Worn clothing that shows signs of wear and is shipped in bulk enters the US duty-free under heading 6309. Second-hand garments that do not meet both conditions are classified like new clothing, at new-clothing duty rates.
US: USITC HTS Revision 22 (2026) · UK and EU checked 2026-11-04 · Covers second-hand clothing, shoes and household textiles, and textile rags. Vintage garments sold individually in good condition usually do not qualify as worn clothing.
Not sure which one fits? The questions below narrow it down to one code.
Heading 6309 covers clothing, accessories, blankets, household linen and footwear and headgear that show signs of appreciable wear and are shipped in bulk, bales, sacks or similar packings. Second-hand goods that do not meet both conditions are classified like new goods.
| Code | What it covers | US | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6309.00.00.10 | Worn clothing | Free | 4% | 5.3% |
| 6309.00.00.20 | Other worn articles | Free | 4% | 5.3% |
| 6310.10 | Sorted rags and scrap textiles | Free | 0% | 0% |
| 6310.90 | Unsorted rags and scrap textiles | Free + 1 specific-rate line | 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.
| Product | Code | US | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bales of mixed worn garments from collection bins | 6309.00.00.10 | Free | Worn clothing, showing wear, packed in bulk. Ruling N340317 |
| Bales of worn shoes and handbags | 6309.00.00.20 | Free | Other worn articles. |
| Sorted cotton wiping rags | 6310.10 | Free | Rags sorted by material or color. |
| Single vintage denim jacket in good condition | 6201 | Free – 27.7% + 3 specific-rate lines | Not bulk worn clothing, so classified like a new jacket. |
purchase wholesale lots of approximately 40,000 pounds of worn clothing.
“the applicable subheading will be 6309.00.0010, HTSUS, which provides for “Worn clothing and other worn articles....Worn clothing.” The rate of duty will be free.”
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.
Worn clothing shipped in bulk with signs of appreciable wear is 6309.00. In the US the line is 6309.00.00.10.
Usually not when pieces are in good condition or packed and sold individually. Those are classified like new garments, at new-clothing rates.
Customs can separate out items that do not qualify and charge them at the rate for new goods.