HS Code Detail
420221 Chapter 42 · Leather Goods Handbags, leather outer surface
Six-digit Harmonized System subheading. Used by 200+ customs authorities worldwide as the universal starting point for tariff classification.
Anatomy of 420221
For a real customs declaration you'll extend this 6-digit code to the destination's full local format: 10 digits for US HTS / UK Trade Tariff, 8 digits for the EU Combined Nomenclature. The first six digits stay the same — only the trailing detail differs.
What this code covers
What falls under 420221
- Handbags with an outer surface of leather or composition leather, with or without shoulder strap
What's specifically excluded
These look similar but belong under a different code:
Commonly confused with
420222 — Handbags, outer surface of plastic/textile
The outer-surface material — not the lining or the brand — decides the code. A coated-canvas designer bag with a plastic outer surface is 420222, not leather 420221, even at a luxury price point.
Classification & cost note
Leather handbags carry some of the highest consumer-goods MFN duties in the schedule (commonly high single digits to low double digits), which is why the outer-surface classification is so heavily scrutinised. The decisive question at customs is the material that makes up the greatest external surface area, assessed objectively — get this wrong and a reclassification can move the rate by several points.
Typical products: Leather shoulder bags and totes · Leather clutches · Structured leather handbags
Find the exact duty for 420221
Run this code through the duty calculator with your destination and shipment value, or check the destination's official tariff schedule for the binding MFN rate.
Questions about 420221
What decides if a bag is 'leather' for customs?
The outer surface with the greatest external area. If leather covers most of the visible exterior it's 420221; if plastic or textile dominates the surface, it's 420222 regardless of price or brand.
Is duty on leather handbags high?
Yes — leather handbags sit among the higher-duty consumer goods in most tariff schedules, so accurate outer-surface classification materially affects landed cost.
Related codes in Chapter 42
Calculate duty for HS 420221
Pre-fills the calculator with this code. Add your destination and shipment value for an instant landed-cost estimate.
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