Best HTS Code Lookup Tool: Search U.S. Tariff Codes With Duty Rates, Descriptions & 2026 Examples
The easiest HTS code lookup tool — paired with current duty rates, plain-English descriptions, and 2026 tariff layer info that the official hts.usitc.gov database doesn't show. Search by product description, browse by chapter, and see Section 301, 232, and IEEPA exposure side-by-side with the base HTS rate before you file.
Describe what you are importing.
What to gather before final classification.
- Exact material composition, function, and packaging format.
- Consistent invoice, packing list, and origin descriptions.
- Food-specific supplier records, prior notice readiness, and FSVP data when applicable.
- Country-of-origin support and USMCA qualification facts for regional manufacturing.
Keep the workflow moving.
Why Use This HTS Code Lookup Tool Instead of hts.usitc.gov
The official hts.usitc.gov database from the U.S. International Trade Commission is the legal source of truth for the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. It is authoritative, free, and updated whenever the HTSUS changes. We do not try to replace it. We built this HTS code lookup tool to do something the federal database does not: pair every candidate code with current duty rates (including Section 301, Section 232, and IEEPA layers), plain-English descriptions, real product examples, and chapter-level use cases that help importers understand why a code applies before they file.
| Feature | Greenwich HTS Lookup | hts.usitc.gov |
|---|---|---|
| Live duty rates (incl. Section 301, 232, 122) | ✓ shown alongside HTS | ✓ base rate only |
| Plain-English descriptions | ✓ | Legal text only |
| Examples + product photos | ✓ | None |
| Browse by chapter with use-case examples | ✓ | Numeric chapter index |
| Free, no account required | ✓ | ✓ |
Use this lookup as a working surface — describe a product, see candidate HTS chapters ranked by likelihood, read what each chapter actually contains in plain language, and check Section 301 and Section 232 exposure beside the base rate. Then confirm the legal note structure, chapter notes, and exact General Rate of Duty against hts.usitc.gov before a broker files. Two tools, two jobs: the federal source for legal text, this lookup for working through ambiguous descriptions, comparing duty paths, and surfacing the 2026 tariff layers your final landed cost depends on.
If you import from China, Mexico, Vietnam, or any country with active tariff actions, the base General Rate of Duty alone is rarely the number you actually pay. This tool exists because the gap between "the legal HTS rate" and "the rate on your entry summary" is where most importers lose money.
How to Find an HTS Code With Description and Duty Rate
Finding an HTS code with the right description and duty rate is a four-step process. Done well, it gives you a defensible classification before you ever talk to a broker.
- Search by keyword. Start with the plain-English description — what the product is, what it is made of, what it is used for. Type something like "stainless steel water bottle" or "leather women's handbag" into the lookup above. Vague queries return broad chapter guesses; specific material + function + form returns tighter candidate codes.
- Identify the right level: 6, 8, or 10 digits. The first 6 digits of any HTS code are the international Harmonized System subheading — every WCO country shares them. Digits 7–8 are the U.S. tariff rate line, which is the level most duty rates attach to. Digits 9–10 are the U.S. statistical suffix, used for trade reporting. For duty calculation, you almost always need the full 10-digit code.
- Read the duty column carefully. The "General" column is the Most-Favored-Nation rate that applies to most trading partners. "Special" is the preferential rate when a free trade agreement (USMCA, GSP, etc.) applies and the goods qualify. "Column 2" is the punitive rate for non-MFN countries. None of those columns include Section 301 China duties, Section 232 steel/aluminum duties, IEEPA actions, or AD/CVD orders.
- Apply tariff stacking. Your real landed duty is the General rate plus every additional duty layer that applies to the country of origin and the product. A Chinese-origin lithium battery may pay General + Section 301 List 3 + IEEPA. A Mexican wiring harness may pay 0% if it qualifies for USMCA — and the General rate plus IEEPA if it does not. See our 2026 tariff stacking guide and Section 301 tariff list for the current layer math, and the duty drawback guide if you re-export any of this product after import.
Two short rules of thumb: the more specific your product description, the tighter the HTS candidate set; and the country of origin matters as much as the chapter when calculating the rate you will actually pay. This lookup tool builds both into the search so you can see them on one screen.
HTS Code Lookup With Examples by Industry
Six of the most common HTS chapters importers ask about, each with a dedicated chapter guide and worked examples.
- Apparel — Chapter 62. Trousers, blouses, jackets, dresses. Fiber content drives both classification and the duty rate. Chapter 62 examples →
- Footwear — Chapter 64. Sneakers, boots, sandals, leather shoes. Upper material and sole composition change the rate dramatically. Chapter 64 examples →
- Electronics — Chapter 85. Lithium-ion batteries, chargers, power banks, consumer electronics. Section 301 layers can dwarf the base rate. Chapter 85 examples →
- Vehicles & Auto Parts — Chapter 87. Wiring harnesses, brake parts, sensors. USMCA qualification makes or breaks the duty outcome. Chapter 87 examples →
- Furniture — Chapter 94. Tables, chairs, cabinets, bedframes. Lacey Act, wood sourcing, AD/CVD exposure on Chinese furniture. Chapter 94 examples →
- Food & Supplements — Chapter 21. Vitamins, protein powders, gummies, sauces. Label claims can shift chapters and trigger FDA review. Chapter 21 examples →
HTS Code Lookup FAQ
What is the best HTS code lookup tool?
The best HTS code lookup tool depends on what you need. For the legal source of truth — chapter notes, section notes, and the official General Rate of Duty — the official hts.usitc.gov database from the U.S. International Trade Commission is authoritative. For working through an ambiguous product description, comparing candidate codes, and seeing duty rates including Section 301, Section 232, and IEEPA layers in plain English, the Greenwich Mercantile HTS code lookup above is built specifically for that workflow. Most importers use both: this tool to narrow candidates and understand exposure, hts.usitc.gov to verify the legal text before filing.
How do I find the duty rate for an HTS code?
Find the duty rate in three steps. First, locate the 10-digit HTS code that matches your product's description, material, and function. Second, read the General column for the MFN rate, the Special column for any preferential rate (USMCA, GSP, etc.), and Column 2 only for non-MFN countries. Third, add every applicable additional duty: Section 301 for Chinese-origin goods, Section 232 for steel and aluminum, IEEPA tariffs, and any AD/CVD orders. The total is your effective duty rate. The lookup tool above shows base and effective rates side-by-side once you classify a product.
Does hts.usitc.gov show Section 301 tariffs?
Not directly in the main rate columns. The hts.usitc.gov database publishes the General, Special, and Column 2 rates from the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, plus the Chapter 99 special tariff provisions where Section 301, Section 232, IEEPA, and other additional duties live. To see your full Section 301 exposure, you have to cross-reference your product's main HTS code against the relevant Chapter 99 subheadings (9903.88.xx for most Section 301 actions). This lookup tool surfaces those overlays automatically when the country of origin triggers them.
How accurate is this HTS code lookup?
This tool is designed to narrow the likely HTS path and surface compliance and duty issues a typical importer needs to consider. It is informational screening, not a binding legal classification. Final classification on a customs entry must be reviewed and filed by a licensed customs broker, and binding rulings must come from CBP. Use this lookup to prepare — to gather the right facts, identify the right chapter, and understand the duty stack — before your broker files.
Is there an HTS code lookup tool with descriptions?
Yes. This is one. Every candidate HTS code returned by the lookup above includes a plain-English description of what falls in that heading or subheading, paired with the duty rate and applicable tariff layers. The chapter guides linked further down the page go deeper, with worked examples, common products, and the classification mistakes importers make most often.