Product classification
HS code for Total station: 9015.20
Surveying equipment, theodolites and tachymeters (tacheometers).
Classification of total station under HS 9015.20
A total station is classified under HS code 9015.20, which covers theodolites and tachymeters (also known as tacheometers). Chapter 90 of the Harmonized System is dedicated to optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus. Heading 9015 specifically includes instruments used in surveying, hydrography, oceanography, hydrology, meteorology, or geophysics. A total station is an electronic/optical instrument used in modern surveying and building construction that combines an electronic theodolite with an electronic distance meter (EDM). Because its primary function is that of a theodolite (measuring horizontal and vertical angles) integrated with a tachymeter (measuring slope distances), it is classified under 9015.20. This classification is based on the instrument's technical capabilities and its primary use in the field of surveying and land measurement. The integration of a microprocessor for data storage and coordinate calculation does not change its fundamental classification as a surveying instrument.
- Covers
- Electronic total stations
- Reflectorless total stations
- Robotic surveying stations
- Integrated GPS total stations
- Digital tachymeters
- Manual total stations
- Also under 9015.20
- Leica Geosystems Total Stations
- Trimble S-Series
- Topcon GT Series
- Sokkia iX Series
- GeoMax Zoom Series
Codes often confused with 9015.20
Common mistake. Total stations are sometimes misclassified under HS code 9015.80, which is a "catch-all" category for other surveying instruments. However, because a total station is fundamentally a tachymeter (an instrument for rapid measurement of distance and angles), 9015.20 is the more specific and correct code. Another error is classifying them under 9015.40, which is reserved for photogrammetrical surveying instruments used in aerial photography. Furthermore, because modern total stations contain sophisticated computers and data loggers, they are occasionally misclassified under Chapter 84 (Automatic data processing machines). However, Note 1(m) to Chapter 84 excludes instruments and apparatus of Chapter 90, ensuring that the surveying function dictates the classification over the data processing capability.
Top exporters and importers of HS 901520 (the code used for total station), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 901520 (the code used for total station) in UN Comtrade data was Switzerland, with 32% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 16% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 901520, not only total station.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Switzerland $270M 32% of world exports
- 2 Singapore $159M 19% of world exports
- 3 Germany $158M 19% of world exports
World total: $838M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Germany $115M 16% of world imports
- 2 United States $81M 11% of world imports
- 3 United Kingdom $62M 8.7% of world imports
World total: $714M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Brazil NCM codes for total station
Brazil splits HS 9015.20 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 9015.20.10Theodolites and tachymeters, 1 arcsecond reading
- 9015.20.90Other theodolites and tachymeters
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about total station
What is the HS code for Total station?
The HS code for Total station is 901520 (Surveying equipment; theodolites and tachymeters (tacheometers)). The HS code for a total station is 9015.20, which covers theodolites and tachymeters.
How do I classify Total station for customs?
Total station is classified under HS code 901520 — Surveying equipment; theodolites and tachymeters (tacheometers). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is a tripod for a total station classified under the same code?
No, tripods are generally classified under HS code 9620.00, which covers monopods, bipods, tripods, and similar articles.
Which countries are the top exporters of total station (HS 901520)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 901520 (the code used for total station) in UN Comtrade data were Switzerland ($270M, 32% of world exports), Singapore ($159M) and Germany ($158M). World exports came to about $838M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of total station (HS 901520)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 901520 (the code used for total station) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($115M, 16% of world imports), the United States ($81M) and the United Kingdom ($62M). World imports came to about $714M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Is the HS code for Total station the same in all countries?
The base HS code 901520 for Total station is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.
What is the NCM code for total station in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 901520 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for total station depends on the product's details: 9015.20.10 (Theodolites and tachymeters, 1 arcsecond reading), 9015.20.90 (Other theodolites and tachymeters).