Saree HSN code by fabric
A saree is sold as a length of fabric, not a stitched garment, so its HSN code follows the fibre it is woven from: 5007 for silk, 5208 to 5212 for cotton and 5407 or 5408 for polyester and other synthetics. The customs tariff lists sarees as a line inside each fabric heading (First Schedule, Customs Tariff Act 1975, checked 30 Sept 2026).
Silk, cotton and synthetic sarees
- Silk saree: 5007. Tariff item 50072010: sarees with 85% or more silk. Art silk is man-made filament, so it goes under 5407 or 5408.
- Cotton saree: 5208. Tariff item 52081120 is an unbleached plain-weave cotton saree up to 100 g/m², 52085120 the printed one. Over 200 g/m² moves to 5209; blends with man-made fibre to 5210–5212.
- Polyester / synthetic saree: 5407. Tariff item 54075240 covers dyed polyester sarees and 54075430 printed ones. Viscose (rayon) filament sarees go under 5408.
GST rate on sarees after 22 Sept 2025
Sarees of silk, cotton or synthetic fabric are taxed at 5% GST, and the 22 Sept 2025 rate reset did not change that. What it changed was the garment band beside it: stitched apparel now pays 5% up to ₹2,500 per piece and 18% above. Man-made yarn and fibre, the inputs for polyester sarees, were cut to 5% (Notification 9/2025–CT(Rate), 17 Sept 2025; PIB factsheet).
| Item | Before 22 Sept 2025 | From 22 Sept 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Saree fabric (silk, cotton, synthetic) | 5% | 5% |
| Stitched garment, sale value up to the limit | 5% up to ₹1,000 | 5% up to ₹2,500 |
| Stitched garment above the limit | 12% | 18% |
| Man-made yarn / fibre | 12% / 18% | 5% |
On an invoice, 5% is 2.5% CGST plus 2.5% SGST within a state, or 5% IGST across states. Pages showing 0% or 12% for a saree fabric are wrong: it was 5% before 22 Sept 2025 and is 5% now (table above).
What to enter on Meesho and Flipkart
- Pick the fabric row from the table. In a mixed-fibre saree, the fibre largest by weight decides.
- Enter the HSN code in the HSN field of the catalog form or bulk-upload sheet: 4 digits (for example 5208) if your turnover is up to ₹5 crore, 6 digits if above.
- Choose 5% as the GST rate; the garment band is only for ready-to-wear sarees.
- Use the same code and rate on your tax invoice and in GSTR-1 Table 12: a listing at 5208 with an invoice at 5407 is a mismatch.
Example (illustrative, not a real seller): a Meesho supplier uploading 40 cotton saree designs in one bulk sheet enters 5208 and 5% on all 40 rows, and 5208 on every invoice. If three designs are ready-to-wear sarees above ₹2,500, those rows move to 6211 and 18%.
Check the payout with the Meesho seller calculator, work out the tax with the GST calculator and set the price with the price per piece calculator. Once the code and rate are set, ListMagic, a Chrome extension, fills the Meesho Supplier Panel catalog form; you check it and press Submit. Free plan to start.
Why a saree HSN code gets flagged as a mismatch
- Listing and invoice disagree. The code on the catalog, the tax invoice and GSTR-1 Table 12 must be the same.
- An unstitched saree filed as a garment. 6211 is only for a pre-stitched or ready-to-wear saree; a saree length takes its fabric code.
- Wrong number of digits. 4 digits up to ₹5 crore turnover, 6 above (Notification 78/2020–Central Tax); the 8-digit item is for customs.
- Ready-to-wear saree above ₹2,500 at 5%. As a garment it moves to 18% above ₹2,500 a piece.
4, 6 or 8 digits: which one to use
Use 4 digits if your aggregate turnover in the previous year was up to ₹5 crore and 6 digits if it was above. For sellers under ₹5 crore, the code is optional on invoices to unregistered buyers (B2C) but required on B2B invoices (CBIC Notification 78/2020–Central Tax, 15 Oct 2020, in force from 1 April 2021; see the GSTN advisory on HSN reporting in GSTR-1). The 8-digit tariff item belongs on customs and export/import documents. Confirm any code on the GST portal HSN search.
Stitched, embroidered and designer sarees
A pre-stitched or ready-to-wear saree is a garment, not fabric, so it moves to chapter 62 and the price band applies: 5% up to ₹2,500 per piece, 18% above. Use heading 6211 (other garments), or chapter 61 if the saree is knitted. Embroidery, zari or printing does not make it a garment; zari-bordered sarees have their own tariff lines (52083910 for dyed cotton). A saree sold with an unstitched blouse piece, or with fall and pico done, is still one saree at its fabric code and 5%. Borderline? Ask your CA: above ₹2,500 the gap is 13 points.
Related HSN codes for saree sellers
- Kurti HSN code
- Ladies suit and kurta set HSN code
- Fabric HSN code
- GST on clothes: the ₹2,500 rule
- HSN code finder for lehenga, blouse and dupatta
- All HSN codes for online sellers
Frequently asked questions
What is the GST rate for sarees?
5% on an unstitched saree of any fabric and any price. A ready-to-wear saree is a garment: 5% up to ₹2,500 per piece and 18% above, from 22 Sept 2025.
What is the HSN code for silk sarees?
5007, woven fabrics of silk. The tariff item for a saree with 85% or more silk is 50072010.
What is the HSN code for suits and sarees in India?
A saree takes a fabric code (5007, 5208 or 5407). A stitched kurta-and-salwar set has its own tariff line: 6211 42 19 for plain cotton (6211 42 11 if Lucknow chikan), per the GST portal HSN master. Western suits are 6204, or 6104 if knitted.
Which HSN code do I enter on Meesho for a cotton saree?
5208 for most cotton sarees (85% or more cotton, up to 200 g/m²), with GST at 5%. Use 5209 if heavier and 5210–5212 if blended with polyester or viscose.
Do I need a 4, 6 or 8 digit HSN code?
4 digits up to ₹5 crore turnover, 6 digits above. The 8-digit code is for customs and export documents.
What is the HSN code for saree covers?
A saree cover is not a saree. It is classified as a bag or cover by its material and takes that heading’s rate, so search it on the GST portal HSN search.
Checked by the StitchMagic team on 30 Sept 2026. StitchMagic is a set of free tools and one AI listing agent (ListMagic) for online sellers in India that helps them list faster on Meesho, Flipkart and Amazon.in and sell more. Code changed? Tell us; we correct with a dated note.