Centrifuges — HTS 8421
Centrifuges, including centrifugal dryers; filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus, for liquids or gases; parts thereof
Chapter 84 › Heading 8421
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 8421 is a broad product category for equipment that separates, filters, or purifies materials. It groups together centrifuges and centrifugal dryers, machinery that filters or purifies liquids, and machinery that filters or purifies gases. It also includes certain parts, but the correct treatment can depend on whether the part is identifiable for this machinery and on the tariff structure.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTSUS code, start by identifying the machine’s principal function: centrifuging, drying by centrifugal force, filtering a liquid, or filtering or purifying a gas. Then follow the applicable subheadings and statistical subdivisions, which commonly distinguish the equipment by design, operating method, capacity, material being processed, or other technical characteristics. Product literature, specifications, and construction details are often needed; a customs broker or binding ruling may be appropriate when the classification is uncertain.
What to check
- Confirm the equipment’s primary function and whether it separates, filters, or purifies a liquid or gas.
- Check the machine’s technical specifications, including filter media, operating method, capacity, and the material processed.
- Determine whether the shipment is a complete machine, an identifiable part, or an accessory; do not assume every related item belongs in heading 8421.
- Read all subheading and statistical notes, including any distinctions based on type, material, or application.
- Compare the proposed 8-digit code with current official HTSUS text and seek broker or ruling guidance for unusual or borderline products.
HTS heading 8421 summary
Centrifuges is a 4-digit product category containing 11 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 8421.91 | Of centrifuges, including centrifugal dryers |
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8421.11.00.00 👉 | Cream separators | Free | — | 25% |
| 8421.12.00.00 👉 | Clothes-dryers | Free | — | 25% |
| 8421.19.00.00 👉 | Other | 1.3% | Free | 25% |
| 8421.21.00.00 👉 | For filtering or purifying water | Free | — | 35% |
| 8421.22.00.00 👉 | For filtering or purifying beverages other than water | Free | — | 35% |
| 8421.23.00.00 👉 | Oil or fuel filters for internal combustion engines | 2.5% | Free | 35% |
| 8421.29.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | 35% |
| 8421.31.00.00 👉 | Intake air filters for internal combustion engines | 2.5% | Free | 35% |
| 8421.32.00.00 👉 | Catalytic converters or particulate filters, whether or not combined, for purifying or filtering exhaust gases from internal combustion engines | Free | — | 35% |
| 8421.39.01 👉 | Other | Free | — | 35% |
| 8421.99.01 👉 | Other | Free | — | 35% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 8421?
Centrifuges, including centrifugal dryers; filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus, for liquids or gases; parts thereof. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.