HS Code for Notebooks and Other Books

Despite the current digital trend, the paper-based notebooks market is still thriving. The demands are still high, particularly for big names or beloved classic brands. Thus, thinking that paper-based products are not relevant as digital ones is misleading. In fact, it is beyond nostalgia, but a matter of tactile and meditative effect for their users. If you are interested in doing transnational trade in stationery, let’s learn to classify and define the notebook HS code. 

Analog advantage in the digital era

There are many options to digitize your memo and notes. Mobile apps are offering you great and intriguing features to capture your ideas and memories, yet, there are still many iconic analog notebook brands that fill your social media timeline. Many contents are user-generated without the brands paying anything for it. This is a great example of how iconic and long-time players in notebooks business work and maintain their relevance. The questions are how and why? 

As we are going further in the late stage of media consumption, users are seeing saturated content on the internet. Doomscroll, as we are familiar with, is getting real; thus, many people are going analog again. This led to the increasing demands of physical products, including paper-based notebooks. People start encouraging each other to scribble words on paper with a pen again, instead of typing it on digital apps. Instead of spending time mindlessly online, people are starting to spend time on offline hobbies such as drawing and reading, and that also leads to more demands on paper products. If you did not see the pattern before, you may want to shift your perspective now, whether you like it or not. 

How to classify a notebook?

In general, notebooks are classified as paper products. Hence, based on the World Customs Organization (WCO), they fall under Chapter 48, which regulates paper and paperboard. Types that are used to write or print and for other graphic purposes. Yet, it differs from printed papers, which are regulated in other specific chapters. It means the paper or paperboard is generally blank, minimally printed, and can be colored or coated without denying the basic or original purposes (writing, stationery, drawing, crafting, and printing). 

However, if the paper is made for different particular purposes, such as cosmetics and laboratory agents (meaning they are already impregnated with certain substances), they will fall under a different chapter and HS code, instead of being in the same classification as general paper notebooks. 

What is the HS code for a notebook? 

There are many types of paper in WCO Chapter 48, such as kraftliner, paperboard, even toilet paper/tissues, and parchment paper. Yet, the notebook is mentioned within HS code 4820. The headings included various types of bound (blank and minimally printed) books such as account books, receipt books, letter pads, diaries, exercise books, binders (loose leaf), etc. Check the table below to see detailed subheadings. 

HS code subheadings	Products
482010	Account books, notebooks, order books, receipt books, memoranda, diaries, letter pads, and similar products.
482020	Exercise books
482030	Binders, folders, file covers
482040	Manifold business forms, interleaved carbon sets
482050	Albums
482090	Other

HS code for other common types of notebooks?

In case you wonder what the HS code is for other common types of notebooks, such as sketchbooks and leather-bound journals, use the guide above. Based on WCO rules, drawing book/sketchbook, as well as sketch pad and leather-bound journal, could also be under the same HS code for notebooks, which is 482010. 

In principle, the dominant materials rule. For the notebook’s case, paper is considered the dominant material, regardless of the cover. Yet, if the (non-paper) cover is sold separately, they might be classified under different subheadings. For example, the cellulose book/binder cover has HS code 481190. Meanwhile, a leather cover can be classified as leather-made products, which can be normally carried in a pocket or handbag with HS code 420231–39. In any case that you have a fabric bookcover, consider HS code 590110. 

Most prominent players in notebooks trade 

Now, who are the most prominent actors in the notebooks trade? We can find the latest data from the UN Comtrade Database in 2024. Learn the tables below about the biggest exporters of notebooks under HS code 482010. 

Top 5 exporters of notebooks 

Country	Trade Value (USD)
China	1,922,441,021
Germany	157,312,572
India	144,849,872
Netherlands	140,519,194
Poland	119,333,058

Source: UN Comtrade Database 2024, accessed on 10 February 2026 

Based on UN Comtrade data in 2024, China is the greatest exporter of products with HS code 482010. They are followed by Germany, India, the Netherlands, and Poland. This is not surprising as China and Germany are two countries with the most paper manufacturers in the world. This also proves that global outsource trends are still in demand, as the top 5 exporters are not the ones that are well-known for their notebook brands. 

At the same period, the USA is deemed the biggest importer or buyer of paper products under HS code 482010. The United Kingdom rivaled them in second place, followed by Germany, France, and the Netherlands. European countries generally dominate the 10 top importers, with Japan in between. This data can be read as a consumer pattern and market evaluation. 

Top 5 importers of notebooks 

Country	Trade Value (USD)
United States	710,691,397
United Kingdom	185,043,484
Germany	171,010,336
France	109,952,794
Netherlands	104,585,645

Source: UN Comtrade Database 2024, accessed on 10 February 2026 

Finding the HS code for Notebooks 

Before using this HS code for notebooks from the provided code above, we need to ensure how to find the code. However, we know that finding an HS code for notebooks is not easy and need an extra effort. As we know, the HS code is essential for international trade, and there are consequences if you declare the wrong HS code.

In order to avoid the inaccuracy, you can use HSCodeMatch as your guidance to find the latest and most accurate HS code for notebooks. HSCodeMatch provides the easy to use application along with a simple user interface. These are the step-by-step procedures for finding the HS code for notebooks under the code 482010 using HSCodeMatch. 

• First step: Open the HSCodeMatch application by clicking hscodematch.com on your selected browser. Then, set up the product name and origin, as well asthe destination country. For example, we can use trade lanes between Germany and the United Kingdom for exporting products under HS code 482010. 

• Second step: Then, the HSCodeMatch will provide the most relevant HS code for notebooks. There are several lists of HS codes, and you can choose the most relevant national code for exporting notebook to the United Kingdom, such as under the code 4820101000. 

• Third step: After selecting the HS code 4820101000, you can find the specific information on HS Code Details. This information includes tariff rates and the HS code descriptions to ensure that this is the most relevant HS code for your notebook products. 

• Fourth step: Once you open the HS Code Details page, you can move to bottom part to find the specific information. There are detail information related to the MFN tariff, Partner Government Agencies (PGA) notification. In the right side of the page, there is AI chatbot assistant that allows you to talk with the trade documents. 

For more information regarding the AI Assistant, we can provide several questions and answers. Here is the answers about exporting notebook under HS code 4820101000 from Germany to the United Kingdom. 

What is the additional tariff for exporting products under HS code 4820101000 from Germany to the United Kingdom?

Based on the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), Germany can export the notebook product under HS code 4820101000 to the United Kingdom without tariff or 0%. Therefore, there is no additional tariff rate, even from anti-dumping or countervailing duties to these products. However, this rate is based on Most Favoured Nations (MFN) regime, which means it applies to all countries that want to export these products to the United Kingdom. 

What documentation is required for zero-tariff exports of HS 4820101000 to the UK?

The documentation required for 0% tariff rate for products under HS code 4820101000, including account books, notebooks, and others from Germany to the United Kingdom, is based on the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). Here are several documents provided to obtain the 0% tariff below:

• Commercial invoice: Documents as proof to give details of product description, value, and origin of products. 
• Proof or Origin: Confirming the products to meet the Rules of Origin under the TCA of the EU and UK. 
• Customs Declaration: The declaration can be submitted via the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) in the UK or similar to EU customs portal systems. 
• Packing Lists: Documents to show a specification of quantity, weight, and packaging details of the notebooks. 
• Transport documents: Documentation for showing the transportation certification, such as a bill of lading and airway bill. 
• EORI number: A specific number as a requirement in the UK for exporters and importers. 

What are the specific Rules of Origin (ROO) requirements for HS 4820101000 under the EU-UK TCA?

Rules of Origin for the product under HS code 4820101000 is mentioned under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). In order to prove the origin country of notebook products, several rules need to be ensured, including wholly obtained, sufficient processing to meet the originating goods standard. Hence, for these products, the rule needs to meet the non-originating material based on change in tariff classification (CTH) at the 4-digit level. Therefore, if the products are made from non-originating paper, it should be changed into a different heading to meet this requirement of ROO. 

Conclusion 

Despite being a digitized world, we never really leave paper behind. Particularly for personal use, such as journaling, reading, and drawing. They have become one of the most favorite routines to do in this saturated online content era. Therefore, considering trade in notebooks and stationery is not a backward shift, instead this might be the future of the market. If you are interested in paper-based products, read chapter 48 of the WCO documents. The notebooks and general bound blank books are regulated within HS code 482010. However, if you are interested in expanding the business to provide custom separated cover, you may check other HS codes where the cover materials stand. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about HS code for Notebooks and Stationery

1. Do notebooks with printed covers fall under a certain classification separated from general notebooks? 

No. Notebooks with printed covers or logos are generally still under HS code 482010. There is no specific classification for them, as the most dominant materials are still blank (minimally modified) paper. 

2. What is the tariff to export notebooks from Germany to the United Kingdom?

The tariff for exporting notebooks from Germany to the United Kingdom is 0%. This is based on the MFN regime and the EU-UK Trade Cooperation Agreement (TCA). 

3. What is the main factor to classify the notebooks to the HS code? 

The main factor to identify the notebooks in the HS code is the material of the book itself. If the books are made from paper or other materials, on the other hand, the function of the book is also one of the considerations for HS code categorization. 

4. What is the national code to export notebooks in the United Kingdom? 

HS code is only a 6-digit code in front of the national code. Meanwhile, the national code for notebooks in the United Kingdom falls under several code and the most popular one is 4820101000. 

5. Do we need to know the national code of the destination country instead of the HS code? 

Yes, the national code is the more specific code required to identify the products before entering the destination country’s border. Therefore, the national code is the determinant of the seamless customs process in all countries in the world.