HS Code for Bags: Guide for Luxury Handbags

Without our realizing it, bags are considered one of the essential things in our lives. These things cannot be replaced to simplify our lives and help us to carry various items in one place. If the bags had not been invented, it will be hard to carry our belongings. The types of bags vary by function and are usually used for activities such as shopping, school, travel, or even for fashion. Due to its importance, all types of bags are included as common products in international trade. In order to facilitate trade, the exporters and importers must be adept at the HS code for bags. This article will clarify the HS code for bags, especially luxury bags, their classifications, and major international players in the luxury bag industry. 

What are handbags, and what are they important for? 

Bags have become an important part of our lives. We always use these things to carry all the items that we need to go out or do outdoor activities. Therefore, the existence of bags is indeed helpful to ensure that our belongings are held in one place without the need to carry them one by one in our hands. 

Not only for carrying many goods, such as backpacks or travel bags, but there are also many types of bags in the market nowadays. Some bags are uniquely designed to carry small items, such as handbags. Unlike backpacks or travel bags, handbags are designed to be held by only one hand and are useful for storing money, a smartphone, a wallet, and other small items. To better understand the types of handbags, there are several types of handbags as follows:

• Tote bags: These bags are used for carrying many types of items, from small to medium-sized items. Tote bags are designed quite large with two handles. 
• Cross-body bags: These bags are designed with a long strap that allows them to be used across the body. 
• Shoulder bags: Unlike cross-body bags, shoulder bags mostly feature short straps to be worn on the arms. 
• Clutch bags: These bags have a small size and are suitable for parties or other events that do not require carrying many or large items. 

However, the function of handbags is shifting beyond the initial use for carrying small goods to a fashion style. Therefore, a luxury handbag exists as a statement of style and a symbol of social status. Luxury bags or handbags are created by the infamous designer with precise detailing and top-notch or premium materials. Most of the luxury bags are not produced in large quantities and are very limited, which makes them expensive. 

Lists of HS codes for bags

As we mentioned above, HS codes are essential and mandatory for exporting products, including handbags, around the world. If there is a mistake in the HS code declaration, that would be a serious problem, and it would lead to various consequences, such as fines, seizures, shipping delays, or even legal charges. For these reasons, finding an accurate HS code has become a requirement to ensure our products pass customs processes seamlessly. Not only does it give us advantages, but it also makes the customs officers easily identify the products and determine the tariff and other things. 

HS code for bags is mostly covered under Chapter 42, which includes many products made from leather, including travel goods and handbags. Not limited to bags, this chapter encompasses coats made from leather as well. However, other bags are included under other chapters because of the materials. Here is the list of common HS codes for bags. 

HS code	Description
4202.21	Handbags made from leather with or without a shoulder strap
4202.22	Handbags made from plastic sheeting and textile materials
4202.29	Handbags made from other materials
4202.91	Other bags, including backpacks made from leather
4202.92	Other bags, including backpacks made from plastic or textile materials.

From the list of HS codes above, we can see that the HS code for handbags is covered under Heading 4202, and it differs only in the materials mentioned in the Subheading. Meanwhile, the luxury bags brand is mostly made from premium leather to guarantee the quality and its durability. Therefore, luxury bag brands should know that their products are under HS code 420221. 

The top 5 major exporting and importing countries of luxury handbags

To better understand the HS code for bags, we also need to know the largest players in the luxury handbag industry worldwide. This information is important for conducting research or deciding on the market strategy for a reliable supplier and the potential market for luxury bags. Here is the largest exporter or supplier of luxury handbags under HS code 420221 in the world in 2024. 

Country	Total Export Value (USD)
France	6,235,356,151
Italy	5,271,140,390
Hong Kong	1,076,169,965
China	705,308,223
Spain	576,000,227

Source: UN Comtrade Database, accessed March 2, 2026

From the provided data, we can see that European countries are dominant players in the leather handbag industry, including luxury bags in the world. In the first place, France is the biggest exporter of these products with a value of more than 6.2 billion USD. The second place is Italy with a total export amount of more than 5.2 billion USD. The rest of the biggest exporters of leather bags are Hong Kong, China, and Spain. As we know, European countries have many luxury bag brands, and they export their products to other countries. 

Not only exporters, but we should also know where these products are going to be sold. These are the biggest importers of leather bags under HS code 420221 in the world in 2024

Country	Total Import Value (USD)
China	2,333,566,684
United States	2,303,735,605
Hong Kong	1,582,970,794
France	1,497,447,294
South Korea	1,173,812,032

Source: UN Comtrade Database, accessed March 2, 2026

Based on the table, China is the largest importer of leather bags, including luxury bags, with a total import of more than 2.33 billion USD. In the second place, the United States is playing an important role as the largest buyer of leather bags with a value of more than 2.3 billion USD. Those countries are followed by Hong Kong, France, and South Korea in the third, fourth, and fifth position respectively. 

How to find the HS code for bags

Before utilizing the HS code for bags, you need to understand your products first to classify them into the HS nomenclature. On the other hand, the HS code is only the beginning process of the classification of products. Therefore, you also need to know the national code in the destination country for streamlining the customs process. 

In order to help you find the accurate HS code, you can use HSCodeMatch to find the correct HS code for your products easily and instantly. This app allows you to focus on strategy on shipping process and reducing tariff rates. Here is step-by-step guidance to find the accurate HS code for handbags using HSCodeMatch. 

• First step: Open the HSCodeMatch application homepage by clicking hscodematch.com on your browser. Then, click Go to App in the right corner of the page. Select the HS Code Search and set the name of the products along with the origin and destination countries. For this example, we can use trade lanes between the top exporter and importer of leather bags, namely France and the United States. 

• Second step: After submitting, HSCodeMatch will provide the list of the most relevant HS codes for leather handbags in the United States. You can choose the most relevant one with the highest rate. From the example, the most relevant HS code for leather handbags in the United States is 4202213000. 

• Third step: Click the View Details button to get more information regarding the HS code 4202213000 from France to the United States. In the HS Code Details, you will see the tariff rates and HS Code Description that help you to identify your products before shipping. 

• Fourth step: Move to the lower part of HS Code Details to find the lists of applicable regulations related to leather handbags in the United States. On the right side of the page, you can find the AI Assistant, which can help in finding detailed information related to the regulations or tariffs. 

To help you with the AI chatbot assistant, we will give you examples of questions and answers from the AI Assistant regarding the exportation of leather handbags from France to the United States. 

What are the additional tariff rates for exporting handbags under HS code 4202213000 from France to the United States? 

In order to export handbags under HS code 4202213000 that are made out of plastics and textile materials, they are charged with a higher tariff of 17.6%. Meanwhile, the handbags made of reptile leather under the same HS Code have a lower duty rate of 5.3%. France and the United States have no Free Trade Agreement (FTA); therefore, there is no special rate for exporting luxury handbags from France to the United States. Here is the key information regarding the exportation of handbags from France to the United States. 

Material	HS code	General Tariff Rate	Special Duty Rate	Column 2 Rate
Plastics/Textile Materials Handbags	4202213000	17.6%	Not applicable	35%
Reptile Leather Handbags	4202213000	5.3%	Free only for Australia, Bahrain, Chile, etc excluding France	35%

What are the license requirements for exporting luxury leather bags from France to the United States?

France has not implemented any export license for exporting any leather bags, including luxury leather bags. This is based on the European Union (EU) regulation not to impose any restriction on leather products from the EU. On the other hand, the United States regulates some compliance for importing leather bags from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) related to labelling requirements and the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Here are common non-tariff barriers for high-end fashion products to the United States: 

1. Labelling requirements: FTC regulates the mandatory disclosure of the material composition of handbags, including genuine leather or bonded leather. 

2. Product Safety Standard: All of the leather products must comply with the US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) in order to be able to enter the United States. 

3. Intellectual Property (IP) Protections: Some counterfeit products or false trademark products may be seized by the CBP due to non-compliance with the IP law. 

4. Import Quotas: The import quotas for leather-made products are rarely imposed, but for high-end products, there might be some import quota restrictions in the United States. 

5. State-Specific Regulations: Importers must understand and comply with Washington’s Safer Products for Washington Rule. This regulation for restricting some chemicals in consumer products, including handbags, has started from 2025. 

What documents are needed to export leather handbags from France to the United States? 

There are some requirements for exporting leather handbags from France to the United States. These are the documents typically required for exporting leather products in the United States. 

Document	Purpose
Commercial Invoice	Details of the transaction of leather handbags, such as the product’s value, description, and HS code under 4202
Packing List	Specifying the shipping contents, including the weights and dimensions.
Bill of Lading or Airway Bill	Evidence of shipment and contract with the transportation service
Certificate of Origin	Proof of country of origin to ensure that the products are made in France
Importer Security Filing (ISF)	Document required by the CBP for ocean shipping
FTC Compliance Documentation	The confirmation of compliance with the leather labelling requirements and safety standards in the United States
CBP Form 7501 (Entry Summary)	Required for customs duty determination and customs clearance

Conclusion 

HS code for bags is differentiated from their materials, but they are mostly covered under Chapter 42. The luxury handbags are mostly covered under HS code 420221 because luxury handbags are made from premium leather, including reptile leather. However, there are also some high-end handbags made from other materials, such as textiles or plastics, which come under HS code 420222. From this classification, the HS code for bags is quite easy to find because it commonly covers this chapter. The bags under other chapters are only plastic bags or jute bags, which are different than common bags, and they are entirely functional solely for carrying the goods. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about HS Code for Luxury Handbags 

1. What is the tariff rate for exporting leather handbags from France to the United States? 

The tariff rate for exporting reptile leather handbags from France to the United States is 5.3%. This tariff rate is exclusively for reptile handbags, but other handbags made from plastics and textile materials are 17.8%. 

2. Are there any restrictions for exporting leather products in the United States? 

Yes, there are some restrictions for leather products, including leather handbags, in the United States. The restrictions are labelling requirements, product safety standards, and intellectual property (IP) protection. 

3. What is the difference between the HS code for handbags and backpacks? 

The HS code for handbags and backpacks is under the same chapter and heading. However, the two bags have different subheadings. Backpacks are under the subheading 420291 or 420292, and handbags are under the HS code 420221 or 420222

4. What is the HS code for luxury handbags? 

The luxury handbags are mostly made from premium leather. Therefore, they are under HS code 420221. However, there are some of the high-end handbags made from other materials, including textiles and plastics, which are classified under HS code 420222. 

5. Is there any application to find the HS code for bags easily? 

Yes, you can use HSCodeMatch to find the accurate HS code for many kinds of bags. This application is going to make the process of finding HS codes easy and quick because it is equipped with AI.