HS Code for Gloves
Gloves do not share a single HS code — classification depends on the material and how the glove is made. Knitted textile gloves point toward heading 6116, where the chief-weight fiber separates synthetic-fiber gloves (6116.93) from cotton gloves (6116.92), and construction features such as fourchettes and whether the glove is specially designed for sports affect the rate. Gloves of vulcanized rubber point toward heading 4015, where surgical and medical gloves are duty-free and other rubber gloves carry a low rate. Rates range from free up to roughly 23.5%, with some textile lines on compound rates.
| HTS Code | Description | Duty Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 6116.93.88.00 | Gloves, knitted, of synthetic fibers — other, without fourchettes Synthetic knit gloves (general), without fourchettes | 18.6% |
| 6116.93.94.00 | Gloves, knitted, of synthetic fibers — other, with fourchettes Synthetic knit gloves with fourchettes (sewn finger sidewalls) | 18.6% |
| 6116.93.08.00 | Gloves, knitted, of synthetic fibers — specially designed for use in sports Synthetic sports gloves (e.g., ski, cycling) | 2.8% |
| 6116.93.05.00 | Gloves, knitted, of synthetic fibers — ice hockey and field hockey gloves Hockey gloves, synthetic | Free |
| 6116.92.64.40 | Gloves, knitted, of cotton — other Cotton knit gloves (general) | 23.5% |
| 6116.92.88.00 | Gloves, knitted, of cotton — other, without fourchettes Cotton knit gloves, without fourchettes | 9.4% |
| 6116.92.08.00 | Gloves, knitted, of cotton — specially designed for use in sports Cotton sports gloves | 2.8% |
| 6116.93.64.00 | Gloves, knitted, of synthetic fibers — other, without fourchettes (specific blend) Synthetic knit gloves on a compound-rate line | 31¢/kg + 6.9% |
| 4015.19.11.50 | Gloves of vulcanized rubber — seamless Disposable/household seamless rubber or nitrile gloves | 3% |
| 4015.12.10.10 | Surgical and medical gloves of vulcanized rubber Surgical / medical examination rubber gloves | Free |
There is no single 'gloves' heading — the first question is what the glove is made of, because that determines the heading. The two most common routes are knitted textile gloves under heading 6116 and gloves of vulcanized rubber under heading 4015. (Leather gloves point toward heading 4203, woven non-knit textile gloves toward heading 6216, and gloves coated or impregnated with plastics or rubber toward 6116.10 — those material routes can be added if the product calls for them.)
For knitted textile gloves under 6116, the chief-weight fiber is the principal split: synthetic-fiber gloves point toward 6116.93 and cotton gloves toward 6116.92. Within each fiber, the tariff distinguishes gloves specially designed for use in sports (a low rate), ice hockey and field hockey gloves (duty-free), and ordinary gloves, which are further broken out by whether they have fourchettes — the sewn strips that form the sides of the fingers. Some of these breakouts carry compound rates combining a per-kilogram charge with a percentage.
Gloves of vulcanized rubber point toward heading 4015. Surgical and medical gloves are duty-free under 4015.12, while other rubber or nitrile gloves — including disposable and household gloves — point toward 4015.19 at a low rate. Whether a glove is 'seamless' is one of the statistical distinctions in this heading.
The reliable approach is to identify the material first, then the construction detail (sports design, fourchettes, seamless), and finally the chief-weight fiber for textile gloves. Because rates range from free to over 20%, and some lines are compound, the material and construction together drive both the code and the duty.
Duty treatment for gloves spans a wide range. Surgical and medical rubber gloves (4015.12) are duty-free; other rubber/nitrile gloves (4015.19) are around 3%. Sports-specific knit gloves are around 2.8% and hockey gloves are duty-free. Ordinary knit gloves are higher — synthetic-fiber gloves around 18.6% (with certain blends on a compound rate of about 31¢/kg + 6.9%) and cotton gloves around 9.4%–23.5% depending on the breakout. Preferential rates under free trade agreements may reduce or eliminate the duty for qualifying origins. Material and construction are the key variables.