Skip to content
Dx

ICD-10-CM 2027

ICD-10 code for ear external cellulitis

H60.1

Cellulitis of external ear

Header — needs a more specific code

From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Cellulitis (diffuse) (phlegmonous) (septic) (suppurative) › ear (external)”. Page updated September 29, 2026.

About coding ear external cellulitis

The ICD-10-CM code for ear external cellulitis is H60.1 (Cellulitis of external ear).

Within H60 (otitis externa), H60.1 is specifically for cellulitis of external ear. Related codes cover abscess of external ear (H60.0), malignant otitis externa (H60.2), other infective otitis externa (H60.3), cholesteatoma of external ear (H60.4), acute noninfective otitis externa (H60.5), unspecified chronic otitis externa (H60.6), other otitis externa (H60.8) and unspecified otitis externa (H60.9).

To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: H60.10 (unspecified ear), H60.11 (ear), H60.12 (ear) and H60.13 (bilateral).

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Common questions about ear external cellulitis ICD-10 codes

What is the ICD-10 code for ear external cellulitis?

H60.1 — Cellulitis of external ear (a header code; report a more specific subcode).

Is H60.1 billable?

No. H60.1 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.