How many digits is an HS code?

The international HS code is 6 digits, made up of a 2-digit chapter, a 2-digit heading and a 2-digit subheading. Individual countries add further digits to create longer national commodity codes.

Who maintains the Harmonised System?

The World Customs Organization (WCO) maintains and periodically updates the Harmonised System. It is used by more than 200 countries and economies for customs classification and trade statistics.

What is the difference between an HS code and a commodity code?

The HS code is the shared 6-digit international classification. A commodity code is the longer national version — the 6-digit HS code plus extra country-specific digits used to set the exact duty and tax at import or export.

What happens if I use the wrong HS code?

You may pay too much or too little duty, face customs delays, or risk penalties and back-payments if audited. For ambiguous goods, a binding tariff ruling or a customs broker reduces this risk.

Glossary

HS Code

Harmonised System code · Harmonized System code · HS tariff code

An HS code (Harmonised System code) is a standardised 6-digit number used worldwide to classify traded products for customs. Maintained by the World Customs Organization, it determines the duty rate, taxes and restrictions that apply to a product when it crosses a border.

Last updated: June 2026

Key facts

The Harmonised System is maintained by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and used by over 200 countries and economies.
The core HS code is 6 digits: chapter (2), heading (2) and subheading (2) — identical across all member countries.
Countries extend the 6-digit HS code with further national digits to form longer commodity codes for import and export.
The correct HS code sets the duty rate, import VAT base, and any restrictions or licences that apply to a product.

How an HS code is structured

The Harmonised System organises every traded product into a logical hierarchy. The first two digits are the chapter (for example, chapter 61 covers knitted apparel). The next two digits are the heading within that chapter, and the final two digits are the subheading. Together these six digits form the internationally standardised HS code that is the same in Germany, China, the US and everywhere else that uses the system.

This shared 6-digit core is what makes the system "harmonised": a product classified under HS 6109.10 in one country is the same category in another. It lets customs authorities, statisticians and traders speak a common product language regardless of the local language or currency.

Why the right HS code matters

The HS code is not just paperwork — it directly determines money and legality. Customs uses the code to look up the applicable import duty rate, to calculate the base for import VAT, and to check whether the goods need a licence, certificate, or face restrictions or anti-dumping measures.

Misclassifying a product is a real risk. Declare the wrong HS code and you may underpay or overpay duty, trigger customs delays, or face penalties and back-payments on audit. Because classification can be genuinely complex — materials, function and construction all matter — many businesses use binding tariff rulings or a customs broker for high-value or ambiguous goods.

Example

A cotton T-shirt might be classified under HS heading 6109 ("T-shirts, singlets and other vests, knitted or crocheted"), with the 6-digit subheading 6109.10 for those made of cotton. An EU importer would then extend this 6-digit HS code with further national digits to reach the full commodity code used to look up the exact duty rate.

Why it matters for marketplace sellers

Every product you import or export needs an HS code on its customs declaration, so build it into your product data before you ship cross-border.
The HS code drives your duty cost, so getting it right protects your margin and stops customs holding your stock.
List the same product consistently with the same HS code across marketplaces and shipments to avoid contradictory declarations that can trigger customs scrutiny.
For goods with unclear classification, a binding tariff ruling or customs broker gives you certainty and a defence on audit.