Padded neoprene laptop sleeve, 14 inch, with water-resistant zipper and accessory pocket
Country of origin for this scenario: China.
Recommended HTS code
4202.12.81
Of man-made fibers
MEDIUM confidence. Heading 4202 is clearly correct per on-point ruling H013156 (neoprene laptop sleeve classified at 4202.92.9026). However, the subheading navigation differs from the ruling code: the verified HTS rows supplied do not include 4202.92 at all, only 4202.12. The outer surface of this neoprene sleeve (neoprene sandwiched between man-made textile layers per H013156 analogy) is man-made fiber textile, pointing to 4202.12.81 at 17.6% general duty. The 10-digit statistical breakout (4202.12.81.30 for briefcase-type or 4202.12.81.70 for other) cannot be confirmed without verifying whether CBP treats a laptop sleeve as 'attache case / briefcase / similar' at the statistical level. Additionally, Section 301 China tariff overlays (9903-series headings) must be verified independently.
Classification analysis generated on July 29, 2026 from the current Harmonized Tariff Schedule and published CBP rulings, for the product description shown — our analysis, not legal advice.
The question to put to a licensed broker
Given that CBP ruling H013156 classified a materially identical neoprene laptop sleeve at 4202.92.9026 (which is not present in the current verified HTS row set), should this product be entered under 4202.12.81.70 (Other, man-made fibers) or 4202.12.81.30 (attache/briefcase/similar, man-made fibers), and does a current 9903-series Section 301 additional duty apply to 4202.12.81 goods from China?
How the classification was reached
GRI Reasoning
Step 1 — Heading identification (GRI 1)
The product is a padded neoprene laptop sleeve with a water-resistant zipper and accessory pocket. It is specially shaped and fitted to hold a laptop computer, providing storage, protection, organization, and portability.
Heading 4202 expressly covers cases, containers, and similar containers of textile materials. CBP ruling H013156 (April 29, 2008) directly classified a neoprene laptop sleeve (70% neoprene / 30% nylon, one main compartment, zippered closure) under heading 4202, finding that the sleeve is a 'sheath designed to contain an article' that is 'similar to' the named containers of the heading. The reasoning applies squarely here: the sleeve stores, protects, and transports a laptop computer.
Heading 6307 (other made-up textile articles) is a basket provision. H013156 expressly considered and rejected 6307 for this type of article, holding that 4202 is the correct heading. The 6307 rulings supplied (964317, 964492, 965234, 965237) all classify neoprene *sports braces* — wearable body-support articles — not laptop sleeves, and are therefore not analogous to this product.
Heading 4205 (articles of leather/composition leather) and any rubber-article heading are excluded because the outer surface of the sleeve is a man-made textile fabric, not bare rubber, and because 4202 specifically captures such articles when of textile materials.
Step 2 — Subheading determination (GRI 6)
The verified HTS rows for 4202 do not include the 4202.92 subheading referenced in ruling H013156 (4202.92.9026). The supplied rows cover 4202.12 (attache cases, briefcases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of textile materials).
A laptop sleeve is most analogous to the attache/briefcase/similar container group rather than a handbag or pocket article. Within 4202.12, the outer surface material drives the duty rate:
- Plastics outer surface → 4202.12.21/4202.12.29 (20%)
- Cotton outer surface → 4202.12.40.00 / 4202.12.60.00 (6.3% or 5.7%)
- Man-made fibers outer surface → 4202.12.81 (17.6%) ← applicable here
- Other textile outer surface → 4202.12.89 (17.6%)
Per H013156, the neoprene laptop sleeve's outer surface is man-made fiber textile (nylon). Accordingly, 4202.12.81 at a general rate of 17.6% is the best-supported classification from the supplied verified HTS rows.
Step 3 — Statistical suffix (GRI 6 continued)
Within 4202.12.81:
- 4202.12.81.30: Attache cases, briefcases, school satchels, occupational luggage cases and similar containers (670)
- 4202.12.81.70: Other (670)
A laptop sleeve is arguably 'similar' to an attache/briefcase container (as CBP stated in H013156), which would point to .30. However, the sleeve lacks handles, a shoulder strap, or hard structure typical of an attache case, and some ports may treat it as 'Other.' This suffix selection requires broker/port guidance.
Step 4 — Section 301 overlay
Goods from China classified in 4202.12 may be subject to additional Section 301 duties under a 9903-series heading. The supplied evidence does not include a confirmed 9903 code for this subheading. This must be verified.
Step 5 — Value check
At $3 declared unit value, the article is valued well below $20 each. No value-bracket provision in the verified rows for 4202.12 affects the classification, though the low value may raise CBP scrutiny on valuation.
Cited CBP rulings
Every ruling below was fetched from CBP’s public CROSS database and verified to exist before this page was published. Links go to the official ruling text.
What it classified: Neoprene laptop sleeve (70% neoprene/30% nylon, one main compartment, zippered closure, ~10.5" x 15"), classified at 4202.92.9026
Why it’s analogous: Materially identical product: padded neoprene sleeve specially shaped and fitted to hold a laptop computer, with zipper closure. CBP held it classifiable in heading 4202 as a 'sheath designed to contain an article' similar to the named containers of the heading, providing storage, protection, organization, and portability. Directly on-point for heading-level classification.
What the duty looks like
Duty math shown for illustrative declared values — $3.00 per unit at 10,000 units per year is our assumption for this explainer, not a measurement of anyone's imports. Your numbers will differ.
- Base duty rate (column 1, general)
- 17.6%
- Annual declared value at the illustrative numbers
- $30,000
- Base duty per year (illustrative)
- $5,280
- With chapter-99 overlays below (illustrative)
- $5,280
Alternatives considered
The full candidate set from the fetched tariff rows — including rows that would carry a higher duty. Shown so the reasoning is checkable, not to offer a rate menu.
| Code | Description | General rate | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4202.12.81.30 | Of man-made fibers | 17.6% | Statistical suffix for 'attache cases, briefcases, school satchels, occupational luggage cases and similar containers' within 4202.12.81 (man-made fibers, 17.6% general). CBP in H013156 analogized laptop sleeves to briefcase/attache-type containers; if that analogy is applied at the suffix level, this is the correct 10-digit code. Confirm with broker. |
| 4202.12.81.70 | Of man-made fibers | 17.6% | Statistical suffix 'Other' within 4202.12.81 (man-made fibers, 17.6% general). If CBP does not treat the sleeve as sufficiently analogous to an attache/briefcase at the statistical level (e.g., due to absence of handles/rigid structure), this suffix applies instead. |
| 6307.90.98 | Other | 7% | Other made-up textile articles, 7% general. Considered and rejected for laptop sleeves per H013156; heading 4202 prevails. Retained here only as a theoretical fallback if neoprene composition is reclassified as a textile article rather than a container. |
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