International ShippingFinding the right HS code for your products
What Harmonized System codes are, how to look one up, and why the right code means accurate duties and faster customs clearance.
A Harmonized System (HS) code is a number that tells customs officers exactly what's in your box. The first 6 digits are shared by nearly every country in the world; many countries add more digits for their own tariff schedules. Customs uses the code to decide which duty rate applies, so it's one of the most important fields on any international shipment.
How HS codes are built
| Digits | Level | Example: cotton t-shirt |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Chapter | 61 — Knitted or crocheted apparel |
| 4 | Heading | 6109 — T-shirts, singlets and vests |
| 6 | Subheading | 6109.10 — Of cotton |
| 8–10 | National tariff line | Set by the destination country |
Finding your code in Octoship
- 1Describe the item plainly
Type what it is and what it's made of — “ceramic coffee mug” or “women's cotton t-shirt”. Material matters: cotton and polyester shirts have different codes.
- 2Pick a suggestion
Octoship suggests the most likely HS codes as you type. Each suggestion shows the full description so you can check it matches.
- 3Save it to the product
Click Save to product and the code fills in automatically the next time you ship that SKU, from any store you've connected.
Why it matters
- Accurate duties. Duty and tax estimates — and DDP charges — are calculated from the code. A wrong code means a wrong bill.
- Faster clearance. Courier services like UPS, FedEx and DHL Express clear customs electronically, and a missing or vague code is a common reason for a hold.
- Required in more places. The EU, UK and many other destinations now expect a valid code on every commercial shipment.
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