HS Code Category

HS Code Candidates for T-Shirts

Use this page to prepare candidate HS headings, product facts, material and function variants, invoice descriptions, ecommerce catalog fields, and risk flags before official review.

Use HS Code Finder Check CSV Catalog Read Methodology

Answer summary

Product facts to verify

Main material and fiber or chemical composition
Construction: knitted, woven, molded, assembled
Function and intended use
Whether it includes electronics, battery, magnets, leather, or textile
Country of origin and destination market

Use this tool

HS Code Finder Commercial Invoice CSV Catalog Checker

Source note

Candidates are preparation aids only. Verify final code in USITC HTS, EU TARIC, or the destination tariff database before filing.

Last reviewed

2026-08-02

Candidate headings table

Review candidates

The table below lists candidate HS headings for t-shirts. Each row is a starting point, not a final classification; verify in the destination tariff database before filing.

Code	Heading	Use when
`6109`	T-shirts, singlets, and other vests, knitted or crocheted	The garment is a knitted or crocheted T-shirt, tank top, singlet, or vest.
`6110`	Jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats, and similar articles, knitted or crocheted	Long-sleeve tops are thicker, sweatshirt-like, or presented as pullovers rather than basic T-shirts.
`6205`	Men’s or boys’ shirts, woven	A shirt is woven rather than knitted and presented for men or boys, including some promotional button shirts.
`6206`	Women’s or girls’ blouses, shirts, and shirt-blouses, woven	A shirt is woven rather than knitted and presented for women or girls.
`6111`	Babies’ garments and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted	The item is sized and marketed as baby clothing rather than adult, youth, or children apparel.

National extensions after the 6-digit heading vary by destination market. Verify the full national code in USITC HTS, EU TARIC, or UK Trade Tariff before filing.

Decision tree

How to classify t-shirts

Step 1: Confirm construction

Decide whether the shirt is knitted, crocheted, or woven. This usually separates chapter 61 from chapter 62.

Step 2: Confirm fiber

Record cotton, polyester, viscose, bamboo, wool, or exact blend percentages by weight.

Step 3: Confirm function and sizing

Basic T-shirt, tank, sports shirt, baby garment, or woven promotional shirt; adult vs children matters.

Step 4: Review decoration

Printed or stitched designs usually remain description facts, but heavy trim or bundled accessories may need review.

Step 5: Verify destination source

Open USITC HTS, EU TARIC, or UK Trade Tariff and verify the national extension for the exact garment.

Step 6: Draft invoice line

Use fiber + construction + product type + age or gender + decoration. Avoid generic terms such as apparel or merchandise.

Material variants

How material changes the code

Material	Typical heading	Notes
Cotton	6109 / 6205 / 6206	Common basic T-shirt fiber; verify knitted vs woven and the destination national extension for cotton garments.
Polyester or synthetic fiber	6109 / 6110	Sports and promotional shirts often use synthetic knit fabric; verify fiber percentage by weight.
Cotton-polyester blend	6109 / 6110 / 6205 / 6206	Dominant fiber may affect duty band; record the exact blend percentage.
Bamboo, viscose, or rayon blend	6109 / 6110	Semi-synthetic fibers may fall under different national extensions; verify fiber labeling and composition.
Performance mesh	6109 / 6110	Sports shirts need construction, fiber, and intended use details; decoration usually does not decide the heading.
Woven cotton or polyester	6205 / 6206	If the product is actually woven, the candidate may move from chapter 61 to chapter 62.

Function and use-case variants

How function changes the code

Function	Typical heading	Notes
Basic knitted short-sleeve T-shirt	6109	Most ecommerce blank or printed tees may fall under this candidate family after fiber review.
Printed or embellished T-shirt	6109	Screen print, heat transfer, or thread decoration usually adds description detail; verify if heavy appliqué changes character.
Promotional giveaway shirt	6109 / 6205 / 6206	Marketing use does not replace garment facts; classify by construction, fiber, gender, and sizing.
Children T-shirt	6109 / 6111	Children and baby sizing may need separate review; destination rules can split by age or size range.
Tank top or singlet	6109	Sleeveless knit tops are commonly reviewed with T-shirts and vests; verify exact product description.
Woven shirt sold as a tee	6205 / 6206	If construction is woven, a chapter 62 candidate may apply even when the product title says T-shirt.

Risk flags

Source-check required

Flag	Impact on classification	Where to verify
Knit vs woven construction	A similar shirt can move between chapter 61 and chapter 62 when construction changes.	USITC HTS chapter 61 / 62 notes, EU TARIC textile rules.
Fiber composition	Cotton, polyester, viscose, and blends can use different national extensions and duty bands.	Destination tariff database and textile labeling rules.
Adult vs children sizing	Children and baby garments may use separate headings or safety and labeling requirements.	Destination consumer product safety authority and tariff notes.
Decoration and embellishment	Printed or stitched designs support the description, but heavy appliqué or accessories may require review.	HS explanatory notes and destination tariff rulings.
Country of origin	Origin drives additional tariffs, preferential treatment, and textile origin labeling.	USTR Section 301 list, USITC HTS, destination origin rules.
Set or bundle presentation	T-shirts bundled with hats, stickers, or gift packaging may need set review.	GRI 3(b), destination customs guidance.

Risk flags signal the need for official review before the candidate code is used on customs documents.

Invoice description examples

Strong descriptions

Strong invoice descriptions include material, function, product type, and key components (battery, electronics, magnet, leather, textile). Avoid generic words such as gift, sample, accessory, or product. The descriptions below are examples only, not final classifications.

Cotton knitted T-shirt, short sleeve, adult unisex, no appliqué
Polyester knitted sports T-shirt, short sleeve, printed front logo
Cotton-polyester blended knitted T-shirt, 60/40 fiber content, adult
Children cotton knitted T-shirt, size 6-8, screen printed design
Cotton woven promotional shirt, short sleeve, men’s fit
Viscose-polyester knitted tank top, sleeveless, women’s fit

Use these descriptions on the commercial invoice line item, with the candidate HS code and country of origin declared per line.

Ecommerce catalog fields

Shopify, WooCommerce, and CSV fields to check

Before labels and invoices are generated, prepare these fields in your ecommerce catalog. The CSV Catalog Checker scans Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, or custom CSV exports for missing customs fields locally in your browser.

Field	Why it matters
SKU	Stable identifier that maps the catalog row to invoice, packing list, and candidate review notes.
Product title	Marketing name; should not replace a customs description that states fiber, construction, and function.
Fiber composition	Cotton, polyester, viscose, or blend percentages may affect the destination national extension.
Construction	Knitted, crocheted, or woven construction drives the chapter 61 vs 62 decision.
Gender and age range	Adult, unisex, children, and baby sizing can affect heading and safety review.
Decoration	Print, thread decoration, appliqué, sequins, or trim should be described and verified when material.
Country of origin	Origin drives additional tariff review, preferential treatment, and textile labeling.
Destination market	The full national code and duty rate vary by USITC HTS, EU TARIC, UK Trade Tariff, or another destination source.
Candidate HS code	Working candidate from the AI HS Code Finder; not binding.
Customs description	Use fiber + construction + function + gender or age range on the commercial invoice.
Unit value and currency	Supports duty calculation in the Import Duty Calculator.
Quantity per pack	Supports invoice and packing list consistency checks.

Pair this with the Commercial Invoice Generator, the HS Code Finder, and the CSV Catalog Checker.

Worked example

Worked example: reviewing a printed cotton T-shirt

Scenario: A Shopify seller imports 800 printed cotton T-shirts from China for US sale. The catalog lists the item as a promotional tee, but the invoice needs a candidate heading, origin, and a stronger customs description.

Step 1: identify product facts: 100% cotton, knitted fabric, short sleeve, adult unisex sizing, screen print on front, no appliqué or battery.
Step 2: select the candidate family. A basic knitted T-shirt may fall under 6109; the seller still verifies the full US national extension in USITC HTS.
Step 3: separate marketing use from customs facts. Promotional use does not replace fiber, construction, function, and sizing.
Step 4: record origin and destination. Origin is China and destination is the United States, so additional tariff review may apply.
Step 5: write the invoice description: cotton knitted T-shirt, short sleeve, adult unisex, screen printed front logo.
Step 6: save the review note with fiber certificate, supplier spec sheet, candidate heading, and source checked.

The candidate is a preparation aid only. Verify the national extension, duty rate, and origin treatment before filing.

Common mistakes

What to avoid

Using one apparel candidate for knit and woven shirts.
Leaving fiber composition off the invoice.
Treating promotional use as a classification driver instead of garment facts.
Reusing an adult T-shirt candidate for baby garments without review.
Ignoring origin and destination market when estimating duty.
Writing only "T-shirt" on the commercial invoice.
Treating a supplier code as final without checking the destination tariff.

Related Tools

Continue the workflow

Editorial

About this category page

Written by the TariffCatalog Editorial Team. Maintained by Ryan Cole and reviewed for candidate-only customs-data workflow clarity.

This page follows TariffCatalog's methodology for candidate-only classification, estimate-only calculators, and document draft workflows. Candidates are preparation aids, not binding classifications.

Methodology Sources Report an error

Maintainer

Reviewed by Ryan Cole

Ryan Cole maintains TariffCatalog from the perspective of a long-time ecommerce operator with 15+ years of experience in product catalog, international shipping, and pre-shipment data workflows. This page is reviewed for candidate-only HS code preparation, source-check clarity, and estimate-only or candidate-only wording.

TariffCatalog is a preparation aid, not a customs broker, legal, tax, or freight-forwarding service. Verify final classifications, rates, documents, and filing treatment with official sources or qualified professionals.

Last reviewed: August 2026 · Maintainer entity: Ryan Cole · Source policy: verified against official customs and tariff sources

Official Source Note

Check final codes

USITC HTS

Verify candidate headings and destination-specific extensions.

CBP

Verify candidate headings and destination-specific extensions.

EU TARIC

Verify candidate headings and destination-specific extensions.

UK Trade Tariff

Verify candidate headings and destination-specific extensions.

FAQ

Common questions

Are these HS code candidates binding?

No. These are candidate headings and preparation aids only. Final classification depends on fabric construction, fiber composition, sizing, destination tariff rules, and any ruling or note that applies. Verify before filing.

Why does knit vs woven matter for T-shirts?

Knit vs woven is one of the main apparel pivots. Knitted T-shirts may fall under chapter 61, while woven shirts may fall under chapter 62. The product title alone is not enough; verify the fabric construction.

Do printed T-shirts use a different candidate?

A normal print or thread decoration usually supports the customs description rather than changing the heading. Heavy appliqué, accessories, or bundled items may require separate review. Include the decoration in the invoice description.

Does cotton vs polyester affect the duty estimate?

Yes. Cotton, polyester, viscose, and blends can use different national extensions and duty rates. Record exact percentages and verify the destination tariff before estimating duty.

Should children T-shirts be reviewed separately?

Often yes. Children and baby garments may use separate headings, national extensions, or safety and labeling rules. Keep adult, children, and baby SKUs separated in the catalog review.

Do promotional shirts still need apparel details?

Yes. Promotional use does not replace customs facts. The invoice still needs fiber, construction, product type, sizing, country of origin, and destination market.

Can I bulk-assign one candidate across T-shirt variants?

Only if variants share construction, fiber mix, function, sizing category, and origin. If fiber, age range, or construction differs, review them separately.

When should I ask a licensed professional to review?

Ask for review when the shipment is high value, repeated, ambiguous, regulated as children apparel, or exposed to additional tariff review. TariffCatalog helps prepare the facts; it does not provide binding classification.

Last reviewed: 2026-08-02

Disclaimer

TariffCatalog provides candidate HS code suggestions, estimate-only calculators, and document drafts. Verify final classifications, duty rates, document requirements, and filing obligations with official sources, carriers, brokers, or destination authorities before filing or shipping.

Candidate headings on this page are preparation aids, not binding classifications. Final classification depends on exact product facts and the destination tariff rules in effect on the entry date.