and, in the EU, its own €3 duty per item category. Through an agent, you pay Taobao or Weidian prices, a small Chinese domestic shipping charge to the warehouse, any service fee, then one international shipment for everything. The calculator adds up each route: items, shipping, import tax on the goods and shipping, a handling fee per parcel, and the EU duty if you tick the box.
What to enter
| Field | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Tax rate | Your country page: 20% UK VAT on orders up to £135 (enter 0 if DHgate already added it at checkout), 21% Netherlands VAT, 10% Australian GST (often collected at checkout), Canadian GST or HST above C$20, and for the US an estimate of duty |
| Handling fee | What your post office or courier charges to collect tax; 0 if tax is collected at checkout |
| DHgate item prices and shipping | The checkout totals for your address |
| Agent item prices | Taobao or Weidian prices converted at the agent's rate |
| International shipping | The agent's line quote for your estimated parcel weight |
Estimating parcel weight
A t-shirt weighs roughly 200 to 300 g, a hoodie 600 to 900 g, jeans 500 to 700 g, and a boxed pair of trainers 1.2 to 1.6 kg. Add 10% for packaging. Bulky items such as puffers may be charged by volume, so their chargeable weight can exceed the scale weight.
Reading the result
The calculator reports both totals, the cost per item and which route is cheaper. In most of our test inputs, DHgate wins for one or two items from a single seller, and the agent route wins once three or four sellers are involved, because one international parcel replaces several. Fees and tax rules move the break-even: per-parcel handling fees and the EU's per-category duty favour consolidation, while tax collected at checkout narrows the gap.
Use real quotes, compare totals per item, and remember that warehouse photos are an extra benefit the numbers do not show.
What the calculator leaves out
It does not include currency conversion margins, coupons, insurance or the cost of a return. It cannot price risk: an item that arrives in the wrong size costs the full amount on either route, which is why warehouse photos and measurements matter. It also does not cover branded goods, which can be seized at customs on either route, with no refund.
Examples to try
Try one item at $15 with free DHgate shipping against the same item at ¥70 plus a $20 agent shipping quote: DHgate usually wins. Then try five items from four DHgate sellers against five Taobao items in one parcel: the agent route usually wins. Tick the EU box with three categories to see how per-parcel duty grows with separate DHgate orders.
Need a quote instead?
If you would rather not run the numbers, send us the links on WhatsApp. Our buying service quotes a delivered price for Taobao and Weidian items, separate from DHgate and from any agent. For the background, read DHgate or an agent and your country page.
FAQ
Does the calculator know agent shipping prices?
No. Prices change weekly, so it uses the quote you enter.
Which tax rate should I use?
Your country page lists it; enter 0 if tax was already added at checkout.
Why does the EU checkbox matter?
Since 1 July 2026 the EU charges €3 per item category in parcels under €150, per parcel.
Does it include returns?
No; returns from China are rarely worth it on either route.