HS Code for Used Clothing

Used clothing has a single dedicated provision in the HTSUS: heading 6309, worn clothing and other worn textile articles, featured at 6309.00.00. To point toward this heading, goods generally need to meet two conditions from the chapter notes; they must show signs of appreciable wear, and they must be presented in bulk (bales, sacks or similar packings) rather than individually packed. Worn clothing under this line carries a general rate of Free. Garments that do not meet both conditions (new or lightly used items, or pieces presented individually) point instead toward the ordinary apparel headings in chapters 61 and 62 by garment type and fiber. Confirming the condition and how the goods are presented is the first step in exploring whether heading 6309 applies.

Used clothing has its own dedicated heading in chapter 63, heading 6309, which covers worn clothing and other worn textile articles. The featured line, 6309.00.00, is the single provision that most genuine second-hand clothing shipments point toward, and it is a useful starting point for bulk used-apparel imports.

What makes heading 6309 distinctive is that qualification depends on two conditions drawn from the chapter note, not just on the fact that a garment has been worn. First, the articles must show signs of appreciable wear. Second, they must be presented in bulk (in bales, sacks or similar packings) rather than packed individually for retail. Both conditions generally need to be met for goods to point toward this heading.

When either condition is not met, the goods point elsewhere. New clothing, or lightly used clothing that does not show appreciable wear, points toward the ordinary garment headings in chapters 61 (knitted or crocheted) and 62 (not knitted or crocheted), by garment type, gender and fiber: the same provisions used for new apparel. Individually boxed or retail-packed second-hand items can also fall outside 6309 for the same reason.

The heading is not limited to clothing. Other worn textile articles (such as used household linens, rags and similar worn made-up textiles presented in bulk) also point toward heading 6309, which is why the provision reads 'worn clothing and other worn textile articles' rather than clothing alone.

A practical way to approach it is to confirm first that the goods show appreciable wear, then that they are presented in bulk rather than individually. If both hold, heading 6309 is the natural line to explore; if not, the appropriate chapter 61 or 62 garment provision is the better starting point. It is worth avoiding the assumption that any second-hand garment automatically qualifies for 6309; the condition and packing are what point toward it.

The general duty rate for worn clothing and other worn textile articles under heading 6309 (6309.00.00) is Free. This is a notable contrast with new apparel, which is spread across chapters 61 and 62 at a wide range of positive rates that turn on garment type and fiber. Because the worn-goods line enters Free while comparable new garments do not, confirming that a shipment genuinely meets the heading 6309 conditions (appreciable wear and bulk presentation) is what supports exploring this line rather than the higher-rated new-apparel provisions. Preferential rates under free trade agreements may also apply for qualifying origins, though the general rate is already Free here. This figure is an estimate for general planning purposes only.