Apparel is one of the most rule-driven categories in the HTS — classification turns on fiber, knit vs woven, and gender. Get it wrong and your duty rate swings by double digits. This guide covers the common HTS codes for clothing imports.
Garments split by fiber content (cotton / synthetic / wool), construction (knit vs woven), and gender. A "T-shirt" can land in three different codes depending on what it's made of.
Note — these are 6-digit HS codes, not the full US HTS. The numbers below are the international HS (identical in every country) and what most "HS code for apparel" searches return. For an actual US entry, CBP requires the 10-digit HTS — the US adds 4 digits that set your exact duty rate. Apparel rates vary even within a 6-digit code by fiber and gender, so the 10-digit really matters. HSBot resolves the full 10-digit HTS and its layered duty from a product description.
| Product | HS code (6-digit) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| T-shirts, cotton, knit | 6109.10 | Most common knit top |
| T-shirts, synthetic, knit | 6109.90 | |
| Men's / boys' cotton woven shirts | 6205.20 | |
| Women's / girls' cotton woven shirts | 6206.20 | |
| Women's cotton trousers | 6204.62 | |
| Men's cotton trousers | 6203.42 | |
| Synthetic woven trousers (women) | 6204.63 | |
| Sweaters, cotton knit | 6110.20 |
Apparel base MFN duties are higher than most goods (knit cotton tees ~16.5%, woven shirts ~16.5%, trousers ~16.6% depending on fiber) and then layer: - Section 301 — China-origin apparel carries the China 301 surcharge (+7.5% and up) - MPF / HMF — on FOB value - Some cotton/wool items may also face tariff-rate quotas or countervailing measures
A cotton T-shirt that's "16.5% MFN" can owe 24%+ once 301 stacks.
Type a product description or HS code into HSBot and get the full chain — AI classification, the layered US duty (MFN / 301 / MPF / HMF), declaration elements (fiber %, construction), and regulatory conditions — synced to the latest tariff changes.
Q: Knit vs woven — which chapter? Knit garments are Chapter 61; woven are Chapter 62. Q: What if my garment is a cotton/ polyester blend? It classifies by the predominating fiber; HSBot shows the boundary. Q: Does 301 apply to apparel from China? Yes, most China-origin apparel is on the 301 lists — verify your exact HTS. Q: Is the 6-digit HS code enough to declare in the US? No. The 6 digits identify the category; US CBP requires the 10-digit HTS, which also sets the exact rate. HSBot returns the full 10-digit HTS.
Data is for reference; final classification and duty are determined by CBP.