Arriving in Great Britain, you can bring in 42 litres of beer, 18 litres of still wine, and either 4 litres of spirits or 9 litres of sparkling or fortified wine, plus one tobacco allowance such as 200 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco. Other goods are duty-free up to £390. Go over any allowance and you must declare and pay on the whole amount. Checked August 2026.
Your alcohol allowance
When you land at Heathrow from abroad, you can bring the following alcohol into Great Britain without paying UK duty or tax. You can combine the wine and beer allowances, and you split the stronger-drink allowance as shown:
| Alcohol | Duty-free allowance |
|---|---|
| Beer | 42 litres |
| Still wine | 18 litres |
| Spirits and liquors over 22% ABV | 4 litres |
| OR sparkling wine, fortified wine and drinks up to 22% ABV | 9 litres |
The last two are a split allowance: you can bring 4 litres of spirits, or 9 litres of sparkling and fortified wine, or a proportional mix of the two, but not a full amount of both. The beer and still wine allowances are on top of that.
Your tobacco allowance
You can bring in one of the following, or a proportional mix within a single category:
- 200 cigarettes
- 100 cigarillos
- 50 cigars
- 250g of tobacco
- 200 sticks of tobacco for heated tobacco devices
You cannot combine across categories to make more than one full allowance. For example, 100 cigarettes plus 25 cigars is fine because each is half an allowance, but 200 cigarettes plus 50 cigars is over the limit.
Other goods
You can bring in other goods, such as perfume, electronics, gifts and souvenirs, up to a total value of £390 without paying duty or tax. If you arrive by private plane or boat, the limit is £270. A single item worth more than the allowance is taxed on its full value, not just the part above the limit.
Duty free counts towards your allowance
Anything you buy in an airport duty-free shop before flying, or on board, still counts towards these allowances. Duty free saves you the tax at the point of purchase, but it does not give you a separate, extra allowance when you arrive in the UK. If your duty-free shopping pushes you over a limit, you must declare it.
What happens if you go over
If you exceed any allowance by any amount, you must declare the goods and pay tax and duty. The important catch is that you pay on the total value or quantity, not only the excess. So going 1 litre over the spirits allowance means paying duty on all the spirits you are carrying, not just the extra litre.
You can declare and pay in advance using the government's online declaration service before you travel, or use the red channel or red-point phone in the arrivals hall at Heathrow. If you have nothing to declare and you are within every allowance, use the green channel. Never use the green channel if you are over, even slightly, as penalties and confiscation apply.
Under-17s
There are no alcohol or tobacco allowances for anyone under 17. A traveller under 17 cannot bring in duty-free alcohol or tobacco at all, though they keep the allowance for other goods.
Banned and restricted goods
Separately from the duty-free limits, some things cannot be brought in or need a licence, including most meat and dairy from outside the UK, certain plants, endangered-species products, offensive weapons and counterfeit goods. These rules are strict, so check gov.uk before you pack anything unusual.
Before you rely on any figure
Allowances can change, and the rules differ if you are arriving into Northern Ireland rather than Great Britain. Check the official gov.uk "bringing goods into Great Britain" guidance before you fly, especially if you are close to any limit.
For what you can carry through security in your hand luggage, rather than what you can bring into the country, see our guide to prohibited items at Heathrow. If you're only stopping briefly, see whether it's worth leaving Heathrow during a layover to declare goods and continue your trip.
More
More: Overview, Facilities, FAQs.
Frequently asked questions
How many cigarettes can I bring into the UK? You can bring in 200 cigarettes, or 250g of tobacco, or 50 cigars, or 100 cigarillos, or a proportional mix within one category. There is no combining across categories.
How much alcohol can I bring into the UK duty-free? 42 litres of beer, 18 litres of still wine, and either 4 litres of spirits or 9 litres of sparkling or fortified wine. The beer and wine allowances are separate from the spirits or sparkling split.
Does duty free count towards my UK allowance? Yes. Airport and on-board duty-free purchases count towards the same allowances. Duty free saves tax at purchase but does not give you an extra allowance on arrival.
What is the value limit for other goods? £390 for most travellers, or £270 if you arrive by private plane or boat. Go over and the full value of the item is taxed, not just the excess.
What happens if I go over my allowance at Heathrow? You must declare the goods and pay tax and duty on the total, not just the excess. Declare online before travel or use the red channel on arrival. Do not use the green channel if you are over.
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Last verified August 2026 by the Heathrow Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Heathrow Airport website before you travel.