With regard to the laptops, they are specifically provided for within heading 8471, HTSUS.
“The applicable subheading for the laptop PCs will be 8471.30.0100.”
HS code for laptops
A laptop itself enters the US duty-free. What changes the duty is everything shipped around it: the bag it travels in can pay up to 17.6%.
- Candidate codes
- 13
- US duty
- Free – 17.6%
- UK / EU duty
- 0% – 6% / 0% – 6.5%
- Decided by
- What the item is; for bags, style and outer material
US: USITC HTS Revision 21 (2026) · UK and EU checked 2026-10-27 · Covers laptops and the things sold with them or for them. A laptop battery shipped on its own is covered in the lithium battery guide.
Find your code Candidates 13
Q1What are you shipping?
How to tell
Heading 8471 covers portable computers that weigh no more than 10 kg and have at least a processor, a keyboard and a display. Bags and cases go to heading 4202, which lists them by name, even when they are made only for a laptop.
Q2What kind of bag?
Q3What is the outer surface made of?
How to tell
Customs looks at the material you see and touch on the outside, not the lining or padding.
Q4What kind of charger?
Q5Keyboard or mouse?
8471.30.01.00Portable computers up to 10 kg US Free
UK 0% · EU 0%
UK 0% · EU 0%
4202.12.81.30Briefcase-style bag, synthetic fabric outside US 17.6%
UK 2% · EU 3.7%
UK 2% · EU 3.7%
4202.11.00.30Briefcase-style bag, leather outside US 8%
UK 2% · EU 3%
UK 2% · EU 3%
4202.92.31.20Backpack, synthetic fabric outside US 17.6%
UK 2% · EU 2.7%
UK 2% · EU 2.7%
4202.91.90.30Backpack, leather outside US 4.5%
UK 2% · EU 3%
UK 2% · EU 3%
4202.92.91.00Sleeve or case, synthetic fabric outside US 17.6%
UK 2% · EU 2.7%
UK 2% · EU 2.7%
4202.91.90.90Sleeve or case, leather outside US 4.5%
UK 2% · EU 3%
UK 2% · EU 3%
8504.40.70Power supply for a computer (suffix depends on watts) US Free
UK 0% · EU 0%
UK 0% · EU 0%
8504.40.95Other power supplies, such as USB wall chargers US Free
UK 0% · EU 0%
UK 0% · EU 0%
8471.60.20.00Computer keyboards US Free
UK 0% · EU 0%
UK 0% · EU 0%
8471.60.90.50Other input units, such as a mouse US Free
UK 0% · EU 0%
UK 0% · EU 0%
8473.30.51.00Parts and accessories for computers US Free
UK 0% · EU 0%
UK 0% · EU 0%
3926.90.99.89Other articles of plastics US 5.3%
UK 6% · EU 6.5%
UK 6% · EU 6.5%
All 13 candidate codes for laptops
| Code | What it covers | US | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8471.30.01.00 | Portable computers up to 10 kg | Free | 0% | 0% |
| 4202.12.81.30 | Briefcase-style bag, synthetic fabric outside | 17.6% | 2% | 3.7% |
| 4202.11.00.30 | Briefcase-style bag, leather outside | 8% | 2% | 3% |
| 4202.92.31.20 | Backpack, synthetic fabric outside | 17.6% | 2% | 2.7% |
| 4202.91.90.30 | Backpack, leather outside | 4.5% | 2% | 3% |
| 4202.92.91.00 | Sleeve or case, synthetic fabric outside | 17.6% | 2% | 2.7% |
| 4202.91.90.90 | Sleeve or case, leather outside | 4.5% | 2% | 3% |
| 8504.40.70 | Power supply for a computer (suffix depends on watts) | Free | 0% | 0% |
| 8504.40.95 | Other power supplies, such as USB wall chargers | Free | 0% | 0% |
| 8471.60.20.00 | Computer keyboards | Free | 0% | 0% |
| 8471.60.90.50 | Other input units, such as a mouse | Free | 0% | 0% |
| 8473.30.51.00 | Parts and accessories for computers | Free | 0% | 0% |
| 3926.90.99.89 | Other articles of plastics | 5.3% | 6% | 6.5% |
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 (most lines where a few specific products differ).
Mistakes to avoid
- A case sold with the laptop goes with the laptop. A fitted case packed and sold together with the computer follows the computer (General Rule 5). The case codes above are for cases shipped on their own.
- Tablets are classified with laptops. Tablet computers also fall in subheading 8471.30.
- Hard shells are not cases. A snap-on plastic cover that stays on the laptop is not a carrying case, so heading 4202 does not apply.
- Over 10 kg changes the heading line. The portable-computer subheading covers machines of 10 kg or less.
Customs rulings on laptops
“The applicable subheading for item numbers 6392202407 (backpack /blk logo/black), 604970 (laptop backpack w/tablet) and 5358303408 (backpack/navy blue) will be 4202.92.3120, HTSUS.”
It connects to a standard wall outlet and is used to power/charge various personal, USB enabled, electronic devices (i.e. cell phones, laptop computers, tablets, etc.).
“The applicable subheading for the dual port USB wall charger, brand name “RAVPower” will be 8504.40.9510.”
This item is designed to elevate and support a laptop computer, between 10 and 15.6 inches in size, for ergonomic purposes.
“The applicable subheading for this laptop riser will be 8473.30.5100.”
The product is a one-piece decorative cover designed to snap onto the lid of a MacBook Air 13 inch laptop computer.
“The applicable subheading for the MacBook Air 13 inch “Deflector” will be 3926.90.9980.”
Quoted word for word from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection rulings database (CROSS). A ruling binds only the goods it describes, but shows how CBP reads these headings.
How this page is checked
- Every code above exists in the current US tariff schedule (Revision 21 (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.