HS Code for Kitchenware

Kitchenware is not gathered under a single heading; the HTSUS classifies it by the material the article is made from, so the same shape of bowl or utensil can sit in different chapters. Tableware and kitchenware of plastics point toward heading 3924, of porcelain or china toward 6911, of other ceramic toward 6912, of stainless steel toward 7323, and of aluminum toward 7615, while spoons, forks and similar cutlery point toward heading 8215 regardless of the base metal. Duty treatment varies widely across those materials, from around 2% for stainless steel up to 25% for porcelain and china. Identifying the constituent material first, and separating flatware from vessels, is the starting point for exploring the most appropriate heading.

Kitchenware is a broad, everyday term rather than a single tariff heading, so the HTSUS does not gather it in one place. Instead, the guiding factor is what the article is made of, and each material points toward its own chapter and heading. That means confirming the constituent material is the first and most important step in exploring where a given piece of kitchenware belongs.

For non-metal materials, tableware and kitchenware of plastics point toward heading 3924, and ceramic articles split by their body: porcelain or china point toward heading 6911, while other ceramics such as earthenware and stoneware point toward heading 6912. This porcelain-versus-other-ceramic distinction matters a great deal here, because the two lines carry very different duty treatment even though the finished pieces can look similar.

Metal kitchenware follows the base metal. Table, kitchen and household articles of stainless steel point toward heading 7323, and those of aluminum toward heading 7615. Cookware, mixing bowls, colanders and similar hollowware generally follow these household-article headings for their metal.

Cutlery is treated as its own family. Spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers, cake servers and similar articles point toward heading 8215 rather than the household-article headings of their base metal, so flatware is separated from vessels and cookware at the outset. That is a common branch point for a mixed kitchenware line.

A practical approach is to identify the material first, then ask whether the article is a vessel or household piece (which follows its material heading) or a piece of cutlery (which follows heading 8215). Because 'kitchenware' spans several chapters, it is generally better to work from the specific material and article type than to look for one catch-all provision, and to keep glass kitchenware (heading 7013) and electrical kitchen appliances (chapter 85) in mind as separate homes outside these material headings.

General duty rates for kitchenware vary widely because the classification follows the material. Stainless steel articles are among the lowest at around 2%, with aluminum articles around 3.1% and plastic tableware around 3.4%. Cutlery under heading 8215 sits around 5.3%, non-porcelain ceramic around 9.8%, and porcelain or china articles carry the highest general rate here at 25%. Because the spread runs from a couple of percent to 25%, confirming the material and article type is worthwhile before relying on any single figure. Preferential rates under free trade agreements may reduce or eliminate duties for qualifying origins. These figures are estimates for general planning purposes only.