Who This Guide Is For
This guide is for boutique owners, Amazon / Etsy sellers and first-time importers who are about to place a wholesale scarf order from China and need the correct customs classification before the goods ship. If a broker has ever asked “what’s your HS code?” and you guessed, this reference gives you the six-digit answer, the national extensions behind it, and the document checks that keep a shipment out of a bonded warehouse.
Key Takeaways
- A woven silk scarf classifies under HS 6214.10 — “shawls, scarves, mufflers, mantillas, veils and the like, of silk or silk waste, not knitted or crocheted.”
- If the scarf is knitted or crocheted, it moves to HS 6117.10, regardless of the fact that it is silk. Chapter placement (61 vs 62) comes before fibre content.
- The first six digits are harmonised across 200+ countries; the US, EU and GCC each add their own digits. The US tariff schedule splits 6214.10 into a 70%-or-more-silk line and an under-70%-silk line.
- Do not lock a duty rate from a blog post. Rates vary by destination, by fibre split and by tariff schedule revision — get the current figure in writing from your licensed broker before you price landed cost.
What Is the HS Code for Silk Scarves?
Direct answer: a woven silk scarf is classified under HS 6214.10 — “Shawls, scarves, mufflers, mantillas, veils and the like, of silk or silk waste, not knitted or crocheted.” If the same article is knitted or crocheted rather than woven, it moves to HS 6117.10. Almost every other entry detail follows from getting that one construction distinction right.
The Harmonized System is maintained by the World Customs Organization so that one product means one number: a silk square leaving Yiwu and the same square arriving in Rotterdam are described identically at the six-digit level. That shared prefix is why 6214 is a safe starting point in essentially every market, and why your supplier should be able to state it on the commercial invoice without hesitation.
Woven or Knitted: Which Chapter Do You File Under?
Direct answer: Chapter 62 covers clothing accessories that are not knitted or crocheted; Chapter 61 covers those that are. For scarves, that single manufacturing fact decides the heading before fibre content even enters the conversation.
| Construction | Chapter | Heading for scarves | Typical products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woven (loom-made) | 62 | 6214.10 silk / 6214.30 synthetic / 6214.40 artificial / 6214.90 other | Silk twill squares, silk bandanas, organza scarves, crepe de chine wraps, satin scarves |
| Knitted or crocheted | 61 | 6117.10 | Knitted jersey hijabs, crocheted neck wraps, knit infinity scarves |
The common error is assuming “silk” always wins the classification. It does not: a knitted silk scarf still files under 6117.10, because chapter placement is decided first and fibre only selects the subheading within that chapter.
What Are the 6214 Subheadings?
Direct answer: heading 6214 splits by fibre, and the fibre that predominates by weight controls the subheading. Here is the full family in one table:
| Subheading | Covers (not knitted or crocheted) | Example in a scarf buy |
|---|---|---|
| 6214.10 | Of silk or silk waste | 100% mulberry silk twill 90×90 cm squares |
| 6214.20 | Of wool or fine animal hair | Wool or cashmere-blend winter wraps |
| 6214.30 | Of synthetic fibres | Polyester printed scarves, satin-look polyester |
| 6214.40 | Of artificial fibres | Viscose / rayon scarves |
| 6214.90 | Of other textile materials | Cotton scarves, blends that fit nowhere above |
Note the practical consequence for silk buyers: a “silk-feel” polyester scarf does not get the silk line. If your product is polyester satin, 6214.30 is the honest entry, and declaring it as silk to chase a different rate is exactly the kind of error that produces penalties rather than savings.
What If the Scarf Is a Blend?
Direct answer: classify by the fibre that predominates by weight, and make sure the percentage is documented. A 60% silk / 40% cotton woven scarf still sits in the silk line; drop the silk below the dominating position and the code moves.
Two details matter here. First, the US tariff schedule does not simply split 6214.10 by “silk or not” — it splits by a 70% threshold, with one national line for scarves containing 70% or more silk or silk waste, and another for those containing less. Second, in a silk-and-wool blend where silk falls below half the weight, the goods may shift toward the wool line. Both cases are settled by the mill’s fibre composition statement, not by the product name on your website — so request that document at the quotation stage, not after production.
How Many Digits Does Your Country Actually Use?
Direct answer: six digits are international; the rest are national. The US HTS uses ten digits, the EU TARIC adds its own suffixes, and GCC member states have moved to twelve-digit codes. That is why the same physical scarf can legitimately appear under different-length numbers in different markets.
Practically, this means your supplier should quote the six-digit code (6214.10) and your broker should resolve the national extension. When the two disagree, the broker’s number governs the entry — they are the party liable for it.
Which Documents Should the HS Code Appear On?
Direct answer: at minimum, the commercial invoice, the packing list and the customs entry. Work through this checklist before the carton is collected:
- Commercial invoice — shows HS code, fibre composition (e.g. “100% mulberry silk”), quantity, unit price and total value.
- Packing list — carton count, net and gross weight, and the same code so it reconciles with the invoice.
- Fibre composition statement — the mill or factory declaration that justifies the subheading you chose.
- Country of origin marking — required on the goods and usually on the packing; confirm the exact wording for your market.
- Care and content labelling — for retail resale in the US and EU, fibre content must appear on the finished product label, not only in the shipping file.
- Broker confirmation — the current duty rate and national code, confirmed in writing before you commit to a retail price.
What Are the Most Common Misclassification Mistakes?
Direct answer: four mistakes account for most scarf entry problems. First, declaring knitted goods under 6214 because they are silk. Second, declaring polyester as silk to influence the rate — a compliance risk, not an optimisation. Third, treating a very large, unfinished piece of silk fabric as a scarf; if the edges are unfinished and it functions as fabric rather than a worn accessory, it may belong in the silk fabric heading (5007) instead. Fourth, copying a code from a previous supplier’s invoice without re-checking the fibre split of the new style.
The cost of getting this wrong is not theoretical: misclassification can trigger reassessment, storage charges while the shipment is held, and penalties. The cost of getting it right is one email to your broker.
How Does the HS Code Affect Your Landed Cost?
Direct answer: indirectly, and bigger than most first-time buyers expect. The code determines which duty rate applies, and duty is only one line in the landed cost — freight, insurance, customs handling and destination taxes sit alongside it. Because duty rates are revised and differ by destination, treat the code as fixed and the rate as variable: quote your retail margin on a rate your broker has confirmed for the current schedule, and re-check it before each reorder.
About the Supplier
XY Fashion (Yiwu Miyu Apparel Co., Ltd.) — a Yiwu-based source factory for silk scarves, hijabs and head wraps supplying B2B wholesale and OEM/ODM. MOQ starts at 10 pcs/design, with custom print and private-label options, and global delivery by international express in 7–14 days. We state fabric composition on the quotation so your broker can confirm the correct classification before production. For a quote, catalogue or fibre-composition statement, email mike@xy-fashion.com or WhatsApp +86 153 8174 1977.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HS code for a silk scarf?
A woven silk scarf is HS 6214.10 (“of silk or silk waste, not knitted or crocheted”). If the scarf is knitted or crocheted, it is classified under HS 6117.10 instead, even when made of silk.
Is the HS code for silk scarves the same in every country?
The first six digits are harmonised across more than 200 countries. Individual markets then add their own digits: the US tariff schedule uses ten, and GCC states have moved to twelve-digit codes.
What HS code applies to a polyester or satin scarf?
Woven scarves of synthetic fibres fall under 6214.30, and those of artificial fibres such as viscose under 6214.40. Only goods of silk or silk waste take the 6214.10 line.
How do I classify a silk blend scarf?
Use the fibre that predominates by weight, and document the percentage. Note that the US schedule splits the silk line at a 70% silk content threshold, so a blend can land on a different national line even within 6214.10.
Should I put the duty rate on my cost sheet straight away?
Only after your broker confirms it in writing. Rates vary by destination, by fibre and by tariff revision, and the reliable figure is the current one from a licensed broker rather than a published example.
Wholesale & bulk orders
XY Fashion is a scarf manufacturer supplying wholesalers, boutiques and brands worldwide. Explore our wholesale programs:
- Wholesale 90×90cm Silk Twill Scarves | XY Fashion
- Wholesale 53×53cm Silk Bandanas | XY Fashion
- Wholesale Crepe de Chine Silk Scarves | XY Fashion
- Wholesale Satin Scarves in Bulk | XY Fashion
- Wholesale Organza Scarves in Bulk | XY Fashion
- Silk Scarf Manufacturer in Yiwu, China | XY Fashion
- OEM & Private Label Scarf Supplier | XY Fashion
- Custom Hijab Wholesale