How many digits is an HTS code?

Up to ten. The first six are the international HS subheading (shared worldwide); the US adds two more digits for the tariff rate line and two statistical digits, for a full 10-digit HTS number.

Where do I look up an HTS code?

The authoritative source is the USITC HTS at hts.usitc.gov. PortRobin classifies a plain-English product description to its likely HTS code and shows the sourced general rate, then links back to the official schedule to confirm.

Reference

The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), explained

The HTS is the master list the US uses to classify every imported good and set its duty rate. Understanding how a code is built — chapter, heading, subheading — is the difference between the right duty and a penalty.

This is an informational estimate, not a customs ruling. Tariffs change frequently — confirm the live rate on the official USITC HTS and read our methodology & disclaimer. For a binding classification, consult a licensed customs broker or request a CBP ruling.

How an HTS code is built

Every HTS number is read left to right. The first two digits are the chapter (85 = electrical machinery). The next two form the four-digit heading (8517 = telephones), then the six-digit international HS subheading (8517.13 = smartphones), and finally the US-specific 8- and 10-digit statistical suffixes that pin down the exact article and its duty rate.

The US HTS is published and maintained by the USITC at hts.usitc.gov. It applies the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) — the legal rules that decide, when two headings could fit, which one governs. Getting the classification right is what fixes the rate; the rate is never a matter of opinion once the code is settled.

Column 1 vs Column 2

Column 1 (general / Normal Trade Relations, also called MFN) is the rate that applies to most countries. Column 2 is a punitive rate reserved for a short list of non-NTR countries (Cuba, North Korea, and — since 2022 — Russia and Belarus). Preference programmes (USMCA, KORUS) can reduce Column 1 duty to free for originating goods.

Origins most affected

China Vietnam Mexico Germany

Commonly affected products

Laptops & tablets T-shirts Furniture Sneakers & athletic shoes

Questions

The HTS is the official US classification of every imported product and the duty rate that applies to it, published by the USITC. It is built on the international Harmonized System (HS) and extended with US-specific 8- and 10-digit codes.

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