HS Code for Refrigerators: Classification Guide for Importers

If you import refrigerators, the hs code for refrigerators is the line your customs entry, duty treatment and origin claim depend on. The Harmonized System is a multipurpose international product nomenclature developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO), comprising more than 5,000 commodity groups, each identified by a six-digit code, and used by more than 200 countries and economies as a basis for their customs tariffs.¹ For refrigerators, the code turns on what the unit is and how it cools: a household fridge, a combined fridge-freezer, a chest freezer and a shop display cabinet sit on different lines inside one heading. This guide covers classification only; the ordering steps are in how to import refrigerators from Bangladesh and the inspection points in the refrigerators quality control checklist.

Quick answer: indicative HS heading (with verify note)

Refrigerators, freezers and other refrigerating or freezing equipment sit in heading 8418, whose text covers refrigerators, freezers and other refrigerating or freezing equipment, electric or other, and heat pumps other than air conditioning machines of heading 8415.² The first six digits are the shared international part; confirm the full national code before filing, because national extensions differ by destination.

The United States schedule carries the same six-digit lines: 8418.10.00 for combined refrigerator-freezers fitted with separate external doors, 8418.21.00 for compression-type household refrigerators, 8418.30.00 for chest freezers not exceeding 800 litres capacity, 8418.40.00 for upright freezers not exceeding 900 litres capacity, and 8418.50.00 for other refrigerating or freezing furniture for storage and display.³ Treat heading 8418 as confirmed at six digits and the national extension as the part to verify per shipment.

How HS codes are structured (2-4-6 digits)

The Harmonized System organises its approximately 5,000 six-digit product categories by sections, chapters (2 digits), headings (4 digits) and sub-headings (6 digits).⁴ For refrigerators, 84 is the chapter, 8418 is the heading, and the final two digits give the subheading, for example 8418.21 for a compression-type household refrigerator. Countries then subdivide the six-digit categories into national subheadings for their tariffs and statistics.⁴

The current version is HS 2022.⁴ Read the 6-digit HS code guide and the harmonized system tariff code explainer for more on the structure, and the HS codes classification guide for the general method.

Factors that decide the code for refrigerators

Combined or single function first. A unit with both a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, fitted with separate external doors or drawers, or combinations thereof, takes 8418.10.² A single-function household refrigerator without that combined construction takes 8418.21 or 8418.29 instead. Do not file a combined unit on a household refrigerator line: the separate-door construction is the deciding feature.

Household type or commercial furniture. Lines 8418.21 and 8418.29 are headed as refrigerators of the household type.² A refrigerated showcase, counter or cabinet for storage and display in a shop takes 8418.50, the furniture line, not a household line.³ The place of use and the construction as display furniture, not the size alone, move the unit to 8418.50.

Cooling technology. Inside the household lines, compression type takes 8418.21 and other household refrigerators take 8418.29.² In the United States schedule, the other household line splits further, with 8418.29.10 for absorption type, electrical, and 8418.29.20 for other.³ Record the cooling method on the product specification: a gas-absorption unit and a compressor unit are not interchangeable lines.

Freezer form and capacity limit. Chest freezers take 8418.30 only up to 800 litres capacity, and upright freezers take 8418.40 only up to 900 litres capacity.³ A unit above the stated limit does not fit the line as written, so it needs a fresh read of the heading rather than a forced fit.

Parts are not complete units. Heading 8418 also carries parts lines: 8418.91 for furniture designed to receive refrigerating or freezing equipment, and 8418.99 for other parts.³ A compressor, door assembly or evaporator shipped on its own takes a parts line, not the line of the finished refrigerator.

Heat pumps and air conditioning stay separate. Heading 8418 covers heat pumps other than air conditioning machines of heading 8415, and the other equipment line 8418.69 covers other refrigerating or freezing equipment.³ An air conditioning machine belongs with heading 8415, not 8418, and a stand-alone heat pump takes 8418.61.

Principal purpose for a multi-purpose machine. Chapter 84 note 8 provides that a machine used for more than one purpose is treated as if its principal purpose were its sole purpose.² For a unit that both refrigerates and performs another function, identify the principal purpose from the specification before choosing between 8418 and a competing heading.

National codes: US HTS, EU CN/TARIC, UK commodity code

United States: HTS, ten digits. The United States schedule runs the six-digit HS lines to ten digits, with statistical suffixes below the subheading. For compression-type household refrigerators at 8418.21.00, the suffixes split by refrigerated volume: under 184 litres, 184 litres and over but under 269 litres, 269 litres and over but under 382 litres, and 382 litres and over, with further splits inside the largest band.³

European Union: CN at eight digits, TARIC for measures. The Combined Nomenclature of the European Union uses eight-digit codes, adding EU subdivisions to the six-digit HS lines.⁴ For an EU entry, read the eight-digit CN line for the model, then check the TARIC measure that applies on the entry date and the origin rules behind any preference claim.

United Kingdom: commodity code. The United Kingdom builds its commodity code on the same first six digits, with its own extension after them. The United Kingdom tariff page for heading 8418 lists ten-digit codes under each six-digit line: for example, under 8418.10 it lists 8418 1020 for combined units of a capacity exceeding 340 litres and 8418 1080 for other combined units, and under 8418.21 it lists 8418 2110 for compression-type units of a capacity exceeding 340 litres, 8418 2151 for table models, 8418 2159 for building-in types, 8418 2191 for other units not exceeding 250 litres, and 8418 2199 for other units exceeding 250 litres but not exceeding 340 litres.²

How to confirm the code officially

1. Write a precise description: combined or single function, household or display furniture, cooling method, freezer form, capacity in litres, refrigerated volume, and any second function.

2. Start from the official tariff for the destination: the USITC HTS for the United States, TARIC and the Combined Nomenclature for the EU, or the United Kingdom Trade Tariff, and read the heading text and chapter notes.

3. Check published rulings for similar units. For the United States, the USITC notes that Customs and Border Protection is solely authorized to interpret the HTS and to issue legally binding rulings, and points traders to its searchable customs rulings database.⁵

4. For a borderline unit, apply for a binding decision before you ship. In the EU, a Binding Tariff Information application needs a separate application for each type of product and a detailed description of the goods, including images or samples where possible.⁶ In the United Kingdom, a legally binding decision is generally valid for 3 years, through an Advance Tariff Ruling.⁷

5. Give your broker the description and the confirmed code for each model, and use the same codes throughout the entry, the invoice and the packing list.

Common classification mistakes

Filing a combined fridge-freezer as a household refrigerator. A unit fitted with separate external doors or drawers takes 8418.10.² The household lines 8418.21 and 8418.29 are for single-function household refrigerators, not combined units.

Filing a shop display cabinet as a household refrigerator. Refrigerated showcases and counters incorporating a refrigerating unit take 8418.50, with the United Kingdom tariff splitting them into 8418 5011 for frozen food storage showcases and 8418 5019 for other showcases.² A cabinet built for display takes the furniture line even when it looks like a large fridge.

Filing a freezer above the line limit into 8418.30 or 8418.40. The chest line covers freezers not exceeding 800 litres capacity and the upright line covers freezers not exceeding 900 litres capacity.³ Measure the capacity before filing, and re-read the heading for a unit above the limit.

Filing parts as a complete unit. Parts take 8418.91 or 8418.99.³ Keep spare parts on their own invoice lines with their own codes, separate from finished units.

Filing an air conditioning machine under 8418. Heading 8418 covers heat pumps other than air conditioning machines of heading 8415.² A machine whose function is air conditioning belongs with heading 8415.

Related duties and documents

This guide states no duty rates: the code decides which duty line customs applies, and a rate on a compression-type household line does not carry to a combined unit, a freezer or a display cabinet line. Read the rate beside your confirmed code for your origin and entry date, and check what proof of origin a preference claim requires.

FAQs

What is the HS code for refrigerators?

Refrigerators sit in heading 8418. A combined refrigerator-freezer with separate external doors or drawers takes 8418.10, a compression-type household refrigerator takes 8418.21, another household refrigerator takes 8418.29, a chest freezer not exceeding 800 litres takes 8418.30, an upright freezer not exceeding 900 litres takes 8418.40, and other refrigerating furniture for storage and display takes 8418.50.^{3 2}

Is the HS code the same in every country?

Only the first six digits are harmonised. Beyond six digits, each country adds its own lines: eight digits in the EU Combined Nomenclature,⁴ and ten digits in the United States³ and in the United Kingdom tariff.²

How do I confirm the correct code?

Describe each model precisely, read the heading text and chapter notes in the destination tariff, and check published rulings, such as the customs rulings database for the United States.⁵ For a borderline model, apply for a binding decision before shipping: a Binding Tariff Information decision in the EU,⁶ an Advance Tariff Ruling in the United Kingdom,⁷ or a binding ruling from United States Customs and Border Protection.⁵

What happens if I use the wrong code?

Duty, licensing and quota treatment are worked out from the code on the declaration, so a wrong code brings the wrong treatment. A binding decision in advance helps you calculate the duties and restrictions that will apply, which is the stated purpose of the United Kingdom legally binding decision.⁷

Next steps on Exportain

Browse Bangladeshi suppliers on Exportain, where supplier profiles carry document and photo review badges, and plan the shipment with the how to import refrigerators from Bangladesh guide and the refrigerators quality control checklist. State the confirmed code per model in your RFQ so quotes compare like with like. Exportain is not a party to the goods contract and does not inspect goods, book freight or clear customs, so keep your broker and your binding decision at the centre of the entry.