EU customs allowance calculator: €430, tobacco and alcohol

European Union customs allowances: the rules

When entering the European Union from a non-EU country, a traveller aged 15 or over may bring in tax-free goods worth €430 in total when arriving by air or sea, and €300 by land; France applies €150 to under-15s. On top of that, from age 17: 200 cigarettes (or 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars, 250 g of tobacco), 1 L of alcohol over 22% or 2 L at 22% or less, 4 L of still wine and 16 L of beer.

How the tool calculates

The threshold depends on the means of transport and on age. Because an item's value cannot be split, the tool looks for the combination of items with the highest total that stays under the threshold; the rest must be declared, and customs duty and VAT apply to their full value. Tobacco and spirits are counted as shares of the allowance: the shares must not add up to more than 100%.

Worked example

Flying back with a phone at €380, perfume at €90 and clothes at €60 (€530): the best combination under €430 is the phone alone (€380), so €150 of purchases must be declared. By car (threshold €300), the phone alone exceeds the threshold: the perfume and clothes pass (€150) and the phone is taxed on €380. For alcohol, 0.5 L of whisky (50%) plus 1 L of sparkling wine (50%) make 100%: nothing to declare, and 4 L of wine can still be added.

What the tool does not do

• It does not estimate duty and VAT, which depend on the product and the country.
• Border residents and international transport staff have reduced allowances (in France €75 and 40 cigarettes), not calculated here.
• Arrivals from French overseas departments, Andorra or the Canary Islands follow special rules.

Sources and dates: Directive 2007/74/EC of 20 December 2007 (Art. 7 to 10), thresholds in force since 1 December 2008, and Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009, Art. 41; French customs, goods bought outside the EU; Your Europe, alcohol and tobacco (checked on 15/10/2026).

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cigarettes can I bring into the EU from outside?

200 cigarettes per traveller aged 17 or over, or 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250 g of smoking tobacco. These form a single allowance that can be split, for example 100 cigarettes and 25 cigars. Some countries cap land arrivals at 40 cigarettes.

Does the €430 allowance apply when travelling by car?

No. The €430 threshold applies to arrivals by air or sea; by road, rail or inland waterway it is €300. Under-15s are entitled to €150 in France, whatever the means of transport.

What happens if one purchase is worth more than €430?

The item must be declared, and customs duty and VAT apply to its full value, without deducting the €430. Several travellers cannot pool their allowances for the same item.

How much alcohol can I bring into the EU?

1 litre of drinks over 22% or 2 litres at 22% or less (which can be shared, e.g. 0.5 L of whisky and 1 L of champagne), plus 4 litres of still wine and 16 litres of beer. You must be 17 or older.

Is this tool really free?

Yes, all tools on Kristools are 100% free and accessible without registration.

Is my data protected?

Yes. All processing is performed directly and securely inside your browser. No personal data is sent to our servers.