HS Code for Hard Drive: Classification of Storage Devices

Hard drives have transformed into an essential hardware device for saving files or documents. It primarily functions as internal storage for the computer and external storage to ensure the security of private or sensitive data in other devices. Although there are cloud storage services that offer very simple features, there are still risks of data breach, account loss, and far more expensive than a hard drive. Therefore, the hard drive is still a relevant device to store our crucial data and is in demand in the international market. For those of you who work in electronics or the device equipment trade, you are in the right place. In this article, we will learn about HS codes for hard drives and how to accurately classify them. 

What is a hard drive? 

A hard drive, also called a hard disk drive (HDD), is a component of hardware that has the function to store digital files or documents. It is commonly placed within computers and laptops, and it has a non-volatile memory characteristic, which means it stores the documents even after the device is turned off. Additionally, a hard drive is able to preserve data or information in the long term. 

Not only for the internal permanent computer component, but the hard drive can also be found as external storage. The function of an external hard drive is to expand the internal memory on your electronic devices or secondary memory. It is used to back up the crucial data in another place in case your device is broken or stolen. 

Different from an internal hard drive that is less mobile, an external hard drive is mostly designed to be highly portable. Meanwhile, the components of internal and external HDDs are the same, which contain spinning disks with magnetic materials to write and read data stored on the disk.

What is the main difference between HDD & SSD?

Other than a hard disk drive (HDD), there is a new type of hard drive called a solid-state drive (SSD), which proves to be faster than an HDD. Instead of being made from a spinning disk, SSDs are made from flash memory, which makes them more resilient and faster to read data. So, what is the actual difference between HDD and SSD? We will summarize the differences between HDD and SSD in the table below. 

Different factors	SSD	HDD
Capacity	Smaller storage capacity	Larger storage capacity
Speed	Much faster than HDD	Slower than SSD
Durability	SSD has higher durability in the long term because it has no moving parts like a spinning disk	HDD is slightly less durable than SSD in terms of durability because it has a spinning disk that is susceptible to failure.
Efficiency	Consume less energy	Consume higher energy
Cost	SSD is more expensive than HDD	HDD is cheaper than SSD

Other than SSD and HDD, there is a hybrid hard drive, called a solid state hybrid drive (SSHD). The hybrid drive products are invented to accommodate and combine the higher capacity from HDD with faster reading of documents on the drive using SSD technology. 

List of HS codes for hard drives 

In this section, we will guide you in classifying hard drives according to the Harmonized System (HS) code. The classification of HS code for a hard drive, including hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives, is not under the same umbrella. The types of hard drives can be classified under two chapters: Chapter 84 for machinery, mechanical apparatus, and Chapter 85 for electrical machinery and equipment. The following table will give you clarity about the classification of the 6-digit HS code for hard drives. 

This categorization is not final, and it is only an initial step that has been recognized internationally and administered by the World Customs Organization (WCO). As a requirement for export and import, you need to classify further into tariff codes from the respective countries. The extension tariff classification code depends on the destination country, and mostly they range from 8 to 12-digit numbers. 

Heading	Description	Subheading	Description
8471	Automatic data processing equipment and parts, including optical and magnetic readers.	8471.70	Storage equipment
8523	Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices, as well as smart cards.	8523.51	Semiconductor: Solid-state non-volatile storage devices

Top hard drive exporters and importers

After classifying the HS code for the hard drive, we need to know what the major players of hard drives are in international trade. This insight is important to understand the producers of hard drives and to analyse the market for this product. At this point, we can choose the hard disk drive under the HS code 8471.70. The following table shows the biggest exporter of HDD in the world in 2024. 

Country	Total Trade Value (USD)
China	14,856,286,016
Thailand	10,303,128,797
United States of America	5,936,917,868
Hong Kong	5,249,822,626
Ireland	2,141,624,336

Source: UN Comtrade Database, June 17, 2026

As displayed in the table above, the largest exporters are China, Thailand, the United States, Hong Kong, and Ireland. Then, we can move to look at the largest importers of HDD in the world in 2024 below. 

Country	Total Trade Value (USD)
China	19,204,413,009
United States of America	9,694,138,402
Mexico	6,436,868,229
Hong Kong	5,226,250,902
Germany	3,570,093,157

Source: UN Comtrade Database, June 17, 2026

From the above-mentioned data, China is not only the biggest exporter, but also the biggest importer of HDD in the world. It is followed by the United States, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Germany as the biggest buyers of HDD in the world. 

How to find the HS code for a hard drive 

Classifying the HS code for hard drives under the WCO standard might be quite simple. However, we need to understand that, as a procedure of export and import, we need to classify them into the domestic tariff classification. Subcategorization of additional HS codes for hard drive in national level is indeed confusing, and there are risks of missclassification.  

In order to simplify your tasks for international trade, HSCodeMatch can help you classify the HS code for hard drives instantly. Without further ado, we will guide you to find the accurate HS code for a hard drive using the HSCodeMatch app below 

Step 1: Type the hard drive and countries on the HSCodeMatch app

Open the HSCodeMatch app by accessing app.hscodematch.com and choosing the advanced feature, HS Code Search. Type the product name, the hard disk drive, and for this tutorial, we will choose countries based on the largest exporter and importer, such as Thailand and the United States. 

Step 2: The HS code results are sorted by best match 

HSCodeMatch will give the result based on the most relevant product classification code according to the keywords. Choose the best HS code for hard drives in the first row under the code 8471.70.20.00 (external hard disk drive units), as it has 99% match level. 

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Step 3: Find out the tariff rate and applicable regulations

Click Full Details to redirect to the HS Code Details page to find the tariff rates and regulations for exporting hard drives from Thailand to the United States. 

Step 4: Ask the AI Chatbot Assistant to get a comprehensive answer

After finding the tariff and regulations, you might be confused about the procedure to export a hard drive from Thailand to the United States. No need to worry, just ask the AI Chatbot Assistant to find a comprehensive tariff and regulations. 

Before trying out the AI Assistant on HSCodeMatch, we will give three examples of questions and answers. The following explanation will help you understand how the AI Chatbot Assistant complies with the comprehensive regulations for exporting hard disk drives (8471.70.20.00) from Thailand to the United States. 

Are there any additional tariffs for exporting HDDs from Thailand to the US?

No, exporting HDDs from Thailand to the United States is only subject to tariff classification and does not incur additional tariffs other than 0% based on Most Favoured Nation (MFN). Additionally, this trade lane has no impact on Column 2 duties, fair value investigations, or phytosanitary requirements. However, exporters and importers need to ensure the code classification according to the HS code as a requirement to enter the US. 

Regulation	Requirement	Deadline	Authority
Tariff Classification for HDDs	0% based on MFN duty rate for HDD with a diameter of more than 21 cm	During the import process	US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Column 2 Duty Rate	35% ad valorem duty if MFN is not eligible	During the import process	US Customs and Border Protection

Are there any U.S. import restrictions or licensing requirements for hard disk drives beyond tariffs?

No, most of the HDDs export compliance into the US is tariff classification, including duty-free for MFN countries. In addition, there are general trade compliance obligations, such as sanctions due diligence. There are no specific licensing requirements, phytosanitary certificates, or product safety standards for HDD imports. Thus, importers must focus on tariff classification and prevent transactions with entities that are under sanctions from the US government to stay in compliance. 

Regulation	Requirement	Deadline	Authority
Tariff Classification for HDDs	0% based on MFN duty rate for HDD with a diameter of more than 21 cm and 35% for Column 2 countries	During the import process	CBP
Regulatory Updates in the US	Due diligence to avoid distraction or relation with the sanctioned entities in the US	Ongoing	OFAC
Inaccuracy of US Customs and Foreign Steel Imports	CBP might investigate the violation of trade practices for electronic devices	Depends on the case	CBP

What documentation is required for duty-free entry of HDDs into the U.S.?

In order to export HDDs from Thailand to the US, exporters need to make sure to comply with the tariff classification code in the US or HTSUS. They also need to accurately label the HDDs under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, including contents, quantity, and detailed information about manufacturers. Not following this regulation might lead to customs delays and penalties. 

Based on the latest regulation, HDDs are not subject to an energy efficiency standard, but components of storage embedded motors are required to be accompanied by a specific certification. On the other hand, the Thai government also lift used HDDs from hazardous substances registration. This is the list of documentation requirements for exporting HDDs to the United States. 

Regulation	Requirement	Authority
Notification of the Ministry of Industry for used electrical and electronic devices	HDDs are not subject to the hazardous substances registration for export in Thailand	Department of Industrial Works
Tariff information	HDDs from Thailand are under the MFN tariff	CBP
Energy Conservation Program	HDD with embedded motors requires some certifications	DOE
Fair Packaging and Labeling Act	Must provide accurate labeling for HDDs	FTC, CBP

Conclusion 

The classification of the HS code for hard drives is quite easy to find. They are divided into two classifications, under Subheading 8471.70 for hard disk drive (HDD) and Subheading 8523.51 for solid state drive (SSD). However, 6-digit classification according to the WCO standard is only an initial step, and you need to find the full length of national variation of the HS code from the destination country. The further categorization of the HS code for hard drives at the national level depends on the local regulation. For example, in the United States, the classification of hard drives or storage devices is based on finished products and physical condition. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the HS code for hard drives

1. What is the national standard HS code or HTS code for external hard disk drives in the United States? 

The national standard HS code for external hard disk drives in the US is 8471.70.20.00. This code is specifically for the HDD unit to incorporate into the automated data processing system. Meanwhile, the external hard disk drive without a read-write unit assembled therein is 8471.70.10.00. 

2. What is the tariff rate for trading hard disk drives from Thailand to the United States? 

The tariff rate for exporting hard disk drives from Thailand to the United States is 0%, or there is no need to pay anything. This tariff rate applies to all countries under the Most Favoured Nations (MFN) regime, excluding countries under Column 2. 

3. What is the national standard HS code or HTS code for SSD in the United States? 

The national variation of HS codes for SSD in the United States is 8523.51.00.00. This HTS code is the only code that applies to exporting SSD to the United States. 

4. What are the main factors to determine the HS code for hard drives? 

The main factor to classify the HS code for hard drives is the finished products and components, even though they have the same functions. For hard disk drives (HDD), all of them are classified under the code 8471.70, and solid state drives (SSD) are under the code 8523.51. 

5. What is the applicable HS code for a floppy disk? 

HS code for floppy disk is under the same code as the HDD, which falls within the HS code 8471.70 for an automated process storage unit. However, the HS code for floppy disks can be further categorized based on the regional variation of the HS code in each country.