HS code for posters in the United States
Last updated
Key facts
- Most likely code
- 4911.91
- Candidate codes
- 2
- HS edition
- HS2022
- National lines
- 11
- General duty (MFN)
- free
Summary
Posters imported into the United States are usually classified under HS code 4911.91 when it is a printed picture, design or photograph. It sits in heading 49.11, “Other printed matter, including printed pictures and photographs”. Posters can also fall under 4911.10, depending on the purpose. The tariff of the United States has 11 national lines under these codes. The general (MFN) duty in the United States on the national lines under 4911.91 is free.
How to choose the right code
Is the poster a picture or photograph, or trade advertising? Use 4911.91 when it is a printed picture, design or photograph. Use 4911.10 when it is trade advertising material, such as a promotional poster.
Some similar goods are classified elsewhere: 9701.91 applies when it is a painting, drawing or pastel executed entirely by hand and no more than 100 years old.
Codes for posters
Each code is listed with its legal text from the HS2022 Harmonized System release, quoted as published, and the condition under which it applies to posters.
- 4911.91
Most likely
Legal text: “Other: Pictures, designs and photographs”
Heading 49.11: “Other printed matter, including printed pictures and photographs”
Applies when it is a printed picture, design or photograph.
- 4911.10
Possible
Legal text: “Trade advertising material, commercial catalogues and the like”
Heading 49.11: “Other printed matter, including printed pictures and photographs”
Applies when it is trade advertising material, such as a promotional poster.
- 9701.91
Classified elsewhere
Legal text: “Other: Paintings, drawings and pastels”
Heading 97.01: “Paintings, drawings and pastels, executed entirely by hand, other than drawings of heading 49.06 and other than hand- painted or hand-decorated manufactured articles; collages, mosaics and similar decorative plaques”
Applies when it is a painting, drawing or pastel executed entirely by hand and no more than 100 years old.
National lines in the United States
The tariff of the United States splits these codes into 11 national lines, listed with their published text and general duty.
The general (MFN) duty in the United States on the national lines under 4911.91 is free. Import VAT or sales tax is charged on top, and de minimis rules can change what is due; the landed cost calculator works it out for a shipment.
Under 4911.91
- 4911.91.10.00“Pictures, designs and photographs › Printed over 20 years at time of importation”free
- 4911.91.15.00“Pictures, designs and photographs › Printed not over 20 years at time of importation › Suitable for use in the production of articles of heading 4901”free
- 4911.91.20.20“Pictures, designs and photographs › Printed not over 20 years at time of importation › Other › Lithographs on paper or paperboard › Not over 0.51 mm in thickness › Posters”free
- 4911.91.20.40“Pictures, designs and photographs › Printed not over 20 years at time of importation › Other › Lithographs on paper or paperboard › Not over 0.51 mm in thickness › Other”free
- 4911.91.30.00“Pictures, designs and photographs › Printed not over 20 years at time of importation › Other › Lithographs on paper or paperboard › Over 0.51 mm in thickness”free
- 4911.91.40.20“Pictures, designs and photographs › Printed not over 20 years at time of importation › Other › Other › Posters”free
- 4911.91.40.40“Pictures, designs and photographs › Printed not over 20 years at time of importation › Other › Other › Other”free
Under 4911.10
- 4911.10.00.20“Printed catalogs relating principally to current offers for the sale of United States products”free
- 4911.10.00.40“Printed catalogs, price lists or trade notices, relating to offers, by a person whose principal place of business or bonafide residence is in a foreign country, to sell or rent products of a foreign country or to furnish foreign or international transportation or commercial insurance services”free
- 4911.10.00.60“Tourist and other literature (including posters), containing geographic, historical, hotel, institutional, timetable, travel or similar information, principally with respect to places, travel facilities or educational opportunities outside the customs territory of the United States”free
- 4911.10.00.80“Other”free
Similar products
Products in the same category as posters, or classified under the same headings.
- BooksHS 4901.99
- Children’s picture booksHS 4903.00
- Vinyl recordsHS 8523.80
Check your exact product
Describe your product, or paste its page, and the classifier suggests the code in the tariff of the United States with its reasons.
Classification depends on the exact product
The right code depends on what the product is made of, how it is made and what it is for, so two products sold as posters can fall under different codes.
Guidance from published tariff data, not a binding ruling. For a decision customs must follow, apply to the destination’s customs authority for a binding tariff ruling.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HS code for posters?
Posters imported into the United States are usually classified under HS code 4911.91 when it is a printed picture, design or photograph. It sits in heading 49.11, “Other printed matter, including printed pictures and photographs”.
Does the purpose change the HS code for posters?
Yes. Use 4911.91 when it is a printed picture, design or photograph. Use 4911.10 when it is trade advertising material, such as a promotional poster.
What is the duty on posters imported into the United States?
The general (MFN) duty in the United States on the national lines under 4911.91 is free. Import VAT or sales tax is charged on top, and de minimis rules can change what is due; the landed cost calculator works it out for a shipment.
Sources and updates
The legal texts are from the HS2022 Harmonized System release, live on border.bot since 11 October 2026.
The national lines are from the tariff release of the United States (2026HTSRev21), live on border.bot since 9 October 2026.
The duty rates are from the live rates release, live on border.bot since 9 October 2026.
The conditions and questions on this page were written for posters by border.bot and checked against those legal texts; the page changes when a new release goes live or the topic is reviewed again.
Official source files: