HS Code 4904Music, printed or in manuscript, whether or not bound or illustrated
1 six-digit code · Heading 4 of 11 in Chapter 49 · World Customs Organization Harmonized System
HS code 4904 is the customs heading for sheet music, whether it is printed or written by hand. Here you can see what belongs in it, how to tell it from nearby headings, and where to look for trade records.
Heading 4904does not subdivide further in the WCO nomenclature: goods answering to “Music, printed or in manuscript, whether or not bound or illustrated” classify at the single six-digit code 490400. The heading is number 4 of 11 in Chapter 49, Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans, which runs to 18 six-digit codes in all.
Six-digit codes under heading 4904
| HS Code | Import–export description |
|---|---|
| 490400 | Music; printed or in manuscript, whether or not bound or illustrated |
What sheet music means in customs terms
A printed score, a set of choir parts and a handwritten composition all fit here.
A stapled songbook, a hardback score and a music sheet with pictures on it stay in this heading. The goods are still music, so the binding or the artwork does not change the class.
Customs offices group goods like these with the products of the printing industry. What counts is the content: notes on a page.
National codes built on 490400
Many countries add extra digits to 490400 for their own tariff and tax systems. They are local extensions of the same base code, so the first six digits match in every country.
Duty rates are set by each country beyond the six-digit level. This page gives no rates for that reason. Check the tariff of the country you ship to. If you are not sure which code fits your goods, try the HS code classifier.
Is it 4904 or another printed matter heading?
Most mistakes come from items that look like music but belong elsewhere. Ask what the main content is. If the pages are mostly notes, think 4904. If the pages are mostly words, think of a book.
- Scores, sheet music and handwritten music: 4904.
- Books, brochures and leaflets, such as a history of music or a text-heavy lesson book: 4901.
- Children's picture, drawing or colouring books: 4903, even if they carry a song or two.
- Hand-drawn plans, handwritten texts and photographic reproductions: 4906.
- Other printed matter not named elsewhere, including printed pictures and photographs: 4911.
HS code 4904 import and export data
Sheet music moves in small, steady flows between publishers, printers, schools and shops. Shipment records show who buys and who sells. A publisher can use them to find new buyers, and a buyer can use them to compare suppliers.
EximDataX shows shipment-level import and export records from official customs sources. Coverage: 43 direct customs feeds plus 184 mirror-derived countries. Named buyers and named suppliers are available in 38 of the 43 direct markets. Most markets refresh weekly and some refresh daily.
You can search by HS code to see who imports and exports a product, and book a free demo.
Nearby headings in Chapter 49
- 4901Printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, whether or not…3 codes
- 4902Newspapers, journals and periodicals, whether or not illustrated or…2 codes
- 4903Children's picture, drawing or colouring books1 code
- 4905Maps and hydrographic or similar charts of all kinds, including atlases, wall…2 codes
- 4906Plans and drawings; for architectural, engineering, industrial, commercial…1 code
- 4907Unused postage, revenue or similar stamps of current or new issue in the…1 code
- 4908Transfers (decalcomanias)2 codes
- 4909Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings…1 code
- 4910Calendars of any kind, printed, including calendar blocks1 code
- 4911Printed matter, n.e.c., including printed pictures and photographs3 codes
Who ships under 4904?
EximDataX tracks the live import–export records filed under this heading and the code beneath it: named buyers, suppliers, quantities and values from official customs feeds.
Section X: Pulp of Wood; Paper and Paperboard, chapters 47–49.
HS Code 4904: common questions
What is the HS code for sheet music?
Sheet music is classified under heading 4904, at code 490400.
Does handwritten music fall under HS 4904?
Yes. Manuscript means written by hand, so handwritten scores share the heading with printed ones.
Is a bound or illustrated music book classified under 4904 or 4901?
If the content is mainly musical notation, it stays in 4904 because binding and pictures do not matter. A book that is mostly text, such as a history of music, fits 4901 better.
What is the HS code for music books?
Books of notation, like songbooks with scores, go under 4904. Books about music that are mostly words are printed books under 4901.
Do countries use longer codes than 490400?
Yes. They all begin with 490400.
Where can I find buyers and suppliers of printed music?
Use the import data and export data pages, and the buyer data and supplier data pages, to start a search by HS code.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.