Flying from the US to India? What's in US airport duty-free

Published November 7, 2026. Catalog counts are from the Smuggl catalog on that date.

This guide is general information, not legal or customs advice. Customs decides what applies when you land, and allowances can change. See our India allowance guide for the details.

If your trip starts in the US, duty-free looks different from Dubai or Singapore: the catalogs are smaller, and what's on the shelf leans towards fragrance and beauty. Here is what we can see in them, so you know what to expect before you fly.

The 13 US airports we cover

Counts are rounded down and change as stock does. Miami and Atlanta have very small catalogs, so check the page before you plan around them.

What US duty-free is good for

• Fragrance. Perfume is the largest category at 12 of the 13 airports. Denver, Minneapolis, Phoenix and Tampa carry houses like Hermès, Dolce&Gabbana, Lancôme and Dior.
• Beauty. New York JFK is the exception, where makeup is the biggest category. Boston and Las Vegas also stock Benefit and Jo Malone London.
• Watches. Las Vegas and Detroit have the deepest watch ranges of the group, with brands such as Tissot, Bulova and Citizen at Las Vegas.
• Chocolate. Most airports have a confectionery shelf, with Lindt common across them.

How it compares with Dubai and Singapore

It's smaller. The largest US catalogs have around 3,000 products. Dubai has about 12,000 and Singapore nearly 10,000, and Incheon has over 50,000. If you want electronics or a wide choice of watches, the US airports are rarely the place. If you want a specific fragrance or a gift set, they can be.

Our Dubai vs India price index shows how shelf prices compare with Indian retail for Dubai. Prices at US airports aren't in it, so check the live price on the airport page or in the app before you decide.

Your India allowance when you land

Whatever you buy, the limit when you arrive in India is the same:

• ₹75,000 per trip for an Indian resident, or an NRI or foreign passport holder with an OCI or PIO card.
• ₹25,000 per trip for an NRI or foreign national without an OCI or PIO card.
• One laptop or tablet per trip is exempt on top, whatever it costs.
• Duty applies to the value above your limit. If you're over, declare at the Red Channel.

Work out your own number with the duty-free calculator, or read the full allowance guide.

What if you're not the one flying?

Smuggl connects you with friends and friends-of-friends who are already flying your route. You pick an item from a duty-free catalog, they buy it abroad and hand it over in person, and your payment is held until you confirm the handoff.

Frequently asked questions