Soap — HTS 3401
Soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the form of bars, cakes, molded pieces or shapes, whether or not containing soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap; paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent
Chapter 34 › Heading 3401
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 3401 is a broad product category for soap and certain soap-like washing preparations. It includes bars, cakes, molded pieces, or shapes that contain soap or other organic surface-active substances; liquid or cream products for washing the skin when packaged for retail sale; and paper, wadding, felt, or nonwoven materials impregnated, coated, or covered with soap or detergent.
To reach a specific 8-digit HTSUS code, first identify the product’s physical form and intended use, then review its composition and presentation. The subheadings generally distinguish products such as soap bars, skin-washing liquids or creams, and soap- or detergent-treated paper or textile-like materials. The final digits may further separate products by material, type, or other stated characteristics. Confirm the complete product description against the current HTSUS text and relevant legal notes; a customs broker or classification specialist may be needed for borderline products.
What to check
- Identify whether the item is a bar or molded solid, a liquid or cream skin cleanser, or a paper, felt, wadding, or nonwoven product treated with soap or detergent.
- Check the ingredient formula and determine whether the product contains true soap, other organic surface-active agents, or both; retain the supplier’s composition documents.
- Confirm the product’s intended use and retail presentation, especially for liquid or cream skin-washing products, because use and packaging can affect classification.
- Compare the product’s physical form, packaging, and marketing description with every applicable 8-digit option rather than choosing by brand name alone.
- Verify the current HTSUS wording, chapter and section notes, and any applicable customs rulings; obtain professional classification advice if the product could fit more than one provision.
HTS heading 3401 summary
Soap is a 4-digit product category containing 2 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 3401.11 | For toilet use (including medicated products) |
| 3401.30 | Organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap |
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3401.19.00.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | 4.4¢/kg + 15% |
| 3401.20.00.00 👉 | Soap in other forms | Free | — | 4.4¢/kg + 30% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 3401?
Soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the form of bars, cakes, molded pieces or shapes, whether or not containing soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap; paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.