Importing Stone and Tile into the USA
Compare granite, marble, quartzite and tile origins on transit, duty exposure and container weight — then go deeper with each origin guide
Stone and tile are weight cargo, and the first decision is where to buy. India and Brazil sell granite and quartzite in colors and patterns other quarries do not produce; China cuts and finishes stone from around the world in Fujian; Spain's Castellón cluster exports porcelain tile in volume. All of it reaches a container's weight limit long before it fills the space, so the freight math is much the same everywhere — the duty exposure is not.
The decisive line on most entries is the product description. Natural granite, marble and quartzite carry no antidumping or countervailing duties from any origin on this page, while engineered quartz and ceramic tile from certain origins do — on Chinese quartz, at combined rates in the hundreds of percent. This page compares the origins we ship from and sets out the US rules that apply wherever the stone or tile comes from. Each row links to a detailed origin guide.
Compare origins for stone & tile
| Origin | Transit | Duty exposure | Typical load |
|---|---|---|---|
 Natural Stone from China | Roughly 3–5 weeks door to door from Xiamen to Southern California | No AD/CVD on natural granite or marble; Section 301 may apply. Chinese quartz and porcelain slabs are under AD/CVD orders | 20ft loaded to roughly 19–20 tonnes; slabs on A-frames, countertops crated |
 Granite & Stone from India | About 3–4 weeks on the water to the East Coast; plan 5–6 weeks door to door | Low base rates and no AD/CVD on natural granite; Indian engineered quartz is under AD/CVD orders; current surcharges for India checked at quoting | 20ft: roughly 7–9 bundles, about 45–60 slabs at 2–3 cm |
 Granite & Quartzite from Brazil | About 2–3 weeks on the water to the East Coast; 4–5 weeks door to door | Low base rates and no AD/CVD on natural granite or quartzite; the current Brazil tariff position checked per HTS line at quoting | 20ft: 7–9 braced bundles, around 45–60 slabs |
 Tile & Natural Stone from Spain | 10–16 days on the water from Valencia to the East Coast; 3–4 weeks door to door | No AD/CVD on Spanish tile or stone; modest base rates plus any current surcharge on EU goods | 20ft to roughly 19–20 tonnes: typically 800–1,100 m² of porcelain |
| Building Materials from China | About 14–18 days on the water from South China to Los Angeles | AD/CVD orders on Chinese ceramic tile — the supplier's assigned rate decides; Section 301 on many construction lines | 20ft reaches roughly 19–20 tonnes of porcelain tile at barely half its volume |
 Porcelain Tile & Marble from Italy | 9–22 days from La Spezia or Genoa to New York; about 21–25 days to Savannah | No AD/CVD on Italian tile or marble; EU goods at 10% all-in under the Section 301 measure | 20ft to roughly 19–20 tonnes; porcelain palletized, slabs on A-frames |
Planning guidance only — rates, surcharges and transits change, and every shipment is quoted on its own facts.
US rules that apply whatever the origin
Natural or engineered — the line that decides the duty
Natural granite, marble, quartzite, limestone and slate carry no antidumping or countervailing duties from any origin on this page. Engineered quartz surface products from China and from India are under AD/CVD orders — Chinese quartz at combined rates in the hundreds of percent — and ceramic and porcelain tile is under AD/CVD orders on China and certain other origins, a scope that can reach large-format porcelain and some 'sintered stone' slabs. We confirm what the product is from specifications and photos before booking, and check order scope and the supplier's rate at quoting.
Weight, not volume
A 20ft container reaches the practical road-legal payload for most US deliveries — roughly 19–20 tonnes — long before it is full, which is why stone and tile ship in 20ft boxes. Gross weights are verified before gate-in, because an overweight container strands at the port, and the US end needs heavy-container trucking and a yard that can unload slabs safely: forklift or slab-clamp capacity, or crane or A-frame transfer.
Wood packaging (ISPM-15)
A-frames, crates and pallets must be heat-treated or fumigated and stamped to ISPM-15. Non-compliant timber is refused or re-exported at the importer's cost, so bracing and packaging are checked before the container is sealed.
Silica, fabrication and Prop 65
Cutting and polishing stone releases crystalline silica. Federal OSHA's silica standard applies to fabrication shops, and California has added rules for fabricators, particularly for engineered stone. These bind the shop rather than the import, but US fabricators increasingly ask for silica hazard documentation, and stone and tile sold into California commonly need Proposition 65 evaluation and labeling.
Country of origin and transshipment
Stone and tile must be declared with their true country of origin, and the certificate of origin is what makes a Spanish, Indian or Brazilian duty calculation hold. CBP actively pursues engineered stone declared as natural and quartz routed through third countries to avoid Chinese duties.
Entry, bond and ISF
Commercial shipments need an importer of record, a customs bond and, by sea, an ISF filed before loading at origin. Our licensed customs brokers file the entry with the correct natural-or-engineered declaration; AGF coordinates the rest door to door.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a tariff on granite imported into the USA?
Why is tile from China so expensive to import?
How much granite fits in a 20ft container?
Do I need a license to import stone or tile into the USA?
Get a Quote: Stone & Tile
Tell us what you are buying and from where — we quote door to door, with every exclusion listed up front, and can compare origins side by side.
Get a Free Quote
USA Office
DDC — Authorized Representative in Kazakhstan
Europe — Achot Baghdasarian