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Decide what you are importing—and why

Furniture imports can serve a private home, a hotel refurbishment, a design project or a retail collection. These orders have different requirements. A homeowner needs fit, comfort and receiving arrangements; a hotel needs repeatable finishes and quantities; a trade buyer needs a saleable specification, product records and repeat-order consistency.

Write a product list before asking for prices. Include item codes, quantities, dimensions, materials, reference images and the destination country. Separate loose furniture from fixed cabinetry, electrical items and building products, because their installation and import requirements can differ.

02 /

Make the specification comparable

A sofa description should identify frame construction, suspension, foam, upholstery, dimensions and any required performance evidence. A table needs its top, base, finish, weight and assembly details. A wardrobe needs board construction, hardware, drawings and installation responsibilities.

Have the same specification priced by each seller. Clarify whether prices cover stock, a display piece or new production; whether export packing is included; and who is the legal seller and exporter. An attractive showroom does not establish who will manufacture the bulk order.

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Approve the sample and record the decision

Confirm what each sample proves. A fabric cutting may approve colour and texture, but not the entire sofa construction. A production sample or representative room may resolve dimensions, comfort, drawer action and finish matching. For custom work, retain approved drawings and revision numbers.

Record approved materials, finish references, acceptable tolerances, inspection scope and remedies in the purchase agreement. Ask how changes affect price and the production programme before approving them.

04 /

Build a landed budget before committing

The product price is only one part of the cash requirement. Allow for applicable sample and development costs, packing, inspections or testing, China collection and export handling, freight, insurance, destination charges, clearance, duty, tax and final delivery. Include a clearly separate contingency.

Use our furniture import budget calculator to organize quoted amounts. Unknown charges stay unknown; an empty tax field is not a duty-free assumption. Convert all amounts to the same planning currency and do not add charges that are already included in a quote.

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Check your destination before production

The furniture’s construction, intended use, product classification and origin can affect import requirements. Identify the importer of record and ask a qualified local customs broker to review the proposed products. Check applicable chemical, fire-performance, timber, labeling and consumer-product requirements before ordering—not when the container arrives.

For example, US-bound furniture containing regulated composite wood may require TSCA Title VI planning; upholstered seating can have separate requirements. Australia has product-specific biosecurity conditions for timber goods. These are examples, not a universal compliance checklist. Start with the official destination references.

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Choose shipping terms and prepare the documents

Agree an Incoterms® rule, the exact named place and what is included. ICC’s rules allocate certain delivery tasks, costs and risks, but do not replace agreements on product quality, payment, ownership, warranty or dispute remedies.

Have the supplier and forwarder confirm the commercial invoice, packing list, transport document and any additional origin, product or destination documents. Review descriptions, quantities, weights and consignee details for consistency. See our shipping and documents guide.

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Inspect, pack and plan the receiving end

Agree inspections against the approved specification. Checks can include quantities, critical dimensions, materials where verifiable, finishes, operation, accessories and packing. Define sampling and exclusions rather than assuming every hidden component has been tested.

Ask for packed dimensions, gross weights, carton references, loading records and appropriate protection for moisture, glass and vulnerable finishes. Confirm whether wood packaging needs ISPM 15 treatment and marks. That standard concerns applicable packaging; it is not a certificate for the furniture itself.

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Receive, document and close the order

Plan access, unloading, storage, assembly and waste removal before delivery. Check lift sizes and doorways against the largest packed component. For hotels, label by room type or delivery phase; for retailers, agree item codes and traceable cartons.

Photograph visible damage and packing condition on receipt, retain delivery records and follow the claim procedures and time limits in your contracts and insurance policy. Agree spare parts, replacements and after-sales responsibilities in writing before you buy.

CHECK THE ORIGINAL REFERENCES

Sources & further reading.

Official source material is summarized for import planning. Product classifications, legal requirements, rates and provider charges must be checked for your actual order. Sources reviewed 15 October 2026.