Importing Scarves from China: The Customs Questions B2B Buyers Actually Ask
If you wholesale scarves from China, duties and paperwork are rarely the biggest cost — but a missing document or a wrong HS code can hold a carton at the border for weeks. This guide answers the customs questions boutique buyers and small brands ask most: which HS code scarves use, what duty you’ll pay into the US, EU and UK, and the document set that clears goods without drama.
Key Takeaways
- Scarves are classified mainly under HS 6214 (woven) or HS 6117 (knitted); silk scarves fall under 6214.10.
- US duty on silk scarves (HTS 6214.10.00) is generally 0% MFN; synthetic-fiber scarves (6214.30 / 6214.40) carry a single-digit percentage rate.
- EU duty on silk scarves can drop to 0% when shipped with an EUR.1 certificate of origin; the UK runs its own post-Brexit tariff schedule.
- Core clearance set: commercial invoice, packing list, waybill, HS code, certificate of origin, fiber-content label.
- Duty is often a small slice — lightweight scarves are cheap to ship, so weight (not value) drives most freight cost; landed cost = goods + freight + duty + last-mile.
What Documents Do You Need to Clear Scarf Customs?
Direct answer: for a standard commercial shipment you need five documents, and a sixth (certificate of origin) when you want a preferential duty rate. The exact set varies slightly by market, but these are the non-negotiables:
- Commercial invoice — shows buyer, seller, item description, HS code, value, and incoterm (FOB / EXW / DDP).
- Packing list — carton count, gross/net weight, dimensions; used for inspection and freight.
- Bill of lading (sea) or air waybill (express) — proof of carriage and the number brokers match against.
- HS code on the invoice — drives the whole duty calculation; getting it wrong is the #1 hold-up.
- Fiber-content / care label — for US and EU retail, the label must state the regulated fiber name and percentage (e.g. “100% Silk”).
- Certificate of origin (EUR.1 / FORM A) — optional for duty, but it is what unlocks a 0% rate on silk into the EU when applicable.
Most delays are not taxes — they are a mismatch between the invoice HS code and the physical goods, or a label that doesn’t name the fiber. Get those two right and clearance is routine.
What HS Code Do Scarves Use?
Direct answer: scarves sit in HS 6214 when woven (the vast majority of fashion scarves) and HS 6117 when knitted or crocheted. The sub-code is set by fiber, which is what changes your duty rate:
| Material | HS heading | Example sub-code | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woven silk / silk blend | 6214 | 6214.10 | Premium square scarves, 90×90 twill |
| Woven wool | 6214 | 6214.20 | Winter shawls, oversized wraps |
| Woven synthetic (polyester/viscose) | 6214 | 6214.30 / 6214.40 | High-volume printed scarves, hijabs |
| Knitted / crocheted (any fiber) | 6117 | 6117.10 | Jersey hijabs, knit infinity scarves |
Tip for buyers: ask your supplier to print the HS code on the commercial invoice before the carton leaves the factory. A code agreed upfront is far cheaper to fix than one disputed at the destination port.
How Much Duty Will I Pay Importing Scarves into the US?
Direct answer: silk scarves (HTS 6214.10.00) carry a 0% MFN duty rate into the United States — one of the reasons silk squares are attractive to US boutiques. Scarves made of synthetic fibers (6214.30 / 6214.40) typically carry a single-digit percentage MFN rate, while wool shawls (6214.20) land in a similar low-single-digit band. Rates shift with trade policy, so confirm the live HTS rate on the USITC schedule before a large order.
Because scarves are light, the duty is usually a tiny part of landed cost — a $5 silk square with 0% duty pays nothing; a $3 polyester scarf at, say, ~5% pays about fifteen cents. Freight and your own margin matter far more than the tariff line.
What About the EU and the UK?
Direct answer: the EU applies its Common Customs Tariff, and silk scarves can clear at 0% when accompanied by an EUR.1 certificate of origin under the applicable preference arrangement — without it, the standard MFN rate applies. The UK, post-Brexit, runs its own UK Global Tariff; silk scarves are commonly duty-free there too, but synthetic styles may carry a modest rate. Always verify the current tariff line, because both schedules are updated periodically.
For boutique buyers the practical move is simple: tell your supplier you need an EUR.1 (EU) or the correct UK origin statement at the time you place the PO, not after the goods have shipped. A certificate requested late is a certificate you usually can’t get.
How Do I Calculate Landed Cost So I’m Not Surprised?
Direct answer: landed cost = goods cost + international freight + import duty + last-mile delivery + any broker fee. For scarves the freight line is driven by weight, not value, so a carton of 500 lightweight squares ships for a fraction of a carton of dense winter wraps.
- Goods cost — your negotiated unit price at the agreed incoterm (EXW excludes local China trucking; FOB includes it to port).
- International freight — express courier 7–14 days; sea 30–45 days but far cheaper per kg.
- Duty — goods value × HS rate (often 0% for silk; small for synthetics).
- Last-mile + broker — local delivery to your door and a customs broker if you use one.
A common rookie error is quoting only the ex-factory price to a partner and forgetting the duty line — then discovering the “cheap” scarf is the same landed cost as a competitor’s DDP quote. Build the full formula before you commit to a MOQ.
What Are the Most Common Customs Mistakes Scarf Importers Make?
Direct answer: the top three are a wrong or missing HS code, a fiber label that doesn’t match the fabric, and requesting the certificate of origin too late. All three are fixable at the factory for almost nothing, and all three are expensive to fix at the border.
- Wrong HS code — usually “close enough” guessed from a similar product; triggers a re-classification hold.
- Fiber mismatch — a label reading “Silk Blend” with no percentage, or “Silky Touch” instead of the regulated name, fails EU/US review.
- Late certificate — EUR.1 / FORM A must be issued by the exporter before shipment; you cannot back-date it at destination.
About the Supplier
XY Fashion (Yiwu Miyu Apparel Co., Ltd.) — a Yiwu, China source factory for scarf / hijab / head wrap and select abaya / modest-wear B2B wholesale and OEM/ODM. Orders start at MOQ 10 pcs per design, support custom printing and private labeling, and ship worldwide by tracked courier in a 7–14 day window. Invoices are issued with the correct HS code and certificate of origin on request, so your clearance math is settled before the carton leaves the line. For a quote, pattern book, or sample, email mike@xy-fashion.com or reach Mike on WhatsApp at +86 153 8174 1977.
Frequently Asked Questions
What HS code are silk scarves?
Woven silk scarves are classified under HS 6214.10; knitted silk scarves fall under HS 6117.10. The sub-code is set by fiber, which is what determines your duty rate.
Do I pay duty on silk scarves into the US?
Generally no — US HTS 6214.10.00 (woven silk scarves) carries a 0% MFN duty rate. Synthetic-fiber scarves (6214.30 / 6214.40) typically carry a single-digit percentage rate instead.
Can silk scarves clear the EU at 0% duty?
Yes, when shipped with an EUR.1 certificate of origin under the applicable preference arrangement. Without it, the standard MFN rate applies, so request the certificate when you place the PO.
What documents do I need to import scarves from China?
A commercial invoice, packing list, waybill (bill of lading or air waybill), the HS code on the invoice, and a fiber-content label. Add a certificate of origin when you want a preferential duty rate.
Is freight or duty the bigger cost for scarves?
For lightweight scarves, freight (driven by weight) is usually far larger than duty (driven by value). Duty is often near zero for silk, so weight and your chosen shipping speed matter most.