If you love the clean lines and performance of European fenestration but worry about red tape, here's the honest answer: it's not simple - but it doesn't have to be your problem.
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) means one price for imported windows that already includes the product, export packing, marine insurance, ocean freight, US customs clearance, import duty and delivery to your job site - you approve the shop drawings, receive the crates and install. Every quote I send is DDP, whether the package is aluminum, uPVC, wood or aluminum-clad wood.
That gives you a single, all-in price and a single point of accountability from factory to job site. You approve the windows, prepare the openings, and receive the delivery. I handle everything in between. If you are still deciding whether importing fits your project, why developers import European aluminum windows covers when it does and when it does not.
This guide explains what DDP means in practice, what's included in the price, how compliance is handled, and exactly what you do versus what I do. For the wider sourcing decisions that come before the delivery terms - matching systems, compliance and supplier choice - see how to import windows from Europe. If your first question is really "how long will this take," see European window lead times for the production-and-freight breakdown - it's the schedule question that comes up right alongside DDP pricing on almost every project.
TL;DR: DDP Means One Price and One Accountable Party
- One contract, one invoice: Your quote includes product, crating, marine insurance, ocean freight, customs clearance, duties, domestic trucking, and delivery.
- Compliance support: NAFS performance data on many configurations and NFRC-rated units on selected systems where the permit needs them, and I can help navigate the compliance conversation for your jurisdiction.
- Logistics managed: ISF filing, carrier booking, customs entry, inland transport, damage claims, and schedule buffers - handled by me and my licensed U.S. partners.
- You focus on the build: Approve shops, prepare openings, receive and install.
New to European windows generally? Start with the complete US buyer's guide, then come back here for the import mechanics. For budget planning, see how much European windows cost.
What Does DDP Mean When You Import Windows?
Delivered Duty Paid is an Incoterms rule where the seller delivers goods to the buyer's country with all costs and risks covered - including import duties. For you: no separate freight bill, no customs broker to hire, no surprise fees.
| Incoterm | Who Handles Freight | Who Handles Customs | Who Handles Duties | Your Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXW (Ex Works) | You | You | You | Everything |
| FOB (Free on Board) | You (from port) | You | You | Most of it |
| CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) | Seller (to port) | You | You | Customs + inland |
| DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) | Me | Me | Me | Approve, receive, install |
How Much Do Freight, Duty and Customs Add?
A window quote can mean three different numbers, and only one of them is what you pay to get the windows to your site:
| Price level | What it includes | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Supplied (factory or EXW) | The windows and doors, glazed and finished | A factory price list or a supply-only quote |
| Landed (DDP) | Supplied + export packing, insurance, ocean freight, customs clearance, import duty, delivery to site | My quotes and my estimator |
| Installed | Landed + local installation labor and site work | Your installer |
The landed layer depends on the actual customs treatment, shipment size and delivery terms. The black aluminum worked example illustrates the estimator assumptions, not a guaranteed future customs charge. The estimator separates supplied and landed budgets; confirm them in a dated project quote. See project-specific import costs.
The DDP Workflow: 7 Steps
Step 1 - Discovery (Days 1-5). Share elevations, window schedule, performance targets, and finish preferences. I'll flag value engineering options and identify the best-fit system and fabricator for the project - often pricing the same schedule on two or three systems. If you're new to sourcing from Europe, my guide on how to evaluate a European window supplier covers what to look for.
Step 2 - DDP Proposal (budget the same or next working day). A budget estimate comes back the same or next working day; the line-item proposal carries a DDP total and clearly states what's included and what's not - no surprises.
Step 3 - Shop Drawings (2-3 working days after review). I produce elevations and sections along with a submittal pack; how long approval takes depends on your team's review. Installation details can be coordinated for your specific wall types. You mark up, I revise, you approve.
Step 4 - Fabrication (uPVC is faster than aluminum). Order goes to a vetted European fabricator. Frames are factory-glazed and crated for long-haul transport. Wood and aluminum-clad wood run longer and are confirmed per order.
Step 5 - Shipping (the East Coast is faster than the West Coast). I book ocean freight while production runs, file ISF where required, and issue marine insurance, so there's no dead time between the factory and the vessel. Together, fabrication and shipping make up the roughly 9-16 week planning range from approved shop drawings to site; the phase-by-phase numbers by material and coast are in European window lead times.
Step 6 - Customs and Delivery (Arrival + 2-5 Days). I handle customs entry, pay duties, arrange drayage, and schedule delivery. You get crate maps, labels, and handling instructions before the truck arrives.
Step 7 - Install Support and Closeout. Installation guidance, punch support, warranties, and a closeout pack with available compliance documentation and care instructions.
What Is Included in a DDP Window Price?
Included
- Custom windows and doors in aluminum, uPVC, wood or aluminum-clad wood, with factory glazing, hardware, and finishes
- Export packing and marine insurance
- Ocean freight and terminal/port handling
- Customs brokerage, entry filing, and duties/tariffs/CBP fees
- Domestic trucking to your site with a delivery appointment
- Crate maps, labeling, and receiving checklist
- Closeout documentation: available compliance paperwork, warranty terms, care and maintenance
Not Included (Priced as Add-Ons When Needed)
- On-site offloading equipment (forks, crane) and rigging
- Inside delivery beyond truck tailgate
- Storage beyond free time at terminal
- Union stand-by or special access fees
- Installation labor (I can connect you with trained installers)
- Change orders after shop approval
Compliance: NFRC and NAFS
You shouldn't have to figure out the compliance paperwork on your own. I can help put together documentation that works for your specific jurisdiction and project.
NFRC (energy performance): NFRC-rated units are available on selected systems where the permit needs them, stating U-factor, SHGC, and VT values. NFRC paperwork helps energy code review; whether a label is a hard requirement depends on the jurisdiction and compliance path, so confirm it before ordering.
NAFS (structural, air, water): NAFS data can strengthen your submittal if the AHJ requests it. Product test reports and performance data are available for many configurations.
Safety glazing: Where required, tempered or laminated glass per hazardous-location rules, with egress and guard considerations noted on shop drawings.
Understanding how tariffs affect your total landed cost is important when planning budget and timeline. For strategies on lowering window costs on high-end homes, see the dedicated cost guide.
Your Scope vs. Mine
| Your Scope | My Scope |
|---|---|
| Share elevations and window schedule | Review design, flag VE options, select fabricator |
| Review and approve shop drawings | Produce shops and submittal pack |
| Confirm site readiness dates | Release to fabrication, monitor production |
| Prepare rough openings | Book freight, file ISF, issue insurance |
| Receive delivery and inspect crates | Handle customs, pay duties, arrange drayage |
| Install | Deliver to site with crate maps and instructions |
"Prepare rough openings" is the line item that trips up first-time buyers most - the shop drawing lists dimensions in millimeters, and the conversion to a buildable US opening has its own convention. See European window rough opening sizes for the conversion table and who's responsible for the final measurement before production locks in.
FAQ
What does DDP mean for windows? DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) means the seller quotes one price that covers the windows, packing, insurance, ocean freight, US customs clearance, import duty and delivery to your job site. You do not hire a freight forwarder or customs broker, and you do not pay duty at the port - it is already in the number.
How long does DDP delivery of European windows take? Roughly 9 to 16 weeks from approved shop drawings to delivery on site: about 9 weeks for uPVC into the East Coast at the fast end, up to 16 for aluminum to the West Coast. Wood and aluminum-clad wood are confirmed per order. The clock starts when the shop drawings are approved.
Is a DDP price higher than a factory price? A DDP price looks higher than an ex works factory price because freight, customs, duty and delivery are already in it. Compared like for like - landed against landed - DDP removes the separate broker, freight and duty invoices, and the risk of a surprise at the port.
Do I need a customs bond or broker? No. Under DDP, I handle customs through my licensed U.S. partners. You don't set up a bond or broker account.
How are tariffs handled? Included in your DDP quote. If policies change between quote and entry, I state clearly how adjustments work.
What happens if a crate is damaged on arrival? Document it on the receiving checklist and notify me. I lead the claim, ship replacements or parts, and coordinate field fixes.
Ready to Import?
Send your window/door schedule and elevations. I'll return a single DDP number with a clear scope and a delivery timeline you can plug directly into your project schedule - a budget estimate the same or next working day. For a first range on aluminum or uPVC, my estimator shows the supplied and landed numbers in a couple of minutes.
Kai, your window guy!