HS Code Category

HS Code Candidates for Batteries

Use this page to prepare candidate HS headings, product facts, material and function variants, invoice descriptions, ecommerce catalog fields, and risk flags before official review.

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Answer summary

Product facts to verify

Main material and fiber or chemical composition
Construction: knitted, woven, molded, assembled
Function and intended use
Whether it includes electronics, battery, magnets, leather, or textile
Country of origin and destination market

Use this tool

HS Code Finder Commercial Invoice CSV Catalog Checker

Source note

Candidates are preparation aids only. Verify final code in USITC HTS, EU TARIC, or the destination tariff database before filing.

Last reviewed

2026-08-02

Candidate headings table

Review candidates

The table below lists candidate HS headings for batteries. Each row is a starting point, not a final classification; verify in the destination tariff database before filing.

Code	Heading	Use when
`8507.60`	Lithium-ion accumulators	Rechargeable lithium-ion cells, packs, or power banks, including laptop-replacement and tool batteries.
`8507.40`	Nickel-metal hydride accumulators	Rechargeable NiMH cells and packs, including AA and AAA rechargeable batteries.
`8507.20`	Lead-acid accumulators	Lead-acid starter, deep-cycle, or replacement batteries, including SLA and AGM formats.
`8506.50`	Lithium primary cells and batteries	Non-rechargeable lithium primary cells, including coin, cylindrical, and pack formats.
`8506.10`	Manganese dioxide primary cells	Common alkaline cells such as AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V household batteries.

National extensions after the 6-digit heading vary by destination market. Verify the full national code in USITC HTS, EU TARIC, or UK Trade Tariff before filing.

Decision tree

How to classify batteries

Step 1: Identify chemistry and form

Lithium-ion, lithium primary, alkaline, NiMH, lead-acid, or NiCd; rechargeable vs primary; cell, pack, or module.

Step 2: Pick the heading family

Primary cells (non-rechargeable) fall under 8506; secondary cells (rechargeable) fall under 8507.

Step 3: Apply the national extension

Open USITC HTS, EU TARIC, or UK Trade Tariff and confirm the 10-digit code for the chemistry.

Step 4: Check dangerous goods rules

Watt-hour rating, lithium metal content, and UN 38.3 test summary drive air shipping class.

Step 5: Document on the invoice

Use a strong description: chemistry + form + capacity + key function. Avoid generic words such as battery, accessory, or parts.

Step 6: Save the classification note

Write a short note explaining chemistry, watt-hour, candidate code, origin, and dangerous goods class.

Material variants

How material changes the code

Material	Typical heading	Notes
Lithium-ion (rechargeable)	8507.60	Most common power bank and device battery. Verify watt-hour rating for shipping.
Lithium primary (non-rechargeable)	8506.50	Coin cells, camera batteries, and industrial primary lithium. Verify dangerous goods class.
Alkaline (manganese dioxide)	8506.10	Household AA / AAA / C / D / 9V. Usually not restricted for air shipping within standard limits.
Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH)	8507.40	Rechargeable household and industrial cells. Lower energy density than lithium-ion.
Lead-acid (SLA, AGM, flooded)	8507.20	Vehicle, UPS, and mobility batteries. Special handling for electrolyte and weight.
Nickel-cadmium (NiCd)	8507.30	Rechargeable cells; check destination rules for cadmium restrictions.

Function and use-case variants

How function changes the code

Function	Typical heading	Notes
Power bank for charging mobile devices	8507.60	Watt-hour rating drives air shipping class (under 100 Wh usually Section II).
Replacement laptop or device battery	8507.60	Built-in battery devices may be classified with the device under chapter 84 or 85.
Power tool battery pack	8507.60	Often classified with the tool if shipped as a set; standalone packs use 8507.60.
Coin cell for watch, remote, or sensor	8506.50	Lithium coin cells; usually under 2 g lithium and not restricted for air shipping.
Vehicle starter battery	8507.20	Lead-acid starter batteries; check destination rules for used batteries and electrolyte handling.
Industrial battery pack or module	8507.60	Verify watt-hour rating and destination permit; may need additional documentation.

Risk flags

Source-check required

Flag	Impact on classification	Where to verify
Lithium battery dangerous goods	Air shipping rules (IATA DGR), watt-hour limit, packaging standard, and label requirements apply.	IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, 49 CFR, destination carrier rules.
Power bank watt-hour rating	Under 100 Wh usually Section II; over 100 Wh needs carrier approval; over 160 Wh restricted on passenger aircraft.	IATA DGR Section II / IB, UN 3480 / UN 3481.
Lead-acid battery handling	Electrolyte handling, spill protection, and destination restrictions on used lead-acid batteries.	Destination battery import regulations, US DOT, EU battery directive.
Button cell ingestion risk	Destination child-safety packaging rules may apply, especially for button and coin cells.	US Consumer Product Safety Commission, EU GPSR, destination consumer safety rules.
Used battery import	Many destinations restrict or ban used batteries; verify the destination rule before quoting.	Destination customs authority, OECD used-battery guidance.
Country-specific permits	Some markets require pre-shipment registration or import permits for lithium batteries.	Destination customs authority and carrier bulletins.

Risk flags signal the need for official review before the candidate code is used on customs documents.

Invoice description examples

Strong descriptions

Strong invoice descriptions include material, function, product type, and key components (battery, electronics, magnet, leather, textile). Avoid generic words such as gift, sample, accessory, or product. The descriptions below are examples only, not final classifications.

Lithium-ion power bank, 10000 mAh, 37 Wh, USB-C output, no built-in cable
Lithium-ion replacement laptop battery, 11.4 V, 4500 mAh, OEM-equivalent
NiMH rechargeable AA battery, 1.2 V, 2000 mAh, 4-pack
Alkaline AA battery, 1.5 V, 4-pack, household grade
Lithium primary coin cell CR2032, 3 V, 220 mAh, 5-pack
Sealed lead-acid battery, 12 V, 7 Ah, AGM, replacement grade

Use these descriptions on the commercial invoice line item, with the candidate HS code and country of origin declared per line.

Ecommerce catalog fields

Shopify, WooCommerce, and CSV fields to check

Before labels and invoices are generated, prepare these fields in your ecommerce catalog. The CSV Catalog Checker scans Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, or custom CSV exports for missing customs fields locally in your browser.

Field	Why it matters
SKU	Stable identifier; survives product title edits; maps catalog row to invoice line and to dangerous goods paperwork.
Product title	Marketing label; should match but not replace the customs description.
Chemistry (lithium-ion / NiMH / lead-acid / alkaline)	Drives heading 8506 vs 8507 and the dangerous goods class.
Rechargeable vs primary	Booleans; gates whether the cell falls under 8506 (primary) or 8507 (secondary).
Watt-hour rating	Critical for power banks; drives IATA Section II vs IB and airline acceptance.
Voltage and capacity	Distinguishes cell formats; supports the customs description and shipping paperwork.
Lithium metal content (grams)	Drives lithium primary cell shipping class; under 2 g usually unrestricted on passenger aircraft.
Includes built-in cable or charger?	Booleans; may add chapter 85 sub-classification for the bundled accessory.
Country of origin	Drives any additional tariff or battery import permit.
Candidate HS code	Working candidate from the AI HS Code Finder; never a final classification.
Customs description	Strong description (chemistry + function + capacity) used on the commercial invoice.
Unit value and currency	Customs value input; affects duty base and de minimis treatment.
Quantity per inner pack / case	Supports packing list cross-check and dangerous goods aggregation.
Destination market	Pick the correct national tariff database for verification (USITC HTS, EU TARIC, UK Trade Tariff).

Pair this with the Commercial Invoice Generator, the HS Code Finder, and the CSV Catalog Checker.

Worked example

Worked example: classifying a 20,000 mAh USB-C power bank

Scenario: A consumer-electronics merchant lists a 20,000 mAh (74 Wh) USB-C power bank at a unit value of $22, FOB Shenzhen, MOQ 500 units, sold to US buyers. The merchant needs a candidate HS code, dangerous goods documentation, and a commercial invoice draft.

Step 1: identify the product facts. Chemistry is lithium-ion (rechargeable); capacity is 20,000 mAh at 3.7 V nominal, giving 74 Wh; function is portable power bank for mobile devices; no built-in cable included.
Step 2: pick the closest candidate heading. Lithium-ion accumulators fall under 8507.60. The merchant uses 8507.60 as a working candidate and verifies the national extension in USITC HTS.
Step 3: check dangerous goods. At 74 Wh the power bank is under the 100 Wh threshold; air shipping is usually IATA Section II, which requires a UN 38.3 test summary, a Class 9 lithium battery handling label, and a dangerous goods declaration on the air waybill.
Step 4: confirm origin and additional tariff. Origin is China; the merchant checks the USTR Section 301 list for the current rate on 8507.60.
Step 5: write the invoice description. Use "lithium-ion power bank, 20000 mAh, 74 Wh, USB-C output, no built-in cable" so the description matches the candidate.
Step 6: document the basis. Keep a short note: chemistry lithium-ion, capacity 74 Wh, candidate 8507.60, country of origin China, dangerous goods class Section II.

Final classification depends on product facts, destination tariff rules, and official review. The candidate is preparation aid only; verify the final code in the destination tariff before filing.

Common mistakes

What to avoid

Classifying all batteries under one heading without checking primary vs rechargeable.
Forgetting watt-hour rating on the commercial invoice for power banks.
Shipping lithium batteries without UN 38.3 test summary on the air waybill.
Treating the heading number as final without verifying the national extension.
Missing Section 301 additional tariff for China-origin lithium-ion cells.
Reusing one HS code across chemistries (lithium-ion vs alkaline vs lead-acid).
Ignoring destination rules on used battery imports.

Related Tools

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Editorial

About this category page

Written by the TariffCatalog Editorial Team. Maintained by Ryan Cole and reviewed for candidate-only customs-data workflow clarity.

This page follows TariffCatalog's methodology for candidate-only classification, estimate-only calculators, and document draft workflows. Candidates are preparation aids, not binding classifications.

Methodology Sources Report an error

Maintainer

Reviewed by Ryan Cole

Ryan Cole maintains TariffCatalog from the perspective of a long-time ecommerce operator with 15+ years of experience in product catalog, international shipping, and pre-shipment data workflows. This page is reviewed for candidate-only HS code preparation, source-check clarity, and estimate-only or candidate-only wording.

TariffCatalog is a preparation aid, not a customs broker, legal, tax, or freight-forwarding service. Verify final classifications, rates, documents, and filing treatment with official sources or qualified professionals.

Last reviewed: August 2026 · Maintainer entity: Ryan Cole · Source policy: verified against official customs and tariff sources

Official Source Note

Check final codes

USITC HTS

Verify candidate headings and destination-specific extensions.

CBP

Verify candidate headings and destination-specific extensions.

EU TARIC

Verify candidate headings and destination-specific extensions.

UK Trade Tariff

Verify candidate headings and destination-specific extensions.

FAQ

Common questions

Are these HS code candidates binding?

No. The headings on this page are candidates, preparation aids based on common product facts. Final classification depends on chemistry, form, capacity, destination tariff rules, and any binding ruling in effect. Verify the final code in USITC HTS, EU TARIC, UK Trade Tariff, or the destination tariff database before filing.

Why does chemistry change the HS code for a battery?

HS classification for batteries is driven by chemistry and whether the cell is primary (non-rechargeable) or secondary (rechargeable). Primary cells fall under heading 8506; secondary cells fall under 8507. Within each family the chemistry and form drive the 6-digit subheading. The form factor (cylindrical, prismatic, coin, pack) drives the national extension.

What changes when a battery is built into a device?

A battery built into a device is often classified with the device, not as a standalone battery. For example, a battery built into a laptop may be classified with the laptop under chapter 84 or 85. A replacement battery shipped separately usually classifies under 8507. The rule depends on whether the battery is presented with or separately from the device.

Why does watt-hour rating matter for shipping?

Watt-hour rating drives air shipping class under IATA DGR. Power banks under 100 Wh are usually Section II; over 100 Wh need carrier approval; over 160 Wh are restricted on passenger aircraft. The watt-hour rating must be declared on the commercial invoice and the air waybill. Lithium primary cells are rated by grams of lithium metal content.

Do batteries need HS codes on the commercial invoice?

Most courier, freight, and broker channels expect an HS code candidate on the commercial invoice. Postal channels may clear on a CN22 or CN23 without a full code. Even when the channel does not require a code, including a candidate speeds up clearance and supports duty and tax review.

Should primary and rechargeable batteries be classified differently?

Yes. Primary (non-rechargeable) and secondary (rechargeable) batteries fall under different heading families: 8506 vs 8507. They are also subject to different dangerous goods rules. Treat each chemistry as a separate review and document the basis on the invoice.

Can I bulk-assign one HS code to my battery catalog?

It depends on the variants. Cells that share chemistry, form, capacity band, and origin can share one candidate. Cells that change chemistry (lithium-ion vs alkaline) or form (cylindrical vs coin) usually need a different candidate. The CSV Catalog Checker flags these patterns in bulk.

When should I ask a broker or dangerous goods specialist?

Ask a licensed broker or dangerous goods specialist when the product is regulated, high-value, repeatedly shipped, or shipped in volumes that exceed carrier acceptance thresholds. A one-time consultation or a written opinion can pay back many times over for a catalog that ships the same battery family across many orders.

Last reviewed: 2026-08-02

Disclaimer

TariffCatalog provides candidate HS code suggestions, estimate-only calculators, and document drafts. Verify final classifications, duty rates, document requirements, and filing obligations with official sources, carriers, brokers, or destination authorities before filing or shipping.

Candidate headings on this page are preparation aids, not binding classifications. Final classification depends on exact product facts and the destination tariff rules in effect on the entry date.