Instruments and apparatus for physical or chemical analysis — HTS 9027
Instruments and apparatus for physical or chemical analysis (for example, polarimeters, refractometers, spectrometers, gas or smoke analysis apparatus); instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking viscosity, porosity, expansion, surface tension or the like; instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking quantities of heat, sound or light (including exposure meters); microtomes; parts and accessories thereof
Chapter 90 › Heading 9027
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 9027 is a broad product category for scientific and laboratory instruments that analyze, measure, or check physical or chemical properties. It includes equipment such as spectrometers, refractometers, polarimeters, gas or smoke analyzers, viscosity and porosity testers, instruments that measure heat, sound, or light, and microtomes. It can also cover eligible parts and accessories for those instruments.
A merchant must narrow the heading to the correct 8-digit HTSUS subheading. The detailed codes usually separate products by their specific function or instrument type, and may further distinguish complete instruments from parts or accessories and, where the tariff provides, by construction or other product characteristics. The product’s actual design and principal function matter more than its marketing name. Confirm the current HTSUS wording and any applicable chapter or section notes before filing.
What to check
- Identify the instrument’s primary measuring or analytical function, such as light analysis, gas analysis, viscosity testing, or heat measurement.
- Determine whether the shipment is a complete instrument, a dedicated part, or an accessory; do not assume every component belongs in heading 9027.
- Read the 8-digit subheading descriptions and relevant legal notes, including any exclusions that direct similar goods elsewhere.
- Use technical specifications, operating principles, sensors, and intended laboratory or industrial use to support the classification.
- Check current official HTSUS sources and obtain a binding ruling or customs-broker advice when the product could fit more than one subheading.
HTS heading 9027 summary
Instruments and apparatus for physical or chemical analysis is a 4-digit product category containing 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 9027.10 | Gas or smoke analysis apparatus |
| 9027.20 | Chromatographs and electrophoresis instruments |
| 9027.30 | Spectrometers, spectrophotometers and spectrographs using optical radiations (ultraviolet, visible, infrared) |
| 9027.50 | Other instruments and apparatus using optical radiations (ultraviolet, visible, infrared) |
| 9027.90 | Microtomes; parts and accessories |
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 9027?
Instruments and apparatus for physical or chemical analysis (for example, polarimeters, refractometers, spectrometers, gas or smoke analysis apparatus); instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking viscosity, porosity, expansion, surface tension or the like; instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking quantities of heat, sound or light (including exposure meters); microtomes; 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.