Machinery for sorting — HTS 8474
Machinery for sorting, screening, separating, washing, crushing, grinding, mixing or kneading earth, stone, ores or other mineral substances, in solid (including powder or paste) form; machinery for agglomerating, shaping or molding solid mineral fuels, ceramic paste, unhardened cements, plastering materials or other mineral products in powder or paste form; machines for forming foundry molds of sand; parts thereof
Chapter 84 › Heading 8474
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 8474 is a broad product category for machinery that processes solid mineral materials. It covers equipment used to sort, screen, separate, wash, crush, grind, mix, or knead materials such as earth, stone, ores, and other minerals, including materials in powder or paste form. It also includes machinery that agglomerates, shapes, or molds certain mineral products, as well as machines for making foundry molds from sand and parts of the covered machinery.
The heading is only the four-digit starting point, not the final classification. To reach a specific eight-digit U.S. HTS code, identify the machine's primary function, the material it processes, and the relevant machine type or design. The first six digits generally follow the international Harmonized System, while the additional U.S. digits provide more detailed statistical subdivisions. Parts may have separate provisions, so do not assume a component uses the same code as the complete machine.
What to check
- Describe the machine’s actual process—such as crushing, screening, washing, grinding, mixing, molding, or agglomerating—and use its principal function when it performs several operations.
- Identify the material being processed, including whether it is ore, stone, earth, ceramic paste, cement, plaster, mineral fuel, or another mineral substance.
- Review the full eight-digit subdivisions under heading 8474 and compare their wording with the machine’s construction, operating method, and intended use.
- Classify a replacement part separately when the tariff provisions distinguish parts from complete machinery; verify that the item is identifiable as a part for covered equipment.
- Gather technical specifications, product manuals, photographs, and flow diagrams, and ask a customs broker or classification specialist to review uncertain or multifunction machines.
HTS heading 8474 summary
Machinery for sorting is a 4-digit product category containing 4 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8474.10.00 👉 | Sorting, screening, separating or washing machines | Free | — | 35% |
| 8474.20.00 👉 | Crushing or grinding machines | Free | — | 35% |
| 8474.80.00 👉 | Other machinery | Free | — | 35% |
| 8474.90.00 👉 | Parts | Free | — | 35% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 8474?
Machinery for sorting, screening, separating, washing, crushing, grinding, mixing or kneading earth, stone, ores or other mineral substances, in solid (including powder or paste) form; machinery for agglomerating, shaping or molding solid mineral fuels, ceramic paste, unhardened cements, plastering materials or other mineral products in powder or paste form; machines for forming foundry molds of sand; parts 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.