Orthopedic appliances — HTS 9021
Orthopedic appliances, including crutches, surgical belts and trusses; splints and other fracture appliances; artificial parts of the body; hearing aids and other appliances which are worn or carried, or implanted in the body, to compensate for a defect or disability; parts and accessories thereof
Chapter 90 › Heading 9021
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 9021 is a broad product category for medical and assistive devices that support the body, replace a body part, improve a physical function, or compensate for a defect or disability. It groups together items such as crutches, orthopedic supports, fracture appliances, artificial body parts, hearing aids, implantable devices, and certain parts and accessories. The heading is organized by product type, intended medical function, and design—not simply by the product’s trade name.
To select a specific 8-digit HTSUS code, first identify the correct 4-digit heading and then follow the subheadings and statistical breakout descriptions under 9021. The narrower code may depend on the device’s type, function, construction, or material, and sometimes on whether it is a complete article, a replacement part, or an accessory. Read the full legal description, section and chapter notes, and any applicable exclusions before choosing a code.
What to check
- Describe the item’s medical purpose, body location, and method of use; do not rely only on its marketing name.
- Determine whether it is a complete appliance, an artificial body part, a hearing aid, an implantable device, or a part or accessory.
- Check the product’s construction and materials when the subheading distinguishes among them, and keep technical specifications or product literature.
- Read every subheading under heading 9021, along with the relevant legal notes and exclusions, to identify the most specific description.
- Verify the result against current official HTSUS text and seek a customs broker or binding classification ruling when the device, part, or accessory could fit more than one provision.
HTS heading 9021 summary
Orthopedic appliances is a 4-digit product category containing 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 9021.90 | Other |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9021.10.00 👉 | Orthopedic or fracture appliances, and parts and accessories thereof | Free | — | 55% |
| 9021.40.00.00 👉 | Hearing aids, excluding parts and accessories thereof | Free | — | 35% |
| 9021.50.00.00 👉 | Pacemakers for stimulating heart muscles, excluding parts and accessories thereof | 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 9021?
Orthopedic appliances, including crutches, surgical belts and trusses; splints and other fracture appliances; artificial parts of the body; hearing aids and other appliances which are worn or carried, or implanted in the body, to compensate for a defect or disability; parts and accessories 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.