HS Codes for Clothing & Apparel

Cotton t-shirts are classified under HS code 6109.10 (knitted, of cotton). Synthetic or man-made fiber t-shirts fall under 6109.90. In the US, 6109.10 carries a 16.5% MFN duty rate. Chinese-origin t-shirts attract an additional 7.5% Section 301 surcharge, bringing the total to 24%.

Clothing is covered by two HS chapters: Chapter 61 covers knitted or crocheted garments (t-shirts, sweaters, underwear, hosiery). Chapter 62 covers woven garments not knitted or crocheted (jeans, dress shirts, jackets, suits). The first classification decision is always: is the fabric knitted or woven?

Men's denim trousers are classified under HS 6203.42 (men's trousers, cotton, not knitted). Women's jeans are under 6204.62. In the US, both attract a 16.6% MFN duty. Denim is a woven fabric, so all denim garments fall in Chapter 62 regardless of the garment type.

Hoodies and sweatshirts are classified under HS 6110.20 (jerseys, pullovers, cardigans — cotton, knitted). They are knitted garments regardless of the fleece backing. US duty rate: 16%. EU duty rate: 12%. UK rate: 12%.

The key question is: is the outer fabric knitted (looped yarn — like jersey, fleece, or terry) or woven (interlaced yarns — like denim, poplin, or twill)? Knitted → Chapter 61. Woven → Chapter 62. When in doubt, look at the garment's inner surface under a magnifying glass. Knitted fabric has visible loops; woven fabric has a cross-hatch pattern.

Yes, significantly. After the Chapter 61/62 split, the next level is fiber content: cotton, wool, silk, synthetic (man-made fibers), or other. Cotton subheadings typically have lower US duty rates than synthetic. Always declare fiber content accurately — customs authorities audit fabric composition certificates, especially for high-volume shipments.

Knitted activewear and sportswear typically falls under HS 6211.43 (track suits, ski-suits, swimwear — synthetic fibers, knitted) or 6104.62 (women's knitted trousers, synthetic). Woven activewear may fall in 6211.42. US duty rates on synthetic activewear are among the highest in apparel — 27–32% — making origin country choice critical.

Yes. Children's garments have their own HS subheadings. Knitted babies' garments go under heading 6111; children's knitted garments are in 6111 (up to age 2) or under the same headings as adults (6104, 6110, etc.) for older children. Children's garments often carry slightly lower duty rates in some markets.

The same HS code applies regardless of origin — origin affects the duty rate, not the classification. A cotton t-shirt from China is still 6109.10. However, Chinese-origin clothing faces MFN duty + Section 301 (7.5% on most apparel) + the 12.5% forced-labor tariff. Always calculate the full tariff stack for China-origin apparel before ordering.

Yes. Most countries require HS codes on commercial invoices and customs declarations for cross-border shipments. Shopify merchants selling internationally should add HS codes to product listings to ensure accurate duty calculation at checkout and avoid customs holds.