Reference · Legal limits
How much can you bring into Great Britain without paying duty?
Great Britain’s passenger allowances include 42 litres of beer and cider, 18 litres of wine and a separate allowance for spirits or other alcoholic products. The usual allowance for other goods is GBP 390. Limits depend on the product and how you arrive.
Sources checked
Beer and cider and wine have separate limits. The final two categories shown share one proportional allowance.
There are three alcohol allowances
Beer and cider share a 42 litre allowance, and still and sparkling wine share an 18 litre allowance. The third can be used for 4 litres of products above 22% ABV, 9 litres of the other alcohol category, or a proportional mix. Two litres from the first part and 4.5 litres from the second use the whole shared allowance. Source 1
A proportional rule also applies to tobacco
Each tobacco figure is the full allowance if the traveller chooses only that product. For example, 100 cigarettes and 25 cigars use half of their respective amounts and together take up the full allowance. GOV.UK also lists a separate limit for vaping liquid. Source 1
The other-goods limit depends on how you arrive
Passengers arriving by private plane or private boat have a GBP 270 allowance for other goods. The standard figure is GBP 390. Each traveller has their own allowance and GOV.UK says it cannot be pooled. Travellers under 17 have no allowance for alcohol, tobacco or vaping products. Source 1
Crossing the allowance changes the calculation
Declare goods that exceed an allowance online before travelling or at the border. GOV.UK says the tax and duty calculation applies to all goods in the affected category. For example, a traveller with 19 litres of wine would have to account for all 19 litres. Source 1