Ball point pens — HTS 9608
Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609
Chapter 96 › Heading 9608
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 9608 is a four-digit product category for many writing instruments and their parts. It includes ball-point pens, porous-tipped pens and markers, fountain and stylograph pens, duplicating styli, mechanical or sliding pencils, pen and pencil holders, and parts such as caps and clips. Articles covered by heading 9609 are excluded, so the product’s design and function must be checked before using 9608.
To reach the correct eight-digit HTS code, start with the product’s specific type and then follow the applicable six-digit and eight-digit subheadings. The tariff structure may distinguish products by features such as writing mechanism, construction or material, whether the item is a complete article or a part, and other stated characteristics. Read every subheading description and its legal notes rather than choosing a code based only on a product name or a broad category.
What to check
- Identify the item’s primary function: ball-point pen, porous-tipped marker, fountain pen, mechanical pencil, holder, or part.
- Check whether the item is complete or a separate part, such as a cap, clip, refill-related component, or holder; do not assume a part uses the same code as the finished product.
- Record relevant construction details, including the writing mechanism, principal materials, and whether the article is disposable, refillable, or designed for a specialized use.
- Compare the product with the exclusions and scope of heading 9609, and review the applicable section, chapter, and heading notes.
- Use the current official HTS text and confirm the full eight-digit description; ask a customs broker or classification specialist when the product has multiple functions, unusual materials, or is imported as a set.
HTS heading 9608 summary
Ball point pens is a 4-digit product category containing 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 9608.40 | Propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9608.10.00.00 👉 | Ball point pens | 0.8¢ each + 5.4% | Free | 6¢ each + 40% |
| 9608.20.00.00 👉 | Felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers | 4% | Free | 40% |
| 9608.30.00 👉 | Fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens | 0.4¢ each + 2.7% | Free | 6¢ each + 40% |
| 9608.50.00.00 👉 | Sets of articles from two or more of the subheadings 9608.10, 9608.20, 9608.30 or 9608.40 | The rate applicable to each article in the absence of this subheading | Free | The rate applicable, to each article in the absence of this subheading |
| 9608.60.00.00 👉 | Refills for ball point pens, comprising the ball point and ink reservoir | 0.4¢ each + 2.7% | Free | 6¢ each + 40% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 9608?
Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609. 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.