Clipper Blade HS Code 8510.90 & US Import Duty | SUMTHIN

Last updated: October 12, 2026. Tariff rates verified against the USITC HTS database and the UK Trade Tariff on this date.

Quick answer: Replacement blades for electric hair clippers and pet grooming clippers — A5 detachable blades, T-blades, ceramic cutters — are classified under HS 8510.90 ("parts of shavers, hair clippers and hair-removing appliances"). In the United States the exact line is HTSUS 8510.90.10, "Blades and cutting heads", with a 0% (Free) general duty rate. But blades made in China are also on Section 301 List 3 (+25%) and, since July 24, 2026, the new Section 301 forced-labor tariff (+12.5% for China). Real duty on a China-origin clipper blade entering the US today is therefore about 37.5% of FOB value, plus roughly 0.47% in customs fees. The UK charges 2% (plus 20% import VAT); the EU charges 0–2.2% depending on the TARIC line.

We have exported clipper blades from our factory in Haining, Zhejiang since 2004, and the question we get most often from first-time importers after "what is the MOQ" is "what HS code do I put on the entry, and what will it cost me?" This guide answers both with the actual numbers — and explains why the code some suppliers print on their invoices can turn into a penalty for you, the importer of record.

Which HS Code Do Clipper Blades Fall Under?

The World Customs Organization's 6-digit code is the same in every country: 8510.90 — parts of shavers, hair clippers and hair-removing appliances with a self-contained electric motor. The HS Explanatory Notes to heading 8510 specifically name heads, blades and cutting plates for electric shavers and hair clippers as parts covered by this heading. Under Section XVI Note 2(b), a part that is suitable for use solely or principally with one kind of machine is classified with that machine — and an A5 blade has no use other than on an electric clipper.

Each country then adds its own national digits. Here is how our main product lines classify:

Two points that trip buyers up. First, material does not change the code: a zirconia ceramic cutter on a 440C steel comb plate is still a blade for an electric clipper (see our clipper blade steel grades guide for what actually differs between them). Second, shearing combs and cutters for electric sheep and horse handpieces are also blades for hair clippers, but the US schedule separates agricultural clipper parts (8510.90.30, 4%) from blades. If you import shearing blades in volume, ask a broker for a binding ruling from CBP before your first entry.

Why "HS 8214.90" on Your Invoice Is a Problem

We regularly see quotes from trading companies that put 8214.90 ("other articles of cutlery, including hair clippers") on the commercial invoice for clipper blades. That heading exists — but Chapter 82 covers hand tools and non-electric articles. Hair clippers and their parts with a self-contained electric motor are specifically sent to heading 8510. An A5 blade is designed only for an electric clipper.

Why does it matter? Because 8214.90 is not on Section 301 Lists 1–3, so a wrong code "saves" roughly 25 percentage points of duty on paper. CBP does not care who printed the invoice — you, as importer of record, are legally responsible for classification. Under 19 U.S.C. §1592, a negligent misclassification can carry a penalty of up to twice the lost duty, gross negligence up to four times, and fraud up to the domestic value of the goods. Duty underpaid on a $13,000 shipment at 25% is $3,250; a negligence penalty on top could reach $6,500.

The correct Chinese export code for clipper blades is 8510900000, and that is the code that should appear on the Chinese export declaration. If a supplier offers to print a different code on your invoice "to save duty", walk away — a mismatch between the Chinese export declaration and the US entry is exactly what CBP's data analytics are built to find, and the penalty lands on you, not on them.

US Import Duty on China-Origin Clipper Blades (October 2026)

2026 has been the most volatile tariff year in decades. The IEEPA "fentanyl" and "reciprocal" tariffs were struck down by the Supreme Court on February 20, 2026 and refunds are being paid through CBP's CAPE portal. The temporary 10% Section 122 surcharge that replaced them expired on July 24, 2026. On the same day a new Section 301 forced-labor tariff took effect (91 FR 47318). Legacy Section 301 tariffs from 2018–2019 were never affected. Here is the stack that applies to an A5 blade made in China and entered today:

Note that the US assesses duty on transaction value — essentially the FOB price. International freight and insurance are not dutiable in the US, which is one reason to buy FOB rather than CIF or DDP if you have a forwarder. Because these layers have changed four times this year, ask your customs broker to confirm the current Chapter 99 headings on the day you file — a shipment that leaves our port today arrives in Los Angeles in about 18–25 days, and the rate that applies is the one in force when the goods are entered.

Worked Example: Landed Cost of 5,000 A5 Blades into the US

Here is a realistic first order from a US grooming-supply distributor: 5,000 pieces of 440C stainless A5 #10 blades from our detachable A5 blade line, private-label laser marking, retail box, FOB Ningbo at $2.60 per piece. Packed, the order is about 1.2 CBM and 260 kg gross — an LCL (less than container load) shipment to Los Angeles.

Three things this table shows. Duty is 78% of the cost added between our dock and yours ($4,936 of $6,311), so negotiating $50 off freight matters far less than getting the classification and value right. Every $0.10 you save on FOB price saves you $0.138 landed, because the 37.5% stacks on top of it. And a cheaper blade is not always cheaper: a $2.20 blade with 1.5× the failure rate costs more once you count the duty you paid on blades you later refund. Our wholesale clipper blade buying guide covers the specs that drive that failure rate.

What changes for small and air shipments

The US $800 de minimis exemption has been suspended for China-origin goods since May 2, 2025 and remains suspended in October 2026. A DHL parcel of 200 sample blades worth $520 now pays the same 37.5% stack plus the courier's own disbursement and clearance fees, which typically add $15–$40 per shipment. If you are testing a design, it is usually cheaper to order a few hundred more pieces on the main ocean shipment than to run repeated express re-orders.

UK and EU Import Duty on Clipper Blades

Europe is far simpler — there is no China-specific tariff layer on clipper blades. The main differences from the US: duty is calculated on CIF value (goods plus freight and insurance to the border), and import VAT is charged on top, although VAT-registered businesses normally reclaim it.

Using the same 5,000 blades shipped to Felixstowe: CIF value about $13,700, UK duty at 2% = $274, import VAT 20% on $13,974 = $2,794.80 (reclaimable). Effective duty: 2.1% of FOB, against 37.5% for the US. For European importers, the bigger compliance item is not duty but product rules — blades sold under your own brand fall under the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) and REACH nickel-release limits. If you sell under your own label, our private-label program includes the material declarations your EU responsible person will ask for.

Country of Origin: Can You Avoid Section 301 by Shipping via Vietnam?

This is the question behind many "Vietnam supplier" quotes. The answer depends on substantial transformation — whether the processing in the second country turns the product into a new article with a new name, character or use. CBP has ruled (for example, NY N345316) that a hair clipper kit assembled in Vietnam from multiple components was of Vietnamese origin for Section 301 purposes. But a clipper blade that is stamped, heat-treated to HRC 58–62, ground and lapped in China, then repacked in Vietnam is still a Chinese blade. Relabeling it as "Made in Vietnam" is transshipment, which CBP treats as evasion under the Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA).

Two more facts reduce the gain from moving origin even when it is legitimate: the 2026 forced-labor Section 301 tariff covers Vietnam and roughly 60 other economies, and blade cost is mostly in grinding and heat-treatment know-how, not in assembly. For a blade buyer, a correctly declared China origin with good unit economics usually beats a fragile origin story.

Origin marking is also mandatory: under 19 CFR Part 134, each blade or its retail package must be legibly marked with the country of origin. Blades and their parts are listed in 19 CFR 134.43(a), so a mark on the blade must be engraved, etched, stamped or molded in, not printed. Box-only marking works only when the blade reaches the end buyer in its sealed pack. Our clipper blade country of origin marking guide covers the details, and we agree the format with you at the sampling stage, alongside your logo. For the blade models we produce, see our clipper blade compatibility guide.

What We Put on the Shipping Documents (and What to Ask Any Supplier For)

Most customs holds on blade shipments we see are not about duty rates — they come from vague paperwork. A line that says "blades, 5,000 pcs" invites a CBP information request (CF-28) and a delay of one to three weeks. For every order we prepare:

• Commercial invoice with a full description: "Replacement cutting blades for electric hair clippers, A5 detachable type, 440C stainless steel, size #10, brand: [your brand]", HS 8510.90, unit price, Incoterm (FOB Ningbo), and "Country of origin: China".
• Packing list with carton count, net and gross weight per carton and CBM — your forwarder needs this to quote LCL accurately.
• Material declaration (steel grade, coating, ceramic composition) — useful if CBP asks what the article is made of, and required by EU buyers for REACH.
• Manufacturer ID (MID) details: our legal name and address as they appear on our business license, so your broker builds the correct MID for the entry.
• Pre-shipment inspection report — not a customs document, but the best evidence that what you paid duty on is what you ordered. See our pre-shipment inspection and AQL guide.

Pre-Order Checklist for Importers

1. Confirm the code with your broker: 8510.90.10 for blades, and ask whether any active Section 301 exclusion covers your specific product (most List 3 exclusions expired years ago).
2. Price the full stack: FOB × 1.375 + fees + freight. Use 1.38 as your planning multiplier for China-origin blades into the US in October 2026.
3. Check the Chapter 99 headings again at shipping: the forced-labor tariff is in court, and a ruling could change the 12.5% layer — in either direction.
4. Keep your entry records five years: if the forced-labor tariff is overturned like IEEPA was, refunds go to the importers who can document what they paid.
5. Buy FOB, not DDP, once you have a broker: DDP "duty-included" freight quotes sometimes rely on undervaluation, and the liability stays with the importer of record.
6. Compare suppliers on landed cost per good blade, not FOB price. Our OEM clipper blade sourcing guide walks through the full supplier-selection process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the HS code for hair clipper blades?

Internationally 8510.90 (parts of shavers, hair clippers and hair-removing appliances). In the US the 10-digit line is 8510.90.10.00, "Blades and cutting heads". In the UK it is 8510900000, and in China (export) 8510900000.

What is the US import duty on clipper blades from China in 2026?

The general rate is Free, but China-origin blades pay 25% under Section 301 List 3 plus 12.5% under the Section 301 forced-labor action effective July 24, 2026 — 37.5% total, plus about 0.47% MPF and HMF on ocean entries.

Do ceramic clipper blades have a different HS code than steel blades?

No. Classification follows function, not material. A ceramic cutter on a steel comb plate is still a blade for an electric hair clipper and falls under 8510.90 (US 8510.90.10).

Can I get a refund of the tariffs I paid on clipper blades earlier in 2026?

Duties paid under the IEEPA fentanyl and reciprocal tariffs are being refunded after the February 20, 2026 Supreme Court ruling, through CBP's CAPE process. Section 301 List 3 duties are not covered by those refunds.

Is there still an $800 duty-free limit for small blade orders?

No. The de minimis exemption has been suspended for China-origin shipments since May 2025, so sample and express orders pay the full duty stack.

How much does a $2.60 FOB clipper blade cost landed in the US?

In our worked example of 5,000 A5 blades shipped LCL to Los Angeles, the landed cost is about $3.86 per blade — 48% above FOB, with duty accounting for most of the difference.