Free Quote — We respond in 2 minGet Quote

Importing Furniture & Materials for Your Riviera Maya Build

The instinct is to ship your favorite furniture and fixtures from home. Sometimes it pays; usually it doesn't. Here is the honest breakdown of duties, taxes and what's genuinely worth importing.

Rule of thumb: import appliances and specialty items you can't get here; buy furniture, stone and finishes locally. Mexican import duties run 0–20% plus 16% IVA on the declared value — often erasing any savings.

The menaje de casa exemption (your best tool)

New residents (temporary or permanent) get a one-time household-goods import exemption: used personal furniture and belongings enter duty-free with the right paperwork, done within 6 months of getting residency. This is the smart way to bring sentimental or high-quality pieces — but it must be used goods, itemized and notarized.

Duty + tax on commercial imports

ItemTypical dutyPlus IVA
Furniture10–15%16%
Appliances0–15%16%
Lighting fixtures5–15%16%
Building materials0–10%16%

Add ocean freight ($2,000–$6,000 for a partial container), a customs broker ($400–$1,000) and inland transport. A $10,000 furniture shipment can land at $14,000–$16,000.

What IS worth importing

  • European/US appliances (Bosch, Miele, Sub-Zero) — genuinely better and hard to service-match here
  • Specialty stone slabs (Calacatta marble, specific quartz) not stocked locally
  • Sentimental / heirloom pieces — use the menaje de casa exemption
  • Smart-home hardware not sold in Mexico

What to buy local (and save)

  • Custom hardwood furniture — Mérida artisans build to-spec at 40–60% below US prices
  • Stone, tile, porcelain — Mexican porcelain and local stone are excellent and cheap
  • Chukum, concrete, masonry — obviously local
  • Outdoor/pool furniture — local teak and aluminum handle the climate better

Logistics tips

  • Ship to a bonded warehouse in Cancún or via Progreso port (Yucatán) — closer than Veracruz
  • Use a broker who knows Quintana Roo customs; DIY clearance is a trap
  • Time appliance imports with your residency to combine shipments
  • Photograph and insure everything — tropical transport is rough

Get a Free Quote

Response within 2 minutes via WhatsApp

Get Quote Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Buy furniture locally — Mérida artisans build custom hardwood at 40–60% below US prices. Import only appliances and specialty items you can't source here.

A one-time duty-free household-goods import exemption for new temporary/permanent residents, used within 6 months of residency. It must be used personal items, itemized and notarized.

0–20% duty depending on the item, plus 16% IVA on declared value. Add freight and a broker — a $10,000 shipment often lands near $14,000–$16,000.

High-end appliances (Bosch, Miele, Sub-Zero), specialty stone slabs not stocked here, sentimental heirlooms via menaje de casa, and smart-home hardware not sold in Mexico.

Progreso (Yucatán) or a bonded Cancún warehouse are closer than Veracruz. Always use a customs broker familiar with Quintana Roo.
See also: Cost calculator · All guides · Cost Guide (PDF)

Ready to Start Your Project?

196+ completed projects. Fixed-price contracts. Free quote within 48 hours.

Get Free Quote
1-Year Written Warranty18+ Years196+ ProjectsLicensed & DRO