Machine tools — HTS 8459
Machine tools (including way-type unit head machines) for drilling, boring, milling, threading or tapping by removing metal, other than lathes (including turning centers) of heading 8458
Chapter 84 › Heading 8459
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 8459 is a broad product category for certain machine tools that remove metal to perform operations such as drilling, boring, milling, threading, or tapping. It includes way-type unit head machines, but it excludes lathes and turning centers, which are classified in heading 8458. The heading generally concerns metalworking machine tools, not ordinary hand tools or machines whose principal function is outside these listed operations.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTSUS code, first confirm that the machine belongs in heading 8459, then identify the more specific tariff provision based on the machine’s design and principal operation. Subheadings may distinguish the machine’s type, configuration, or function, and may further separate products by factors such as whether they are numerically controlled or by the material being worked. Read the full legal description, including section and chapter notes and any statistical suffix language; do not choose a code from a product name alone.
What to check
- Confirm the machine removes metal and performs drilling, boring, milling, threading, or tapping; check whether it is actually a lathe or turning center under heading 8458.
- Document the machine’s principal function, spindle or tool arrangement, workholding method, axes of movement, and whether it is numerically controlled.
- Review the heading’s subheadings and 8-digit provisions for distinctions based on machine type, configuration, control system, or material, using the complete HTSUS wording.
- Compare the manufacturer’s specifications, technical drawings, manuals, and model information with the legal tariff description; resolve conflicting descriptions before filing.
- Check current CBP classification guidance, rulings, and chapter or section notes, and obtain customs-broker or classification-specialist advice when the machine has multiple functions or an unusual design.
HTS heading 8459 summary
Machine tools 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 |
|---|---|
| 8459.70 | Other threading or tapping machines |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8459.10.00.00 👉 | Way-type unit head machines | 3.3% | Free | 30% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 8459?
Machine tools (including way-type unit head machines) for drilling, boring, milling, threading or tapping by removing metal, other than lathes (including turning centers) of heading 8458. 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.