Cotton sewing thread — HTS 5204
Cotton sewing thread, whether or not put up for retail sale
Chapter 52 › Heading 5204
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 5204 is a four-digit product category for cotton sewing thread, whether or not it is packaged for retail sale. It groups qualifying cotton thread based on its intended use as sewing thread, rather than ordinary yarn or thread made for other textile purposes. Retail packaging does not by itself remove a product from this heading.
To reach the correct eight-digit HTSUS code, start with the heading and then follow the subheadings and statistical subdivisions shown in the current HTSUS. The narrower code may depend on characteristics such as the thread’s construction, finishing or preparation, and how it is packaged or presented. Confirm the product’s fiber content, physical specifications, intended use, and packaging against the wording and legal notes for the applicable subheading; classification can require customs-broker or ruling advice when those facts are unclear.
What to check
- Verify that the product is cotton sewing thread, not general-purpose cotton yarn, embroidery thread, or thread intended for a different textile use.
- Check the fiber content and construction, including whether the thread is single, plied, cabled, coated, or otherwise finished, using the product specification sheet.
- Review how the thread is put up or packaged, including retail presentation, cones, spools, or other forms, and compare that fact with the applicable subheading wording.
- Read the full HTSUS heading, subheadings, section and chapter notes, and relevant statistical descriptions; do not select an eight-digit code from the heading title alone.
- Keep records supporting the classification and ask a customs broker or seek a formal customs ruling if the thread’s composition, use, or preparation is borderline.
HTS heading 5204 summary
Cotton sewing thread is a 4-digit product category containing 3 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5204.11.00.00 👉 | Containing 85 percent or more by weight of cotton (200) | 4.4% | Free | 25.5% |
| 5204.19.00.00 👉 | Other (200) | 4.4% | Free | 25.5% |
| 5204.20.00.00 👉 | Put up for retail sale (200) | 4.4% | Free | 25.5% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 5204?
Cotton sewing thread, whether or 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.