Disposable Paper Kitchen Towels
Absorbent paper towels designed for household cleaning and drying tasks, cut to rectangular sizes typically 11x10 inches, sold in rolls or packs. Classified under HTS 4818.20.00.20 as towels of paper for household or sanitary purposes, distinct from toilet paper or tissues due to their intended use for wiping surfaces and hands.
Import Duty Rates by Country of Origin
Alternative Classifications
This product could be classified differently depending on its characteristics or intended use.
If in rolls wider than 36 cm
Rolls exceeding 36 cm width fall under handkerchiefs, tissues, and towels in broader roll format, not cut to size.
If made of cellulose wadding and sold as disposable wipes
Articles like impregnated or textured wadding towels for sanitary use are classified as other paper articles.
If classified as table napkins instead of towels
Similar absorbent paper products intended for dining table use fall under the table napkins subheading.
Not sure which classification is right?
The Tariff Assistant works through the GRI rules on your specific product to reach the right HTS code — and can price the duty on it in the same conversation.
Import Tips & Compliance
• Verify the product meets household towel specifications and is not printed with motifs that would shift it to Chapter 49
• Provide certificates of analysis for cellulose fiber content to avoid misclassification as non-paper products
• Check for FDA compliance if marketed for food contact surfaces to prevent import holds
Related Products under HTS 4818.20.00.20
Paper Facial Towels
Soft, disposable paper towels specifically for drying faces after washing, often pre-folded or cut to small squares. Falls under HTS 4818.20.00.20 as household towels of cellulose fibers, separate from facial tissues due to higher absorbency and towel designation.
Hospital Disposable Paper Towels
Single-use paper towels for hand drying in medical settings, cut to size with high absorbency and low lint. HTS 4818.20.00.20 covers these as hospital articles functioning as towels of paper pulp or cellulose wadding.
Multi-Fold Paper Towels
Interfolded paper towels dispensed from wall-mounted units in restrooms, cut to standard 9x9.5 inch sheets for hand drying. Classified in HTS 4818.20.00.20 for cut-to-size household or sanitary towels.
Center-Pull Paper Towels
Perforated paper towels in rolls designed for center-pull dispensers, providing one-sheet-at-a-time access for cleaning. HTS 4818.20.00.20 applies as towels cut or perforated to size for sanitary household use.
Household Cellulose Towels
Towels made from cellulose wadding fibers for general household drying and wiping, pre-cut to absorbent sheets. Under HTS 4818.20.00.20 as sanitary household towels of cellulose webs.
Sanitary Hand Towels
Pre-moistened or dry paper hand towels for public restrooms, cut to size for quick drying. HTS 4818.20.00.20 for towels used in sanitary household or similar purposes.