HS Code for Poster: Complete Guide

You might think that the poster, as a form of physical media, loses its relevance. In contrast to that belief, posters and other physical media such as books, cassettes, vinyl, and toys have become more popular. The demands surge in the 2020s as many people suffer digital fatigue and resort to analog entertainment. Posters, despite being available in digital formats, are also released in printed versions, not only as advertising or promotional tools, but also as collectibles. It is no wonder that poster trade is a hot sector these days. Find out the HS code for the poster below if you want to meddle in this business. 

What is Poster? 

Poster is a common term we often say and hear, but do you really know what it actually means? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a poster is a large printed image or photograph that can be stuck onto a board and various types of surfaces as decoration or advertisement. The standard size of posters varies, but A2, A3, and A4 are the most common. However, in certain instances, A1 and A0 can also be used for certain purposes. For digital posters, at least the document should be 1080 x 1920 pixels. As posters are made to attract attention, they have to be created with high resolution (at least 300 dpi). 

Posters are often placed in strategic areas that can reach public audiences, such as bus stops, street buildings, lampposts, billboards, and even moving vehicles can also be a deliberate place to stick posters. Posters are often used for commercial purposes, for instance, to promote a film, concert, festival, events, album, or to introduce new businesses or products. In other cases, they are not designed to earn profit; they can be used to promote certain values or movements, such as promoting political awareness, healthy lifestyle, animal welfare, government notices or programs, and many more.

While posters are mainly periodical, which means circulated only for a certain period of time, in several cases, classic or vintage posters can also be transformed into rare collectibles with high value. This happens in certain industries and even opens opportunities for the restoration sector. For example, film posters that were released exclusively in their premier decades ago, such as Metropolis (1927) and The Mummy (1932), are deemed expensive due to rarity and exceptionality. Studio Ghibli Japanese film posters are also in high demand despite being released many years ago. Film distributors with niche markets and cult fans are also catching the opportunity and starting to release their own exclusive film posters through their official websites. 

Lists of HS Codes for Poster

If you want to be one of those people who work in the poster trade, understanding the HS code for posters is a must. According to the World Customs Organization (WCO), posters fall under chapter 49, which generally regulates products within the printing industry. Specifically, heading 4911, which covers other printed matters (both pictures and photographs). Check out more details below. 

HS code	Products
4911.10	trade advertising materials, catalog for commercial purposes, and similar products
4911.91	pictures, designs, and photography products

According to WCO, you can classify your posters into two main categories based on the main intentions of production. If your posters are made for commercial use and advertising, you ought to use the HS code for poster 4911.10. On the other hand, if your posters are not designed for advertising or promoting any brands, but rather to share social awareness, protest chants, or contain artwork, HS code for poster 4911.91 is the accurate one. 

Top 5 Poster Exporters and Importers

Before executing your business idea, let’s dive into the world of data in the poster industries. According to UN Comtrade, here are the top exporters of commercial posters with the HS code for poster 4911.10. Germany is claimed to top the exporter chart, which is expected if you look at the historical context. For centuries, Germany has been known as the pioneer of the graphic design and printing industries. This explains how they became one of the prominent players, along with several other European countries. China has recently emerged as a main player in various sectors, including commercial posters. 

Countries	Trade Value (USD)
Germany	545,545,232
China	457,096,630
Poland	304,716,261
Netherland	236,228,287
Czechia	176,762,556

Source: UN Comtrade 2024, accessed on 5 May 2026 

Who are the biggest consumers of HS code for poster  4911.10? The USA put itself in the top importer charts. It is mostly for the entertainment industries, as film and music posters become favorite memorabilia among fans. They are followed by Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, four countries with both high purchasing power and frequent cultural festivals. 

Countries	Trade Value (USD)
United States of America	337,657,250
Germany	319,214,726
France	287,299,709
Netherland	239,505,500
Switzerland	234,602,314

Source: UN Comtrade 2024, accessed on 5 May 2026 

How to Find HS Code for Poster

To better understand the components of the HS code for posters and the top poster exporting and importing countries, we need to grasp how to find the HS code for posters. We will give you one of the options to find the HS code for posters easily with an application, namely HSCodeMatch. This application is combining the AI machine to help find the most accurate HS code for posters and other products. 

Without further ado, we will guide you to use the HSCodeMatch app to find the HS code for posters. The following steps are the complete explanation of how to find the HS code for posters from Germany to the United States using HSCodeMatch. 

Step 1: Sign in to your HSCodeMatch account

Open your HSCodeMatch account through this link: app.hscodematch.com. Click the HS Code Search tool on the left sidebar and set the posters as product names, Germany as the origin country, and the United States as the destination country. 

Step 2: Check HS codes for posters on HS Code Search

With the AI machine, HSCodeMatch will automatically match the most accurate HS code for posters. From the example, the most accurate HS code for posters is under 4911.91. Then, you can choose the highest percentage of accuracy in the United States under HS code 4911.91.40. 

Step 3: Find the regulations and tariff rates on poster imports in the United States

After clicking the HS code 4911.91.40, you will open a new page called HS Code Details. This page will explain the HS code description and all regulations related to the importation of posters in the United States. 

Step 4: Ask the AI Chatbot Assistant to help

When trying to find the tariff and regulations, you oftentimes need extra effort or more time to dig deeper into the documents and find out what the core of the regulations is. By using the AI Chatbot Assistant on the right side of the page, you are allowed to ask anything related to the exportation of posters from Germany to the United States. 

You might be wondering what the answers from the AI Assistant are to find the latest regulations and tariff rates. Here are the three examples of questions and answers from the AI Chatbot Assistant on HSCodeMatch related to the exportation of posters from Germany to the United States. 

Are there any additional tariff rates for exporting posters from Germany to the United States?

In order to export posters from Germany to the United States, the exporters or importers do not need to pay any tariffs. Based on the local regulation, the general tariff rate for importing posters is free or 0%. Please note that the posters can be subject to the 25% duty rate if the products are not categorized in Most Favored Nation (MFN) and included in the Column 2 rate of duty. 

The products under HS code 49119140 cover posters as printed materials. However, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will verify the HS classification code of the products first and assess the applicable duty rate for the posters and similar products before entering the United States market. 

Which U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) forms are required for importing posters?

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the body that administers the forms to import products in the United States, including posters. Before exporting posters in the US, the importers must submit the CBP Form 7501 for entry summary and CBP Form 3461 for entry/immediate delivery. Meanwhile, a poster is classified under the HTSUS Subheading 4911913000, and CBP will classify the poster in the applicable tariff rates. The following table demonstrates the detailed description of the CBP Form for posters. 

Topic	Details
CBP Forms Required	CBP Form 7501, CBP Form 3461
Poster Definition	Printed pictures, designs, photographs which falls under HTSUS 4911.91.3000
Duty Classification	Classifying based on the HTSUS subheading for printed materials and photographs
Common Industries	Advertising, retail, education, and entertainment
Penalties	Fines, shipment delays, seizure,

Are there U.S. import restrictions on posters depicting copyrighted or trademarked content?

The restriction on the import of copyrighted or trademarked content posters in the United States is mentioned under the intellectual property laws. If the products are not free from copyright under the US, the CBP will seize the products. The reasons for the seizure are due to the possibility of infringement and encroachment of intellectual property rights. CBP will analyze the products to determine if the importer lacks authorization of right to intellectual property from another individual or group, organization in the US. Here is the list of legal bases of imports of intellectual property in the United States. 

Topic	Key Legal Basis	Enforcement Mechanism	Exemptions
Copyrighted content	17 U.S.C § 102	CBP detention/seizure	Fair use
Trademarked content	15 U.S.C § 1127	Right holder coordination	None for commercial imports
HS Classification	4911.91.3000	Tariff-based analysis	First sale doctrine

Conclusion

Poster, particularly the printed version, is one of the physical media forms that make an epic comeback these days. They are not meant only for advertising, but also as memorabilia. This trend came along with the trend of appreciating analog entertainment such as DVDs, CDs, printed books, cassettes, vinyls, toys, etc. Posters, according to WCO, are classified into two categories: commercial (HS code for poster 4911.10) and non-commercial (HS code for poster 4911.91). Despite both posters being sold or circulated as commodities, non-commercial posters are not intended to promote a commercial product or brand. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about HS Code for Poster and Printed Materials

1. What is the national variation of the HS code for posters in the United States? 

The national variation of the HS code for posters or printing materials in the United States or Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) is 4911.91.4020. This code is derived from the universal code from the WCO, under 4911.91, and the additional code based on the local regulation in the United States. 

2. Is there any tariff for importing posters not older than 20 years in the United States? 

No, the posters and printing materials under the HS code 4911.91.4020 are not subject to the tariff rate in the United States. The general duty rate for the printed materials not older than 20 years is 0%. 

3. How to determine the right HS code for a poster? Does material affect the HS code?

Material does not affect the HS code for posters; instead, the purposes matter. Commercial posters are regulated under subheadings 4911.10, while non-commercial ones fall under subheadings 4911.91. 

4. What is a non-commercial poster? What is the difference between commercial ones? 

Posters are widely used to promote something related to business or profit-gain, such as films, concerts, albums, advertisement. However, there are some posters that are not made to get such profit, for example, arts for home decoration, protest posters, educational posters, etc. 

5. Are maps also considered as posters? 

Despite having similar characteristics to printing materials as posters, particularly if the maps are printed on paper, maps have separate HS codes 4905.10 (globes), 4905.91 (book), and 4905.99 (other).