Product classification
HS code for File covers: 4820.30
Paper and paperboard, binders, folders and file covers.
Classification of file covers under HS 4820.30
File covers made of paper or paperboard are classified under HS code 4820.30. This classification is situated within Chapter 48, which encompasses paper and paperboard and articles made from these materials. Heading 4820 specifically covers registers, account books, notebooks, order books, receipt books, letter pads, memorandum pads, diaries, and similar articles, as well as binders, folders, and file covers. The classification of file covers under 4820.30 is based on the material composition and the intended use as office or school stationery. According to the Explanatory Notes to the Harmonized System, these items are designed to hold papers together or to protect documents. They may include simple folded sheets of heavy paper or more complex structures with reinforced edges. The classification remains 4820.30 even if the covers include minor components of other materials, such as metal eyelets or plastic tabs, provided the essential character is that of a paperboard article.
- Covers
- Manilla file folders
- Paperboard document covers
- Suspension file folders (paper-based)
- Expanding files made of paperboard
- Presentation folders without mechanical binders
- Also under 4820.30
- Avery binders
- Smead manila folders
- Leitz lever arch files
- Staples presentation folders
- Oxford file folders
Codes often confused with 4820.30
Common mistake. A common misclassification for file covers is HS code 3926.10, which covers office or school supplies made of plastics. If the file cover is primarily made of plastic (such as polypropylene), it must be classified in Chapter 39 rather than Chapter 48. Another frequent error involves HS code 4820.10, which is for registers and account books; while related, file covers are distinct because they are designed to hold loose sheets rather than being bound books. Additionally, if a file cover includes a significant mechanical binding mechanism, it might be confused with 8305.10, but 8305.10 only covers the metal fittings themselves, not the paperboard cover.
Top exporters and importers of HS 482030 (the code used for file covers), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 482030 (the code used for file covers) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 24% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 31% 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 482030, not only file covers.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $151M 24% of world exports
- 2 Vietnam* ~$75M 12% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 Germany $59M 9.2% of world exports
World total: $638M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $209M 31% of world imports
- 2 Germany $74M 11% of world imports
- 3 Nigeria $52M 7.6% of world imports
World total: $684M 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 marked * did not, so their figures add up what other countries recorded trading with them, and their exports are valued at buyers' CIF prices. 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 file covers
Brazil classifies file covers under NCM 4820.30.00: HS 4820.30 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 file covers
What is the HS code for File covers?
The HS code for File covers is 482030 (Paper and paperboard; binders, folders and file covers).
How do I classify File covers for customs?
File covers is classified under HS code 482030 — Paper and paperboard; binders, folders and file covers. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the HS code for paper file covers?
Paper or paperboard file covers and folders are classified under HS code 4820.30.
Does this code include plastic folders?
No, plastic folders and file covers are classified under HS code 3926.10, as the classification is determined by the constituent material.
Which countries are the top exporters of file covers (HS 482030)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 482030 (the code used for file covers) in UN Comtrade data were China ($151M, 24% of world exports), Vietnam (about $75M) and Germany ($59M). World exports came to about $638M, 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 file covers (HS 482030)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 482030 (the code used for file covers) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($209M, 31% of world imports), Germany ($74M) and Nigeria ($52M). World imports came to about $684M, 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 File covers the same in all countries?
The base HS code 482030 for File covers 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 file covers in Brazil?
In Brazil, file covers (HS 482030) is classified under NCM 4820.30.00.