An HS code (Harmonized System code) is a six-to-ten-digit number that classifies a product for customs. The first six digits are the international standard maintained by the World Customs Organization; the US extends those six to ten in its Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) to specify the duty rate. Every product crossing a border needs an HS code on its commercial invoice — it tells customs what the item is and the duty rate that applies.

How do I find the right HS code for my product?

The authoritative source is the US International Trade Commission HTS at hts.usitc.gov — free, searchable, kept current. Type a plain-English description of your product and the site returns candidate codes with duty rates. For borderline classifications, search rulings.cbp.gov for past CBP rulings on similar products. Avoid relying on ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or aggregator sites — AI tools generalise from outdated training data and are confidently wrong about HS codes more often than they're right.

What HS code do I use for a handmade item?

There is no HS code for "handmade". HS codes classify what a product physically is, not how it was made. A handmade silver necklace and a machine-made silver necklace share the same HS code (7113.11.50). A handmade cotton scarf and a Primark cotton scarf share the same code (6214.20.00). Put the "handmade" label in your marketing — keep it off the customs form.

What happens if I use the wrong HS code?

Three things, in escalating severity. (1) If the wrong code under-charges duty, CBP will rebill the difference plus a penalty (typically 2× the duty owed) when caught. (2) Repeated wrong codes trigger compliance audits, which scale the penalty with parcel volume. (3) If CBP judges the wrong code was deliberate (picking the lower-rate code when a higher-rate one accurately applies), it becomes customs fraud — parcel seizure, fines up to 4× the duty, and potentially criminal liability. The right approach is to pick the code that accurately describes the product, document why, and move on.

Is the HS code the same in the UK and the USA?

The first six digits are the same — that part is the World Customs Organization standard, used identically by both countries. The remaining digits are national-level. The UK uses a 10-digit code (UK Global Tariff). The US uses a 10-digit code (HTS). For UK→US shipping, only the US 10-digit HTS code matters for the duty calculation, and that's what should appear on the commercial invoice.

Where can I look up the latest UK to US HS codes?

For US-bound parcels, only the US HTS matters. The authoritative source is hts.usitc.gov. For UK-origin verification (used in country-of-manufacture disputes), the UK Global Tariff is at gov.uk/trade-tariff. At TradeWind we look up the US HTS automatically at the booking step from your contents description, suggest the closest match, and show the resulting duty rate before you commit — try it at /ship.

HS Code Lookup UK to USA (2026) — Free Tool + Common Categories

TL;DR: Find your category below, copy the 10-digit HTS code into your commercial invoice's HS code field, and apply the rate against your declared customs value to estimate duty. Always verify against the official source: hts.usitc.gov. New to HS codes? Read our HS codes 101 primer first.

Common categories

Digit HTS code

10%

UK reciprocal floor

Duty-free categories

This is a starter table for the HS codes that come up most often in UK→US ecommerce. The "rate" column is the effective rate after applying the 10% UK reciprocal-tariff floor (Executive Order 14324). Where the HS category rate is below 10%, the floor lifts it to 10%; where the category rate is above 10%, the category rate applies. Books and printed paper remain genuinely duty-free.

Apparel & textiles

Product	HTS code	Effective duty
Cotton T-shirts (men's/women's, knit)	6109.10.00	16.5%	USITC
Cotton sweatshirts and hoodies	6110.20.20	16.5%	USITC
Cotton scarves	6214.20.00	11.3%	USITC
Wool / cashmere scarves	6214.10.20	10% (floor)	USITC
Knitted gloves and mittens	6116.93.88	18.6%	USITC
Cotton socks	6115.95.90	13.5%	USITC
Leather belts	4203.30.00	10% (floor)	USITC

Jewellery & accessories

Product	HTS code	Effective duty
Silver jewellery (sterling)	7113.11.50	10% (floor)	USITC
Gold jewellery (over 50% gold)	7113.19.50	10% (floor)	USITC
Imitation jewellery (base metal)	7117.19.90	11.0%	USITC
Leather wallets and small leather goods	4202.31.60	10% (floor)	USITC
Tote bags (cotton canvas)	4202.92.30	10% (floor)	USITC
Leather handbags	4202.21.60	10% (floor)	USITC

Home & gift

Product	HTS code	Effective duty
Wooden bowls, decorative tableware	4419.12.00	10% (floor)	USITC
Wooden picture frames	4414.10.00	10% (floor)	USITC
Ceramic mugs and tableware	6912.00.45	10% (floor)	USITC
Glassware (drinking)	7013.37.20	22.5%	USITC
Soy / wax candles	3406.00.00	10% (floor)	USITC
Hand-poured soap	3401.11.50	10% (floor)	USITC
LED light strings	9405.42.00	10% (floor)	USITC
Cotton bedding (duvet covers, sheets)	6302.31.50	20.9%	USITC

Print & paper

Product	HTS code	Effective duty
Hardback books	4901.99.00	0% (duty-free)	USITC
Paperback books	4901.99.00	0% (duty-free)	USITC
Printed art prints and posters	4911.91.20	0% (duty-free)	USITC
Greeting cards	4909.00.40	0% (duty-free)	USITC
Notebooks, stationery	4820.10.20	10% (floor)	USITC

Want it done at the booking step?

At /ship, TradeWind suggests the closest HS code from USITC based on your free-text product description, calculates the duty against your declared value, and shows the all-in price before you pay. You don't have to memorise the table.

If your product isn't here

The table covers maybe 80% of typical UK Etsy / Shopify product categories. For everything else, two routes:

Search the official source. hts.usitc.gov takes a free-text description and returns candidate codes. Pick the one that describes your product accurately — not the one with the lowest rate. See our HS codes 101 article for what to watch out for.
Ask us. Email support@tradewind.express with a one-paragraph product description and we'll suggest the most likely HS code. It's faster than fighting the USITC search interface.