HS Codes for Stone Imports: Classification, Duties & Documentation

Why the HS Code Matters More Than You Think

The HS (Harmonized System) code on your import declaration does three jobs at once: it sets the duty rate, it tells customs what inspections apply, and it feeds trade statistics that shape anti-dumping and safeguard cases. For stone, the difference between the right code and a close-but-wrong one is often a several-percentage-point swing in duty — and on a container worth USD 15,000-40,000, that is real money. It also determines whether your shipment is cleared in hours or held for a laboratory check.

The Rough vs Worked Split (Chapter 25 vs Chapter 68)

The single most important distinction in stone classification is whether the product is rough or worked. Rough blocks, slabs and roughly-trimmed stone fall in Chapter 25: granite is 2516, marble is 2515, and these generally carry lower duty because the value-add happens in the destination country. Once the stone has been sawn, cut, carved, polished or assembled into an article, it moves to Chapter 68 — worked monumental or building stone. A carved granite statue is not 2516; it is 6802. Importers who ship finished pieces under the block code risk duty reassessment, penalties and delayed release.

US HTS Chapter 68: The Codes You Will Actually Use

For US imports the relevant lines are in HTS Chapter 68 (2025 rates shown): 6801.00 covers setts, curbstones and flagstones of natural stone except slate at 2.8%. 6802 covers worked monumental or building stone: 6802.21 marble and travertine slabs simply cut or sawn, 6802.23 granite (3.7%), 6802.29 other stone such as sandstone and limestone, 6802.91 marble articles, and 6802.93 granite articles (3.7%) — this is the line for most carved sculptures, monuments and architectural pieces in granite. 6803 covers slate. Many of these lines qualify for duty-free treatment under free-trade programs (A*, AU, CL, CO, D, E, IL, JO, KR, MA, OM, P, PA, PE, S, SG) — confirm the certificate requirements with your customs broker before shipping.

Common Misclassification Traps

Three traps cause most stone customs problems. First, shipping worked pieces as rough blocks to save duty — the riskiest, since physical inspection immediately reveals saw-cut or polished surfaces. Second, forgetting that mosaic cubes, tiles under 7 cm and artificially colored granules sit in 6802.10, not in a tile heading. Third, assuming every decorative object is the same code: a granite garden bench, a marble angel statue and a stone birdbath are all 6802 articles but may fall under different subheadings depending on material (marble 6802.91 vs granite 6802.93) and degree of finishing. When in doubt, ask the factory for the export code they actually ship under and have your broker confirm it against the destination tariff.

EU, UK and Other Markets

Outside the US the structure is the same at the 6-digit level because HS is a global system — 6802 is worked monumental stone everywhere — but duty rates and national subheadings differ. The EU uses TARIC with its own 8-10 digit codes and applied rates that vary by origin; the UK publishes the same in its Global Tariff. India, Australia and Canada all add their own statistical suffixes. The practical rule: the 6-digit code is portable, the rate is not. Always verify the destination country's applied tariff for the exact commodity code in force at the date of shipment.

Documentation That Keeps Clearance Smooth

Alongside the HS code, a stone import file needs: a commercial invoice describing the goods in plain language (not just the code), a packing list with weights and piece counts, the Bill of Lading, and for many destinations a certificate of origin if you want the preferential rate. For carved or antique-looking pieces over 100 years old, check whether 9706 (antiques) applies — genuine antiques can enter duty-free but need provenance documentation. If a supplier quotes 'stone' on the invoice without a commodity code or a clear material description, ask for it in writing before you pay; vague invoices are the number-one cause of customs holds on stone.

A Simple Workflow Before You Ship

Do the classification before you book freight, not after the goods arrive. Step one: confirm the material (granite, marble, basalt, sandstone, slate) and the processing state (rough, sawn, carved, assembled). Step two: match that to the 6-digit HS heading — 2516/2515 for rough, 6801 for setts and flags, 6802 for worked articles. Step three: ask the factory what export code they file under in China and compare. Step four: run the code past your destination-country broker for the exact rate and any license or inspection requirements. Thirty minutes of homework on the code saves weeks of demurrage and duty disputes later.

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