For US and Amazon sellers of toys, baby products and kids' apparel
CPSIA testing labs, costs and CPC guide for children's products
Find a CPSC-accepted lab, know what testing costs, and get compliant: CPC, tracking labels and Amazon documents.
Last verified: October 19, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Always confirm a lab's current scope on the CPSC lab search.
Testing costs
How much does CPSIA testing cost?
Most children's products cost about $400–$1,800 per SKU to test; complex baby products can run $1,500 to $12,000+.
| Product type | Typical cost | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple plush toy | ~$400–$800 | Full program per design $1,500–$3,500 | factoryplush.com, customplushtoys.com |
| Plastic toy | ~$500–$1,800 | With button-cell batteries ~$1,500–$2,500 | Compliance Gate |
| Kids' apparel 16 CFR 1610 flammability | ~$150–$400 | Per fabric, plus lead on trims ~$50–$150 per component and paint ~$75–$200 per print color | EnforceIntel |
| Kids' sleepwear | $250–$1,500 | Flammability, per fabric | Tobimax |
| Baby / durable infant products | ~$500–$1,500 | CPSC estimate per model: ~$500–$600 (infant bath tubs) to ~$1,500 (infant sleep products); cribs $4,000–$12,000 | CPSC final rule |
Lab directory
Which labs are CPSC-accepted for children's products?
CPSC lists 736 accepted labs (October 19, 2026), but acceptance is per location and per test, so match the lab's Lab ID to your tests.
| Lab | US locations | China/Asia locations | Strengths | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bureau Veritas | Buffalo, NY (1012) | Hong Kong 1013, Shenzhen 1017, Shanghai 1018, Guangzhou 1021, Dongguan 1232 | Toys, apparel, nearly all durable infant rules | bureauveritas.com |
| SGS | Fairfield, NJ (1020); Farmingdale, NY (1315) | Hong Kong 1016 | Toys, juvenile, apparel, nursing pillows | sgs.com |
| Intertek | Arlington Heights, IL ID unconfirmed | Shanghai 1028, Guangzhou 1065/1211, Ningbo 1286, Taipei 1022 | ASTM F963-23, chemistry | intertek.com |
| TÜV SÜD | — | Shanghai 1383, Guangzhou 1838, Vietnam 1345 | Toys, documentation review | tuvsud.com |
| TÜV Rheinland | Bentonville, AR ID unconfirmed | Guangzhou 1237, Ningbo 1699 | Toys, button cells (Reese's Law) | tuv.com |
| UL Solutions | Lowell & Bentonville, AR ID unconfirmed | Vietnam 1577, China | Toys, juvenile furniture | ul.com |
| Eurofins | Norwood, MA (1332) | Dongguan 1058, Shanghai 1106, Qingdao 1474 | Chemistry, textiles | eurofins.com |
| QIMA | Buffalo, NY (1199) | Hong Kong 1322, Hangzhou 1195, Dongguan 1400, Shanghai 1482 | Fixed-fee quotes in 24h, samples pulled from production | qima.com |
| CTI | — | Shenzhen 1002, Shanghai 1033, Ningbo 1321, Guangzhou 1872 | Large China network | cti-cert.com |
| STC | Fairfield, NJ (1361) | Dongguan 1064, Vietnam 1747 | Toys, apparel & sleepwear flammability | stc.group |
| ACT Lab | Long Beach, CA (1154) | Taicang 1233 | Toys, apparel flammability, bikes/helmets | act-lab.com |
| Applied Technical Services | Marietta, GA (1030) | — | Toys, pacifiers, rattles, button cells | atslab.com |
| AM Testing & Services | Punta Gorda, FL (1342) | — | Small family-owned, 111 scopes, good for small brands | amtesting.com |
| BACL | — | Shenzhen 1112, Xiamen 1647 | Toys, consumer products | baclcorp.com |
| CCIC Southern Testing | — | Shenzhen 1242 Governmental body | Chemistry, toys | ccic.com |
None of these labs publish CPSIA price lists; all quote per product. Verify each Lab ID and scope on the CPSC Lab Search.
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Choosing a location
Should I use a US lab or a China lab?
Test where the product is made: a China lab near the factory costs about $60 per heavy-metal test vs about $190 in the US, and saves 5–15 business days of sample shipping.
| Factor | US lab | China lab |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ~$190 | ~$60 |
| Speed | Samples must ship from the factory | Near the factory; saves 5–15 business days of shipping |
| Samples | Sent by you or the factory | Can be pulled straight from production, which Amazon wants |
| Communication | Same time zone, English-first | Time difference |
| Validity | Equally valid if CPSC-accepted for that rule; ISO 17025 alone isn't enough | |
| Risk | Watch for factory "existing" reports in another company's name; Amazon may reject them | |
Cost row: CPSC heavy-metal test benchmark, Federal Register.
When a US lab makes sense
US-made products, retesting stock already in the US, or first-time guidance.
Children's Product Certificate
What does a Children's Product Certificate (CPC) need?
A CPC is an English document with 7 required elements; no template is required.
- Product identification
- Every applicable CPSC rule
- Importer or US manufacturer name, address and phone
- Contact for the person keeping test records
- Date and place of manufacture
- Date and place of testing
- Name, address and phone of the CPSC-accepted lab
New certificate content rules took effect July 8, 2026.
Source: CPSC, Children's Product Certificate.
Free CPC builder
Build your Children's Product Certificate in 5 minutes — free
Fill in your product and lab details. We generate a CPC laid out with all 7 elements CPSC requires (16 CFR 1110). You, the importer or US manufacturer, are the certifier and are responsible for its accuracy. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
This tool is a template, not legal advice. KidsTestingLabs does not issue or certify CPCs.
Imports
Is CPSC eFiling mandatory now?
Yes, for imports since July 8, 2026: importers file certificate data with CBP at entry.
-
Jul 8, 2026
Mandatory for imports. Certificate data goes into the CPSC Product Registry; your broker files it in ACE at entry.In effect
-
Jan 8, 2027
Foreign Trade Zone entries must eFile too.Starts Jan 8, 2027
Sources: CPSC eFiling, CPSC news release, 2026.
Labeling
What is a tracking label?
A permanent mark on every children's product and its packaging showing the manufacturer or private labeler, production location and date, and batch number.
Who
Manufacturer or private labeler name
Where and when
Production location and date
Which batch
Batch or run number
Source: CPSC, tracking labels.
Retesting
When do I need to retest?
Before first sale, after any material change, at least once a year, and whenever a standard is revised.
- Before first sale Each SKU, color and materialRequired
- After a material change Design, materials, colors or factoryOn change
- Periodic testing At least yearly; every 2 years with a production testing plan; every 3 years with ISO 17025 ongoing testingYearly
- When a standard is revised For example, ASTM F963-17 to F963-23On revision
Source: 16 CFR 1107.21.
Marketplaces
What do Amazon, Walmart and TikTok Shop require for kids' products?
All three require a Children's Product Certificate backed by a passing test report from a CPSC-accepted lab, and each checks that the documents match your listing.
| Marketplace | What you submit | Test report age | Watch out for | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Test report from a CPSC-accepted lab (ASTM F963-23 + phthalates for toys), CPC, tracking labels; 16 CFR 1501 small-parts testing for under-3 toys | Within 12 months | Reports must be on production samples and match the CPC | Seller Central |
| Walmart Marketplace | A valid CPC and the matching third-party test report from a CPSC-accepted lab for each children's product listed | Valid/current | Every children's listing (12 and under) needs both documents, not just under-3 items | Marketplace Learn |
| TikTok Shop US | Category qualification for Toys & Hobby and Kids' Fashion: CPC plus test report; resellers add purchase invoice and tracking label photo | Within 180 days Unless the category says otherwise | Report must name the same company and address as the selling account, and match the listing and invoice | Seller University, category guide |
Selling on more than one marketplace? Plan testing around TikTok Shop's 180-day window, since it's the strictest.
Small batch relief
Can a small batch manufacturer skip third-party testing?
Partly: businesses under about $1.44M in total consumer-product revenue making 7,500 units or fewer of the product may skip third-party testing for some (Group B) rules.
Still required
- Yearly registration on SaferProducts.gov
- A CPC
- Tracking labels
No relief for
- Lead paint
- Small parts
- Pacifiers
- Durable infant products
Source: SaferProducts.gov, Small Batch Manufacturer registry.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about CPSIA testing
How much does CPSIA testing cost for a plush toy?
About $400–$800 per SKU; a full program per design runs $1,500–$3,500.
Do I need a CPSC-accepted lab?
Yes, for children's products, and the lab must be accepted for each applicable rule.
Can I use my factory's test report?
Only if it's for your exact product, on production samples, and matches your CPC.
How long does CPSIA testing take?
Usually 1–3 weeks; rush about 10 days at a 40–60% premium.
Is eFiling required in 2026?
Yes, for imports since July 8, 2026; Foreign Trade Zone entries from January 8, 2027.
What is ASTM F963-23?
The mandatory US toy safety standard, at 16 CFR 1250.
Does Walmart or TikTok Shop require CPSIA testing?
Yes. Walmart requires a CPC and matching CPSC-accepted lab report for every children's product, and TikTok Shop requires a CPC and test report issued within the last 180 days during category qualification.
Can someone else issue my CPC?
No. The importer (for products made abroad) or the US manufacturer must issue it, based on a passing report from a CPSC-accepted lab. A consultant can help prepare it, but you're the certifier. Use our free CPC builder to create one.
About
Who runs KidsTestingLabs?
Built by a toy seller: a product developer with 10+ years launching toys on Amazon and navigating CPSIA testing.