Natural sands of all kinds — HTS 2505
Natural sands of all kinds, whether or not colored, other than metalbearing sands of chapter 26
Chapter 25 › Heading 2505
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 2505 is a broad product category for natural sands of all kinds, including sand that has been colored. It generally covers naturally occurring sand materials, while excluding metalbearing sands classified in Chapter 26. The heading can include sand used for construction, industrial, foundry, filtration, or other purposes, but the product’s actual composition and condition control classification.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTSUS code, start with the heading and then read the subheadings and statistical subdivisions beneath it. These narrower provisions usually distinguish the sand by material or type, such as whether it is silica or quartz sand versus another natural sand. Do not choose a code based only on the product’s trade name or intended use; compare the tariff wording with the product’s mineral composition and processing.
What to check
- Obtain a technical description, specification sheet, or laboratory information identifying the sand’s mineral composition and whether it is natural or substantially processed.
- Check whether the product is silica or quartz sand, another natural sand, or a mixture, and follow the corresponding subheading language.
- Confirm that the material is not a metalbearing sand covered by Chapter 26; this may require technical or customs-broker review.
- Review the complete 8-digit HTSUS provisions and any legal notes, unit-of-measure instructions, and statistical descriptions before filing.
- If the material is blended, coated, specially processed, or difficult to identify, ask a qualified customs broker or request a binding classification ruling.
HTS heading 2505 summary
Natural sands of all kinds is a 4-digit product category containing 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2505.10 | Silica sands and quartz sands |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2505.90.00.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | Free |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 2505?
Natural sands of all kinds, whether or not colored, other than metalbearing sands of chapter 26. 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.