Chapter 48
Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard
Section X — Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard; paper and paperboard and articles thereof · 22 headings · 101 subheadings
Duty in chapter 48 at a glance
Counted across the 368 US national lines beneath this chapter's subheadings. It says what kind of chapter this is before you read ninety headings to find out.
- Duty-free lines
- 368 of 368 stating a rate
- Ad valorem range
- No percentage rates in this chapter
What this chapter excludes
These notes push goods out of chapter 48 even when a subheading's wording seems to fit. They are the fastest way to find out you are in the wrong chapter.
2. This chapter does not cover:
- (a) Articles of chapter 30;
- (b) Stamping foils of heading 3212;
- (c) Perfumed papers or papers impregnated or coated with cosmetics (chapter 33);
- (d) Paper or cellulose wadding impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent (heading 3401), or with polishes, creams or similar preparations (heading 3405);
- (e) Sensitized paper or paperboard of headings 3701 to 3704;
- (f) Paper impregnated with diagnostic or laboratory reagents (heading 3822);
- (g) Paper-reinforced stratified sheeting of plastics, or one layer of paper or paperboard coated or covered with a layer of plastics, the latter constituting more than half the total thickness, or articles of such materials, other than wallcoverings of heading 4814 (chapter 39);
- (h) Articles of heading 4202 (for example, travel goods);
- (ij) Articles of chapter 46 (manufactures of plaiting material);
- (k) Paper yarn or textile articles of paper yarn (section XI);
- (l) Articles of chapter 64 or chapter 65;
- (m) Abrasive paper or paperboard (heading 6805) or paper- or paperboard-backed mica (heading 6814) (paper and paperboard coated with mica powder are, however, to be classified in this chapter);
- (n) Metal foil backed with paper or paperboard (generally section XIV or XV);
- (o) Articles of heading 9209;
- (p) Articles of chapter 95 (for example, toys, games, sports requisites); or
- (q) Articles of chapter 96 (for example, buttons, sanitary pads (towels) and tampons, diapers (napkins) and diaper liners).
10. Heading 4820 does not cover loose sheets or cards, cut to size, whether or not printed, embossed or perforated.
Legal notes
Reproduced from the published tariff schedule. Section and chapter notes are binding and part of the nomenclature; statistical notes are US reporting rules and are not classification law.
Chapter 48 — Notes
Legal Notes of the Harmonized System. Binding, and part of the international nomenclature.
1. For the purposes of this chapter, except where the context otherwise requires, a reference to "paper" includes references to 2 paperboard (irrespective of thickness or weight per m ).
2. This chapter does not cover:
(a) Articles of chapter 30;
(b) Stamping foils of heading 3212;
(c) Perfumed papers or papers impregnated or coated with cosmetics (chapter 33);
(d) Paper or cellulose wadding impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent (heading 3401), or with polishes, creams or similar preparations (heading 3405);
(e) Sensitized paper or paperboard of headings 3701 to 3704;
(f) Paper impregnated with diagnostic or laboratory reagents (heading 3822);
(g) Paper-reinforced stratified sheeting of plastics, or one layer of paper or paperboard coated or covered with a layer of plastics, the latter constituting more than half the total thickness, or articles of such materials, other than wallcoverings of heading 4814 (chapter 39);
(h) Articles of heading 4202 (for example, travel goods);
(ij) Articles of chapter 46 (manufactures of plaiting material);
(k) Paper yarn or textile articles of paper yarn (section XI);
(l) Articles of chapter 64 or chapter 65;
(m) Abrasive paper or paperboard (heading 6805) or paper- or paperboard-backed mica (heading 6814) (paper and paperboard coated with mica powder are, however, to be classified in this chapter);
(n) Metal foil backed with paper or paperboard (generally section XIV or XV);
(o) Articles of heading 9209;
(p) Articles of chapter 95 (for example, toys, games, sports requisites); or
(q) Articles of chapter 96 (for example, buttons, sanitary pads (towels) and tampons, diapers (napkins) and diaper liners).
3. Subject to the provisions of note 7, headings 4801 to 4805 include paper and paperboard which have been subjected to calendering, super-calendering, glazing or similar finishing, false water-marking or surface sizing, and also paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding and webs of cellulose fibers, colored or marbled throughout the mass by any method. Except where heading 4803 otherwise requires, these headings do not apply to paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibers which have been otherwise processed.
4. In this chapter, the expression "newsprint" means uncoated paper of a kind used for the printing of newspapers, of which not less than 50 percent by weight of the total fiber content consists of wood fibers obtained by a mechanical or chemi-mechanical process, unsized or very lightly sized, having a surface roughness Parker Print Surf (1 MPa) on each side exceeding 2.5 2 2 micrometers (microns), weighing not less than 40 g/m and not more than 65 g/m , and applies only to paper: (a) in strips or rolls of a width exceeding 28 cm; or (b) in rectangular (including square) sheets with one side exceeding 28 cm and the other side exceeding 15 cm in the unfolded state. Notes (con.)
5. For the purposes of heading 4802, the expressions "paper and paperboard, of a kind used for writing, printing or other graphic purposes" and "nonperforated punch-cards and punch tape paper" mean paper and paperboard made mainly from bleached pulp or from pulp obtained by a mechanical or chemi-mechanical process and satisfying any of the following criteria:
2 (A) For paper or paperboard weighing not more than 150 g/m :
(a) Containing 10% or more of fibers obtained by a mechanical or chemi-mechanical process, and
1. 2 weighing not more than 80 g/m , or
2. colored throughout the mass; or
(b) Containing more than 8 percent ash, and
1. 2 weighing not more than 80 g/m , or
2. colored throughout the mass; or
(c) Containing more than 3 percent ash and having a brightness of 60 percent or more; or
(d) Containing more than 3 percent but not more than 8 percent ash, having a brightness less than 60 percent and a burst 2 index equal to or less than 2.5 kPa·m /g; or
(e) Containing 3 percent ash or less, having a brightness of 60 percent or more and a burst index equal to or less than 2.5 2 kPa·m /g.
2 (B) For paper or paperboard weighing more than 150 g/m :
(a) Colored throughout the mass; or
(b) Having a brightness of 60 percent or more, and
1. a caliper of 225 micrometers (microns) or less, or
2. a caliper of more than 225 micrometers (microns) but not more than 508 micrometers (microns) and an ash content of more than 3 percent; or
(c) Having a brightness of less than 60 percent, a caliper of 254 micrometers (microns) or less and an ash content of more than 8 percent.
Heading 4802 does not, however, cover filter paper or paperboard (including teabag paper) or felt paper or paperboard.
6. In this chapter "kraft paper and paperboard" means paper and paperboard of which not less than 80 percent by weight of the total fiber content consists of fibers obtained by the chemical sulfate or soda processes.
7. Except where the terms of the headings otherwise require, paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding and webs of cellulose fibers answering to a description in two or more of the headings 4801 to 4811 are to be classified under that one of such headings which occurs last in numerical order in the tariff schedule.
8. Headings 4803 to 4809 apply only to paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding and webs of cellulose fibers:
(a) In strips or rolls of a width exceeding 36 cm; or
(b) In rectangular (including square) sheets with one side exceeding 36 cm and the other side exceeding 15 cm in the unfolded state.
9. For the purposes of heading 4814, the expression "wallpaper and similar wall coverings" applies only to:
(a) Paper in rolls, of a width of not less than 45 cm and not more than 160 cm, suitable for wall or ceiling decoration:
(i) Grained, embossed, surface-colored, design-printed or otherwise surface-decorated (for example, with textile flock), whether or not coated or covered with transparent protective plastics;
(ii) With an uneven surface resulting from the incorporation of particles of wood, straw, etc.; Notes (con.)
(iii) Coated or covered on the face side with plastics, the layer of plastics being grained, embossed, colored, design-printed or otherwise decorated; or
(iv) Covered on the face side with plaiting material, whether or not bound together in parallel strands or woven;
(b) Borders and friezes of paper, treated as above, whether or not in rolls, suitable for wall or ceiling decoration;
(c) Wall coverings of paper made up of several panels, in rolls or sheets, printed so as to make up a scene, design or motif when applied to a wall.
Products on a base of paper or paperboard, suitable for use both as floor coverings and as wall coverings, are to be classified in heading 4823.
10. Heading 4820 does not cover loose sheets or cards, cut to size, whether or not printed, embossed or perforated.
11. Heading 4823 applies, inter alia, to perforated paper or paperboard cards for Jacquard or similar machines and paper lace.
12. Except for the articles of heading 4814 or 4821, paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding and articles thereof, printed with motifs, characters or pictorial representations, which are not merely subsidiary to the primary use of the goods, fall in chapter 49.
Chapter 48 — Subheading Notes
Subheading Notes. Binding, scoped to subheadings.
1. For the purposes of subheading 4804.11 and 4804.19, "kraftliner" means machine-finished or machine-glazed paper and paperboard, of which not less than 80 percent by weight of the total fiber content consists of wood fibers obtained by the chemical 2 sulfate or soda processes, in rolls, weighing more than 115 g/m and having a minimum Mullen bursting strength, as indicated in the following table, or the linearly interpolated or extrapolated equivalent for any other weight:
Weight Minimum Mullen bursting strength 2 (g/m ) (kPa) 115 393 125 417 200 637 300 824 400 961
2. For the purposes of subheadings 4804.21 and 4804.29, "sack kraft paper" means machine-finished paper, of which not less than 80 percent by weight of the total fiber content consists of fibers obtained by the chemical sulfate or soda processes, in rolls, 2 2 weighing not less than 60 g/m but not more than 115 g/m and meeting one of the following sets of specifications:
(a) Having a Mullen burst index of not less than 3.7 kPa·m2/g and a stretch factor of more than 4.5 percent in the cross direction and of more than 2 percent in the machine direction.
(b) Having minima for tear and tensile as indicated in the following table, or the linearly interpolated equivalent for any other weight:
Minimum tear Minimum tensile Weight Machine direction plus Machine direction plus Machine direction Cross direction cross direction cross direction
(grams per square (millinewtons) (kilonewtons per meter) meter) 60 700 1,510 1.9 6 70 830 1,790 2.3 7.2 80 965 2,070 2.8 8.3 100 1,230 2,635 3.7 10.6 115 1,425 3,060 4.4 12.3
3. For the purposes of subheading 4805.11, "semichemical fluting paper" means paper, in rolls, of which not less than 65 percent by weight of the total fiber content consists of unbleached hardwood fibers obtained by a combination of mechanical and chemical pulping processes, and having a CMT 30 (Corrugated Medium Test with 30 minutes of conditioning) crush resistance exceeding 2 1.8 newtons/g/m at 50 percent relative humidity, at 23°C.
4. Subheading 4805.12 covers paper, in rolls, made mainly of straw pulp obtained by a combination of mechanical and chemical 2 pulping processes, weighing 130 g/m or more, and having a CMT 30 (Corrugated Medium Test with 30 minutes of conditioning) 2 crush resistance exceeding 1.4 newtons/g/m at 50 percent relative humidity, at 23°C.
5. Subheading 4805.24 and 4805.25 cover paper and paperboard made wholly or mainly of pulp recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard. Testliner may also have a surface layer of dyed paper or of paper made of bleached or unbleached 2 non-recovered pulp. These products have a Mullen burst index of not less than 2 kPa·m /g.
6. For the purposes of subheading 4805.30, "sulfite wrapping paper" means machine-glazed paper, of which more than 40 percent by weight of the total fiber content consists of wood fibers obtained by the chemical sulfite process, having an ash content not 2 exceeding 8 percent and having a Mullen burst index of not less than 1.47 kPa·m /g.
7. For the purposes of subheading 4810.22, "light-weight coated paper" means paper, coated on both sides, of a total weight not 2 2 exceeding 72 g/m , with a coating weight not exceeding 15 g/m per side, on a base of which not less than 50 percent by weight of the total fiber content consists of wood fibers obtained by a mechanical process.
Chapter 48 — Additional U.S. Notes
Additional U.S. Notes. Binding in the United States; not part of the international HS.
1. For the purposes of this chapter the provisions for cellulose wadding and webs of cellulose fibers cover only products obtained from the pulp of chapter 47.
2. Samples used in determining the weight of paper or paperboard classifiable in this chapter according to weight shall be conditioned in an atmosphere at 50 percent ( + 2 percent) relative humidity and at a temperature of 23°C( + 2°C).
Chapter 48 — Statistical Notes
US statistical reporting only. NOT classification law.
1. The term "standard newsprint paper" covers printing papers of heading 4801 which conform to the following specifications:
2 2 Weight: Not less than 46.3 g/m nor more than 57 g/m .
Size: Rolls not less than 33 cm wide and not less than 71 cm in diameter; sheets not less than 51 cm by 76 cm.
Thickness: Not more than 0.11 mm.
Sizing: Time of transudation of water shall be not more than 10 seconds by the ground glass method.
Ash Content: Not more than 6.5 percent.
Color and Finish: White; or tinted shades of pink, peach or green in rolls; not more than 50 percent gloss when tested with the Ingersoll glarimeter.
2. For the purposes of statistical reporting number 4823.90.8620, shoe coverings (booties) must be 50 percent or more by weight of cellulose/paper. This provision does not include disposable shoe coverings (booties) of non-woven textile fibers classified in heading 6307.
Notes are reproduced from the published tariff schedule. They govern classification, but reading them is not the same as applying them to your goods — that is what a broker or a binding ruling is for.
Headings in chapter 48
4802 Uncoated paper and paperboard, of a kind used for writing, printing or other graphic purposes, and non perforated punch-cards and punch tape paper, in rolls or rectangular (including square) sheets, of any size, other than paper of heading 4801 or 4803; hand-made paper and paperboard
4804 Uncoated kraft paper and paperboard, in rolls or sheets, other than that of heading 4802 or 4803
4805 Other uncoated paper and paperboard, in rolls or sheets, not further worked or processed than as specified in note 3 to this chapter
4806 Vegetable parchment, greaseproof papers, tracing papers and glassine and other glazed transparent or translucent papers, in rolls or sheets
4808 Paper and paperboard, corrugated (with or without glued flat surface sheets), creped, crinkled, embossed or perforated, in rolls or sheets, other than paper of the kind described in heading 4803
4809 Carbon paper, self-copy paper and other copying or transfer papers (including coated or impregnated paper for duplicator stencils or offset plates), whether or not printed, in rolls or sheets
4810 Paper and paperboard, coated on one or both sides with kaolin (China clay) or other inorganic substances, with or without a binder, and with no other coating, whether or not surface-colored, surface-decorated or printed, in rolls or rectangular (including square) sheets, of any size
4811 Paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding and webs of cellulose fibers, coated, impregnated, covered, surface-colored, surface-decorated or printed, in rolls or rectangular (including square) sheets, of any size, other than goods of the kind described in heading 4803, 4809 or 4810
4813 Cigarette paper, whether or not cut to size or in the form of booklets or tubes
4814 Wallpaper and similar wallcoverings; window transparencies of paper
4816 Carbon paper, self-copy paper and other copying or transfer papers (other than those of heading 4809), duplicator stencils and offset plates, of paper, whether or not put up in boxes
4817 Envelopes, letter cards, plain postcards and correspondence cards, of paper or paperboard; boxes, pouches, wallets and writing compendiums, of paper or paperboard, containing an assortment of paper stationery
4818 Toilet paper and similar paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibers, of a kind used for household or sanitary purposes, in rolls of a width not exceeding 36 cm, or cut to size or shape; handkerchiefs, cleansing tissues, towels, tablecloths, table napkins, bed sheets and similar household, sanitary or hospital articles, articles of apparel and clothing accessories, of paper pulp, paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibers
4819 Cartons, boxes, cases, bags and other packing containers, of paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibers; box files, letter trays and similar articles, of paper or paperboard of a kind used in offices, shops or the like
4820 Registers, account books, notebooks, order books, receipt books, letter pads, memorandum pads, diaries and similar articles, exercise books, blotting pads, binders (looseleaf or other), folders, file covers, manifold business forms, interleaved carbon sets and other articles of stationery, of paper or paperboard; albums for samples or for collections and book covers (including cover boards and book jackets) of paper or paperboard
4821 Paper and paperboard labels of all kinds, whether or not printed
4822 Bobbins, spools, cops and similar supports of paper pulp, paper or paperboard (whether or not perforated or hardened)
4823 Other paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding and webs of cellulose fibers, cut to size or shape; other articles of paper pulp, paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibers
Other chapters
Common questions
What does HS chapter 48 cover?
Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard. It contains 22 headings and 101 six-digit subheadings, and sits in Section X (pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard; paper and paperboard and articles thereof).
What is excluded from chapter 48?
2. This chapter does not cover: (a) Articles of chapter 30; (b) Stamping foils of heading 3212; (c) Perfumed papers or papers impregnated or coated with cosmetics (chapter 33); (d) Paper or cellulose wadding impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent (heading 3401), or with polishes, creams or similar preparations (heading 3405);
Are chapter 48's notes legally binding?
This chapter carries 69 binding note paragraph(s) — legal notes of the Harmonized System, plus any US-specific Additional U.S. Notes. They decide classification, and they outrank the wording of an individual subheading. A further 8 statistical note paragraph(s) govern US reporting only and are not classification law.