What Buying Sneakers Online Really Costs in Australia: GST, Duties and Currency (2026)

What does it really cost to buy sneakers online in Australia? The price you pay is the item, plus shipping, plus 10% GST, plus any currency conversion and card fees, plus duty and border charges if an order from overseas is valued above A$1,000. On PUSHAS, Australian buyers see prices in AUD and GST and duties are calculated at checkout, so the total you approve is the total you pay in almost every case.

The sticker price is the least reliable number in online shopping. A pair that looks cheaper on a site priced in US dollars can land at your door for more once the exchange rate, your bank and the border have each taken their share. The only number that matters is the landed cost: everything you pay before the box is in your hands. Our view is simple: the cheapest sticker price loses to the clearest checkout, every time.

The landed cost formula

Component	What it is	When it applies
Item price	The listed price for your size	Always
Shipping	Delivery to your address	Almost always; varies by platform and speed
GST	10% goods and services tax	On goods sold to Australian consumers, including most imports
Currency conversion	The exchange rate your bank applies	When you're charged in a currency other than AUD
Card fees	Foreign transaction fees charged by many Australian cards	When the merchant processes the payment overseas or in another currency
Duty and border charges	Customs duty, GST and processing charges collected at the border	When an imported order is valued above A$1,000

GST on sneakers bought from overseas

Since 1 July 2018, GST applies to low-value goods (a customs value of A$1,000 or less) sold to Australian consumers by overseas businesses. Overseas merchants, online marketplaces and parcel-forwarding services that pass the registration threshold collect that GST at the point of sale and send it to the Australian Taxation Office. In practice, most overseas sites selling to Australians either add GST at checkout or build it into the price.

So the GST is rarely avoidable. What changes from one platform to the next is whether you see it before you pay.

Orders above A$1,000

The point-of-sale system only covers goods valued at A$1,000 or less. Above that threshold, imported goods are cleared at the border, where duty, GST and import processing charges can be assessed and collected before delivery. For a grail pair or a high-grade graded card, that can mean a bill from the courier after you've already paid in full, and a parcel held until it's settled.

If you're buying above A$1,000, check two things before paying: where the order ships from, and whether the platform says who pays border charges.

The currency gap

When you pay in another currency, two costs appear that never show on the product page: the exchange rate your bank uses, which is usually less favourable than the rate you'd see quoted online, and a foreign transaction fee charged by many Australian cards. Neither is visible until your statement arrives. Paying in AUD removes both.

What buying sneakers online in Australia costs on PUSHAS

• Prices in AUD. PUSHAS shows prices in your local currency in every market we serve, so Australian buyers are charged in Australian dollars.
• GST and duties at checkout. For Australian customers, GST and duties are calculated at checkout. The one exception is an order above A$1,000 that ships from overseas, which may be charged on arrival.
• Shipping shown before you pay. Shipping is calculated at checkout from your address, before you confirm.
• Pay your way. Afterpay, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay and cards are all available at checkout. See payment methods.
• Authenticated by hand. Every item is authenticated by a trained PUSHAS authenticator at our facilities in Sydney, Hong Kong or Los Angeles before it's dispatched, and covered by our Authenticity & Legitimacy Guarantee.

Items marked FASTEST are already at a PUSHAS facility and dispatch within 2 days. Other items are sent to us by the seller and authenticated before dispatch, which takes 8 to 26 business days, so read the estimate on the item you're buying.

A quick checkout checklist

1. Is the total shown in AUD?
2. Is GST included or added before payment?
3. Is shipping shown before payment?
4. If the order is above A$1,000, could duty and border charges be collected on delivery?
5. Will my card add a foreign transaction fee?
6. If something's wrong, what does the returns and authenticity policy cover?

If you can't answer all six before paying, the cheapest-looking price may not be the cheapest. For a wider look at where to shop, read where to buy authentic sneakers online in Australia, or browse what's trending on PUSHAS now.

Frequently asked questions

Do you pay GST on sneakers bought online from overseas?

Usually, yes. Since 1 July 2018, overseas businesses and marketplaces that sell low-value goods (A$1,000 or less) to Australian consumers collect 10% GST at the point of sale.

Do you pay customs duty on sneakers in Australia?

For imported orders valued above A$1,000, duty, GST and import processing charges can be collected at the border before delivery. Orders of A$1,000 or less are generally covered by GST collected at checkout instead.

Does PUSHAS charge GST and duties at checkout?

Yes, for Australian customers GST and duties are calculated at checkout. The exception is an order above A$1,000 that ships from overseas, which may be charged on arrival.

Why does a sneaker cost more than the price shown on an overseas site?

Because the listed price often excludes shipping, GST, currency conversion and card fees, and for orders above A$1,000, border charges. Compare the total at checkout in AUD, not the sticker price.

Can I use Afterpay on PUSHAS?

Yes. Afterpay, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Shop Pay are available at checkout.