HS code: what it is and how to find the one for your products

What is an HS code

An HS code is a product classification number from the Harmonized System, a nomenclature maintained by the World Customs Organization (WCO). It has more than 5,000 commodity groups, each identified by a six digit code. According to the WCO, it is used by more than 200 countries and economies as the basis for their customs tariffs and trade statistics.

The code tells a customs officer what is in the box in a form every country reads the same way. A description such as "soy candle" can be translated or misread; the code cannot. Customs uses it to decide which duty rate applies and how the shipment is counted in trade statistics.

The digits are nested. The first 2 digits are the chapter, the first 4 digits are the heading, and the full 6 digits are the subheading. Each step narrows the product down, from a broad group of goods to a specific kind of item.

The WCO revises the system on a fixed cycle; USPS notes that every 5 years the WCO updates it. A code you looked up years ago can move, so check it again when you add a new product.

Why USPS customs forms and EU customs ask for it

USPS states it plainly: Customs authorities worldwide require HS Codes to screen incoming goods. On USPS customs forms the HS tariff code is a 6-to-10-digit identifier linked to the item description. The destination country uses the code to screen the package and apply the right duty.

You may not need to look the code up at all. When you ship through USPS online tools, such as Click-N-Ship or Customs Forms Online, and the item description is specific, USPS will provide an HS Code for your customs form during processing, according to USPS. USPS also says that instead of a general category, you must be specific. A description should say what the item is, what it is made of and what it is for. "Gift" or "jewelry" is too vague; "sterling silver pendant necklace" gives the tool enough to work with.

The European Union builds its tariff on the HS. The European Commission describes its Combined Nomenclature as a further development of the WCO's Harmonized System. It adds digits to the HS code to make an 8-digit code with its own duty rate. When you write the six digit code on a parcel to an EU country, customs there reads the first part of its own tariff line from it.

EU rules on small parcels are also changing. USPS describes the change this way: Starting July 1, 2026, packages with merchandise valued up to €150 sent to countries that follow EU customs rules may face new import duties and requirements. Who pays those duties, and when, is covered in the guide to DDP shipping.

How to find the HS code for handmade goods

Three free government tools cover almost every case. Start with the USPS lookup if you only ship parcels; use the Census Schedule B tool if you also export larger shipments.

1. Describe the item the way customs would

   Write what it is, what it is made of and what it is for: "hand-poured soy wax candle in a glass jar", "knitted wool beanie", "stoneware coffee mug". Material often decides the code. A silver ring and a brass ring sit in different headings.

2. Search the USPS HS code lookup

   The USPS lookup at tools.usps.com/hscode asks you to type a detailed description and returns the HS code for your customs form. USPS says you need a code for each item in your package, so a parcel with a candle and a mug needs two lines with two codes.

3. Confirm it in the Census Schedule B search

   The Census Bureau's Schedule B search engine is free and gives a 10-digit Schedule B number. According to the International Trade Administration, the first 6 digits of that number are the HS code, so you can copy those onto a postal customs form.

4. Check hard cases against binding rulings

   If two codes seem to fit, search CROSS, the US Customs rulings database. The ITA describes it as holding official, legally binding rulings on HTS numbers. A ruling on a product like yours shows how customs classified it.

5. Write the code down per product

   Save the code with each product listing. Use the same code every time you ship that product, and look again when you change materials or the WCO revises the system.

HS codes for common maker products: candles, jewelry, clothing, ceramics and prints

These are the headings and subheadings for products small makers ship most often, read on the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The first 6 digits of each US line are the international HS code. Treat them as a starting point: the right line depends on material, and for clothing on fibre and who it is made for.

HS code for jewelry: the material decides it. Sterling silver goes under 7113.11, gold under 7113.19, and anything without precious metal, including brass, copper and glass bead pieces, under 7117.

HS code for clothing: knitted and woven garments have separate headings, and the fibre changes the subheading. A knitted shirt falls under 6105, while a woven shirt sewn from cloth falls under 6205. A hand-knitted wool sweater goes under 6110.11.

HS code for candles: 3406.00.00.00 covers candles and tapers. Wax melts, diffusers and room sprays are different products, so look each one up on its own rather than reusing the candle code.

HS code vs HTS vs Schedule B

The three names describe the same code at different lengths and for different directions of trade. The ITA explains the split in two lines. For US exports, the Schedule B is used to classify products. For US imports, the Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) is used. Both are 10-digit numbers, and the first 6 digits of each are the shared HS code.

Most makers mailing parcels only need the six digit HS code. A Schedule B number matters when an export must be filed in the Automated Export System, which the ITA says applies when the value is more than $2,500 or the item needs a license.

The HTS matters when you bring goods in. If a brand has its products made abroad, such as cut-and-sew garments or ceramics from an overseas factory, the goods are classified under a 10-digit HTS number when they enter the United States. Search hts.usitc.gov by keyword or by the HS code, then read down to the line that matches your material and use. For hard cases, CROSS holds official, legally binding rulings on HTS numbers. The guide to DDP shipping covers who pays duties on parcels you send out.

Mistakes that hold up parcels

Most classification problems come from vague descriptions rather than wrong digits. These are the ones to avoid.

• One code for a mixed parcel. Each item type gets its own line and its own code.
• Describing the use but not the material. "Necklace" could be silver, gold or base metal, each with a different heading.
• Copying a code from a supplier or another seller without checking that the product is the same.
• Using a category word such as "gifts" as the description. USPS says that instead of a general category, you must be specific; it gives "one scented candle" as an acceptable version.
• Never rechecking. Codes change when the WCO revises the system, so review your list when that happens.

Where Nation fits

Questions about HS codes