The HSN code for a flask is 9617, taxed at 18% GST. Heading 9617 covers vacuum flasks and other vacuum vessels complete with cases, along with parts of them other than glass inners. It applies to thermos flasks, insulated bottles and insulated tumblers alike, because the classification follows the vacuum construction rather than the shape or the name on the box.
Key Facts
- Flask — HSN 9617, GST 18%. The heading is written specifically around vacuum vessels.
- 9617 covers the flask complete with its case, and parts other than glass inners.
- Shape is irrelevant: a vacuum bottle, flask and tumbler all fall here.
- A non-vacuum double-walled vessel is not a 9617 product.
- Six-digit HSN is required on invoices above the prescribed turnover threshold.
What 9617 actually covers
Heading 9617 is one of the more precisely drawn headings in the schedule, because it names the technology rather than the product: vacuum flasks and other vacuum vessels, complete with cases, and parts of them other than glass inners.
That wording is why the code is stable across a category that keeps renaming itself. A thermos, a vacuum bottle, an insulated tumbler and a flask are the same thing for classification, and all invoice at 18%.
| Item | HSN | GST |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuum insulated steel bottle or flask | 9617 | 18% |
| Single-wall steel bottle | 7323 | 18% |
| Reusable plastic bottle | 3924 | 18% |
| PET packaging bottle | 3923 | 18% |
| Glass bottle | 7010 | 18% |
| Copper bottle | 7418 | 18% |
| Aluminium bottle | 7615 | 18% |
Rates as published by CBIC. Verify the current rate on the CBIC rate finder before filing — this is a reference, not tax advice.
What it does not cover
- Single-wall steel. A plain steel bottle or flask with no vacuum is a household article under 7323.
- Double-walled with air. Two walls without evacuation is not a vacuum vessel; it sits with ordinary household articles.
- Glass inners sold separately. The heading explicitly excludes glass inners from its parts provision.
- Hip flasks for spirits. A non-insulated metal hip flask is a different product and a different heading — check it rather than assuming 9617.
On an invoice
State 9617 with the GST rate and, above the prescribed turnover threshold, at six digits rather than four. For bulk orders, confirm it on the purchase order — a code agreed after invoicing means a credit note rather than a correction.
A reference for invoicing, not tax advice. Confirm the current rate on the CBIC rate finder.
Disclosure: we are one of the brands
HYV publishes this guide and HYV sells insulated drinkware, so read the ranking with that in mind. What we can do is be specific about where we are not the answer: we do not make copper, glass or plastic bottles, and nothing in the retail range starts below ₹799. Where a competitor fits your use better, the sections above say so.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HSN code for a flask?
9617, taxed at 18% GST. The heading covers vacuum flasks and other vacuum vessels complete with cases, plus parts other than glass inners.
Is the HSN code the same for a thermos and an insulated bottle?
Yes. Both are vacuum vessels, so both fall under 9617 at 18%. The classification follows the construction, not the product name.
What is the GST rate on flasks in India?
18% under HSN 9617.
Does a double-walled flask without a vacuum use 9617?
No. Heading 9617 is written around vacuum vessels. Two walls with ordinary air between them is not one, and sits with household articles instead.
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