✨ Lighting, electrical and solar
HS Code for LED Strip Light in India: Module vs Luminaire, Duty and BIS
By Abhishek Sadashiv · 16 years of experience in global logistics · Updated 5 October 2026 · 5 min read
Usual HS code for led strip light (import)
9405 42 00
Other electric luminaires designed solely for LED. A complete strip kit with driver or plug is treated as a lighting fitting; a bare reel may be an LED module.
LED strip lights are a favourite with online sellers. Light, cheap to ship, and they sell well around Diwali. But they are also one of the products where I see the most disagreement on classification, because the same "LED strip" can arrive as a bare reel or as a boxed kit with an adapter and remote.
That difference matters more than most people expect.
The usual HS code: 9405 42 00
| Level | Code | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter | 94 | Furniture, lighting fittings and the like |
| Heading | 9405 | Luminaires and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified |
| Subheading | 9405 42 | Other electric luminaires, designed solely for LED light sources |
| Tariff item | 9405 42 00 | Other, designed for use solely with LED light sources |
A retail strip kit (strip, power adapter or driver, controller, sometimes a remote) is a ready-to-use lighting product. You stick it up, plug it in and it works. That's why it usually sits with luminaires in 9405, under the 2022 lines created for LED-only fittings.
Why not 8539 51 00 (LED modules)?
Here's the real confusion. Since 2022, 8539 51 00 covers LED modules: LEDs on a circuit board, meant to be built into a fitting. A bare reel of strip with no plug, no driver and no controller, sold to installers or lighting makers, can fairly be argued as a module. A complete kit sold to the end user generally can't.
Importers often pick one code for everything on the invoice. If your shipment has both bare reels and boxed kits, they may need separate lines.
Not sure which line your led strip light 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 led strip light →What decides the final classification
- Bare reel vs complete kit: the single biggest factor (8539 51 vs 9405 42).
- Mains-voltage strips (230V, plug directly into a socket) are more clearly finished lighting products.
- Decorative lighting chains (rice lights, fairy lights, rope lights) are a related but separate product; check their code on their own.
- Solar-powered strips may fall under the photovoltaic line in 9405 41.
- Smart strips with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth don't usually change the code, but they add WPC.
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. Rates for chapter 94 and chapter 85 lighting lines are not always the same, which is one more reason the module vs luminaire question matters. Check the current rate for your exact line on the day you file.
The fastest way is to put your exact strip through a lookup, or use the free import duty calculator.
Compliance checklist for LED strip lights
| Requirement | Status | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| BIS registration (CRS) | 🟠 Check | Several LED lighting products are under BIS Compulsory Registration (LED luminaires, lighting chains, LED modules). Which entry covers your strip depends on its build and voltage. Confirm before ordering. |
| Legal Metrology | 🔴 For retail packs | Importer name and address, MRP, net quantity and customer care details on the box. |
| WPC approval | 🟠 Check | Only for smart strips with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth control. Simple IR remotes are usually not an issue. |
| Power adapter BIS | 🟠 Check | If an adapter is in the box, it may need its own BIS registration as well. |
| E-waste EPR | 🟠 Check | Check whether your product is covered under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022. |
🔴 Mandatory · 🟠 Check · 🟢 Not required
Mistakes that cost importers money
- Using one code for bare reels and kits on the same invoice.
- Assuming "low voltage" means no BIS. The strip may be exempt from one entry and caught by another.
- Ignoring the adapter packed inside the kit.
- Leaving out Legal Metrology details on private-label boxes.
My advice
Decide what you're actually importing first: a component for installers, or a finished product for consumers. That one answer drives the code, the BIS route and how customs will look at it. If you're unsure, check your exact strip before the supplier books the container.
Get the exact code and duty for your led strip light
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 led strip light 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 LED strip lights in India?
A complete LED strip kit is usually classified under 9405 42 00 (luminaires designed solely for LED). A bare reel without a driver or plug may be classified as an LED module under 8539 51 00.
▸Is an LED strip an LED module under 8539 51?
It can be, if it's a bare strip meant to be built into another product. Finished, ready-to-use kits are generally treated as lighting fittings under 9405.
▸Do LED strip lights need BIS certification in India?
Many LED lighting products are under BIS Compulsory Registration. Whether your strip is covered depends on its type and voltage, so confirm the applicable entry before importing.
▸Does a Wi-Fi LED strip need WPC approval?
Usually yes. Products with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth radios need WPC compliance before import.
Related HS codes
💡 Full guide: Importing LED Lights and Electrical Goods into India: HS Codes, BIS and QCOs →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.