Compound optical microscopes — HTS 9011
Compound optical microscopes, including those for photomicrography, cinemicrography or microprojection; parts and accessories thereof
Chapter 90 › Heading 9011
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 9011 is a broad product category for compound optical microscopes and their parts and accessories. It includes microscopes that use multiple optical elements to produce magnified images, including models designed for photomicrography, cinemicrography, or microprojection. The heading can cover complete instruments as well as qualifying components and accessories, but not every optical or laboratory item belongs here.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTSUS code, first identify whether the shipment is a complete microscope, a part, or an accessory. Then review the heading’s more specific subheadings and statistical suffixes, which may distinguish the product by its design, function, configuration, or other listed characteristics. Classification is based on the product as imported and on the wording of the tariff schedule—not simply on how the item is marketed. If the product does not clearly match a listed subdivision, a customs broker or other classification professional may need to review it.
What to check
- Identify the imported article precisely: complete microscope, replacement part, or accessory.
- Confirm that the instrument is a compound optical microscope and not a simpler magnifier, camera system, electron microscope, or another optical device.
- Read every subheading and statistical suffix under heading 9011, checking distinctions based on type, function, or configuration.
- For parts and accessories, verify that the item is principally or specifically used with the covered microscopes and is not classified elsewhere on its own.
- Use the product’s technical specifications, images, manuals, and invoice description to support the classification; ask a customs broker to review close or uncertain cases.
HTS heading 9011 summary
Compound optical microscopes is a 4-digit product category containing 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 9011.10 | Stereoscopic microscopes |
| 9011.20 | Other microscopes, for photomicrography, cinemicrography or microprojection |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9011.80.00.00 👉 | Other microscopes | Free | — | 45% |
| 9011.90.00.00 👉 | Parts and accessories | Free | — | 45% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 9011?
Compound optical microscopes, including those for photomicrography, cinemicrography or microprojection; parts and accessories 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.