HTS code for hats and caps (2026)
Most hats and caps imported into the United States are classified under heading 6505.00 in Chapter 65. The specific 10-digit line depends primarily on the material of the outer shell. The single most common import, a knitted cotton cap, falls under 6505.00.15.40 at a general rate of 7.9%. The attribute that most often moves a hat to a different line is the fiber content of the fabric: switching from cotton to man-made fibers shifts the applicable line and can raise the rate to a compound duty such as 20¢/kg + 7% for knitted man-made fiber caps under 6505.00.60.90, or to 25.4¢/kg + 7.7% for knitted wool caps under 6505.00.30.90.
Goods originating in China are subject to an additional +25% under Chapter 99 provision 9903.88.03 on top of the general rate for nearly all lines in this heading. Nonwoven disposable headgear without peaks or visors under 6505.00.80.15 carries a separate Chapter 99 provision, 9903.88.69, which is an exclusion claims heading with no additional duty, in addition to 9903.88.03.
Candidate HTS lines for hats and caps
| Code | Line | General rate | Special rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6505.00.15.40 | Other (359) (doz., kg) Hats and other headgear, knitted or crocheted, or made up from lace, felt or other textile fabric, in the piece (but not in strips), whether or not lined or trimmed; hair-nets of any material, whether or not lined or trimmed: › Other: › Other: › Of cotton, flax or both: › Knitted › Of cotton: › Other: Use when: Knitted cotton hat or cap (other than for babies or visors) that is not certified hand-loomed or folklore, such as a standard knit cotton beanie or knit baseball-style cap. | 7.9% | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,E*,IL,JO, KR,MA,NP,OM,P, PA,PE,S,SG) |
| 6505.00.25.90 | Other (859) (doz., kg) Hats and other headgear, knitted or crocheted, or made up from lace, felt or other textile fabric, in the piece (but not in strips), whether or not lined or trimmed; hair-nets of any material, whether or not lined or trimmed: › Other: › Other: › Of cotton, flax or both: › Not knitted: › Other Use when: Non-knitted cotton hat or cap (other than certified hand-loomed, folklore, or visors) such as a woven cotton baseball cap, bucket hat, or sun hat. | 7.5% | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,E*,IL,JO, KR,MA,NP,OM,P, PA,PE,S,SG) |
| 6505.00.60.90 | Other (659) (doz., kg) Hats and other headgear, knitted or crocheted, or made up from lace, felt or other textile fabric, in the piece (but not in strips), whether or not lined or trimmed; hair-nets of any material, whether or not lined or trimmed: › Other: › Other: › Of man-made fibers: › Knitted or crocheted or made up from knitted or crocheted fabric: › Not in part of braid › Other: › Other: Use when: Knitted or crocheted man-made fiber hat or cap that is not in part of braid, not for babies, not containing 23 percent or more by weight of wool or fine animal hair, and not a visor. | 20¢/kg + 7% | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,IL,JO,KR, MA,NP,OM,P, PA,PE,S,SG) |
| 6505.00.80.90 | Other (659) (doz., kg) Hats and other headgear, knitted or crocheted, or made up from lace, felt or other textile fabric, in the piece (but not in strips), whether or not lined or trimmed; hair-nets of any material, whether or not lined or trimmed: › Other: › Other: › Of man-made fibers: › Other: › Not in part of braid › Other: › Other: Use when: Non-knitted man-made fiber hat or cap that is not in part of braid, not a nonwoven disposable, not for babies, and not a visor, such as a woven polyester cap. | 18.7¢/kg + 6.8% | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,IL,JO,KR, MA,NP,OM,P, PA,PE,S,SG) |
| 6505.00.40.90 | Other (459) (doz., kg) Hats and other headgear, knitted or crocheted, or made up from lace, felt or other textile fabric, in the piece (but not in strips), whether or not lined or trimmed; hair-nets of any material, whether or not lined or trimmed: › Other: › Other: › Of wool: › Other › Other: Use when: Non-knitted wool hat or cap that is not for babies and not a visor, such as a woven or felt-style wool fedora or cloche made from wool fabric. | 31¢/kg + 7.9% | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,IL,JO,KR, MA,NP,OM,P, PA,PE,S,SG) |
| 6505.00.30.90 | Other (459) (doz., kg) Hats and other headgear, knitted or crocheted, or made up from lace, felt or other textile fabric, in the piece (but not in strips), whether or not lined or trimmed; hair-nets of any material, whether or not lined or trimmed: › Other: › Other: › Of wool: › Knitted or crocheted or made up from knitted or crocheted fabric › Other: Use when: Knitted or crocheted wool hat or cap that is not for babies and not a visor, such as a knit wool beanie or watch cap. | 25.4¢/kg + 7.7% | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,IL,JO,KR, MA,NP,OM,P, PA,PE,S,SG) |
| 6505.00.20.60 | Other (359) (doz., kg) Hats and other headgear, knitted or crocheted, or made up from lace, felt or other textile fabric, in the piece (but not in strips), whether or not lined or trimmed; hair-nets of any material, whether or not lined or trimmed: › Other: › Other: › Of cotton, flax or both: › Not knitted: › Certified hand-loomed and folklore products; and headwear of cotton Use when: Non-knitted cotton hat or cap that is a certified hand-loomed or folklore product, covering the crown of the head, for non-baby wearers. | 7.5% | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,E*,IL, JO,KR,MA, NP,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) |
| 6505.00.04.10 | For men or boys (doz., kg) Hats and other headgear, knitted or crocheted, or made up from lace, felt or other textile fabric, in the piece (but not in strips), whether or not lined or trimmed; hair-nets of any material, whether or not lined or trimmed: › Other: › Felt hats and other felt headgear, made from the hat bodies, hoods or plateaux of heading 6501, whether or not lined or trimmed: › Of fur felt Use when: Felt hat made from fur felt hat bodies, hoods or plateaux of heading 6501, for men or boys, such as a dress fedora. | Free | |
| 6505.00.50.90 | Other (659) (doz., kg) Hats and other headgear, knitted or crocheted, or made up from lace, felt or other textile fabric, in the piece (but not in strips), whether or not lined or trimmed; hair-nets of any material, whether or not lined or trimmed: › Other: › Other: › Of man-made fibers: › Knitted or crocheted or made up from knitted or crocheted fabric: › Wholly or in part of braid › Other: Use when: Knitted or crocheted man-made fiber hat or cap that is wholly or in part of braid, not a visor and not for babies, such as a braided straw-look knit hat. | 6.8% | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,IL,JO,KR, MA,NP,OM,P, PA,PE,S,SG) |
| 6505.00.15.15 | For babies (239) (doz., kg) Hats and other headgear, knitted or crocheted, or made up from lace, felt or other textile fabric, in the piece (but not in strips), whether or not lined or trimmed; hair-nets of any material, whether or not lined or trimmed: › Other: › Other: › Of cotton, flax or both: › Knitted › Of cotton: Use when: Knitted cotton hat or cap for babies, such as a knit infant beanie or baby bonnet of cotton. | 7.9% | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,E*,IL,JO, KR,MA,NP,OM,P, PA,PE,S,SG) |
| 6505.00.80.15 | Nonwoven disposable headgear without peaks or visors (doz., kg) Hats and other headgear, knitted or crocheted, or made up from lace, felt or other textile fabric, in the piece (but not in strips), whether or not lined or trimmed; hair-nets of any material, whether or not lined or trimmed: › Other: › Other: › Of man-made fibers: › Other: › Not in part of braid Use when: Nonwoven disposable man-made fiber headgear without peaks or visors, such as a disposable bouffant or surgeon-style cap. | 18.7¢/kg + 6.8% | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,IL,JO,KR, MA,NP,OM,P, PA,PE,S,SG) |
| 6505.00.01.00 | Hair-nets (kg) Hats and other headgear, knitted or crocheted, or made up from lace, felt or other textile fabric, in the piece (but not in strips), whether or not lined or trimmed; hair-nets of any material, whether or not lined or trimmed: Use when: Hair-nets of any material, whether or not lined or trimmed. | 9.4% | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) |
Chapter 99 duties and claims that attach to these lines today
Section 301 China
- 9903.88.03 Section 301 China, +25%, applies to 6505.00.15.40, 6505.00.25.90, 6505.00.60.90, 6505.00.80.90, 6505.00.40.90, 6505.00.30.90, 6505.00.20.60, 6505.00.04.10, 6505.00.50.90, 6505.00.15.15, 6505.00.80.15 9903.88.03 Explained: Section 301 China List 4, 25% Duty Rate
- 9903.88.15 Section 301 China, +7.5%, applies to 6505.00.01.00 9903.88.15 Explained: Section 301 China List 4, 7.5% Duty Rate
- 9903.88.69 Section 301 Exclusion Claims, claim or exemption heading, no additional duty, applies to 6505.00.80.15 9903.88.69: Section 301 Exclusion Claim Heading Explained
Each applicable Chapter 99 heading is reported as its own line beside the classification. Its duty is separate from the general rate above; most programs charge it on top, and a heading's own text says how it is assessed.
What decides the line
The first question a classifier must answer is whether the article is a hair-net. If yes, it falls under 6505.00.01.00 at 9.4% general rate, and the analysis stops there. If it is a felt hat made from hat bodies, hoods or plateaux of heading 6501 and constructed of fur felt, it falls under 6505.00.04.10 or 6505.00.04.50 at a general rate of Free, regardless of fiber content of the outer fabric.
For all other hats and caps, the classifier next identifies the chief fiber content of the outer fabric. Cotton or flax leads to the 6505.00.15 or 6505.00.20 and 6505.00.25 series. Wool leads to the 6505.00.30 or 6505.00.40 series. Man-made fibers lead to the 6505.00.50, 6505.00.60, 6505.00.70, or 6505.00.80 series.
Within each fiber group, the next split is construction method: whether the headgear is knitted or crocheted (or made from knitted or crocheted fabric) versus not knitted. Knitted cotton caps go to the 6505.00.15 series at 7.9%; non-knitted cotton caps go to the 6505.00.20 or 6505.00.25 series at 7.5%. Knitted man-made fiber caps go to the 6505.00.50 or 6505.00.60 series; non-knitted man-made fiber caps go to the 6505.00.70 or 6505.00.80 series. Within man-made fiber lines, the further split is whether the article is wholly or in part of braid, which routes to 6505.00.50 or 6505.00.70 at 6.8%, versus not in part of braid at 20¢/kg + 7% or 18.7¢/kg + 6.8%.
Within any line, statistical suffixes are further separated by intended wearer (for babies vs. other), by whether the article is a visor or headgear providing no covering for the crown of the head, and in some lines by whether it is a certified hand-loomed and folklore product. Each of these attributes selects a distinct 10-digit statistical suffix and, in the case of hand-loomed products, a separate duty rate.
Common mistakes
- Classifying a woven polyester baseball cap under the knitted man-made fiber line 6505.00.60.90 is incorrect, because the shell is not knitted, it belongs under the non-knitted man-made fiber line 6505.00.80.90.
- Using the cotton line 6505.00.15.40 for a cap made of man-made fibers is incorrect, fiber content controls, so a polyester or nylon cap must go to the man-made fiber series beginning with 6505.00.50 or 6505.00.60 or 6505.00.80.
- Forgetting to report the Chapter 99 provision 9903.88.03 as a separate entry line for goods of Chinese origin is incorrect, that +25% duty is additional to the general rate and must be filed alongside the classification line.
- Classifying a fur felt dress hat made from hat bodies of heading 6501 under the wool or man-made fiber textile lines is incorrect, such articles fall under 6505.00.04.10 or 6505.00.04.50 at a general rate of Free.
- Reporting a knit infant cotton beanie under the adult cotton knit suffix 6505.00.15.40 is incorrect, headgear for babies has its own suffix, 6505.00.15.15, which must be used along with the correct category designation (239).
Frequently asked questions
What is the HTS code for a standard knitted cotton baseball cap or beanie?
A knitted cotton hat or cap for adults that is not a certified hand-loomed or folklore product and is not a visor is classified under 6505.00.15.40. The general (column 1) rate is 7.9%. If the goods originate in China, Chapter 99 provision 9903.88.03 adds +25% on top of that rate. Countries listed in the special rate column, including AU, BH, CL, CO, IL, JO, KR, MA, NP, OM, P, PA, PE, S, and SG, receive a rate of Free.
What is the HTS code for a woven cotton baseball cap or bucket hat?
A non-knitted cotton hat or cap that is not a certified hand-loomed or folklore product and is not a visor falls under 6505.00.25.90 at a general rate of 7.5%. If it is a certified hand-loomed or folklore product, use 6505.00.20.60, which carries the same general rate of 7.5%. Both lines carry an additional +25% under 9903.88.03 for goods of Chinese origin.
What is the HTS code for a polyester cap or hat?
The correct line depends on whether the cap is knitted and whether it incorporates braid. A knitted or crocheted polyester cap that is not in part of braid goes to 6505.00.60.90 at 20¢/kg + 7%. A non-knitted polyester cap that is not in part of braid goes to 6505.00.80.90 at 18.7¢/kg + 6.8%. Either man-made fiber line that is wholly or in part of braid uses 6505.00.50.90 (knitted) or 6505.00.70 (other), both at 6.8%. All four lines carry an additional +25% under 9903.88.03 for Chinese-origin goods.
What does the Chapter 99 provision 9903.88.03 mean for hat imports?
Chapter 99 provision 9903.88.03 is a Section 301 China tariff. It applies an additional duty of +25% on top of the general column 1 rate for hats and caps originating in China across nearly all lines in heading 6505.00. The Chapter 99 heading is reported as a separate entry line alongside the classification line; the additional duty is calculated separately and is not folded into the general rate. Confirm current applicability in the HTSUS or with a licensed broker before filing.
What is the HTS code for a wool knit beanie or watch cap?
A knitted or crocheted wool hat or cap that is not for babies and not a visor is classified under 6505.00.30.90. The general rate is 25.4¢/kg + 7.7%, which is a compound duty applied to both the weight and the value of the goods. For non-knitted wool headgear, the applicable line is 6505.00.40.90 at 31¢/kg + 7.9%. Both lines carry an additional +25% under 9903.88.03 for goods of Chinese origin.
Is there a special HTS code for disposable nonwoven caps such as bouffant caps?
Yes. Nonwoven disposable headgear without peaks or visors made of man-made fibers is classified under 6505.00.80.15 at a general rate of 18.7¢/kg + 6.8%. This line has two Chapter 99 provisions attached: 9903.88.03 (Section 301 China, +25%) and 9903.88.69 (Section 301 Exclusion Claims, no additional duty). Confirm whether an exclusion claim applies to your specific shipment in the current HTSUS or with a licensed broker.