🔊 Mobile and electronics
HS Code for Bluetooth Speaker in India: Speaker Code, BIS and WPC
By Abhishek Sadashiv · 16 years of experience in global logistics · Updated 5 October 2026 · 5 min read
Usual HS code for bluetooth speaker (import)
8518 22 00
Multiple loudspeakers mounted in one enclosure. A single-driver speaker goes under 8518 21 00 instead.
Bluetooth speakers are a favourite with online sellers: easy to brand, easy to ship, and always in demand around festival season. But the code has a small trap in it that most people miss, and the compliance side has two separate approvals.
Here's how I'd work through it.
The usual HS code: 8518 22 00
| Level | Code | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter | 85 | Electrical machinery and equipment |
| Heading | 8518 | Microphones, loudspeakers, headphones and earphones, amplifiers |
| Subheading | 8518 22 | Multiple loudspeakers, mounted in the same enclosure |
| Tariff item | 8518 22 00 | Multiple loudspeakers, mounted in the same enclosure |
A Bluetooth speaker is a loudspeaker in a box. The Bluetooth receiver, amplifier and battery are there to make the speaker work; they don't change what it is. India's customs advance ruling authority has looked at a wireless smart speaker and kept it in heading 8518 for the same reason.
The trap is the split inside 8518. If the speaker has one driver, it's a single loudspeaker mounted in its enclosure: 8518 21 00. If it has two or more drivers (most stereo and "20W" portables), it's 8518 22 00. Check the spec sheet, not the marketing photo.
Why not 8519 or 8527?
The mix-up I see most is with speakers that do "a bit more". Suppliers sometimes put 8519 (sound reproducing apparatus) or 8527 (radio receivers) on the invoice because the speaker has an SD card slot, a USB port or FM radio. A speaker with a memory card slot that plays music on its own, or with a built-in FM tuner, can genuinely move to those headings. A plain Bluetooth speaker that only plays what your phone sends it stays in 8518.
Not sure which line your bluetooth speaker falls under?
Describe it or snap a photo. EximSetu asks the 2–4 questions that change the code, then gives the 8-digit HS code with reasoning, the duty in rupees and the compliance checklist.
Check my bluetooth speaker →What decides the final classification
- Number of drivers: one driver (8518 21 00) or several (8518 22 00).
- Built-in FM radio: may point to 8527.
- SD card or USB playback: may point to 8519, depending on how central it is.
- Party speakers with big amplifiers or karaoke mics: may be sets under 8518 or amplifiers; check them separately.
- Smart speakers with voice assistants: generally still 8518, but they bring extra WPC and data questions.
How import duty is worked out
Duty is calculated on the assessable value (CIF in rupees): Basic Customs Duty, then the Social Welfare Surcharge on that duty, then IGST on the total. Audio products have seen duty changes through Budget notifications, and 8518 21 and 8518 22 aren't always treated the same way, so check the current rate for your exact line on the day you file.
The easiest way is to describe your speaker in a lookup, or use the import duty calculator.
Compliance checklist for Bluetooth speakers
| Requirement | Status | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| BIS registration (CRS) | 🔴 Mandatory | Bluetooth speakers are under BIS Compulsory Registration (IS 616). Each model needs a registration in the manufacturer's name, with the R-number on the product. |
| WPC (ETA) | 🔴 Mandatory | Bluetooth uses radio spectrum, so an Equipment Type Approval is needed for the model. |
| E-waste EPR | 🟠 Check | Confirm coverage under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 and register with CPCB if covered. |
| Battery Waste Management (EPR) | 🟠 Check | Portable speakers have lithium batteries inside. The battery rules can treat the importer of equipment with batteries as a producer. |
| Legal Metrology | 🔴 For retail packs | Importer details, MRP, net quantity and customer care details on the box. |
| Dangerous goods shipping | 🟠 Check | Batteries inside equipment ship as UN 3481 by air. Keep the MSDS and UN 38.3 report ready. |
🔴 Mandatory · 🟠 Check · 🟢 Not required
Mistakes that cost importers money
- Picking 8518 21 or 8518 22 without checking the number of drivers.
- Copying 8519 or 8527 from the supplier for a speaker that is really just a speaker.
- Assuming a BIS registration covers a "new edition" with a different model number.
- Forgetting WPC because the product is "just Bluetooth".
My advice
Ask your supplier for the internal spec sheet: number of drivers, radio functions, card slot. Those three answers fix the code. Then line up BIS and WPC before the order ships, and Bluetooth speakers become a smooth, repeatable import.
Get the exact code and duty for your bluetooth speaker
Every variant is different. Answer 2–4 questions and get the 8-digit code with reasoning, duty in rupees and the compliance checklist in minutes.
Check my bluetooth speaker free →Written by
16 years of experience in global logistics
Built EximSetu after 16 years in global logistics, watching shipments get held, reassessed or delayed because of a wrong HS code or a missed compliance step. Every guide here is written from that experience, for the people who actually move cargo.
Frequently asked questions
▸What is the HS code for a Bluetooth speaker in India?
Usually 8518 22 00 for speakers with multiple drivers in one enclosure, or 8518 21 00 for a single-driver speaker.
▸Is a Bluetooth speaker with FM radio a different HS code?
It can be. A built-in FM tuner or standalone card playback may move the product to 8527 or 8519, so check your exact model.
▸Do Bluetooth speakers need BIS certification in India?
Yes. Bluetooth speakers are under BIS Compulsory Registration (IS 616), and each model must carry the BIS registration number.
▸Do Bluetooth speakers need WPC approval?
Yes. Bluetooth devices need an Equipment Type Approval (ETA) from WPC before import and sale in India.
Related HS codes
🎧 Full guide: Importing Consumer Electronics into India: HS Codes, Duty, BIS and WPC →This page is general information, not legal advice. The usual code can change with the exact product, and rates and rules change by notification. Always confirm for your exact product with your customs broker or the official notification.