Sourcing dial bore gauges from China

Duty on dial bore gauges

Heading 9017 includes hand-held length-measuring instruments. Its micrometers, callipers and gauges line is the starting point for mechanical dial bore gauges used to compare internal diameters against a setting reference. The table separates buying configurations sharing that line from dedicated parts and accessories.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, complete gauges under 9017 30 00 00 and parts under 9017 90 00 00 carry 2% duty on goods from China. The supplied tariff data records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. The wider heading includes plotters at 0%; that rate does not describe dial bore gauges.

Confirm the commodity code using the instrument description and the contents of each set, especially when importing replacement components separately. See the micrometers guide for related instruments within the wider heading.

Specify the bore range and setting method

Define the bore diameter range, usable measuring depth, dial graduation, permitted indication error and repeatability. List the anvils, spacers, extension rods and indicator included in each case. Agree contact material, centring arrangement and indicator mounting dimensions so replacements fit the approved assembly.

A dial bore gauge compares a bore with a reference setting. Agree whether setting rings or a micrometer-based setting fixture will be supplied, and request calibration results identifying the assembled gauge and the references used. Include instructions showing how to set the gauge and rock it through the bore to find the reversal point.

For consumer sales in the UK, you must not sell products you know, or should have known, are unsafe. Treat sharp contacts, loose components and unclear handling instructions as matters to assess alongside measurement performance.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of dial bore gauge sets for a workshop equipment distributor under 9017 30 00 00, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,900. Duty at 2% is £218. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £11,118, so it is £2,223.60. Import taxes total £2,441.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £218 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Measurement: set the assembled gauge against calibrated references at agreed points across its range; compare indication error with the purchase specification.

Repeatability: withdraw and reinsert the gauge, repeat the rocking movement and check that the reversal reading and reference-setting return remain consistent.

Mechanism: check contact movement, spring return, centring action and indicator clamp security; look for sticking, backlash and damaged contact surfaces.

Set contents: match anvils, spacers and extensions to the packing list; check identification, calibration records and dry protective packaging. Agree the checks through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

A fine dial graduation can disguise poor repeatability. Sticking contacts, loose indicator clamps and worn centring parts produce readings that change with the operator's movement. An instrument can also return to its setting reference correctly yet show error elsewhere in its travel, so a zero check alone is insufficient.

Missing spacers or mismatched anvils leave gaps in the advertised measuring range. Calibration paperwork may identify only the indicator rather than the complete assembly. Keep an approved set and its component list, and compare delivered gauges against both before putting them into service.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.