A bicycle catalog looks like one product family, but the US tariff schedule splits it into at least four. Pedal bikes sit in 8712 and split again by wheel size and weight. E-bikes move to 8711 with motorcycles. Frames, rims, saddles and derailleurs each have their own lines in 8714, and a battery shipped on its own is 8507. From China, those lines now land anywhere from 20 to 48.5 percent once the Section 301 layers are added. This is a buyer's comparison of the software that classifies a whole bike and parts catalog, and what it costs.
What is the best HS code classification software for bicycle and e-bike importers?
For a US bike brand, distributor or shop importing complete bikes, e-bikes and parts, the best fit is a classifier that returns the full 10-digit HTSUS code from a plain description, applies the wheel size, weight and motor splits correctly, and shows the 2026 duty by origin on the same screen. TariffWise does that from $59 a month, with bulk CSV classification of a whole catalog on the $199 Growth plan. Large multi-country distributors may want an enterprise trade content suite, and a licensed customs broker stays the right call for contested lines and for filing the entry.
A general lookup struggles with bikes because product names describe riding, not construction. "Gravel bike", "commuter", "kids 20 inch" and "Class 3 e-bike" do not tell the schedule whether both wheels exceed 63.5 cm, whether the bike weighs under 16.3 kg, or whether the motor is the reason it moves. Those facts decide the code.
Where bikes, e-bikes and parts sit in the US tariff schedule
Rates below are the column 1 general rate and the China total after the Section 301 layers, read from the 2026 HTSUS, Revision 20. China pays the original Section 301 list rate plus the 12.5 percent layer that took effect on July 24, 2026 under heading 9903.05.31.
| Product | HTSUS line | General rate | From China in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kids bike, both wheels 63.5 cm or less | 8712.00.15 | 11% | 48.5% (List 3 plus 12.5%) |
| Adult bike, wheels over 63.5 cm, under 16.3 kg, tires 4.13 cm or less | 8712.00.25.00 | 5.5% | 43% |
| Other adult bike with wheels over 63.5 cm (heavier, or fat tires) | 8712.00.35.00 | 11% | 48.5% |
| E-bike, motor output 250 W or less | 8711.60.00.50 | Free | 37.5% (List 2 plus 12.5%) |
| E-bike, motor over 250 W | 8711.60.00.90 | Free | 37.5% |
| Lithium-ion e-bike battery shipped on its own | 8507.60.00.90 | 3.4% | 40.9% (9903.91.06 plus 12.5%) |
| Frames and forks, other than high-value or tubing sets | 8714.91.30.00 | 3.9% | 41.4% |
| Wheel rims | 8714.92.10.00 | 5% | 42.5% |
| Spokes | 8714.92.50.00 | 10% | 47.5% |
| Saddles | 8714.95.00.00 | 8% | 45.5% |
| Derailleurs and parts | 8714.99.50.00 | Free | 20% (List 4A 7.5% plus 12.5%) |
| Bicycle helmets | 6506.10.60.45 | Free | 20%, or 12.5% where a List 4A exclusion applies |
MPF and, for ocean freight, HMF come on top of every line. The full list-by-list picture for other products is on the Section 301 tariff list by product page.
Four calls that change what a bike importer pays in 2026
1. The motor moves the whole bike to another chapter
A bicycle "with electric motor for propulsion" is 8711.60, not 8712, whatever the pedals, the class sticker or the marketing says. The general rate is Free, which tempts people to think e-bikes are cheaper to bring in. From China they are not: 8711.60 sits on Section 301 List 2 at 25 percent, and the 12.5 percent layer stacks on top, so 37.5 percent in total. The statistical suffix then splits at 250 W of output, which matters for trade data and for how CBP reviews the entry. A hub motor kit sold without the bike is a different article and is generally classified as a motor in Chapter 85.
2. Wheel size and weight split 5.5 percent from 11 percent
Among pedal bikes, the lower 5.5 percent rate at 8712.00.25 is reserved for bikes with both wheels over 63.5 cm (25 inches) that weigh under 16.3 kg complete without accessories and do not take tires thicker than 4.13 cm. A light road bike usually qualifies. A steel cruiser, a heavy hybrid or anything on fat tires falls to 8712.00.35 at 11 percent. So does every kids bike with 24-inch or smaller wheels, under 8712.00.15. Your spec sheet needs weight and tire width per model, or the code is a guess.
3. Origin now decides as much as the code
China carries the original 301 lists plus 12.5 percent. Vietnam and Thailand also pick up 12.5 percent under the July 24 action, and Cambodia 10 percent. Taiwan, where a large share of mid and high-end frames and bikes are built, is treated differently: under heading 9903.05.76, a line whose general rate is under 10 percent is charged 10 percent in total, while lines at 10 percent or more pay only their general rate. A 5.5 percent road bike from Taiwan therefore enters at 10 percent, against 43 percent for the same bike from China. Sourcing decisions in this industry are now tariff decisions, and teams that run supplier quotes through procurement software should carry the landed duty by origin into every comparison.
4. Parts are not one rate
Parts in 8714 run from Free to 10 percent at the general rate, and the 301 list differs by part. Frames, rims, hubs, brakes, saddles and cranks are on List 3 at 25 percent. Derailleurs and the other 8714.99 items are on List 4A at 7.5 percent. A bill of materials classified as "bicycle parts, 8714.99" across the board is wrong on most lines, and the difference between 20 and 47.5 percent is the margin on an aftermarket catalog. Batteries are their own case: since January 1, 2026 all of 8507.60 from China carries 25 percent under 9903.91.06, not the old 7.5 percent.
The safety side of a bike entry
Classification also feeds the product safety review. Under 16 CFR 1512, a two or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor under 750 W, with a top motor-assisted speed under 20 mph, counts as a bicycle and must meet the bicycle safety standard. Bicycle helmets must meet 16 CFR 1203. On June 24, 2026 the CPSC proposed a new 16 CFR Part 1265 for e-bike lithium-ion batteries, built on UL 2849, with third-party testing for children's products; comments closed on August 24, 2026 and no final rule had been issued when this was written. Importers planning 2027 e-bike orders should budget for testing now.
Bike and e-bike classification tools compared
| Tool | Code depth | Shows why the code applies | Best for | Published pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TariffWise | 10-digit HTSUS with the 2026 duty stack by origin and landed cost | Yes, reasoning on every result plus runner-up codes | US bike brands, distributors and shops classifying complete bikes and parts before an order | $59, $199, $499 a month |
| Gaia Dynamics | HS and HTS, several countries | Yes, with ruling citations | Brands selling into several markets, yearly billing | $99, $379, $1,399 a month, billed yearly |
| Quickcode | HTS with rulings and notes beside it | Yes, research panel | Brokers and classifiers who read rulings first | Free for 10 a month, then from $749 a month |
| GingerControl | HTS with stacked duty | Yes, interactive questions | Importers that also want refund and audit services | No published rate card |
| Descartes CustomsInfo | Multi-country tariff content | Research library | Large teams classifying for many countries | Not published |
| Licensed customs broker | 10-digit on the entry | On request | Contested products and the entry itself | About $50 to $200 per product review |
The wider field is on the best HS code classification software roundup. Test any tool the same way: take ten models your team has argued about, including a fat-tire bike, a kids bike, an e-bike and a frame, and compare all ten digits and the stated reason. For parts made mostly of steel and aluminum, the steel and aluminum importers comparison covers how the metals rules interact with classification.
How much does it cost to classify a bike catalog?
| Catalog | Broker review at $50 to $200 each | TariffWise |
|---|---|---|
| 40 models for a new model year | $2,000 to $8,000 | Starter, $59 for the month |
| 700 bikes, e-bikes and aftermarket parts | $35,000 to $140,000 | Growth, $199 for the month, one CSV run |
| A 5,000-line parts and accessories distributor | Rarely quoted per line at this size | Business, $499 for the month |
Run the catalog as a CSV once, read the reasoning on anything flagged, and send the handful of contested models to your broker. Plans and seats are on the classification pricing page, and the landed cost calculator turns each code into a per-unit cost with the 301 layers, MPF and HMF included. Starting codes for other product families are on HS code lookup by product.
Questions bike and e-bike importers ask before choosing a tool
What is the HS code for an electric bicycle?
An electric bicycle classifies in subheading 8711.60, cycles with an electric motor for propulsion. In the US it is 8711.60.00, split into 8711.60.00.50 for motor output of 250 W or less and 8711.60.00.90 for more powerful motors. The general rate is Free, but from China Section 301 List 2 adds 25 percent and the July 2026 layer another 12.5 percent.
What is the HS code for bicycle parts?
Bicycle parts classify in heading 8714 by part: 8714.91 for frames and forks, 8714.92 for rims and spokes, 8714.93 for hubs and freewheels, 8714.94 for brakes, 8714.95 for saddles, 8714.96 for pedals and cranks, and 8714.99 for the rest, including derailleurs. General rates run from Free to 10 percent, and the Section 301 list differs by part.
What is the import duty on e-bikes from China?
In September 2026, an e-bike from China pays 37.5 percent: a Free general rate, 25 percent under Section 301 List 2 and 12.5 percent under heading 9903.05.31 from July 24, 2026. A battery shipped separately is 40.9 percent. The IEEPA tariffs ended after the Supreme Court's February 20, 2026 decision, and the temporary Section 122 surcharge expired on July 23, 2026.
Is there an anti-dumping duty on bicycles from China?
No order is in force on bicycles. Commerce found dumping in 1996, but the US International Trade Commission found no injury to the US industry, so no order was issued. We found no current anti-dumping or countervailing order on bicycles, e-bikes or bicycle parts from China, but aluminum parts should still be checked against the aluminum extrusions orders.
Can software classify a whole bike and parts catalog at once?
Yes. On TariffWise's Growth and Business plans you upload a CSV with a description, wheel size, weight and motor output per row and get a 10-digit HTS code, the reasoning and the 2026 duty by origin for each line. A 700-line catalog is one run on the $199 plan.
Who is responsible if a bike is misclassified?
The importer of record. Under 19 USC 1484 you must use reasonable care in classifying your goods, whether a broker, a tool or an employee chose the code. Keep the spec sheet behind each code, because wheel diameter, weight, tire width and motor output are the facts a CBP reviewer will ask for.