HS Code for Shorts
Shorts are classified among apparel in the HTSUS, where the first branch is construction: knitted or crocheted shorts point toward chapter 61 and woven shorts toward chapter 62. Gender is the next factor; men's or boys' knit shorts point toward heading 6103 and women's or girls' toward 6104, while men's or boys' woven shorts point toward 6203 and women's or girls' toward 6204. The chief fiber then sets the subheading, and within it shorts have their own statistical lines, separate from trousers. The estimated rate ranges from about 14.9% for women's knit cotton shorts to about 28.2% for knit synthetic shorts, so fiber content matters as much as construction. Swimwear is a separate story and points toward its own headings rather than the trouser-and-shorts provisions.
HTS Codes for Shorts
| HTS Code | Description | Duty Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 6103.42.10.50 | Men's shorts, knitted or crocheted, of cotton (category 347) Men's knit cotton shorts, the standard cotton knit shorts line (textile category 347) | 16.10% |
| 6103.42.10.70 | Boys' shorts, knitted or crocheted, of cotton, other than parts of playsuits (category 347) Boys' knit cotton shorts not imported as parts of playsuits (textile category 347) | 16.10% |
| 6104.62.20.30 | Women's shorts, knitted or crocheted, of cotton (category 348) Women's knit cotton shorts (textile category 348) | 14.90% |
| 6104.62.20.60 | Girls' shorts, knitted or crocheted, of cotton, other than parts of playsuits (category 348) Girls' knit cotton shorts not imported as parts of playsuits (textile category 348) | 14.90% |
| 6103.43.15.50 | Men's shorts, knitted or crocheted, of synthetic fibers (category 647) Men's knit synthetic shorts, such as polyester athletic shorts, containing less than 23% wool (textile category 647) | 28.20% |
| 6104.63.20.30 | Women's shorts, knitted or crocheted, of synthetic fibers (category 648) Women's knit synthetic shorts, such as polyester athletic shorts, containing less than 23% wool (textile category 648) | 28.20% |
| 6203.42.45.51 | Men's shorts, woven, of cotton (category 347) Men's woven cotton shorts, such as chino, cargo and denim-style shorts, other than recreational performance outerwear (textile category 347) | 16.60% |
| 6204.62.80.56 | Women's shorts, woven, of cotton (category 348) Women's woven cotton shorts, other than recreational performance outerwear (textile category 348) | 16.60% |
| 6203.42.07.51 | Men's shorts, woven, of cotton, recreational performance outerwear (category 347) Men's woven cotton shorts that meet the recreational performance outerwear definition in the chapter 62 notes (textile category 347) | 16.60% |
| 6204.62.15.56 | Women's shorts, woven, of cotton, recreational performance outerwear (category 348) Women's woven cotton shorts that meet the recreational performance outerwear definition in the chapter 62 notes (textile category 348) | 16.60% |
How to Approach Classification for Shorts
Shorts are apparel, and the HTSUS splits garments first by how the fabric is made. Knitted or crocheted shorts point toward chapter 61, while shorts made from woven fabric point toward chapter 62. Confirming whether the fabric is knit or woven is the clearest first step, because it decides the chapter before anything else about the garment.
Gender and age are the next branch. Men's or boys' knit shorts point toward heading 6103 and women's or girls' knit shorts toward heading 6104; on the woven side, men's or boys' shorts point toward heading 6203 and women's or girls' toward heading 6204. Within each heading, shorts share an eight-digit subheading with trousers and breeches, and that subheading is set by the garment's chief fiber: cotton (6103.42, 6104.62, 6203.42, 6204.62) or synthetic fibers (6103.43, 6104.63, 6203.43, 6204.63).
The ten-digit statistical suffix is where shorts separate from trousers. Each fiber subheading carries dedicated shorts lines, such as 6103.42.10.50 for men's knit cotton shorts or 6204.62.80.56 for women's woven cotton shorts, so a pair of shorts and a pair of trousers in the same fabric can share a duty rate but not a full code. Using a trouser line for shorts is a common reporting error even when the rate is identical.
On the woven side, a further split applies to recreational performance outerwear: garments with specific water-resistant treatments and performance features defined in the chapter 62 notes point toward their own lines (for example 6203.42.07.51), while everyday woven shorts point toward the general lines (6203.42.45.51). A practical sequence is construction, then wearer, then chief fiber, then whether the garment qualifies as recreational performance outerwear. Swimwear is not classified with trousers and shorts; it points toward its own headings (6112 for knit and 6211 for woven), so a swim short is treated differently from a casual or athletic short.
Duty Rate Overview
Duty rates for shorts depend mostly on construction and fiber. Knit cotton shorts run around 16.1% for men's and boys' and around 14.9% for women's and girls', and woven cotton shorts run around 16.6%. Knit synthetic shorts, such as polyester athletic shorts, carry a noticeably higher estimated rate of around 28.2%, so confirming the chief fiber has a real effect on the estimated duty. Preferential rates under free trade agreements may reduce or eliminate these duties for qualifying origins. These figures are estimates for general planning purposes only.