Bookbinding machinery — HTS 8440
Bookbinding machinery, including book-sewing machines, and parts thereof
Chapter 84 › Heading 8440
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 8440 is a four-digit product category for machinery used in bookbinding. It includes book-sewing machines and other equipment that performs bookbinding operations, along with qualifying parts. The heading describes a broad group, not the final tariff classification for a shipment.
To select the specific 8-digit HTSUS code, first confirm that the machine or part is principally used for bookbinding and belongs in heading 8440 rather than a nearby machinery heading. Then follow the subheading structure and legal notes. The final digits commonly distinguish the type or function of the machinery, or identify parts, but the exact breakdown must be verified in the current HTSUS and any applicable classification rulings. A customs broker may be needed for unusual equipment, integrated production lines, or parts that could fit more than one heading.
What to check
- Describe the item’s actual operation, such as sewing, folding, gathering, gluing, trimming, or another bookbinding function; do not classify it from the product name alone.
- Confirm whether you are classifying a complete machine, a separate machine component, or a part designed principally for heading 8440 equipment.
- Review the current HTSUS subheadings, section and chapter notes, and the full 8-digit descriptions before choosing a code; check whether the structure separates equipment by type or function.
- Check the machine’s specifications, technical drawings, catalog description, and intended use, and keep them as classification support.
- Ask a customs broker or seek a formal ruling when the equipment performs several functions, is part of a larger line, or could fall under another machinery heading.
HTS heading 8440 summary
Bookbinding machinery is a 4-digit product category containing 2 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8440.10.00.00 👉 | Machinery | Free | — | 25% |
| 8440.90.00.00 👉 | Parts | Free | — | 25% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 8440?
Bookbinding machinery, including book-sewing machines, and 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.