HS code for jeans
Blue denim jeans pay 16.6% in the US, for men and women alike. Jeans made mostly of polyester move to a different subheading, and knitted jeggings leave the woven chapter altogether.
- Candidate codes
- 8
- US duty
- Free – 28.6% + per-unit duties
- UK / EU duty
- 12% / 12%
- Decided by
- Men's or women's, woven or knitted, fiber, blue denim
US: USITC HTS Revision 22 (2026) · UK and EU checked 2026-11-04 · Covers jeans and denim-style trousers and shorts for adults. Bib overalls, insulated or down-filled trousers and garments sold as playsuits have their own lines.
Quick answer: HS codes for jeans
- 6203.42.45.11Men's cotton trousers, blue denimUS 16.6%
- 6203.42.45.18Men's cotton trousers, other fabricUS 16.6%
- 6203.43Men's trousers of synthetic fibers (several lines)US Free – 27.9% + 1 specific-rate line
- 6204.62.80.11Women's cotton trousers, blue denimUS 16.6%
- 6204.62.80.18Women's cotton trousers, other fabricUS 16.6%
- 6204.63Women's trousers of synthetic fibers (several lines)US Free – 28.6%
- 6103.42.10Men's knitted cotton trousers and shortsUS 16.1%
- 6104.62.20Women's knitted cotton trousers and shortsUS 14.9%
Not sure which one fits? The questions below narrow it down to one code.
How to tell
Jeans with a fly that closes left over right are men's, right over left women's. Unisex jeans that cannot be told apart are classified as women's.
How to tell
Classic denim is a woven twill. Pull a knitted fabric on the diagonal and it stretches and springs back; it is classified in Chapter 61 even if it looks like denim.
How to tell
Go by weight on the fiber-content label. A 98% cotton, 2% elastane stretch jean is cotton; a 60% polyester, 40% cotton jean is synthetic.
How to tell
The US statistical line for blue denim covers denim whose warp is dyed blue. Black, grey or colored denim and other cotton twills report under "Other". The duty is the same; only the last two digits change.
UK 12% · EU 12%
UK 12% · EU 12%
UK 12% · EU 12%
UK 12% · EU 12%
UK 12% · EU 12%
UK 12% · EU 12%
UK 12% · EU 12%
UK 12% · EU 12%
All 8 candidate codes for jeans
| Code | What it covers | US | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6203.42.45.11 | Men's cotton trousers, blue denim | 16.6% | 12% | 12% |
| 6203.42.45.18 | Men's cotton trousers, other fabric | 16.6% | 12% | 12% |
| 6203.43 | Men's trousers of synthetic fibers (several lines) | Free – 27.9% + 1 specific-rate line | 12% | 12% |
| 6204.62.80.11 | Women's cotton trousers, blue denim | 16.6% | 12% | 12% |
| 6204.62.80.18 | Women's cotton trousers, other fabric | 16.6% | 12% | 12% |
| 6204.63 | Women's trousers of synthetic fibers (several lines) | Free – 28.6% | 12% | 12% |
| 6103.42.10 | Men's knitted cotton trousers and shorts | 16.1% | 12% | 12% |
| 6104.62.20 | Women's knitted cotton trousers and shorts | 14.9% | 12% | 12% |
General (MFN) duty rates. Lower rates may apply under trade agreements; extra duties may apply depending on the country of origin. UK and EU columns show the rate for the six-digit subheading.
Examples: jeans and their codes
| Product | Code | US | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 98% cotton, 2% elastane blue denim jeans | 6203.42.45.11 | 16.6% | Woven cotton denim; a little elastane does not change the fiber. |
| Women's blue denim skinny jeans | 6204.62.80.11 | 16.6% | Women's woven cotton trousers, blue denim. |
| Men's black cotton denim jeans | 6203.42.45.18 | 16.6% | Not blue denim, so the other-fabric suffix applies; the duty is the same. |
| Women's knitted cotton jeggings | 6104.62.20 | 14.9% | Knitted fabric moves the garment to Chapter 61. |
| Men's denim shorts | 6203.42.45.51 | 16.6% | Shorts use the same 8-digit line with their own suffix. |
Mistakes to avoid
- Stretch does not change the chapter. Woven denim with a little elastane is still woven cotton denim; only knitted fabric moves jeans to Chapter 61.
- Denim shorts use the same 8-digit codes as jeans; the statistical suffix changes to the shorts line.
- Overalls (bib and brace) have their own lower-duty lines under the same subheadings.
- For other trousers, shirts and coats, start from the clothing guide.
Questions about jeans codes
What is the HS code for jeans?
Men's cotton jeans are 6203.42 and women's 6204.62. In the US, blue denim jeans report under 6203.42.45.11 (men's) and 6204.62.80.11 (women's).
Do stretch jeans change the code?
Not if the fabric is woven and cotton still weighs most. Only knitted fabric, or synthetic fibers outweighing the cotton, moves jeans to another subheading.
What does blue denim mean for customs?
A US statistical line for denim whose warp yarns are dyed blue. Black, grey and colored denim report under the other suffix of the same 8-digit line.
Related guides
How this page is checked
- Every code above exists in the current US tariff schedule (Revision 22 (2026)). The build stops if a code disappears.
- Duty rates are read from the official data, not typed by hand: USITC for the US, the UK Trade Tariff for the UK and the EU.
- Ruling quotes are checked word for word against the ruling text, and rulings that are revoked or modified are removed.