Lead times
On this page you'll find current information about the production and lead times for handmade and hand painted wall tiles, as well as for our porcelain floor tiles.
Rustic wall tiles
Orders for our rustic handmade square tiles currently have a lead time of 6-8 weeks for plain tiles, and 12-14 weeks for hand painted tiles.
This includes tiles from the Ana, Classic Delft, Cornish Delft, Halcyon, Isles, Kensington, Ullswater, The White Hart and Wilding collections.
Samples
Handmade wall tile and floor tile samples are typically dispatched in 2-3 working days. We will simply dispatch samples as soon as they are ready, and you will typically receive them via Royal Mail.
Samples of hand painted tiles usually have a 2-3 week lead time. We will dispatch samples as soon as they are ready, and you will typically receive them via Royal Mail.
Full orders
Our handmade wall tiles are typically made to order, before being quality checked and packaged. As such, they have a 2-3 week lead time.
This may be longer if your order is placed before or during our summer shutdown.
Please see the section at the top of this page for any tiles from our Halcyon, Ullswater, Kensington or Isles collection.
Orders for our rustic handmade square tiles currently have a lead time of 6-8 weeks for plain tiles, and 12-14 weeks for hand painted tiles. This includes tiles from the Ana, Classic Delft, Halcyon, Isles, Kensington, Ullswater, Cornish Delft, The White Hart and Wilding collections.
Hand painted tiles are made by hand and then painted, one brush stroke at a time, especially for your order by our team of artists. They are then fired, quality checked and packaged. They currently have a 12-14 week lead time.
Our floor tiles are created by the finest manufacturers in Italy and Spain. We do keep a limited stock of some collections of our floor tiles at our factory, and tend to keep tiles from our very popular Andalucia and Ridgeway collections in stock at all times. If the tiles you have ordered are in stock, they will be dispatched to you within 1-2 weeks. Otherwise, they typically take 3-5 weeks.
In any case, we will call you as soon as your boxes of tiles are ready to be dispatched, to arrange a convenient delivery or collection time.
Change to US customs regulations
As of August 29, 2025, the U.S. has ended the de minimis exemption, which previously allowed most international parcels valued under $800 to enter duty-free. This means that all imports, regardless of value, may now be subject to customs duties and taxes.
What This Means for Your Order:
- Customs Duty: Most of our tiles fall under the U.S. classification for glazed ceramic tiles, which are subject to a 8.5-10% customs duty based on the declared value of the order, plus 10% additional UK trade tariff.
- Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF): In addition, the U.S. charges a small processing fee on all imports.
- Informal entries (value less than $2500) - a small, flat fee is applied ranging from $2.62 to $11.78 per shipment.
- Formal entries (value over $2500) - The MPF is 0.3464% of the order value, with a minimum of $27.23 and a maximum of $538.40 per shipment.
- You may also be liable for additional local Sales Taxes, which vary by state.
- Payment on Delivery: All customs duties and fees must be paid directly to U.S. Customs and Border Protection when your order arrives.
Our Approach:
To ensure a smooth delivery, all U.S. customers are responsible for any customs charges and you will be contacted by the US Customs and Border Protection team with cost and payment details when your shipment arrives.
Unfortunately, we have no control over these amounts and will not be held liable. Refused deliveries and returns due to unpaid duties will not be refundable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will the cost of the tiles increase as result of these changes?
A: No, we are not increasing the cost of our tiles and remain committed to making and selling the finest English wall tiles at competitive prices. The only changes in price will be to your duties and taxes.
Q: Will the lead time be impacted?
A: Our production lead times remain as per the guidance on this page, however you may experience longer waiting times as your delivery passes through Customs on arrival in the US.
Need a Hand?
Our team is always here to assist as best we can. Please contact us at sales@marlboroughtiles.com
with any questions about customs charges or your order.
Note: This update is based on the latest information available as of September 1, 2025. For the most current details, please refer to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.
While we strive to provide clear guidance on U.S. import procedures, customs duties, and fees, this information is based on our understanding and is intended to be helpful guidance only.
We strongly recommend that customers do their own research regarding U.S. customs, state or local taxes, and any applicable fees. Marlborough Tiles cannot be held responsible for any misunderstandings, errors, or changes in regulations that may affect your shipment.
Discover
Our Craft
We have been making wall tiles by hand since we were founded in the 1930s. Think of wall and floor tiles and you’re likely to imagine functional rectangles in busy areas like bathrooms, kitchens and halls. But for us a tile is where science meets art. Each one represents the sum total of experimentation, learning, technique and passion passed down for generations.
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