How to find the HS code for any product
Every product you ship abroad needs a customs code. Get it right and the parcel goes through with the correct duty. Get it wrong and the parcel is held, sent back, or charged the wrong amount. This guide shows how the codes work and how to find yours in four steps.
How an HS code is built
The Harmonized System is maintained by the World Customs Organization and used by over 200 countries. The code gets more specific with every pair of digits:
| Digits | Level | Example: stoneware mug |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Chapter | 69: ceramic products |
| 4 | Heading | 6912: ceramic tableware, not porcelain |
| 6 | Subheading (the same worldwide) | 6912.00 |
| 8 to 10 | National lines | US 6912.00.4400: mugs and other steins |
The first 6 digits work on any customs form. The UK and EU add digits for their own tariffs, and the US uses 10 digits, all of which it needs on every parcel.
Find your code in four steps
1. Describe the product the way customs would
Write down what it is, what it's mainly made of and what it's for. “Handmade gift for her” tells customs nothing. “Sterling silver ring, hammered band” tells them almost everything. Material decides more codes than anything else.
2. Find the heading
Search an official tariff for the plain name of the product, then read the heading text. Codes go by what the item is before what it's made of: a candle in a glass jar is a candle (3406), because the jar is packaging. A set is classified by the part that gives it its character.
3. Narrow it down inside the heading
Within the heading, the lines usually split by material, type or value. Silver jewellery and gold-plated jewellery sit in different headings. Knitted scarves and woven scarves sit in different chapters. Check the line that matches your product exactly, not the nearest one.
4. Check it against a ruling
US Customs publishes its past decisions in the CROSS database. If customs has already classified a product like yours, that ruling is the best evidence your code is right. Search it for your product name and compare.
Free official tools
- UK Trade Tariff: UK commodity codes, with search and browsing by section.
- US Harmonized Tariff Schedule (USITC): the official 10-digit US codes and their duty rates.
- US Customs rulings (CROSS): real classification decisions to compare your product against.
- EU TARIC: the EU's tariff database.
Faster: type your listing title into the free DutyTag checker. It searches the US schedule and over 70,000 published rulings and returns the 6-digit and 10-digit code with a plain-English reason. If one detail decides the code, it asks you instead of guessing.
Codes for common handmade products
| Product | HS (6 digits) | US code (10 digits) |
|---|---|---|
| Soy wax candle in a jar | 3406.00 | 3406.00.0000 |
| Stoneware coffee mug | 6912.00 | 6912.00.4400 |
| Sterling silver ring | 7113.11 | 7113.11.5000 |
| Knitted wool scarf | 6117.10 | 6117.10.1000 |
| Gold-plated brass earrings | 7117.19 | 7117.19.9000 |
| Vinyl sticker pack | 3919.90 | 3919.90.5060 |
| Crochet cotton toy | 9503.00 | 9503.00.0073 |
| Leather keyring | 4205.00 | 4205.00.8000 |
These are typical codes for the product as described. A different material or use can change the code. See more in the HS code directory.
Mistakes that get parcels held
- Only 6 digits on a US parcel. The US needs all 10.
- One code for the whole shop. Each product needs its own.
- Coding by the gift, not the item. “Gift set” isn't a code. Classify by what's inside.
- Copying a competitor's code. Their product may differ in material, which changes the line.
- A description that doesn't match the code. Customs checks one against the other.
Codes for your whole shop in minutes
Upload your Etsy, eBay or Shopify listings file. Every product and variation gets its codes, a reason you can read and a customs description, and anything uncertain comes back with one question.
Sell on Etsy? Add the free Chrome extension to see the code inside Etsy's listing editor.
Questions sellers ask
What is an HS code?
A Harmonized System code is the number customs uses to identify a product. The first 6 digits are shared by over 200 countries. Each country adds more digits for its own tariff: the UK uses 10-digit commodity codes and the US uses 10-digit HTS codes.
Is an HS code the same as a commodity code or HTS code?
They share the same first 6 digits. Commodity code is the UK and EU name for the longer national code. HTS code is the US name for its 10-digit code.
How many digits does the US need?
All 10. Since the US ended duty-free entry for small parcels, every parcel needs the full 10-digit HTS code for each item, and a 6-digit code can get a parcel held.
What decides the code: what it is or what it's made of?
Usually what it is first, then the material. A candle is a candle whatever the wax. For many products, such as jewellery, bags and clothing, the material then decides which line inside that heading applies.
Can I use the same code for every product in my shop?
No. Each different product needs its own code. Using one code for everything is a common reason parcels are held, and it can mean paying the wrong duty.
Sources
- World Customs Organization: what is the HS
- USITC: Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
- UK Trade Tariff
- CBP CROSS rulings
This guide explains the rules as we understand them on the date above. It is not legal or customs advice.