How to Find the HS Code for a Product: A Step by Step Method

To find the HS code for a product, describe it in plain words (what it is, what it is made of and what it is used for), find the chapter that covers that material or product, narrow to the four digit heading and the six digit subheading, then add your country's extra digits from its tariff. The free AI HS Code Finder does the narrowing for you: describe the product and it ranks matching codes from a real code table, with the reason for each.

Below is the method customs brokers use, the mistakes that cause wrong codes, and how HS, HTS, Schedule B and HSN fit together.

What is an HS code?

The Harmonized System (HS) is the product classification used by customs authorities worldwide, maintained by the World Customs Organization. The first six digits are the same in every member country. Each country then adds digits for its own duty rates and statistics.

Code	Digits	Used by
HS	6	Every customs authority (international base)
HTS	10	United States imports
Schedule B	10	United States exports
HSN	8	India, for GST and customs
CN	8	European Union

So a Schedule B search and an HTS lookup for the same goods start with the same six digits; only the last four differ.

How to find the HS code for a product (step by step)

1. Write a plain description. Name the product, its main material, how far it is processed and its use. "Glazed porcelain floor tiles, 60 x 60 cm" works; "premium luxury tiles" does not.
2. Find the chapter. The 97 chapters are grouped by material and industry: chapter 9 is coffee, tea and spices; chapter 69 is ceramic products; chapter 85 is electrical machinery. Start with the material or the function.
3. Narrow to the heading (4 digits). Within the chapter, pick the heading whose wording fits your goods best. Read the chapter notes: they often include or exclude products explicitly.
4. Narrow to the subheading (6 digits). Subheadings split by a fact, such as size, material share or processing. This is where you need the exact detail of your goods.
5. Add national digits. Use your country's tariff for the final 8 or 10 digits and the duty rate. For India, the HSN code finder shows the code with its GST rate.
6. Confirm and record it. Check with your customs broker or the official tariff, then use the same code consistently on your commercial invoice and packing list.

How to use the AI HS Code Finder

The AI HS Code Finder turns steps 2 to 4 into one search:

1. Type the description, for example "glazed porcelain floor tiles 60x60 cm".
2. Press Find HS code. The tool first searches its own table of chapters, headings and six digit subheadings, and the AI ranks only the codes found there.
3. Read the matches. Each shows the code, its description, how good the match is and a one line reason.
4. If a follow up fact is shown, answer it. For tiles, for example, the water absorption rate decides between subheadings.

Why this matters: a general chatbot can write a code that looks real but does not exist. Here, any code the AI returns that is not in the table is thrown away before you see it. Your description is sent to our own AI server over an encrypted connection, used once and not saved.

Worked example: porcelain floor tiles

Here is the method on a real product, glazed porcelain floor tiles of 60 x 60 cm:

1. Chapter: tiles are fired clay, so they belong in chapter 69, ceramic products.
2. Heading: heading 6907 covers ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles.
3. Subheading: the six digit split depends on water absorption. Porcelain (vitrified) tiles absorb 0.5 percent or less by weight, which points to 6907.21.
4. National digits: add the extra digits from the importing country's tariff, which may split further by size or glaze.

This is exactly the follow up the finder asks for: it can see that tiles fit heading 6907, but only the absorption rate from your supplier's data sheet settles the subheading. The HSN page for tiles shows the Indian codes and GST rate for the same goods.

What decides an HS code?

Four facts settle almost every classification:

• What the goods are, not what you call them in marketing.
• What they are made of. A bag of leather and a bag of plastic sit in different subheadings.
• How far they are processed. Green (unroasted) and roasted coffee have different codes, and so do decaffeinated and regular.
• What they are used for. Some headings are defined by function, such as parts suitable for a particular machine.

Similar looking products can sit in very different places. A lithium battery sold for laptops is classified as a battery, not as a laptop part, because it is a complete product in its own right.

Common HS code mistakes

• Copying a supplier's code without checking. Their code may be for their country's tariff or a slightly different product.
• Stopping at four digits. Duty is set at the national level, so you need the full code.
• Classifying sets and kits by the cheapest item. Mixed sets are usually classified by the part that gives them their essential character.
• Using vague descriptions on documents. Customs reads your invoice description; it should support the code you chose.
• Different codes on different documents. The invoice, packing list and declaration must match.

Where the HS code goes on your trade documents

Once you have it, the code appears on the commercial invoice (often per line item), the packing list in many trades, the shipping bill or customs declaration, and the certificate of origin. Our proforma invoice generator and commercial invoice tool both have an HS code column, so it stays consistent from quote to shipment. For a quick definition to share with a colleague, see our HS code glossary entry.

Classification is the legal responsibility of the importer or exporter. Use the finder to narrow the search in minutes, then confirm the final code before you ship.

Ready to try it? Open the AI HS Code Finder, describe your product and get ranked codes with reasons.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find the HS code for my product?

Describe what the product is, its material and its use, then narrow from chapter to heading to six digit subheading. The free AI HS Code Finder suggests matching codes from a real table with a reason for each; confirm the final code in your country's tariff.

Is an HS code the same as a Schedule B or HTS code?

The first six digits are the same. Schedule B (US exports) and HTS (US imports) add four more digits, India's HSN adds two, and the EU's CN adds two.

Can AI find HS codes accurately?

AI is good at matching a description to the right part of the tariff, but it can invent codes. The TradingForms finder only returns codes from its own table, and you should still confirm the result with a broker or the official tariff.

What happens if I use the wrong HS code?

You may pay the wrong duty, face delays or inspections, or receive penalties, and a refund or correction can take a long time. That is why the code should be checked before shipping.

Who is responsible for the HS code?

The importer or exporter of record. Brokers and suppliers can advise, but the declared code is your responsibility.