Furniture shipping from China · for buyers in any country
DDP furniture quote checklist
Before paying, send your forwarder these six questions: packed volume, taxes, customs documents, delivery and unloading, insurance, and exception fees. Ask for a written total to your exact delivery point.
Compare the replies to see whether both quotes cover the same shipment and delivery tasks. You are ready to compare when every charge has an amount or is marked included, excluded or conditional, with a named payer.
By the China Home Source editorial team · Updated · How we check numbers
What DDP covers, and where to check the contract
Under DDP Incoterms® 2020, the seller handles import clearance and applicable import duties and taxes. Delivery occurs at the agreed destination, on the arriving vehicle, ready for unloading. The buyer bears unloading risk; unloading costs depend on the transport agreement.
DDP does not require the seller to buy insurance for you. Ask separately for cargo cover and for unloading, room placement or installation.
Use the furniture shipping damage checklist to request packing photos and insurance documents, then record damage and shortages at delivery.
Incoterms govern the buyer–seller sale. A forwarder’s separate “DDP shipping” offer needs its own written scope, matched to that sale. Confirm who can arrange import clearance in your destination. ICC’s DDP explanation · checked October 26, 2026.
Six lines to settle in writing
1. Packed volume and weight
List each carton or crate, outside dimensions, gross weight and total CBM. State the chargeable unit, minimum charge and any volume-to-weight conversion. Show the calculation for this shipment.
Keep: A packing list and a total based on the packed goods. Ask who pays if warehouse measurements differ.
2. Duties, taxes and clearance
Is import duty included? What about import VAT or other destination taxes, additional tariffs and customs brokerage? State the product codes, origin and declared value used, and who pays if customs reassesses them.
Keep: Written inclusions and exclusions for each item. “Customs clearance included” alone does not answer whether duty is paid.
3. Importer and documents
Name the importer and customs broker. Whose name and registration number appear on the declaration? Who supplies the commercial invoice, packing list, transport document and any required product documents? Which clearance and tax records will I receive?
Keep: A named party for each task and a document handover plan. Have the destination broker confirm the arrangement before booking.
4. Delivery and unloading
Quote to my full address and an exact handover point. Is delivery curbside or inside? Include or exclude liftgate, unloading labor, stairs, appointment, restricted access, assembly and installation separately.
Keep: A delivery scope that matches your building access. Tell the forwarder about lifts, stairs and truck restrictions before accepting.
5. Damage and insurance
Who handles loss or damage, and until which handover point? If cargo insurance is offered, send the insurer, policy terms, insured value, deductible, exclusions and claim procedure. Is unpacking or unloading damage covered?
Keep: The actual cover and claim deadlines. Agree how to record damage at delivery and who arranges repair or replacement.
6. Exceptions and quote validity
List possible extra charges: customs examination, storage, container delay, remeasurement, waiting time, failed delivery and redelivery. For each, state the trigger, rate or calculation, free time and payer. State currency, payment schedule and quote expiry.
Keep: A dated quote with an approval process for extras. An unresolved charge stays unknown; do not enter zero in your comparison.
Send this with your packing list
Fill in the brackets and send the same request to each forwarder. Select the text below to copy it.
Check the clearance plan for your country
Documents and importer requirements depend on the destination and the goods. The UK government’s freight forwarding guide lists invoices, packing lists and licences among the documents a forwarder may need. For a UK shipment, ask the broker which apply to your furniture.
HMRC’s guide to appointing a customs agent says appointing an agent does not remove your declaration due-diligence responsibility. If the agent acts for you, confirm the representation terms in writing. Both sources checked October 26, 2026.
Ask your destination broker to confirm the product descriptions, origin, classification and valuation. If the proposed declaration differs from the actual order, resolve it before booking. A DDP label alone does not establish compliance.
Compare the complete cost once
Keep furniture cost separate from shipping when the forwarder’s quote covers freight services only. Mark each charge already included in the quote so you do not add duty or delivery twice. Leave missing figures unresolved until the provider replies.
Use import duty by destination to find the country-specific starting point. For US furniture orders, the US import cost calculator compares your own prices and costs; check its product scope and rate date before using it. An itemized DDP total is not a reason to add a second duty estimate.
For the full buying process, see how buying furniture from China works.
Questions buyers ask about DDP quotes
Is a cheap DDP furniture quote a scam?
A low price alone cannot establish fraud or reliability. First compare the same packed shipment, delivery point, tax scope and exceptions. Then check that the contracting company, invoice and payment beneficiary match; resolve any mismatch before paying. Check the company separately from the shipment price.
Can I compare a per-kg quote with a per-CBM quote?
Ask both forwarders to calculate the total using the same packing list. Each must show its chargeable weight or volume, conversion rule, minimum and included services. Do not multiply a headline per-kg rate by the furniture’s net weight unless the quote confirms that basis.
Does DDP furniture shipping include installation?
DDP does not specify furniture assembly, room placement or installation. Ask for each service in the delivery agreement, including the provider, access requirements, price and responsibility for damage.