Product classification
HS code for Notebooks: 4820.10
Paper and paperboard, registers, account books, note books, order books, receipt books, letter pads, memorandum pads, diaries and similar articles.
Classification of notebooks under HS 4820.10
Notebooks are classified under HS code 4820.10. This code is situated within Chapter 48, which covers paper and paperboard and articles made from paper pulp. Heading 4820 is dedicated to stationery items used for writing or record-keeping, such as registers, account books, notebooks, order books, and receipt books. The subheading 4820.10 specifically targets these bound items. The classification is based on the primary function of the article—providing a surface for manual writing—and its physical form as a bound collection of paper. It is important to distinguish these from printed books of Chapter 49; while a notebook may have printed lines or margins, its primary purpose is to be written in by the user, rather than to be read. The construction of the notebook, whether spiral-bound, stitched, or glued, does not change its classification under 4820.10, provided it is intended for writing or bookkeeping purposes. This classification ensures that stationery products are taxed and regulated differently from educational or literary texts, which fall under different trade agreements.
- Covers
- Spiral-bound notebooks for school or office use
- Hardcover journals and personal diaries
- Composition books with marbled covers
- Stenographers' notebooks and memo pads
- Laboratory notebooks for scientific record-keeping
- Also under 4820.10
- Moleskine notebooks
- Leuchtturm1917 journals
- Staples legal pads
- Filofax diaries
- National Brand ledger books
Codes often confused with 4820.10
Common mistake. Notebooks are often misclassified under HS code 4901.99, which is for printed books. However, Chapter 49 is for products where the printing is the primary value. If the pages are mostly blank or ruled for writing, 4820.10 is correct. Another error is using 4802, which covers bulk writing paper in sheets or rolls that has not yet been bound into a notebook form.
Top exporters and importers of HS 482010 (the code used for notebooks), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 482010 (the code used for notebooks) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 52% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 23% 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 482010, not only notebooks.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $1.8B 52% of world exports
- 2 Vietnam* ~$282M 8.3% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 Netherlands $166M 4.9% of world exports
World total: $3.4B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $626M 23% of world imports
- 2 Germany $204M 7.4% of world imports
- 3 United Kingdom $186M 6.7% of world imports
World total: $2.8B 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 notebooks
Brazil classifies notebooks under NCM 4820.10.00: HS 4820.10 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 notebooks
What is the HS code for Notebooks?
The HS code for Notebooks is 482010 (Paper and paperboard; registers, account books, note books, order books, receipt books, letter pads, memorandum pads, diaries and similar articles). The standard HS code for bound notebooks and similar stationery items is 4820.10.
How do I classify Notebooks for customs?
Notebooks is classified under HS code 482010 — Paper and paperboard; registers, account books, note books, order books, receipt books, letter pads, memorandum pads, diaries and similar articles. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are electronic notebooks included in this code?
No, electronic notebooks or tablets are classified under Chapter 84 (specifically 8471) as automatic data processing machines.
Which countries are the top exporters of notebooks (HS 482010)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 482010 (the code used for notebooks) in UN Comtrade data were China ($1.8B, 52% of world exports), Vietnam (about $282M) and the Netherlands ($166M). World exports came to about $3.4B, 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 notebooks (HS 482010)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 482010 (the code used for notebooks) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($626M, 23% of world imports), Germany ($204M) and the United Kingdom ($186M). World imports came to about $2.8B, 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 Notebooks the same in all countries?
The base HS code 482010 for Notebooks 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 notebooks in Brazil?
In Brazil, notebooks (HS 482010) is classified under NCM 4820.10.00.