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HS code for hair straighteners in the European Union

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Summary

Hair straighteners imported into the European Union are usually classified under HS code 8516.32 when it is an electro-thermic hairdressing appliance other than a hair dryer. It sits in heading 85.16, “Electric instantaneous or storage water heaters and immersion heaters; electric space heating apparatus and soil heating apparatus; electro-thermic hair-dressing apparatus (for example, hair dryers, hair curlers, curling tong heaters) and hand dryers; electric smoothing irons; other electro-thermic appliances of a kind used for domestic purposes; electric heating resistors, other than those of heading 85.45”. The tariff of the European Union has 1 national line under this code. The general (MFN) duty in the European Union on the national lines under 8516.32 is 2.7%.

How to choose the right code

Use 8516.32 when it is an electro-thermic hairdressing appliance other than a hair dryer.

Some similar goods are classified elsewhere: 8516.31 applies when it is a hair dryer.

Codes for hair straighteners

Each code is listed with its legal text from the HS2022 Harmonized System release, quoted as published, and the condition under which it applies to hair straighteners.

  • 8516.32

    Most likely

    Legal text: “Electrothermic hairdressing or hand-drying apparatus: Other hair-dressing apparatus”

    Heading 85.16: “Electric instantaneous or storage water heaters and immersion heaters; electric space heating apparatus and soil heating apparatus; electro-thermic hair-dressing apparatus (for example, hair dryers, hair curlers, curling tong heaters) and hand dryers; electric smoothing irons; other electro-thermic appliances of a kind used for domestic purposes; electric heating resistors, other than those of heading 85.45”

    Applies when it is an electro-thermic hairdressing appliance other than a hair dryer.

  • 8516.31

    Classified elsewhere

    Legal text: “Electrothermic hairdressing or hand-drying apparatus: Hair dryers”

    Heading 85.16: “Electric instantaneous or storage water heaters and immersion heaters; electric space heating apparatus and soil heating apparatus; electro-thermic hair-dressing apparatus (for example, hair dryers, hair curlers, curling tong heaters) and hand dryers; electric smoothing irons; other electro-thermic appliances of a kind used for domestic purposes; electric heating resistors, other than those of heading 85.45”

    Applies when it is a hair dryer.

National lines in the European Union

The tariff of the European Union splits this code into 1 national line, listed with their published text and general duty.

The general (MFN) duty in the European Union on the national lines under 8516.32 is 2.7%. Import VAT or sales tax is charged on top, and de minimis rules can change what is due; the landed cost calculator works it out for a shipment.

Under 8516.32

Similar products

Products in the same category as hair straighteners, or classified under the same headings.

Other countries

National tariff lines for hair straighteners are live for the United States. Each page lists the lines under the codes above, with their duty rates where they are live.

Check your exact product

Describe your product, or paste its page, and the classifier suggests the code in the tariff of the European Union with its reasons.

Classification depends on the exact product

The right code depends on what the product is made of, how it is made and what it is for, so two products sold as hair straighteners can fall under different codes.

Guidance from published tariff data, not a binding ruling. For a decision customs must follow, apply to the destination’s customs authority for a binding tariff ruling.

Frequently asked questions

What is the HS code for hair straighteners?

Hair straighteners imported into the European Union are usually classified under HS code 8516.32 when it is an electro-thermic hairdressing appliance other than a hair dryer. It sits in heading 85.16, “Electric instantaneous or storage water heaters and immersion heaters; electric space heating apparatus and soil heating apparatus; electro-thermic hair-dressing apparatus (for example, hair dryers, hair curlers, curling tong heaters) and hand dryers; electric smoothing irons; other electro-thermic appliances of a kind used for domestic purposes; electric heating resistors, other than those of heading 85.45”.

What is the duty on hair straighteners imported into the European Union?

The general (MFN) duty in the European Union on the national lines under 8516.32 is 2.7%. Import VAT or sales tax is charged on top, and de minimis rules can change what is due; the landed cost calculator works it out for a shipment.

Sources and updates

The legal texts are from the HS2022 Harmonized System release, live on border.bot since 11 October 2026.

The national lines are from the tariff release of EU (areas=https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/9e277705-ac42-441d-8580-90cd730d9bc6/Geographical%20areas%20composition.xlsx#?; duties=https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/bfb94607-8b4c-40c3-ad33-1efef11bb80a/Duties%20Import%2001-99.xlsx#?; exclusions=https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/4b3c682c-947c-4f34-932d-0b8d192537bd/Measure%20exclusions.xlsx#?; nomenclature=https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/13694f84-6980-4966-8c91-22459447b52b/Nomenclature%20EN.xlsx#?), live on border.bot since 11 October 2026.

The duty rates are from the live rates release, live on border.bot since 11 October 2026.

The conditions and questions on this page were written for hair straighteners by border.bot and checked against those legal texts; the page changes when a new release goes live or the topic is reviewed again.

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