HTS code for notebooks and journals (2026)
Most notebooks and journals of paper or paperboard fall under 4820.10.20.60 (diaries, notebooks and address books, bound; memorandum pads, letter pads and similar articles, other) or, if they meet specified dimensions, under 4820.10.20.40. The general (column 1) rate for all lines within 4820.10.20 is Free.
The attribute that most often moves a product to a different line is whether the book is a bound diary or address book (4820.10.20.10), a sewn composition book in the specified size range (4820.10.20.30), a notebook in the specified size range (4820.10.20.40), or a memorandum or letter pad (4820.10.20.20).
Candidate HTS lines for notebooks and journals
| Code | Line | General rate | Special rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4820.10.20.60 | Other (No.) Registers, account books, notebooks, order books, receipt books, letter pads, memorandum pads, diaries and similar articles: › Diaries, notebooks and address books, bound; memorandum pads, letter pads and similar articles Use when: Use for bound notebooks and journals that are not diaries, address books, or sewn composition books, and do not meet the specific size range for the dedicated notebook subheading. | Free | |
| 4820.10.20.40 | Other note books with dimensions of 152.4-381 mm (6" - 15"), inclusive (small side) X 222.5-381 mm (8.75" -15"), inclusive (large side) (No.) Registers, account books, notebooks, order books, receipt books, letter pads, memorandum pads, diaries and similar articles: › Diaries, notebooks and address books, bound; memorandum pads, letter pads and similar articles Use when: Use for bound notebooks within dimensions of 152.4-381 mm (6"-15") on the small side by 222.5-381 mm (8.75"-15") on the large side, when the book is not a sewn composition book. | Free | |
| 4820.10.20.30 | Sewn composition books with dimensions of 152.4-381 mm (6" - 15"), inclusive (small side) X 222.5-381 mm (8.75" -15"), inclusive (large side) (No.) Registers, account books, notebooks, order books, receipt books, letter pads, memorandum pads, diaries and similar articles: › Diaries, notebooks and address books, bound; memorandum pads, letter pads and similar articles Use when: Use for sewn composition books with dimensions of 152.4-381 mm (6"-15") on the small side by 222.5-381 mm (8.75"-15") on the large side. | Free | |
| 4820.10.20.10 | Diaries and address books (No.) Registers, account books, notebooks, order books, receipt books, letter pads, memorandum pads, diaries and similar articles: › Diaries, notebooks and address books, bound; memorandum pads, letter pads and similar articles Use when: Use for bound diaries and address books of paper or paperboard. | Free | |
| 4820.10.20.20 | Memorandum pads, letter pads and similar articles (No.) Registers, account books, notebooks, order books, receipt books, letter pads, memorandum pads, diaries and similar articles: › Diaries, notebooks and address books, bound; memorandum pads, letter pads and similar articles Use when: Use for memorandum pads, letter pads and similar articles of paper or paperboard. | Free | |
| 4820.10.40.00 | Other (No.) Registers, account books, notebooks, order books, receipt books, letter pads, memorandum pads, diaries and similar articles: Use when: Use for registers, account books, order books, receipt books and similar articles that are not diaries, notebooks, address books, memorandum pads or letter pads. | Free | |
| 4820.20.00.00 | Exercise books (No.) Use when: Use for exercise books of paper or paperboard. | Free | |
| 4820.90.00.00 | Other (kg) Use when: Use for paper or paperboard stationery articles that do not fit any more specific subheading within heading 4820. | Free |
Chapter 99 duties and claims that attach to these lines today
Section 301 China
- 9903.88.03 Section 301 China, +25%, applies to 4820.10.20.60, 4820.10.20.40, 4820.10.20.30, 4820.10.20.10, 4820.10.20.20, 4820.10.40.00, 4820.20.00.00, 4820.90.00.00 9903.88.03 Explained: Section 301 China List 4, 25% Duty Rate
Russia
- 9903.90.08 Russia, claim or exemption heading, no additional duty, applies to 4820.10.20.60, 4820.10.20.40, 4820.10.20.30, 4820.10.20.10, 4820.10.20.20 9903.90.08 Explained: 35% Russia Column 2 Duty for Importers
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 is whether the article is classified within heading 4820 at all. Notebooks and journals made of paper or paperboard stationery belong in 4820. The second question is which subheading applies under 4820.10.
A classifier works through 4820.10.20 in this order: Is the item a diary or address book that is bound? If yes, use 4820.10.20.10. Is it a memorandum pad, letter pad or similar article? If yes, use 4820.10.20.20. Is it a sewn composition book with a small side of 152.4-381 mm (6"-15") and a large side of 222.5-381 mm (8.75"-15")? If yes, use 4820.10.20.30. Is it a notebook (not a sewn composition book) within those same dimension ranges? If yes, use 4820.10.20.40. If none of those descriptions fit, the residual line 4820.10.20.60 applies.
If the article is a register, account book, order book or receipt book rather than a notebook or diary type, it is reported under 4820.10.40.00 as other registers and similar articles. Exercise books, a distinct product type, are separately covered by 4820.20.00.00. Looseleaf binders and folders fall under 4820.30, not 4820.10.
Binding method and physical dimensions are therefore the two attributes that separate the specific statistical suffixes, and product type (notebook versus register versus exercise book) separates the four-digit subheadings.
Common mistakes
- Classifying a spiral-bound or looseleaf notebook under 4820.10.20.40 or 4820.10.20.60 when the item is actually a looseleaf binder, which belongs under 4820.30.00.20.
- Using the diary and address book line 4820.10.20.10 for a dated planner that functions primarily as a notebook rather than a diary, when 4820.10.20.60 may be the correct line; the item's primary description should control.
- Omitting the Chapter 99 provision 9903.88.03 when the goods are imported from China, which adds 25% on top of the Free general rate and must be reported as a separate line on the entry.
- Filing under 4820.20.00.00 (exercise books) for a standard ruled notebook simply because it resembles a school notebook, when 4820.20 is reserved specifically for exercise books as described in that line.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HTS code for a standard bound notebook imported from China?
A standard bound notebook most often falls under 4820.10.20.60 or, if it meets the size specifications, 4820.10.20.40. The general (column 1) rate is Free. However, goods from China are subject to Chapter 99 provision 9903.88.03 (Section 301 China), which adds 25% on top of that Free rate. That provision must be reported as a separate line on the entry alongside the classification line.
Is the HTS code different for a journal versus a diary?
Yes. A bound diary or address book is specifically described under 4820.10.20.10. A journal or general-purpose notebook that is not a diary or address book falls under 4820.10.20.60 (or 4820.10.20.40 if it falls within the stated dimension range). Both lines carry a general rate of Free and the same column 2 rate of 25%.
What does the Chapter 99 provision 9903.88.03 mean for my notebook import?
The Chapter 99 provision 9903.88.03 is a Section 301 China additional duty. When the goods originate in China, this provision applies and adds 25% on top of whatever the general column 1 rate is. For 4820.10.20 lines the general rate is Free, so the effective additional duty from China origin is 25%. This heading is reported as a separate classification line on the entry; it is not folded into the base rate.
Which HTS code applies to sewn composition books?
Sewn composition books with a small side of 152.4-381 mm (6"-15") and a large side of 222.5-381 mm (8.75"-15") are classified under 4820.10.20.30, with a general rate of Free. Sewn composition books outside those dimensions would be evaluated under the residual line 4820.10.20.60.
Do looseleaf binders or folders get the same HTS code as notebooks?
No. Looseleaf binders are classified under 4820.30.00.20 and other folders and file covers under 4820.30.00.40, not under 4820.10. The general rate for 4820.30 lines is Free, but the column 2 rate is 35%, higher than the 25% column 2 rate that applies to the 4820.10.20 notebook lines. Both 4820.30 lines also carry the Chapter 99 provision 9903.88.03 (Section 301 China) adding 25% for Chinese-origin goods.
What is the column 2 rate for notebooks and journals, and when does it apply?
The column 2 rate for lines under 4820.10.20 is 25%. Column 2 rates apply to goods from countries that do not have normal trade relations with the United States. Confirm whether column 2 applies to your specific country of origin in the current HTSUS or with a licensed broker.