# HS code for backpacks

> Backpacks are usually classified under HS code 4202.92 when its outer surface is of plastic sheeting or of textile materials. It sits in heading 42.02, “Trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travelling-bags, insulated food or beverages bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle-cases, jewellery boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition le…”. Backpacks can also fall under 4202.91 or 4202.99, depending on the material.

Source: https://border.bot/hs-codes/for/backpacks
Last updated: 11 October 2026

## Key facts

- Most likely code: [4202.92](https://border.bot/hs-codes/420292)
- Chapter: [42: Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silk-worm gut)](https://border.bot/hs-codes/42)
- Candidate codes: 3
- HS edition: HS2022

## Summary

Backpacks are usually classified under HS code 4202.92 when its outer surface is of plastic sheeting or of textile materials. It sits in heading 42.02, “Trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travelling-bags, insulated food or beverages bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle-cases, jewellery boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition le…”. Backpacks can also fall under 4202.91 or 4202.99, depending on the material.

## How to choose the right code

What is the outer surface made of: textile or plastic sheeting, leather, or something else? Use 4202.92 when its outer surface is of plastic sheeting or of textile materials. Use 4202.91 when its outer surface is of leather or composition leather. Use 4202.99 when its outer surface is of another material.

Some similar goods are classified elsewhere: 4202.12 applies when it is a school satchel with an outer surface of plastics or textile, which is grouped with suitcases and briefcases.

Goods of mixed materials are generally classified by the material that gives them their essential character.

## Codes for backpacks

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 backpacks.

### [4202.92](https://border.bot/hs-codes/420292) (most likely)

Legal text: “Other: With outer surface of sheeting of plastics or of textile materials”

Heading 42.02: “Trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travelling-bags, insulated food or beverages bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle-cases, jewellery boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition le…”

Applies when its outer surface is of plastic sheeting or of textile materials.

### [4202.91](https://border.bot/hs-codes/420291) (possible)

Legal text: “Other: With outer surface of leather or of composition leather”

Heading 42.02: “Trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travelling-bags, insulated food or beverages bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle-cases, jewellery boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition le…”

Applies when its outer surface is of leather or composition leather.

### [4202.99](https://border.bot/hs-codes/420299) (possible)

Legal text: “Other: Other”

Heading 42.02: “Trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travelling-bags, insulated food or beverages bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle-cases, jewellery boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition le…”

Applies when its outer surface is of another material.

### [4202.12](https://border.bot/hs-codes/420212) (classified elsewhere)

Legal text: “Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, executive-cases, briefcases, school satchels and similar containers: With outer surface of plastics or of textile materials”

Heading 42.02: “Trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travelling-bags, insulated food or beverages bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle-cases, jewellery boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition le…”

Applies when it is a school satchel with an outer surface of plastics or textile, which is grouped with suitcases and briefcases.


## Similar products

Products in the same category as backpacks, or classified under the same headings.

- [Handbags](https://border.bot/hs-codes/for/handbags): 4202.21, 4202.22
- [Suitcases](https://border.bot/hs-codes/for/suitcases): 4202.12
- [Wallets](https://border.bot/hs-codes/for/wallets): 4202.31, 4202.32
- [Leather belts](https://border.bot/hs-codes/for/leather-belts): 4203.30
- [Sunglasses](https://border.bot/hs-codes/for/sunglasses): 9004.10

## Duty rates by country

National tariff lines for backpacks are live for the United States. Each page lists the lines under the codes above, with their duty rates where they are live.

- [United States](https://border.bot/countries/united-states/hs-codes/for/backpacks): 23 national lines, duty rates live

## Check your exact product

Describe your product, or paste its page, and the classifier suggests the code with its reasons.

- [Classify your exact product](https://border.bot/tools/hs-code-classifier?product=backpack)

## 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 backpacks 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 backpacks?

Backpacks are usually classified under HS code 4202.92 when its outer surface is of plastic sheeting or of textile materials. It sits in heading 42.02, “Trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travelling-bags, insulated food or beverages bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle-cases, jewellery boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition le…”.

### Does the material change the HS code for backpacks?

Yes. Use 4202.92 when its outer surface is of plastic sheeting or of textile materials. Use 4202.91 when its outer surface is of leather or composition leather. Use 4202.99 when its outer surface is of another material.

## Sources and updates

The legal texts are from the HS2022 Harmonized System release, live on border.bot since 11 October 2026.

The conditions and questions on this page were written for backpacks by border.bot and checked against those legal texts; the page changes when a new release goes live or the topic is reviewed again.

Machine-readable: https://border.bot/hs-codes/for/backpacks.json
