Cotton yarn — HTS 5205
Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread), containing 85 percent or more by weight of cotton, not put up for retail sale
Chapter 52 › Heading 5205
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 5205 is a broad product category for cotton yarn, other than sewing thread, that contains at least 85 percent cotton by weight and is not put up for retail sale. It groups qualifying yarns before the tariff schedule further separates them into more specific subheadings and statistical lines.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTSUS code, first confirm the goods meet the heading’s basic scope. Then narrow them using the schedule’s distinguishing characteristics, which may include the yarn’s construction or type, such as whether it is single or multiple (plied), and its fineness or related specification. Packaging for retail sale, intended use, fiber content, and technical product details can affect classification, so the exact wording of the subheadings must be checked against the official HTSUS.
What to check
- Confirm the yarn is at least 85 percent cotton by weight and document the fiber breakdown.
- Verify that the product is yarn rather than sewing thread, and determine whether it is put up for retail sale.
- Identify the yarn’s construction, including whether it is single, multiple, or otherwise described in the subheadings.
- Measure or obtain the technical specification needed to determine the applicable fineness or other distinguishing characteristic.
- Compare the product description and supplier records with the current HTSUS provisions; ask a customs broker or request a binding ruling if the facts or wording are unclear.
HTS heading 5205 summary
Cotton yarn is a 4-digit product category containing 19 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 |
|---|---|
| 5205.11 | Not exceeding 14 nm |
| 5205.12 | Exceeding 14 nm but not exceeding 43 nm |
| 5205.13 | Exceeding 43 nm but not exceeding 52 nm |
| 5205.14 | Exceeding 52 nm but not exceeding 80 nm |
| 5205.15 | Exceeding 80 nm |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5205.21.00 👉 | Not exceeding 14 nm | 5.8% | Free | 11.9% |
| 5205.22.00 👉 | Exceeding 14 nm but not exceeding 43 nm | 7.3% | Free | 15.3% |
| 5205.23.00 👉 | Exceeding 43 nm but not exceeding 52 nm | 8.6% | Free | 18.9% |
| 5205.24.00 👉 | Exceeding 52 nm but not exceeding 80 nm | 9.9% | Free | 22.3% |
| 5205.26.00 👉 | Measuring less than 125 decitex but not less than 106.38 decitex (exceeding 80 metric number but not exceeding 94 metric number) | 12% | Free | 34.1% |
| 5205.27.00 👉 | Measuring less than 106.38 decitex but not less than 83.33 decitex (exceeding 94 metric number but not exceeding 120 metric number) | 12% | Free | 34.1% |
| 5205.28.00 👉 | Measuring less than 83.33 decitex (exceeding 120 metric number) | 12% | Free | 34.1% |
| 5205.31.00.00 👉 | Not exceeding 14 nm per single yarn (300) | 5.8% | Free | 11.9% |
| 5205.32.00.00 👉 | Exceeding 14 nm but not exceeding 43 nm per single yarn (300) | 7.3% | Free | 15.3% |
| 5205.33.00.00 👉 | Exceeding 43 nm but not exceeding 52 nm per single yarn (300) | 8.6% | Free | 18.9% |
| 5205.34.00.00 👉 | Exceeding 52 nm but not exceeding 80 nm per single yarn (300) | 9.9% | Free | 22.3% |
| 5205.35.00.00 👉 | Exceeding 80 nm per single yarn (300) | 12% | Free | 34.1% |
| 5205.41.00 👉 | Not exceeding 14 nm per single yarn | 5% | Free | 11.9% |
| 5205.42.00 👉 | Exceeding 14 nm but not exceeding 43 nm per single yarn | 6.5% | Free | 15.3% |
| 5205.43.00 👉 | Exceeding 43 nm but not exceeding 52 nm per single yarn | 8.6% | Free | 18.9% |
| 5205.44.00 👉 | Exceeding 52 nm but not exceeding 80 nm per single yarn | 9.9% | Free | 22.3% |
| 5205.46.00 👉 | Measuring per single yarn less than 125 decitex but not less than 106.38 decitex (exceeding 80 metric number but not exceeding 94 metric number) | 12% | Free | 34.1% |
| 5205.47.00 👉 | Measuring per single yarn less than 106.38 decitex but not less than 83.33 decitex (exceeding 94 metric number but not exceeding 120 metric number) | 12% | Free | 34.1% |
| 5205.48.00 👉 | Measuring per single yarn less than 83.33 decitex (exceeding 120 metric number) | 12% | Free | 34.1% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 5205?
Cotton yarn (other than sewing thread), containing 85 percent or more by weight of cotton, not put up for retail sale. 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.