A CBP-approved facility where imported goods can be stored without paying duties until they are released for domestic sale.
A bonded warehouse (also called a customs bonded warehouse) is a facility approved by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) where imported goods can be stored for up to 5 years without paying import duties or taxes. Duties are only paid when the goods are "entered" into US commerce — either sold domestically or re-exported.
Bonded warehouses are valuable for importers who: aren't sure which market goods will be sold in (US vs. re-export), want to defer duty payment for cash flow reasons, need time to quality-inspect goods before committing to domestic sale, or regularly re-export goods to other countries.
Operating a bonded warehouse requires the facility to post a surety bond with CBP and undergo regular CBP audits. Not all 3PLs have bonded warehouse capability — it's a specialized certification. For importers with large volumes of high-duty goods (apparel, electronics, footwear), a bonded warehouse 3PL can represent significant working capital savings.
Both allow duty deferral, but an FTZ is a designated geographic area where goods can be manipulated, manufactured, or repacked before duties apply. A bonded warehouse only permits storage (and some minor handling). FTZs also allow duty reduction on goods that incorporate US components — more complex but more powerful for manufacturing operations.
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