Sourcing hex key sets from China

Zero duty on hex key sets

Heading 8204 covers hand-operated spanners and wrenches and interchangeable spanner sockets. Ordinary non-adjustable hex key sets belong in the non-adjustable wrench line. The table shows product variants sharing that tariff line, rather than separate commodity codes. See the socket wrench sets guide for the wider heading.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 17 October 2026, the supplied heading lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The facts record no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension, steel measure or attached import control. Import VAT is separate from duty.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual contents and product design before shipping. Adding other kinds of hand tools can change the classification of a retail set. Give your customs broker the contents list and photographs rather than relying on the supplier's description.

Specify the hex profile and ball end

List every size and state whether the set is metric or imperial. Specify across-flats dimensions and tolerances, arm lengths, end chamfers, straight or ball ends, steel grade, heat treatment, hardness and finish. Agree a torque test and acceptance criteria for each size. For ball ends, agree the working angle and test the narrowed neck separately.

Approve the holder as well as the keys: size markings, retention, removal force and the complete contents list. Consumer-use sets must be safe under general product safety law; this scope includes products likely to be used by consumers under reasonably foreseeable conditions. Keep mechanical test results tied to the supplied design and batch.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 3,000 metric hex key sets in plastic holders under 8204 11 00 00, invoiced at £4,500 free on board, with £450 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,950. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,950, so it is £990. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Tip fit: gauge across-flats dimensions and check engagement in matching hex recesses. Look for excessive clearance, rounded corners, oversized chamfers and burrs.

Steel and strength: compare material records and measured hardness with the order. Apply the agreed torque test and examine keys for twist, cracking and permanent bend.

Ball ends and finish: inspect the neck and ball profile, test angled engagement against the approved sample, and check for loose coating, sharp edges and rust.

Contents and holder: count every size, check markings against measured dimensions, and test retention after handling the packed set. Use the inspection guide to organise the checks.

What goes wrong

Poorly formed tips slip and damage screw recesses. Soft keys twist, while brittle keys can snap at the bend or ball-end neck. A sample that fits well does not establish that every production size has the same dimensions or heat treatment.

Sets also arrive with duplicate sizes, missing keys or holders that release the smallest tools in transit. Agree checks across the size range and inspect packed production goods. Record failures against the affected size and batch so the factory can correct the cause.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.