Import Duty on Hats and Caps
US general (MFN) import duty rates for Hats and Caps range from Free–9.4% across 13 HTS lines (e.g. HTS 6505.00.01.00 at 9.4%), per USITC HTS release 2026HTSRev22. This is a planning estimate: Section 301, Section 232, AD/CVD, quotas and MPF/HMF are excluded and must be added separately.
A cap is classified by how the crown was made before anything else is considered.
HTS lines and general duty rates
Read from the USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule, release 2026HTSRev22. USITC HTS, verify line 6505.00.01.00. Showing 12 of 13 lines in this group, including the lowest and highest rates.
| HTS code | Description | General rate | Special rate (FTA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6505.00.01.00 | Hair-nets | 9.4% | Free (A,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA, |
| 6505.00.04 | Of fur felt | Free | |
| 6505.00.08.00 | Other | 13.5¢/kg + 6.3% + 1.9¢/articlespecific | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,IL,JO,KR, MA,NP,OM,P, PA, |
| 6505.00.15 | Knitted | 7.9% | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,E*,IL,JO, KR,MA,NP,OM,P, |
| 6505.00.20 | Certified hand-loomed and folklore products; and headwear of cotton | 7.5% | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,E*,IL, JO,KR,MA, NP,OM,P, |
| 6505.00.25 | Other | 7.5% | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,E*,IL,JO, KR,MA,NP,OM,P, |
| 6505.00.30 | Knitted or crocheted or made up from knitted or crocheted fabric | 25.4¢/kg + 7.7%specific | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,IL,JO,KR, MA,NP,OM,P, PA, |
| 6505.00.50 | Wholly or in part of braid | 6.8% | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,IL,JO,KR, MA,NP,OM,P, PA, |
| 6505.00.60 | Not in part of braid | 20¢/kg + 7%specific | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,IL,JO,KR, MA,NP,OM,P, PA, |
| 6505.00.70 | Wholly or in part of braid | 6.8% | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,IL,JO,KR, MA,OM,P, PA,PE, |
| 6505.00.80 | Not in part of braid | 18.7¢/kg + 6.8%specific | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,IL,JO,KR, MA,NP,OM,P, PA, |
| 6505.00.90 | Other | 20.7¢/kg + 7.5%specific | Free (AU,BH, CL,CO,IL, JO,KR,MA,NP,OM,P, PA, |
What changes by country of origin
The MFN rate is the same regardless of where the goods are made. Everything below it is not.
| Origin | Base rate | US preference | What else attaches |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | MFN rate above | No US preference on these codes | Section 301 lists 1-4A apply to most consumer goods on top of MFN; the 2026 forced-labor 301 action adds a further layer. |
| Vietnam | MFN rate above | No US preference on these codes | No Section 301 list duty. The 2026 forced-labor 301 action applies. No US FTA, so MFN is the base. |
| India | MFN rate above | No US preference on these codes | No Section 301 list duty and no US FTA. Forced-labor 301 applies. GSP expired, so MFN is the base. |
| Thailand | MFN rate above | No US preference on these codes | No Section 301 list duty and no US FTA. Forced-labor 301 applies. |
| Indonesia | MFN rate above | No US preference on these codes | No Section 301 list duty and no US FTA. Forced-labor 301 applies. |
| Mexico | MFN rate above | No USMCA line on these codes | USMCA: duty-free when the goods meet the rules of origin and the preference is claimed. MFN applies otherwise. |
Free-trade programs named on the lines in this group: Australia (AUSFTA) (12 lines), Bahrain (BHFTA) (12 lines), Chile (CLFTA) (12 lines), Colombia (CTPA) (12 lines), Israel (ILFTA) (12 lines), Jordan (JOFTA) (12 lines). A preference only applies when the goods meet that program's rules of origin and the claim is made on entry. This page does not estimate Section 301 list rates or anti-dumping duty; enter the applicable Section 301 rate in the calculator yourself and verify current list coverage and exclusions at the USTR exclusion notices.
What decides the rate
6505 covers hats and other headgear knitted or made up from lace, felt or textile fabric in the piece. Whether the crown is knitted or woven comes before fiber and before decoration, and the lines inside 6505 carry different rates. An embroidered logo does not change the classification of the cap.
Where this goes wrong
Plastic or rubber headgear leaves 6505 for Chapter 39. Safety helmets and motorcycle helmets leave for Chapter 65 headings that carry their own requirements.
Inputs and assumptions
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Duty rate source | USITC HTS, release 2026HTSRev22 | Read at build time from the official schedule export. The general rate column. |
| Rate range in this category | Free–9.4% across 13 lines | The spread within one product category is the reason a category average is not usable. |
| MPF | 0.3464% of entered value, min $34.58, max $670.86 | CBP User Fee Table, FY2027. The ad valorem rate is statutory; the floor and cap are adjusted each October. |
| HMF | 0.125% of entered value, ocean cargo only | CBP User Fee Table. Not charged on air freight. |
| Customs value | Transaction value, normally the price paid for the goods | Freight and insurance are not part of US customs value, unlike CIF jurisdictions. |
Questions this page answers
What decides the duty rate on a cap?
Construction first, then fiber. Whether the crown is knitted or woven comes before the material and before decoration, and the lines inside 6505 carry different rates.
Does an embroidered logo change the classification?
No. Embroidery is decoration and does not move a cap out of 6505. A plastic or rubber cap would leave the heading for Chapter 39.
Does this estimate include anti-dumping duty?
No. Anti-dumping and countervailing duty are case-specific and can exceed every other layer combined, so they are outside the estimate by design. The calculator covers base duty, the Section 301 and 232 layers you enter, the merchandise processing fee and the harbor maintenance fee.
Data release: 2026HTSRev22. Content as of November 10, 2026. Found an error? Tell us and it gets corrected.