How to Find the HS Code for Your Product: A Step-by-Step Guide

Learning how to find the HS code for your product is one of the most practical skills in importing. The code you declare decides how customs treats your goods — what duty and taxes are assessed, whether a licence or control applies, and whether your shipment clears smoothly or is held. This guide shows you how to find the HS code for your product step by step, using the legal rules customs uses, with three worked examples from Bangladesh: a cotton T-shirt, frozen shrimp, and an LED bulb.

For the definition, structure, and the difference between HS, HTS, and TARIC, read the hub first: HS Code (Harmonized System Code): Meaning, Structure & Lookup (/blog/hs-code-harmonized-system). This page is purely the method — how you get from a product in front of you to a defensible six-digit code, then to the full code in your own tariff.

Quick answer: how to find the HS code for your product

Describe the product precisely — what it is, what it is made of and in what proportions, how it is made, what it does, and how it is presented. Find the section and chapter that cover it, choose the four-digit heading by reading the heading texts and the legal section and chapter notes, then choose the six-digit subheading comparing only at the same level. Extend those six digits in your destination country's official tariff, record your reasoning, and — if duty or a control turns on the answer — confirm it with a customs broker or a binding ruling before you ship.

Before you start: describe the product the way customs will read it

Every classification error starts with a vague description. Customs does not classify trade names, marketing labels, or photographs. It classifies goods as presented, based on their objective characteristics.

Write down:

• What it is — generic name, not brand name.

• Composition — every material; for textiles, share by weight.

• How it is made — knitted, woven, frozen, cooked, assembled.

• Function — and, if several, which is principal.

• Presentation — alone, in a set, in bulk, complete or incomplete.

• State on arrival — fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, or prepared.

"Cotton top" could fall under several headings. "Short-sleeved crew-neck T-shirt, 100% cotton single jersey, knitted, hemmed, no pockets, no drawstring" points to one heading almost immediately. Get the supplier specification in writing — if it changes, the code may change.

The 7 steps to find your HS code

Step 1: Start with the international six digits

The Harmonized System, maintained by the World Customs Organization (WCO), is international only to six digits: chapter (2), heading (4), subheading (6). Every country adds its own digits. Work in two stages — find the international six digits first, then extend them in the destination tariff. Copying a supplier's full code skips stage two: digits after the sixth may not exist, or may mean something different, in your country.

Step 2: Find the section and chapter — as signposts only

The HS has 21 sections and 99 chapters. Browse titles to locate the likely area: textiles in Section XI, crustaceans in Chapter 03, lamps in Chapter 85. Titles only narrow the search — under General Rule 1 they are for ease of reference only. List every plausible chapter, not just the first you find: prepared shrimp and frozen raw shrimp sit in different chapters.

Step 3: Read the heading texts and the legal notes

Read each heading word for word, then the section and chapter notes. Notes have legal force: they define terms, exclude goods even when a heading looks like a fit, and can direct you elsewhere. Heading 61.09, for example, does not cover garments with a drawstring or other tightening at the bottom — you only learn that from the Chapter 61 notes. If one heading fits, you have your four digits. If two compete, apply the GRI below — do not guess.

Step 4: Choose the subheading — comparing only at the same level

Under GRI 6, only subheadings at the same level are comparable. Compare one-dash subheadings first, then the two-dash lines inside the chosen group. Jumping straight to a detailed line mentioning your material is a common error.

Step 5: Extend to the full national code

Take your six digits to the official tariff of the importing country:

• United States: the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), administered by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), searchable at hts.usitc.gov.

• European Union: the Combined Nomenclature (8 digits), extended in the TARIC database with EU measures and controls.

• United Kingdom: the UK Trade Tariff on GOV.UK, showing the 10-digit commodity code and any licences or restrictions.

• Bangladesh: the Bangladesh Customs operative tariff, useful for comparing an exporter's declared code with your own.

One subheading can split into several national lines — pick the line matching your description. This guide does not state duty rates: rates are national, change over time, and depend on origin. Read the current rate in the official tariff.

Step 6: Cross-check with rulings and official guidance

Search published rulings for similar goods — CBP's CROSS database (US), the EBTI database (EU), and Advance Tariff Rulings (UK). Compare with your supplier's export code: agreement on six digits is reassuring; disagreement means re-read the notes. Another trader's ruling is evidence of how customs reasons, not a decision about your goods.

Step 7: Record your reasoning in writing

Keep a record for every product: description, heading and subheading, notes and Rules relied on, rulings checked, and full national code with date. Share it with supplier and broker. Re-check when the specification changes, a tariff updates, or you import into a new country.

The General Rules for Interpretation (GRI) explained simply

The six General Rules for Interpretation — GRI, or GIR — are printed at the start of the HS and applied in order. You move to the next rule only if the previous one does not settle the classification.

GRI 1 — Classification follows the heading texts and any relevant section or chapter notes. Titles are for reference only. Always — the starting point.

GRI 2(a) — An incomplete, unfinished, unassembled, or disassembled article with the essential character of the complete article is classified as the complete article. Kits and goods shipped in parts.

GRI 2(b) — A heading mentioning a material also covers mixtures of that material with others. If headings then compete, GRI 3 decides. Blends and mixed materials.

GRI 3(a) — The heading with the most specific description is preferred. Two headings describe the goods, one more precisely.

GRI 3(b) — Mixtures, composite goods, and sets are classified by the material or component giving them their essential character. Multi-component products and retail sets.

GRI 3(c) — If 3(a) and 3(b) do not decide, use the heading occurring last in numerical order. A genuine tie.

GRI 4 — Classify under the heading for the goods to which yours are most akin. Rare — novel goods with no direct heading.

GRI 5 — Cases and packaging presented with the goods are normally classified with them, unless clearly suitable for repetitive use or giving the whole its essential character. Fitted cases and presentation packaging.

GRI 6 — Subheading classification follows subheading texts and notes, applying the earlier rules with necessary changes. Only compare at the same level. Every move from four digits to six.

Most products are settled by GRI 1; GRI 3 does most of the rest. Needing GRI 4 is a signal to seek advice or a ruling.

Worked example 1: Cotton knitted T-shirt — 6109.10

Description: Short-sleeved crew-neck T-shirt, 100% cotton single jersey, knitted, hemmed sleeves and bottom, no pockets, no drawstring.

1. Chapter: Knitted apparel is Chapter 61; non-knitted apparel is Chapter 62. This garment is knitted — Chapter 61.

2. Heading (GRI 1): 61.09 covers "T-shirts, singlets and other vests, knitted or crocheted," and the notes do not exclude it (no tightening at the bottom).

3. Subheading (GRI 6): 6109.10 "Of cotton" vs 6109.90 "Of other textile materials." At 100% cotton: 6109.10 — verified in the USITC HTS (6109.10.00).

4. National extension: Read the digits after 6109.10 in your tariff, e.g. Bangladesh 61091000.

What would change it? Woven construction leaves Chapter 61; a 60% polyester blend moves to 6109.90 (predominating material); a drawstring hem excludes 61.09. See the "HS Code for [product]" guides from the hub at /blog/hs-code-harmonized-system.

Worked example 2: Frozen shrimp — 0306.17

Description: Frozen raw black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon), headless, shell-on, block-frozen, not cooked, not prepared or preserved, in bulk cartons.

1. Chapter: Chapter 03 covers fish and crustaceans. No preparation beyond freezing, so not Chapter 16 (prepared crustaceans).

2. Heading (GRI 1): 03.06 covers crustaceans, in shell or not, including frozen.

3. Subheading (GRI 6): 0306.16 (cold-water) vs 0306.17 (other). Black tiger is warm-water: 0306.17 — the HS 2022 split in the USITC HTS and other national tariffs.

4. National extension: Tariffs split 0306.17 by species, size, and presentation — read your own.

What would change it? Cooking or other preparation moves shrimp to heading 16.05 — 1605.21 / 1605.29. Fresh or chilled shrimp sit elsewhere in 03.06. For seafood, processing state is as decisive as species.

Worked example 3: LED bulb — 8539.52

Description: LED bulb with an Edison screw base for general household lighting, complete and ready to screw into a standard holder, in retail packaging — not a bare module, chip, or component.

1. Chapter: Chapter 85 (electrical) vs Chapter 94 (luminaires/fittings) — the heading texts resolve it.

2. Heading (GRI 1): 85.39 covers filament/discharge lamps and, since HS 2022, LED light sources. A complete bulb is a light source, not a fitting: 85.39. A finished luminaire would go to 94.05.

3. Subheading (GRI 6): 8539.51 (LED modules) vs 8539.52 (LED lamps). Complete lamp: 8539.52 — verified by CBP ruling NY N349718 (8539.52) and Bangladesh's tariff (8539.52.00; modules 8539.51.00).

4. National extension: Read your tariff under 8539.52; do not copy a pre-HS 2022 legacy code.

What would change it? A module points to 8539.51, a finished fitting to Chapter 94, and lamp parts to the parts subheading of 85.39. Always state: light source, module, part, or fitting.

From 6 digits to your full national code

The first six digits are shared by the more than 200 economies using the HS. Everything after is national: a 10-digit HTS number (US), an 8-digit Combined Nomenclature code extended in TARIC (EU), a 10-digit commodity code (UK), an 8-digit line (Bangladesh). Export and import declarations can therefore need different full codes for the same goods. Extensions cited here (6109.10.00, 61091000, 8539.52.00) are indicative of structure only — confirm the exact current line in the destination tariff before declaring.

Common mistakes that lead to the wrong code

• Copying the supplier's full code. A good starting point for six digits; unsafe as an import code.

• Classifying from a photo or trade name. Construction, composition by weight, processing state, and completeness cannot be confirmed from a picture.

• Stopping at the chapter title. Titles are reference only under GRI 1; the notes decide.

• Comparing subheadings at different levels. Compare one-dash lines first under GRI 6.

• Ignoring a specification change. A new blend, a move from raw to cooked, or a change from module to lamp can each change the code.

• Never re-checking. New HS editions and annual tariff updates move lines.

• Stating a duty rate from memory. Rates are not part of the HS code. Read the current rate in the destination tariff.

When to get a broker or a binding ruling

Bring in help when GRI 3 gives no clear answer, two headings remain in contention, the duty difference is material, a licence or prohibition depends on the code, or you will import the product repeatedly. A broker who files in the destination country is the first call for commercial shipments. For a decision customs must honour, apply before you ship: an Advance Tariff Ruling (UK), Binding Tariff Information (EU, generally valid three years), or a binding CBP ruling (US). The WCO describes advance rulings as legally binding decisions given before import or export. Each type of goods needs its own application.

Your classification checklist

1. Written description completed: materials and proportions, construction or processing, function, presentation, state on arrival.

2. Candidate sections and chapters listed — not just the first found.

3. Heading texts and all relevant section, chapter, and subheading notes read in full.

4. Competing headings resolved with the GRI in order, with the rule relied on noted.

5. Subheading chosen comparing only at the same level (GRI 6).

6. Six digits extended in the destination tariff; exact national line and date checked recorded.

7. Published rulings or official guidance cross-checked.

8. Reasoning, specification, and code shared with supplier and broker in writing.

9. Re-check triggered on specification change, tariff update, or new destination.

Frequently asked questions

How do I determine the HS code for a product I have never imported before?

Follow the seven steps above. Most straightforward products are settled by the heading text and notes under GRI 1.

What is the harmonized code, and is it the same as an HS code?

Yes — another name for the HS code under the WCO Harmonized System. The first six digits are international; countries extend them. See /blog/hs-code-harmonized-system.

Can I just use the HS code my supplier gives me?

As a starting point only. Export and import codes should agree on six digits but can differ after that. Confirm the code in your own tariff before declaring.

What happens if I use the wrong HS code?

Customs can reclassify the goods, reassess duty and taxes, delay clearance, and impose penalties, and a wrong code can mean a missed licence. Tell your broker promptly if you find an error. Penalties are national and vary, so none are stated here.

How do I find the HS code for a blended or multi-material product?

Apply GRI 2(b) and GRI 3: classify by the material giving the product its essential character — for textiles, normally the material predominating by weight. If none does, GRI 3(c) applies the heading last in numerical order.

Where can I get a legally binding HS classification?

From the destination authority before you ship: Advance Tariff Ruling (UK), Binding Tariff Information (EU), or a binding CBP ruling (US) — one application per type of goods.

Next steps

Apply this method to every product, keep a written record, and revisit it when a specification or tariff changes. When you source on Exportain, state the details above in your enquiry, start from the hub HS Code (Harmonized System Code): Meaning, Structure & Lookup (/blog/hs-code-harmonized-system) and its "HS Code for [product]" guides, and post an RFQ with your full specification so quotations compare like-for-like — same specification, same six-digit code, same delivery basis.