The spiral notebook contains lined paper, has a three hole punch and measures approximately 7 ¾” wide x 10 ¼” tall.
“The applicable subheading for the composition notebook and spiral notebook will be 4820.10.2050.”
HS code for notebooks
Paper notebooks, journals and planners enter the US duty-free, but the 10-digit line still depends on the type and the size. A notebook computer is a different product entirely.
- Candidate codes
- 6
- US duty
- Free
- UK / EU duty
- 0% / 0%
- Decided by
- Paper or computer, type of notebook, size
US: USITC HTS Revision 22 (2026) · UK and EU checked 2026-11-04 · Covers bound paper notebooks, composition books, journals, diaries, planners and memo pads. Loose-leaf binders, exercise books and printed books are separate.
Quick answer: HS codes for notebooks
- 4820.10.20.30Sewn composition books, school sizeUS Free
- 4820.10.20.40Other notebooks, school sizeUS Free
- 4820.10.20.60Other notebooks, journals and similar articlesUS Free
- 4820.10.20.10Diaries and address booksUS Free
- 4820.10.20.20Memorandum pads, letter pads and similar articlesUS Free
- 8471.30.01.00Portable computersUS Free
Not sure which one fits? The questions below narrow it down to one code.
Find your code Candidates 6
Q1Which kind of notebook?
How to tell
Pages printed with a calendar or with address fields make a diary or address book; blank, lined, dotted or grid pages make a notebook.
Q2What size is it?
How to tell
The US statistical lines single out school-size notebooks, so measure the short and the long side.
Q3Is it a sewn composition book?
4820.10.20.30Sewn composition books, school size US Free
UK 0% · EU 0%
UK 0% · EU 0%
4820.10.20.40Other notebooks, school size US Free
UK 0% · EU 0%
UK 0% · EU 0%
4820.10.20.60Other notebooks, journals and similar articles US Free
UK 0% · EU 0%
UK 0% · EU 0%
4820.10.20.10Diaries and address books US Free
UK 0% · EU 0%
UK 0% · EU 0%
4820.10.20.20Memorandum pads, letter pads and similar articles US Free
UK 0% · EU 0%
UK 0% · EU 0%
8471.30.01.00Portable computers US Free
UK 0% · EU 0%
UK 0% · EU 0%
All 6 candidate codes for notebooks
| Code | What it covers | US | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4820.10.20.30 | Sewn composition books, school size | Free | 0% | 0% |
| 4820.10.20.40 | Other notebooks, school size | Free | 0% | 0% |
| 4820.10.20.60 | Other notebooks, journals and similar articles | Free | 0% | 0% |
| 4820.10.20.10 | Diaries and address books | Free | 0% | 0% |
| 4820.10.20.20 | Memorandum pads, letter pads and similar articles | Free | 0% | 0% |
| 8471.30.01.00 | Portable computers · guide | Free | 0% | 0% |
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: notebooks and their codes
| Product | Code | US | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marbled sewn composition book, 7.5 x 9.75 in | 4820.10.20.30 | Free | Sewn composition book in the school size range. |
| Spiral notebook with lined paper, 8 x 10.5 in | 4820.10.20.40 | Free | Other notebook in the school size range. Ruling N049615 |
| A6 hardcover dot-grid journal | 4820.10.20.60 | Free | Smaller than the school size range. |
| Dated weekly planner | 4820.10.20.10 | Free | Pages printed with dates make it a diary. |
| Sticky-note pad | 4820.10.20.20 | Free | Memorandum pads. |
Mistakes to avoid
- Notebooks sold with a pen or stickers are usually classified as the notebook when the notebook gives the set its character.
- Sketchbooks with blank drawing paper fall in the same heading as notebooks.
- Printed workbooks and coloring books are printed matter; see the books guide.
- Older rulings cite earlier suffixes such as 4820.10.2050; the US split notebooks by size later, so the last two digits differ.
Customs rulings on notebooks
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.
Questions about notebooks codes
What is the HS code for notebooks?
Paper notebooks, journals, diaries and memo pads are heading 4820, subheading 4820.10. The US 10-digit line depends on the type and the size.
Is a notebook computer the same code?
No. A notebook computer (laptop) is 8471.30; see the laptop guide.
Is a journal a book?
No. Blank, lined or dotted pages make stationery under 4820. Printed books with text are heading 4901.
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.