HS code by category
HS code lookup by product: find the HTS code and duty for any category
Every product category has its own chapter, its own rules and its own duty band. This is the hub: pick your category for the codes that matter, or describe your exact item on the right and the AI returns the HS/HTS code, the US duty rate and its reasoning.
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The short answer
The HS code for a product depends on what the item is made of and what it does, and each broad category lives in a specific chapter of the Harmonized System. Electronics sit in Chapters 84 and 85, furniture in 94, footwear in 64, clothing in 61 and 62, jewelry in 71, auto parts in 87, toys in 95, cosmetics in 33, bags in 42, coffee in 9, watches in 91, industrial machinery in 84, medical devices in 90 and plastics in 39. The first six digits are the same worldwide; the US adds four more to reach the 10-digit HTS code that carries the duty rate. Duty ranges from zero on many electronics and toys to over 37 percent on some footwear, so the category is where the money is decided. Pick your product below to see how its chapter works, then confirm the exact code with the classifier.
HS codes by product category
Each guide breaks down the chapter, the common headings and the US duty band for that category, with a worked example. Start with your product family.
Ch. 84 & 85
HS code for electronics
Devices, components and PCBs. Most consumer electronics enter the US duty-free, but the exceptions bite.
Chapter 94
HS code for furniture
Seating, cabinets and parts. Duty runs from free to a few percent, and the material matters.
Chapter 64
HS code for footwear
Shoes and boots. Sole and upper material set the heading and a duty band that reaches 37.5 percent.
Chapter 71
HS code for jewelry
Gold, silver and costume pieces. Whether the metal is precious decides the heading and the duty.
Chapter 87
HS code for auto parts
Most vehicle parts fall in heading 8708 at 2.5 percent, but tires, batteries and glass classify elsewhere.
Chapter 95
HS code for toys
Most toys enter the US duty-free under heading 9503, with human dolls a notable exception.
Chapter 33
HS code for cosmetics
Makeup, skincare and perfume. Most cosmetics are duty-free, but FDA labeling rules apply at entry.
Chapter 42
HS code for bags
Handbags, luggage and backpacks in heading 4202, where duty runs from 4.5 to 17.6 percent by material.
Chapter 9
HS code for coffee
Green, roasted and decaf all sit in 0901 at a Free base rate, but instant coffee moves to 2101.
Chapter 91
HS code for watches
Wrist watches in 9101 and 9102 carry a compound duty on the case, band and battery.
Chapter 84
HS code for machinery
Pumps, compressors, valves and machine tools. Mostly Free to 5%, but Section 232 and 301 stack on top.
Chapter 90
HS code for medical devices
Instruments in 9018, orthopedic in 9021, X-ray in 9022. Most enter the US duty-free at the base.
Ch. 61 & 62
HS code for clothing
Knit apparel in 61, woven in 62. Duty runs 8 to 32 percent and fiber chief weight decides it.
Chapter 39
HS code for plastics
Resins in 3901 to 3914, articles in 3915 to 3926. Base duty 3 to 6.5 percent.
Ch. 61 & 62
HS codes for clothing
Knit vs woven and fiber content drive apparel codes and duty rates that can top 30 percent.
Why the category decides the code
The Harmonized System is organized by chapters, and the chapter you land in is set by what the product fundamentally is. A leather handbag, a leather shoe and a leather jacket are all leather, but they sit in three different chapters because the finished article is different. That is why category is the right starting point: it narrows 99 chapters down to one, and from there the heading and subheading follow from the specifics such as material, function and how the item is presented. Guess the chapter wrong and every digit after it is wrong too.
The same six digits, a US-specific tail
For any category, the first six digits are the international HS code that every country shares. The US then adds four more digits to create the 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule line, and that national tail is where the duty rate lives. Two products can share the same six-digit HS code worldwide and still owe different US duty because they split at the eighth or tenth digit. So a category guide gets you to the right heading, and the classifier confirms the exact 10-digit line you actually file.
Where duty ranges by category
Duty is not evenly spread. Many electronics, toys and cosmetics enter the US at a zero base rate, so the base duty is nearly a non-issue and freight plus any trade-remedy tariff is the real cost. Footwear and apparel sit at the other end, with base rates that climb past 30 percent and hinge on tiny material distinctions. Furniture, auto parts and jewelry fall in the low-to-mid single digits. On top of the base rate, trade actions such as Section 301 tariffs on Chinese-origin goods can add 7.5 or 25 percent regardless of category. Once you have the code, run the value through the import duty calculator to see the full number.
HS code by product questions, answered
How do I find the HS code for my product?
Start with the category, which points you to a chapter, then narrow by material and function to the heading and subheading. Read the chapter and section notes, which control what belongs where, then confirm the 10-digit US HTS line that carries the duty. You can shortcut the walk by describing the product to an AI classifier, but the logic is the same: category first, specifics second.
Is the HS code the same for every country?
The first six digits are the same in every country that uses the Harmonized System, which is nearly all of them. Beyond six digits each country adds its own national detail: the US uses a 10-digit HTS code and, for exports, a 10-digit Schedule B number. So an importer abroad and a US importer will agree on the first six digits of the same product and diverge after that.
Does the product category change the duty rate?
Yes, dramatically. Duty is attached to the code, and the code is set by the category, so the category is effectively where your rate is decided. Many electronics and toys are duty-free, while footwear and apparel can exceed 30 percent. That is why classifying to the correct chapter and heading, not a close-enough one, is what protects your margin.
What is the difference between an HS code and an HTS code?
The HS code is the 6-digit international code shared worldwide. The HTS code is the US 10-digit extension of it, and the extra four digits carry the actual US duty rate. You classify to the HS level to agree with the rest of the world, then to the full HTS line to file a US entry.
Can one shipment have more than one HS code?
Yes, and it usually should. Each distinct product on the invoice gets its own code, because mixing different items under one code misstates the duty and is a classification error. A parcel of finished goods, loose components and accessories can easily carry three or four codes, and each line should be classified on its own.
Skip the chapter hunt: describe your product, get the code and the duty.
Learn the method: how to find the HS code for a product.