For invoicing, the HSN to state depends on the bottle: 9617 for vacuum insulated steel, 3924 for reusable plastic, 3923 for PET packaging bottles, 7010 for glass, 7418 for copper, 7323 for single-wall steel and 7615 for aluminium — all currently at 18% GST. Businesses with turnover above the prescribed threshold must state HSN at six digits rather than four, and for corporate or bulk orders it is worth agreeing the code with the supplier before the purchase order rather than after the invoice.
Key Facts
- The number of HSN digits required on an invoice depends on the supplier’s aggregate turnover, with larger businesses required to state six digits.
- Vacuum insulated steel bottles are invoiced under 9617; single-wall steel under 7323.
- All common water bottle classifications currently attract 18% GST.
- Agreeing the HSN before the purchase order avoids invoice re-issues on bulk and corporate gifting orders.
- Imports attract Basic Customs Duty and IGST on the assessable value in addition to classification.
- A description stating capacity and construction supports the classification if it is ever questioned.
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This page is about the practical end: what goes on the invoice, what procurement teams ask for, and where bulk orders come unstuck. For which code applies to which bottle, see the classification page.
The codes you will actually use
| HSN | What it covers | GST |
|---|---|---|
| 9617 | Vacuum insulated steel bottles and flasks | 18% |
| 3924 | Reusable plastic water bottles | 18% |
| 3923 | PET bottles for packaged drinking water | 18% |
| 7010 | Glass water bottles | 18% |
| 7418 | Copper water bottles | 18% |
| 7323 | Single-wall steel bottles (no vacuum) | 18% |
| 7615 | Aluminium water bottles | 18% |
How many digits to state
The number of HSN digits required on a tax invoice is tied to the supplier's aggregate turnover, with smaller businesses permitted fewer digits and larger ones required to state six. The thresholds have been revised more than once, so confirm the current requirement for your turnover band rather than copying what a previous invoice did.
Stating more digits than required is not a problem. Stating fewer than required is.
Bulk and corporate orders
Most HSN disputes we see are not really disputes about classification — they are timing problems. The order is placed, the goods ship, the invoice arrives with a code the buyer's finance team was not expecting, and it goes back for re-issue.
- Agree the HSN on the quotation, not the invoice. A quotation that already states the code and rate removes the whole problem.
- Watch mixed orders. An order combining vacuum bottles with, say, plastic sippers spans two codes and should be line-itemised accordingly rather than collapsed into one.
- Branded and personalised orders are still classified on the goods. Adding a logo does not change what the article is.
- Ask what the description will say. "Water bottle — 1L" is thin. "Vacuum insulated stainless steel bottle, 1 L" supports the classification on its face.
- Kits and hampers combining a bottle with other items may need a composite or mixed supply view, which changes how the rate is applied. This is genuinely a CA question.
For how bulk drinkware orders are specified more generally, see our corporate gift water bottles guide.
Imports
Classification does not change because goods are imported — a vacuum flask is 9617 whether it was made in Maharashtra or shipped in. What is added is Basic Customs Duty and IGST on the assessable value, with the IGST generally available as credit to a registered importer. Rates and any applicable cess should be checked against the current customs tariff for the specific code, since these are revised more often than the classification itself.
The rest of this reference
- Which HSN code applies to which bottle — classification by material, and the edge cases.
- GST rates on water bottles — the rate table and what changed in September 2025.
- Putting it on an invoice — procurement, bulk orders and imports.
Rates verified 7 September 2026. HSN classification is stable, but GST rates change by notification — the 22 September 2025 rationalisation removed the 12% and 28% slabs, and any reference still quoting 12% on these goods is out of date. Confirm the current rate against the CBIC rate finder before invoicing, and treat this page as general information rather than tax advice. Classification of a specific product is your CA's call, not ours.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many HSN digits are required on a GST invoice?
It depends on your aggregate turnover — smaller businesses may state fewer digits, larger ones are required to state six. The thresholds have been revised more than once, so confirm the current requirement for your band rather than copying an old invoice.
What HSN code should I use for bulk corporate water bottles?
The same code as any other bottle of that construction — 9617 for vacuum insulated steel, 3924 for reusable plastic — because branding and volume do not change classification. Agree it on the quotation rather than the invoice to avoid a re-issue.
Does adding a logo change the HSN code?
No. Personalisation does not change what the article physically is, so the classification is unchanged.
What HSN applies to a gift hamper containing a bottle?
A hamper combining a bottle with other goods may fall to be treated as a composite or mixed supply, which affects how the rate is applied across the whole supply. This is a genuine CA question rather than something to infer from a single article’s code.
What description should the invoice carry?
One that states capacity and construction — for example "vacuum insulated stainless steel bottle, 1 L" rather than just "water bottle". It costs nothing and it supports the classification if it is ever queried.
Quick reference
| Product | HSN | GST |
|---|---|---|
| Insulated stainless steel bottles and flasks | 9617 | 18% |
| Glass bottles and glassware | 7010 | 18% |
| Plastic / PET bottles | 3923 | 18% |
| Copper and brass vessels | 7418 | 18% |
General information from a supplier, not tax advice. Classification depends on the specific article and its construction — confirm with your own finance team or CA, whose reading of your circumstances is the one that counts.
The three questions procurement actually asks
- What rate applies to this item? Material no longer decides it — insulated steel is 18% under 9617, the same as glass and PET.
- Can we recover the GST? Generally not on goods given away as gifts. Budget inclusive.
- Will the supplier invoice against our GSTIN? Settle this before the order; it is a common and avoidable blocker.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HSN code for water bottle in India?
HSN 9617 for vacuum flasks/insulated steel; HSN 3924 for plastic; HSN 7010 for glass; HSN 7418 for copper.
What is GST on water bottles?
Vacuum insulated steel: 18% (HSN 9617). Plastic: 18% (HSN 3924). Glass: 18% (HSN 7010). Copper: 18% (HSN 7418).
Is input tax credit available on gift bottles?
Generally no under GST rules for gifts. Verify with your CA.
Related guides
Testing whether insulation actually works
Fill with ice water, leave four hours in a warm room, then touch the outside. A working vacuum bottle stays at room temperature and never sweats. Cold or condensation on the outside means the vacuum has failed.
This matters because vacuum failure is silent: the bottle still holds water and looks perfect, but retention drops from about 24 hours to four or six. Worth running inside the return window on anything new.
The four checks worth making before you buy
- Steel grade stated explicitly — 304, 18/8 or SUS 304. "SS" or "food-grade steel" without a number usually means grade 201, which pits in water contact.
- Double-wall vacuum construction if you want any temperature retention. Single-wall insulates nothing and sweats in humidity.
- BIS IS 17526:2021 certification with a CM/L number — the only retention claim in India that has actually been tested.
- Replaceable silicone gasket. Gaskets perish within 6-12 months of daily use; a sealed lid assembly means the bottle dies when the seal does.
Price tiers and what each genuinely buys in India
| Tier | What you get | What you give up |
|---|---|---|
| Under ₹400 | BPA-free plastic, sports and school bottles | All insulation; 2-3 year life |
| ₹400-800 | Entry insulated steel, basic double-wall | Certification; vacuum often fails in 12-24 months |
| ₹800-1,200 | Mainstream insulated from established brands | Full-range certification; premium lid engineering |
| ₹1,200-2,000 | Engineered lids, powder-coat finish, real warranty | Little — this is the value sweet spot |
| ₹2,500-6,000 | Imported premium; brand cachet, refined lids | Roughly 3x the price for equivalent retention |
Retention is physics and converges across properly built bottles. What the imported tier buys is brand, colour drops and lid refinement — not more hours of cold.
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