Product classification
HS code for Cardboard boxes: 4819.10
Paper and paperboard, cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboard.
Classification of cardboard boxes under HS 4819.10
Cardboard boxes are classified under HS code 481910, which specifically covers cartons, boxes, and cases made of corrugated paper or paperboard. This classification is situated within Chapter 48, which deals with paper and paperboard and articles made from these materials. The primary determinant for this classification is the material construction: the paperboard must be corrugated. Corrugated paperboard consists of a fluted or wavy layer sandwiched between flat linerboards, providing structural integrity and cushioning for shipping. Under the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI), specifically GRI 1 and 6, the product is classified based on the literal description of the heading 4819 (packing containers) and the subheading 481910 (corrugated). This code is used globally for the standard shipping containers and heavy-duty boxes used in logistics. It is important to distinguish these from folding cartons or non-corrugated boxes, which fall under different subheadings within the same chapter. The classification remains the same regardless of whether the boxes are printed with branding or are plain, provided the primary material is corrugated paperboard.
- Covers
- Corrugated shipping containers
- Double-walled corrugated boxes
- Single-face corrugated cartons
- Corrugated fiberboard cases
- Heavy-duty corrugated packaging for appliances
- Also under 4819.10
- Uline Shipping Boxes
- Amazon Basics Moving Boxes
- Smurfit Kappa Corrugated Boxes
- DS Smith Packaging
- WestRock Corrugated Containers
Codes often confused with 4819.10
Common mistake. Cardboard boxes are often misclassified under HS code 481920. However, 481920 is strictly for folding cartons, boxes, and cases made of non-corrugated paperboard (such as cereal boxes or shoe boxes). Another common error is using 482390 for specialized paperboard shapes, but if the item functions as a packing container, 4819 is the legally required heading.
Top exporters and importers of HS 481910 (the code used for cardboard boxes), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 481910 (the code used for cardboard boxes) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 15% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the Netherlands, with 9.1% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 481910, not only cardboard boxes.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $1.7B 15% of world exports
- 2 United States $1.3B 12% of world exports
- 3 Germany $1.3B 12% of world exports
World total: $11.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Netherlands $971M 9.1% of world imports
- 2 Mexico $793M 7.5% of world imports
- 3 United States $779M 7.3% of world imports
World total: $10.6B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Brazil NCM code for cardboard boxes
Brazil classifies cardboard boxes under NCM 4819.10.00: HS 4819.10 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
EU Regulatory Requirements
This product category is subject to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Importers must provide due diligence statements proving the product was not produced on deforested land after December 31, 2020.
This product is covered by the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), requiring operators to exercise due diligence to minimize the risk of placing illegally harvested timber on the EU market.
Questions about cardboard boxes
What is the HS code for Cardboard boxes?
The HS code for Cardboard boxes is 481910 (Paper and paperboard; cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboard). The standard HS code for boxes made of corrugated paperboard is 481910.
How do I classify Cardboard boxes for customs?
Cardboard boxes is classified under HS code 481910 — Paper and paperboard; cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboard. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are pizza boxes classified under this code?
If the pizza box is made of corrugated paperboard, it falls under 481910; if it is made of solid, non-corrugated paperboard, it falls under 481920.
Which countries are the top exporters of cardboard boxes (HS 481910)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 481910 (the code used for cardboard boxes) in UN Comtrade data were China ($1.7B, 15% of world exports), the United States ($1.3B) and Germany ($1.3B). World exports came to about $11.1B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of cardboard boxes (HS 481910)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 481910 (the code used for cardboard boxes) in UN Comtrade data were the Netherlands ($971M, 9.1% of world imports), Mexico ($793M) and the United States ($779M). World imports came to about $10.6B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Is the HS code for Cardboard boxes the same in all countries?
The base HS code 481910 for Cardboard boxes is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.
What is the NCM code for cardboard boxes in Brazil?
In Brazil, cardboard boxes (HS 481910) is classified under NCM 4819.10.00.