Electric instantaneous or storage water heaters and — HTS 8516
Electric instantaneous or storage water heaters and immersion heaters; electric space heating apparatus and soil heating apparatus; electrothermic hairdressing apparatus (for example, hair dryers, hair curlers, curling tong heaters) and hand dryers; electric flatirons; other electrothermic appliances of a kind used for domestic purposes; electric heating resistors, other than those of heading 8545; parts thereof
Chapter 85 › Heading 8516
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 8516 is a broad four-digit category for electrical appliances that produce heat, plus certain parts. It groups together electric water heaters, immersion heaters, space and soil heaters, hair dryers and other electrothermic hairdressing equipment, hand dryers, electric flatirons, household electric heating appliances, and heating resistors. The heading can cover both complete products and qualifying parts, but not every heat-producing item belongs here.
To reach the correct eight-digit HTSUS code, first identify the product’s function and construction, then follow the subheadings and statistical breakout descriptions. Within heading 8516, the distinctions may be based on the appliance type, intended use, design, or characteristics such as the kind of heating element or resistor. “Usually by material or type” is not a substitute for reading the actual tariff language: the product’s principal function, technical design, and whether it is a complete article or part control the classification. If no description fits clearly, a customs broker or binding ruling may be appropriate.
What to check
- Describe the item’s primary function, power source, and whether it heats water, air, soil, a surface, or a person’s hair or hands.
- Check whether the item is a complete appliance, a replacement heating element, or another part; do not assume every component follows the finished product’s code.
- Read all subheading and statistical suffix descriptions under 8516, including distinctions based on appliance type, construction, or intended domestic use.
- Compare the tariff description with product specifications, photographs, wiring diagrams, manuals, and marketing claims; keep records supporting your choice.
- Check the relevant Section and Chapter Notes, exclusions, and any applicable classification guidance before relying on an eight-digit code; ask a customs professional when the fit is uncertain.
HTS heading 8516 summary
Electric instantaneous or storage water heaters and 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.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 8516.40 | Electric flatirons |
| 8516.60 | Other ovens; cooking stoves, ranges, cooking plates, boiling rings, grillers and roasters |
| 8516.80 | Electric heating resistors |
| 8516.90 | Parts |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8516.10.00 👉 | Electric instantaneous or storage water heaters and immersion heaters | Free | — | 35% |
| 8516.50.00 👉 | Microwave ovens | 2% | 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 8516?
Electric instantaneous or storage water heaters and immersion heaters; electric space heating apparatus and soil heating apparatus; electrothermic hairdressing apparatus (for example, hair dryers, hair curlers, curling tong heaters) and hand dryers; electric flatirons; other electrothermic appliances of a kind used for domestic purposes; electric heating resistors, other than those of heading 8545; 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.