What is an HSN code and how many digits do you need
An HSN code reads from left to right, and each pair of digits narrows the product: 2 digits name the chapter, 4 the heading, 6 the sub-heading and 8 the tariff item. The first 6 digits are the international Harmonized System, which the World Customs Organization says more than 200 countries and economies use for their customs tariffs; the last 2 are India’s own, published by DGCIS as the ITC-HS 8-digit classification (read 10 Oct 2026).
| Digits | Level | Example: 6109 10 00 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Chapter | 61: apparel, knitted or crocheted |
| 4 | Heading | 6109: T-shirts, singlets and other vests, knitted |
| 6 | Sub-heading | 6109 10: of cotton |
| 8 | Tariff item | 6109 10 00: T-shirts of cotton, knitted |
Source: DGCIS ITC-HS chapter 61, read 10 Oct 2026.
On a GST invoice you need 4 digits if your aggregate turnover in the previous financial year was up to ₹5 crore, and 6 digits if it was above ₹5 crore. The rule has applied since 1 April 2021 under CBIC Notification 78/2020–Central Tax, dated 15 Oct 2020. A seller under ₹5 crore may leave the code off invoices to unregistered buyers, but not off B2B invoices. A small Meesho supplier of cotton T-shirts therefore writes 6109, and a large brand writes 6109 10.
How do I know my HSN code?
There are three ways to find your HSN code: open your product’s page in the list below, search it in the StitchMagic HSN finder, or confirm it on the GST portal’s Search HSN Code page. Our item pages carry the 4, 6 and 8-digit codes; the 8-digit lines come from the GST portal’s HSN master, which carries the HS 2022 lines (read 11 Oct 2026), and the chapter notes from DGCIS. The HSN code finder runs on our own curated table for saree, kurti, lehenga, salwar suit, footwear, jewellery and bag categories. For anything outside those, use the GST portal Search HSN Code page (menu checked 10 Oct 2026).
Online answers disagree because the same product falls under different headings depending on how its fabric is made and what it is made of. A cotton top that is knitted goes to chapter 61, which covers only knitted or crocheted articles; the same top woven goes to chapter 62 (DGCIS chapter notes, read 4 Oct 2026). Pages that print one code for “kurti” or “shirt” skip that step, which is why you see 6106, 6206 and 6211 quoted for the same listing. Decide knitted or woven first, then the fibre, then look up the heading.
Selling on Meesho without a GSTIN? The guide to selling on Meesho without GST covers what changes in the listing form; the product still has the same HSN code.
HSN codes for clothing and ethnic wear
Clothes take a chapter 61 code when knitted and a chapter 62 code when woven, and the heading inside that chapter follows the garment and the wearer. A knitted cotton T-shirt is 6109; a woven men’s shirt is 6205; a plain cotton kurta and salwar set for women is 6211 42 19 (GST portal master, read 11 Oct 2026; headings from DGCIS chapters 61 and 62, read 4 Oct 2026). Sarees are sold as fabric and coded by fibre in chapters 50, 52 and 54. GST on stitched garments is 5% up to ₹2,500 a piece and 18% above, from 22 Sept 2025 (PIB factsheet, retrieved 30 Sep 2026). The full rule is on GST on clothes: the ₹2,500 rule.
- Clothes HSN code: the knitted or woven decision for any garment
- T-shirt HSN code, Shirt HSN code, Jeans HSN code, Pant HSN code
- Dress HSN code, Jacket HSN code
- Saree HSN code, Kurti HSN code, Ladies suit HSN code
- Not yet on a page of their own (search them in the HSN code finder): hoodies, sweatshirt, bra, kurta, lehenga, dupatta, dress material, ethnic wear, suiting and shirting, shawls
HSN codes for jewellery and accessories
Artificial jewellery is heading 7117, imitation jewellery, and gold or silver pieces move to heading 7113, jewellery of precious metal; both carry 3% GST. Inside 7117, bangles are 7117 19 10, German silver jewellery 7117 19 20, and pieces studded with imitation pearls or stones 7117 90 10 (DGCIS chapter 71, read 4 Oct 2026). The 3% rate comes from Schedule IV of Notification 9/2025–IT(Rate), which excludes bangles of lac or shellac (read 7 Oct 2026). A seller listing oxidised earrings and a silver anklet on Meesho needs two codes, not one.
- Artificial jewellery HSN code: imitation and fashion jewellery under 7117
- Jewellery HSN code: gold, silver and diamond pieces
- Not yet on a page of their own: gold jewellery, silver jewellery, diamond jewellery, handmade jewellery, earrings, bangles, watches, hair accessories, hair clips, cap, belt, wallet
HSN codes for bags and packaging
Handbags, shopping bags and backpacks sit in heading 4202, which covers handbags, shopping bags, rucksacks, travelling bags, wallets and purses. The heading spans bags of leather, plastic sheeting, textile, vulcanised fibre and paperboard, so the material picks the sub-heading rather than the heading (DGCIS chapter 42, read 10 Oct 2026). That is why a wallet belongs here and not with belts or caps. Cartons and paper packaging are a separate chapter, covered on the carton box page.
- Bag HSN code: handbags, shopping bags and backpacks under 4202
- Carton box HSN code: corrugated cartons and boxes
- Not yet on a page of their own: handbags, laptop bag, jute bags, paper bags, packaging material
HSN codes for footwear
Footwear is chapter 64, and the heading depends on what the outer sole and the upper are made of. Shoes with sole and upper of rubber or plastics are 6401 or 6402, leather uppers are 6403, textile uppers such as canvas sneakers are 6404, and everything else is 6405 (DGCIS chapter 64, read 10 Oct 2026). Check the upper first: a pair of canvas shoes with a rubber sole is 6404, not 6402, because the upper decides.
- Shoes HSN code: sports shoes, sneakers and formal shoes by upper
- Not yet on a page of their own: footwear, safety shoes, slipper
HSN codes for home, kitchen and textiles
Unstitched fabric is coded by fibre: woven cotton goes to 5208 to 5212, woven synthetic filament such as polyester to 5407, and artificial filament such as viscose to 5408. Within cotton, 5208 and 5209 hold fabric with 85% or more cotton, split at 200 g/m², while 5210 and 5211 hold cotton mixed mainly with man-made fibre (DGCIS chapters 52 and 54, read 10 Oct 2026). Chairs (9401), mattresses (9404) and LED lights (9405 or 8539) sit outside the textile chapters. Their pages carry the 8-digit lines.
- Fabric HSN code: cotton, polyester, viscose and knitted fabric
- Chair HSN code, Mattress HSN code, LED lights HSN code
- Not yet on a page of their own: cotton fabric, textiles, bed sheet, blanket, pillow, mattress protector, towel, curtains, carpet, home decor, kitchen items, wooden furniture, hanger, photo frame, candle, agarbatti, brass items, LED bulb
HSN codes for beauty and personal care
Beauty products sit in chapter 33: perfumes are 3303, make-up and skin-care preparations 3304, and hair preparations 3305. Soap is not in this chapter: chapter 33’s own notes exclude it and send it to heading 3401 in the next chapter (DGCIS chapter 33, read 10 Oct 2026). So a beauty seller with lipstick, shampoo and a bar of soap in one catalogue needs three different headings.
- Cosmetics HSN code: make-up and skin care under 3304
- Shampoo HSN code: shampoo and hair care under 3305
- Not yet on a page of their own: beauty products, lipstick, perfume, soap, hair oil, hair serum
HSN codes for stationery, toys and containers
Toys are heading 9503, which covers dolls, wheeled toys such as tricycles and scooters, scale models and puzzles of every kind. The heading is wide, so the material and type of the toy decide the 8-digit line rather than the heading (DGCIS chapter 95, read 10 Oct 2026). Pens, pencils and paper stationery each have their own chapters, and bottles and boxes are coded by material, so check each item’s page before you fill a bulk sheet.
- Stationery HSN code, Pen HSN code
- Toys HSN code: dolls, puzzles and ride-on toys
- Not yet on a page of their own: pencil, gift items, water bottle, plastic bottles, glass bottle, plastic container
HSN code list with GST rates: most searched products
These are the products sellers search most, with the heading, the GST rate and the page that holds the full 8-digit list. Garment rates follow the sale value per piece, so one heading can carry two rates; jewellery and saree fabric have one rate at any price.
| Product | HSN heading | GST | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-shirts | 6109 (cotton 6109 10 00) | 5% up to ₹2,500 a piece, 18% above | T-shirt HSN code |
| Shirts (men’s) | 6205 woven, 6105 knitted | 5% up to ₹2,500 a piece, 18% above | Shirt HSN code |
| Kurti | 6206 woven, 6106 knitted; set with salwar 6211 42 19 | 5% up to ₹2,500 a piece, 18% above | Kurti HSN code |
| Saree | Silk 5007, cotton 5208–5212, synthetic 5407–5408 | 5% | Saree HSN code |
| Artificial jewellery | 7117 | 3% | Artificial jewellery HSN code |
| Gold and silver jewellery | 7113 | 3% | Jewellery HSN code |
| Chair, office chair | 9401 (swivel 9401 39 00) | 18% | Chair HSN code |
| Mattress, pillow | 9404 (foam 9404 21 90) | 18%; quilts 5% up to ₹2,500 a piece | Mattress HSN code |
| LED bulb / LED fitting | 8539 (8539 52 00) / 9405 | 18% | LED lights HSN code |
| Toys | 9503 | 5%; electronic toys 18% | Toys HSN code |
Source: 8-digit lines from the GST portal HSN master, read 11 Oct 2026; headings from DGCIS ITC-HS chapters 50, 52, 54, 61, 62, 71 and 94; Notification 9/2025–IT(Rate) Schedules I, II and IV, in force 22 Sept 2025, and the PIB factsheet. Last checked: 11 Oct 2026.
Two woven kurtis, one sold at or under ₹2,500 and one above, share heading 6206 but not the rate: the first is billed at 5%, the second at 18%. Imitation earrings stay at 3% at any price. For a product not in this table, search it in the HSN finder and confirm the rate in the Notification 9/2025 schedule.
Frequently asked questions
What is a HSN code?
HSN code is the product code under the Harmonized System of Nomenclature that goes on a GST invoice. It starts from the World Customs Organization’s 6-digit system, and India’s ITC-HS list extends it to 8 digits.
How do I know my HSN code?
Find your product in the list on this page, search it in the HSN finder, or use the HSN search on the GST portal. Decide whether the item is knitted or woven and what fibre it is before you pick a code.
What is the full form of HSN?
Harmonized System of Nomenclature. CBIC Notification 78/2020–Central Tax spells it “Harmonised System of Nomenclature Code (HSN Code)”.
How many digits of HSN code should I use?
4 digits if your turnover is up to ₹5 crore, 6 digits above that, since 1 April 2021. The full 8-digit code is the ITC-HS tariff item that DGCIS publishes for India.
Is HSN code the same for Meesho and Flipkart?
Yes; the code belongs to the product, not the marketplace. A knitted cotton T-shirt is 6109 on Meesho, on Flipkart and on your own GST invoice.
What is the GST rate for an HSN code?
The rate is set by the GST rate notification for that heading; for clothes it is 5% up to ₹2,500 a piece and 18% above. Since 22 Sept 2025 that notification is 9/2025, which puts imitation jewellery under 7117 at 3%.
What is the HSN code for clothes?
Chapter 61 if the garment is knitted and chapter 62 if it is woven, with the heading set by garment type, such as 6109 for T-shirts or 6205 for woven men’s shirts. Both chapters pay 5% GST up to ₹2,500 a piece and 18% above.
What is the HSN code for gold jewellery?
7113, articles of jewellery of precious metal, at 3% GST; gold pieces sit at 7113 19 and silver at 7113 11. Imitation jewellery is 7117.
What is the HSN code for artificial jewellery?
7117, imitation jewellery, at 3% GST. Bangles are 7117 19 10 and pieces set with imitation pearls or stones are 7117 90 10.
Found your product's HSN code? Check the next product the same way, or search by name.
Search your product in the HSN finderRelated
Checked by the StitchMagic team on 11 Oct 2026. StitchMagic is a set of free tools and one AI listing agent (ListMagic) for online sellers in India that helps them list faster on Meesho, Flipkart and Amazon.in and sell more. Found an error? Tell us; we correct with a dated note.