# HS Code Sections and Chapters Reference (Harmonized System Guide) > Source: https://netray.co/tools/hs-code-sections-and-chapters-reference > Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems. > Section: Free Tools ## Short answer Find which HS section and chapter a product family falls in, with notes on the chapters manufacturers classify most often. ## Category compliance-legal ## Audience - Logistics coordinator - Customs compliance - Buyer ## Tool **Kind:** worksheet **Mode:** reference **Columns:** #### Level **Key:** level **Type:** text #### Section / Chapter **Key:** ref **Type:** text #### Chapters **Key:** chapters **Type:** text #### Heading title **Key:** title **Type:** text #### Where manufacturers meet it **Key:** note **Type:** text **Rows:** #### Live animals; animal products **Level:** Section **Ref:** I **Chapters:** 01 to 05 **Note:** Rare in industrial trade #### Vegetable products **Level:** Section **Ref:** II **Chapters:** 06 to 14 **Note:** Raw materials for food manufacturers #### Animal or vegetable fats and oils **Level:** Section **Ref:** III **Chapters:** 15 **Note:** Edible and industrial oils #### Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, spirits, tobacco **Level:** Section **Ref:** IV **Chapters:** 16 to 24 **Note:** Food and beverage plants #### Mineral products **Level:** Section **Ref:** V **Chapters:** 25 to 27 **Note:** Ores, cement inputs, fuels #### Products of the chemical or allied industries **Level:** Section **Ref:** VI **Chapters:** 28 to 38 **Note:** Chemicals, paints, adhesives, pharmaceuticals #### Plastics and rubber and articles thereof **Level:** Section **Ref:** VII **Chapters:** 39 to 40 **Note:** Moulded parts, gaskets, tyres #### Raw hides, skins, leather, furskins **Level:** Section **Ref:** VIII **Chapters:** 41 to 43 **Note:** Leather goods makers #### Wood, cork, basketwork **Level:** Section **Ref:** IX **Chapters:** 44 to 46 **Note:** Pallets, crates, packaging timber #### Pulp of wood, paper, printed matter **Level:** Section **Ref:** X **Chapters:** 47 to 49 **Note:** Cartons, labels, manuals #### Textiles and textile articles **Level:** Section **Ref:** XI **Chapters:** 50 to 63 **Note:** Garment and technical textile makers #### Footwear, headgear, umbrellas **Level:** Section **Ref:** XII **Chapters:** 64 to 67 **Note:** Footwear manufacturing #### Stone, plaster, cement, ceramics, glass **Level:** Section **Ref:** XIII **Chapters:** 68 to 70 **Note:** Glass, ceramics, insulators #### Pearls, precious stones and metals, coins **Level:** Section **Ref:** XIV **Chapters:** 71 **Note:** Jewellery, plating metals #### Base metals and articles of base metal **Level:** Section **Ref:** XV **Chapters:** 72 to 83 **Note:** Steel, aluminium, copper, fasteners, tools #### Machinery, mechanical and electrical equipment **Level:** Section **Ref:** XVI **Chapters:** 84 to 85 **Note:** Machine tools, pumps, motors, electronics #### Vehicles, aircraft, vessels **Level:** Section **Ref:** XVII **Chapters:** 86 to 89 **Note:** Automotive and aerospace parts #### Optical, measuring, medical instruments; clocks; musical instruments **Level:** Section **Ref:** XVIII **Chapters:** 90 to 92 **Note:** Metrology, sensors, medical devices #### Arms and ammunition **Level:** Section **Ref:** XIX **Chapters:** 93 **Note:** Defense; export controls usually apply #### Miscellaneous manufactured articles **Level:** Section **Ref:** XX **Chapters:** 94 to 96 **Note:** Furniture, lighting, toys, pens #### Works of art, collectors' pieces, antiques **Level:** Section **Ref:** XXI **Chapters:** 97 **Note:** Seldom industrial #### Plastics and articles thereof **Level:** Chapter **Ref:** 39 **Chapters:** 39 **Note:** Resins, film, moulded components #### Rubber and articles thereof **Level:** Chapter **Ref:** 40 **Chapters:** 40 **Note:** Seals, hoses, belts #### Iron and steel **Level:** Chapter **Ref:** 72 **Chapters:** 72 **Note:** Bar, plate, coil, stainless #### Articles of iron or steel **Level:** Chapter **Ref:** 73 **Chapters:** 73 **Note:** Fasteners, tubes, fittings, castings #### Copper and articles thereof **Level:** Chapter **Ref:** 74 **Chapters:** 74 **Note:** Wire, busbar, tube #### Aluminium and articles thereof **Level:** Chapter **Ref:** 76 **Chapters:** 76 **Note:** Extrusions, sheet, castings #### Tools, implements, cutlery of base metal **Level:** Chapter **Ref:** 82 **Chapters:** 82 **Note:** Cutting tools, hand tools #### Miscellaneous articles of base metal **Level:** Chapter **Ref:** 83 **Chapters:** 83 **Note:** Locks, hinges, brackets #### Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances **Level:** Chapter **Ref:** 84 **Chapters:** 84 **Note:** CNC machines, pumps, bearings, engines, compressors #### Electrical machinery and equipment **Level:** Chapter **Ref:** 85 **Chapters:** 85 **Note:** Motors, PCBs, connectors, cables, batteries #### Vehicles other than railway **Level:** Chapter **Ref:** 87 **Chapters:** 87 **Note:** Auto parts and accessories #### Aircraft, spacecraft and parts **Level:** Chapter **Ref:** 88 **Chapters:** 88 **Note:** Aerospace components #### Optical, photographic, measuring, medical instruments **Level:** Chapter **Ref:** 90 **Chapters:** 90 **Note:** Gauges, test equipment, sensors #### Furniture; lighting; prefabricated buildings **Level:** Chapter **Ref:** 94 **Chapters:** 94 **Note:** Office and industrial furniture #### Reserved for national use **Level:** Chapter **Ref:** 98 to 99 **Chapters:** 98 to 99 **Note:** Used differently by each country's tariff **Notes:** The Harmonized System has 21 sections and 97 chapters used worldwide to 6 digits. Digits beyond 6 are national and differ by country. This table is general orientation only, not a classification ruling: classify with the General Rules of Interpretation, section and chapter notes and your customs broker. ## Content **Intro:** Every international shipment needs an HS code on the commercial invoice and customs declaration. Before you search a tariff database, it helps to know which section and chapter your product belongs to. This reference lists all 21 sections and the chapters manufacturers use most. **Sections:** #### How to use this reference **Body:** Search by product word, chapter number or section. Start with the section that describes what the product is, then open the chapter and read its notes in your national tariff. The first two digits of an HS code are the chapter, the first four are the heading, and the first six are the internationally harmonised subheading. Export the rows you used into your classification file so the reasoning is documented next to the part number. **Bullets:** - Classify the item as shipped, not as a component of a larger machine, unless the notes say otherwise. - Check section and chapter notes: they can exclude products you expected to find. - Record the tariff edition and date you used. #### How classification actually works **Body:** Classification follows six General Rules of Interpretation. Rule 1 says terms of the headings and the legal notes decide first. Later rules deal with mixtures, sets and the most specific description. For example, a stainless steel bolt is usually in chapter 73 as an article of steel, while a hydraulic pump is in chapter 84. Electronic assemblies sit in chapter 85, but a measuring instrument with electronics may belong in chapter 90. Neighbouring chapters often compete, which is why notes matter. #### ERP notes and common mistakes **Body:** Most ERPs store a commodity or tariff code on the item or item-plant record, for example the commodity code field in SAP material master foreign trade data or a harmonized code on the item in NetSuite and Dynamics. Mistakes include copying a supplier's code without checking it, using a 10 digit code from another country, and never updating codes when the HS edition changes, which happens every five years. **Cta:** If your item master has thousands of parts with missing or inconsistent tariff codes, Netray can help you set up a reviewed, human-approved workflow to suggest and check codes inside your ERP. **Faq:** #### How many digits are in an HS code? **Answer:** The internationally harmonised part has 6 digits: 2 for the chapter, 4 for the heading and 6 for the subheading. Countries add further digits for their own tariff and statistics, commonly 8 or 10, so the same product can have different full codes in different countries. #### How often does the HS nomenclature change? **Answer:** The World Customs Organization amends the Harmonized System on a roughly five year cycle. Recent editions took effect in 2017 and 2022. When an edition changes, headings are split, merged or renumbered, so stored codes should be reviewed. #### Can I rely on a supplier's HS code? **Answer:** Use it as a starting point only. The importer or exporter of record is generally responsible for the declared classification. Check the code against the tariff text and notes for your own country, and keep your reasoning on file. #### Is this tool a binding classification? **Answer:** No. It is an orientation guide to sections and chapters. Binding rulings come from customs authorities in many countries on request. For a disputed or high duty product, ask your customs broker or request an official advance ruling. ## Search terms HS code chapters list, harmonized system sections, HS code chapter 84 85, HS code lookup by chapter, customs tariff chapters, HS classification guide, HS code sections I to XXI, which HS chapter is steel --- Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json