Buying acrylic sheet or fabricated acrylic parts from China for delivery in the United States: inch and metric sizes, the specifications US buyers usually cite, tariff classification, and what to put on the purchase order.
Reply within 12 hours · production from 20 pieces per design
When a US buyer sources acrylic from China, four things go wrong most often. Sizes are given in inches but made in millimetres. The sheet specification is not written down. The tariff classification is not confirmed before the order. And the quote is FOB when the buyer needed a landed cost. Write sizes in both units, with the critical dimensions marked. Name the sheet (cast or extruded, grade, thickness) and any standard your project cites, such as ASTM D4802 for PMMA sheet. Ask your customs broker to confirm the HTS code and the current duties, including any Section 301 tariffs, before you place the order. Then compare quotes on a delivered basis.
Inch and metric: where orders go wrong
| US callout | Exact | Metric sheet or size we supply |
| 4 × 8 ft sheet | 1219 × 2438 mm | 1220 × 2440 mm |
| 1/8 in | 3.18 mm | 3 mm |
| 1/4 in | 6.35 mm | 6 mm |
| 3/8 in | 9.53 mm | 10 mm |
| 1/2 in | 12.70 mm | 12 mm |
A 1/4 inch panel made from 6 mm sheet is 0.35 mm thinner than the callout. That rarely matters in a frame, but it can matter in a slot or a channel. If your drawing is in inches, send it as it is and mark which dimensions are critical. We confirm the metric sheet and any adjusted dimensions on the quotation. See acrylic, plexiglass, Lucite or Perspex for the naming and more on imperial sheet.
Specifications US projects usually cite
| Need | Reference | What to ask the supplier |
| Sheet specification | ASTM D4802 (PMMA sheet) | Which sheet type and grade is quoted, and its data sheet |
| Plastic glazing and light-transmitting panels in buildings | International Building Code, Chapter 26 (light-transmitting plastics, CC1/CC2 classes) | Whether the grade has the classification your project needs; most standard sheet is not fire-rated |
| Food-contact displays and containers | FDA 21 CFR 177.1010 (acrylic polymers) | A food-contact declaration for the sheet used on your order |
| Machine guards | Your own risk assessment and OSHA guarding rules | Material and thickness confirmed by your engineer; we make to the drawing |
We supply material and fabricated parts to your specification. Code compliance of the installed product stays with the project’s engineer or architect.
Tariffs, freight and paperwork
- Classification. PMMA sheet is usually classified under HTS heading 3920.51, and finished acrylic articles often under 3926.90. Your broker decides the final code from the product.
- Duties change. Duties on Chinese-origin plastics, including Section 301 tariffs, have changed several times. Get the current rate from your broker before you confirm the order, not after the goods are on the water.
- Incoterms. FOB leaves freight, insurance, customs and delivery to you. DDP includes them in our price. Compare quotes on the same basis; see landed cost of shipping acrylic from China.
- Ports. West Coast ports such as Los Angeles and Long Beach are the usual entry for Asia freight. East Coast ports such as New York/New Jersey and Savannah suit eastern destinations. Name the destination, not just the port.
- Freight is volume. Acrylic ships by volume more than weight. Cut panels can cost less to ship than full sheets with offcuts.
What we supply, and what we do not
AcrylicFabWorks, the acrylic division of SinoPlastix, supplies Calypto cast acrylic sheet and fabricated acrylic parts from one ISO 9001-certified plant in Suzhou, China. The sheet is cast on our own line at 135 tonnes a month, in 1–30 mm. Full sheets are quoted from 10 sheets; parts from 20 pieces per design. Samples take 48 hours and production 7 days from drawing approval. We have no US office, warehouse or installation team. For one-off local jobs a US shop will be quicker; for repeat production, send us the drawing. We work in acrylic only.
FAQ
Is it worth buying acrylic sheet from China for the US?
For repeat volumes and fabricated parts it often is, once duties and freight are included. Compare delivered cost, not factory price, and confirm the HTS code and current duties with your broker first.
What size is a 4 x 8 acrylic sheet in millimetres?
Exactly 1219 × 2438 mm. Metric 4 × 8 sheet is usually 1220 × 2440 mm.
What standard covers acrylic sheet in the US?
ASTM D4802 is the common specification for PMMA sheet. Building use of plastic glazing is covered by Chapter 26 of the International Building Code.
Do you have a US warehouse?
No. We ship from Suzhou, China, on FOB, CIF or DDP terms, and have no US office or installation service.
Get a delivered price to your US address
Send the drawing or cut list with the delivery ZIP code. We reply within 12 hours.
Or email [email protected]