For Etsy sellers · checked 28 October 2026
How to find the tariff number for your Etsy item
The tariff number (HS or HTS code) decides how much US duty your item pays, and it goes on the customs form of every parcel. Here's how to find the right one in a few minutes, and how to check a code a tool has suggested.
Want the answer for your own case? Use the tool, then read on for the details.
Paste a listing and get a likely codeHS code vs HTS code
- HS code: 6 digits, the same in almost every country. It's what most customs forms and label services ask for.
- US HTS code: 10 digits. The first 6 are the HS code; the last 4 are US-only and set the exact US duty rate.
Your own country's export code shares the same first 6 digits, so if you already have one, that's your starting point.
Find it in 4 steps
- Describe the item by what it's made of and what it does, not by its style. "Sterling silver necklace" works; "boho statement piece" doesn't.
- Search the US tariff schedule at hts.usitc.gov with that description, and read the chapter heading, not just the first match.
- Pick the most specific line that fits. Material usually decides it: a cotton tote and a leather tote sit in the same heading but on different lines with different rates.
- Check a past ruling: search CBP's rulings database (rulings.cbp.gov) for a similar product. Rulings show how customs actually classified it.
Common Etsy items
| Item | HS heading |
|---|---|
| Printed art and posters | 4911 |
| Candles | 3406 |
| Ceramic (non-porcelain) mugs and tableware | 6912 |
| Silver or gold jewellery | 7113 |
| Cotton T-shirts (knitted) | 6109 |
Headings are the first 4 digits only. Your full code depends on material and type, so always finish the search.
Why the code matters more now
- Since Etsy made non-US sellers prepay US duty on US orders, a wrong code can mean you charge too little and pay the difference yourself.
- Some codes also carry extra tariffs, like the Section 232 metal tariffs or the 50% Section 338 tariff on listed Canadian goods. Metal content calculator.
- Tools that suggest a code from your description can be wrong. Treat a suggestion as a starting point and check it in the schedule.
Paste a listing and get a likely code
Next: set your US prices · DDP labels · audit all your listings.
Sources: US International Trade Commission, Harmonized Tariff Schedule (hts.usitc.gov); CBP Customs Rulings Online Search System (rulings.cbp.gov). Read 28 October 2026. General information; for a binding answer, ask CBP for a ruling or use a customs broker.