What Is an HS Code?
HS codes classify products for customs; learn how to read one, distinguish it from HTS and Schedule B codes, and check a product’s classification.
An HS code is a six-digit number used to classify traded products under the Harmonized System. Customs agencies use it for tariffs and trade statistics.
Many countries add digits for local detail. When choosing a dropshipping supplier, check its code in the buyer's country tariff tool.
How is an HS code structured?
Each digit pair narrows the product code. The pairs identify the chapter, tariff group, and final product group. The WCO system contains more than 5,000 commodity groups under shared rules.
For example, code 6109 covers knitted T-shirts, while knitted sweaters and pullovers fall under 6110 in the US tariff schedule. Material and how the item is made determine the choice.
The shared code ends after the third pair. Fiber blend, how it's made, and intended use can change it. Check those details in the buyer's country tariff tool before choosing the code.
How does an HS code set the duty you pay?
The buyer's country tariff tool lists a duty rate for each extended code. Added digits separate product types that receive different rates.
Enter the full tariff code to find the listed rate. Use it as the starting point for the shipment's landed cost.
HS code vs. HTS code and Schedule B
An HS code is the shared international base, an HTS code classifies US imports, and a Schedule B code classifies US exports. Both US systems extend the shared code to 10 digits, but their final digits can differ because they serve different purposes.
The practical differences are:
The Census Bureau maps many HTS export filings into Schedule B, while US import entries are recorded under HTS. A de minimis threshold is a separate value test, so the product code stays the same.
What happens if you use the wrong HS code?
US Customs and Border Protection says paperwork errors, including a wrong classification, can delay clearance. The package may remain on hold while the parties fix the mismatch.
Ask the importer of record to handle a code mismatch with customs. The process depends on the country, product, and entry terms.
When the code is unclear, ask the country's customs office or a licensed broker before shipping.
How do you find the right HS code?
Search a tariff tool with the product's material, build, function, and use. US importers can use the USITC tariff search. Exporters can use the Census Schedule B search.
Compare the result with the supplier's code and product details. Add this check when vetting the best US dropshipping suppliers. Your catalog should name the material, build, function, and use.
If two codes still fit, ask the country's customs office or a licensed broker. For US imports, CBP's Binding Ruling Program offers a route to a decision before shipping.
FAQ
Does Dropship.io assign HS codes for products?
Dropship.io is a product-research platform. Get the customs code from a country tariff tool or a customs broker.
What if my supplier's HS code looks wrong?
Ask the supplier for the item's material, build, function, and use before checking the tariff tool. If the tool returns another code, pause the shipment and ask the customs office or a licensed broker.
