Sourcing hotel bed linen from India for the UK
Since 15 July 2026, Indian bed linen enters the UK at zero import duty. Here is what to specify, where it is made, and how an order runs.
Why India, and why now
India is one of the world's largest producers of cotton home textiles, with whole towns built around weaving, processing and stitching bed linen. Until July 2026, Indian textiles paid UK duties of up to 12%, while Bangladesh and Pakistan already entered duty-free.
The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) changed that. It came into force on 15 July 2026, and duty on Indian textiles and clothing dropped to zero, provided the goods meet the agreement's rules of origin and carry the right proof of origin.
Tariff codes to know
Bed linen falls under HS heading 6302. The main codes for hotel sheets and covers:
| HS code | Covers |
|---|---|
| 6302.31 | Bed linen of cotton, not printed. Most white hotel percale, including polycotton where cotton is the larger share by weight. |
| 6302.21 | Bed linen of cotton, printed. |
| 6302.32 | Bed linen of man-made fibres, not printed. For blends where polyester is the larger share. |
The UK uses 10-digit commodity codes built on these; we confirm the full code with you before shipping.
What to specify for hotel use
Hotel linen goes through industrial laundries dozens of times, so the specification matters more than the look of the sample.
- Fabric: 100% cotton percale for upscale rooms, or 60/40 or 50/50 polycotton for durability and faster drying.
- Thread count: T-200 is the workhorse; T-250 to T-300 for premium properties.
- Finish: plain white or a 1 cm satin stripe, which hides wear and reads as premium.
- Sizes: flat sheets, fitted sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases to UK single, double, king and super king, with your hem and pocket depths.
- Performance: shrinkage limits, colour fastness and durability to industrial washing, tested and reported.
- Certificates: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is commonly asked for by UK buyers; independent lab reports (SGS, Intertek, TÜV) can be arranged.
Where it is made
Most export-grade bed linen comes from a few clusters, each with its own strengths:
- Karur, Erode and Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu): woven home textiles and hotel linen, close to the Tuticorin and Chennai ports.
- Panipat (Haryana): made-ups, bedspreads, blankets and rugs, shipped through Mundra or Nhava Sheva.
- Solapur (Maharashtra): terry towels and bedsheets.
How an order runs
- Specification: you share sizes, fabric, thread count and quantities.
- Quotes: we get prices from several checked mills at different volumes (for example 500, 1,000 and 3,000 pieces), so you see how price moves with quantity.
- Samples: shortlisted samples are couriered to you before any order.
- Production and inspection: goods are inspected against the approved sample before packing, with a photo report.
- Shipping: we handle export documents, the proof of origin for zero duty, and freight on FOB or CIF terms to a UK port such as Felixstowe, Southampton or London Gateway.
Remember import VAT. Zero duty does not remove UK import VAT (20%). VAT-registered businesses can usually reclaim it.
Sources
- PIB, Government of India: India–UK CETA enters into force on 15 July 2026
- Just Style: Indian textiles secure zero-duty UK access under CETA
- UK Government: tariffs and customs for trade with India
- UK Integrated Online Tariff: look up a commodity code
This guide is general information, checked on 28 September 2026. Duty rates and rules change, and your exact tariff code decides what applies. We confirm the current rate for your product before we quote.