Cloth HSN Code 5208: Cotton,Fabric Types, Classification & GST Rate

Vikash

08 Oct 2025 • 3 min read

What is HSN Code 5208?

HSN Code 5208 refers to woven cotton fabrics containing 85% or more cotton by weight and weighing not more than 200 grams per square meter. This category includes popular textiles like unbleached, bleached, dyed, and printed cotton fabrics used for apparel, sarees, shirt materials, dhotis, bedsheets, and more.

GST Rates & Exemptions for HSN Code 5208

As of 2025, the GST rate for all woven cotton fabrics under HSN 5208 is consistently 5%, whether the fabric is unbleached, bleached, dyed, or printed. There are no separate exemptions for specific variants or uses—nearly all retail and wholesale trade in these fabrics attracts the same GST rate according to official government notifications.

Table Notes

The following rates apply to both handloom and powerloom goods within the 5208 code, provided the fabric composition and weight match the HSN standard.
GST is charged at 5% plus 0% cess on the invoice value—valid for all-India transactions since 01/07/2017.
Classification includes special applications: sarees, dhotis, shirting, bedsheets, cambrics, muslin, casement, dobby, and more.

GST Rates Applicable Under 5208

HSN Code	Fabric Type / Description	GST Rate (%)	Example Uses
5208	Woven cotton fabrics, ≥85% cotton, ≤200g/m², unbleached/bleached/dyed/printed/plain/twill/other	5	General cotton fabrics
52081110	Plain weave, unbleached, ≤100g/m²: Dhoti	5	Traditional dhotis
52081120	Plain weave, unbleached, ≤100g/m²: Saree	5	Sarees
52081130	Plain weave, unbleached, ≤100g/m²: Shirting fabrics	5	Shirts
52081140	Plain weave, unbleached, ≤100g/m²: Casement	5	Home, furnishing
52081310	3- or 4-thread twill, unbleached: Shirting fabrics	5	Office/formal wear
52082110	Plain weave, bleached, ≤100g/m²: Dhoti	5	Bleached dhotis
52082120	Plain weave, bleached, ≤100g/m²: Saree	5	Bleached sarees
52083110	Dyed, plain weave, ≤100g/m²: Lungi	5	South Indian lungis
52084110	Yarn-dyed, plain weave, ≤100g/m²: Bleeding Madras	5	Specialty printed fabrics
52085110	Printed, plain weave, ≤100g/m²: Lungi	5	Printed lungis
...	(See full Cleartax table for complete codes and subtypes)	5	All woven cotton fabrics

What’s Included in 5208 Fabrics?

HSN 5208 covers unbleached, bleached, dyed, or printed cotton fabrics above 85% cotton, max 200 g/m², with detailed sub-categories for variety. The range includes sarees, dhotis, shirting, bedsheets, lungis, cambrics, muslin, casement, casement, dobby, sheeting, and more—everyday and specialty fabrics for domestic and commercial use.

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Key Exemptions Under GST for 5208

No common GST exemptions apply to finished woven cotton fabrics in HSN 5208. Unprocessed raw cotton or certain handloom products (specified by government notifications) may enjoy exemptions, but woven fabrics, whether powerloom or handloom, are standardly taxed at 5%.

Input Tax Credit (ITC) Rules for Cotton Fabrics

ITC (Input Tax Credit) can be claimed by businesses (fabricators, traders, exporters, garment manufacturers) purchasing HSN 5208 fabric for commercial use, further production, or resale. Invoices must be GST-compliant. End-users/retail buyers are not ITC eligible; ITC benefits are meant for registered business entities only.

GST on Cloth Billing: Practical Scenarios

A wholesaler invoices 500 meters of cambric shirting (HSN 5208) at 5% GST; the buyer, if GST-registered, can claim ITC.
Retail sellers of sarees or bedsheets below ₹2500 each use HSN 5208 and apply 5% GST on all invoices.
An exporter buying bulk casement fabric (≥85% cotton, ≤200 g/m²) can use ITC from GST paid on fabric purchases.

Common Mistakes in Cloth GST

Using HSN 5208 for synthetic- or polyester-heavy blends (should use 5209–5212).
Billing at higher or lower rates due to outdated groupings (current woven cotton is all 5%).
Not correctly tracking or documenting input tax credit.
Failing to use exact description/subtype, risking audit queries.

Conclusion

HSN Code 5208 is the definitive GST classification for India’s woven cotton fabric sector, creating clarity, uniformity, and affordability with a flat 5% GST rate nationwide in 2025. Proper code usage protects from compliance risks and ensures maximum claim of credits in supply chains.

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Also check

T Shirt HSN Code 6109
Service Charge HSN Code 9983

FAQs: HSN Code 5208 & GST on Cotton Fabric

What is HSN 5208?

It’s the GST code for cotton woven fabrics (≥85% cotton, ≤200 g/m²) covering most mainstream Indian cotton textiles.

What’s the GST rate for HSN 5208 cotton cloth?

The GST rate is 5% for all woven cotton fabrics under HSN 5208, effective India-wide for 2025.

Can business buyers claim ITC on cotton fabric under 5208?

Yes, GST-registered businesses can claim ITC for purchases used in manufacturing or resale, with proper GST invoicing.

Which cotton fabrics are GST-exempt?

Only unprocessed raw cotton, cotton waste, or specific notified handloom goods outside HSN 5208 may be exempt.

Which code covers bleached, dyed, or printed cotton?

All such varieties (meeting weight/content norms) fall under subcategories of HSN 5208 and are taxed at 5%.