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Import guide · China to the US

How to buy furniture from China and import it to the US

Verdict: It depends on the piece

Before you pay a deposit, get an itemized factory quote, packed dimensions and weight, a customs broker’s duty check, and freight and delivery quotes for your address. Add inspection and insurance. You can compare the delivered cost with a local quote once every charge is accounted for.

A missing quote is an unknown cost. Do not count it as zero or infer packing volume from the furniture price.

Price your order to your door The 8 steps and what each costs

Rates checked

From quote to your door

The eight steps and what each costs

  1. 1
    Classify each item (HTS code)

    Free. The code decides which duties apply. Source

  2. 2
    Check for antidumping duty

    Free. Bedroom furniture, cabinets and mattresses add 216.01% or more. Source

  3. 3
    Stack the duty

    37.5% to 50% for most furniture today. Source

  4. 4
    Set the timeline

    No fee, but the date the goods enter the US sets the rate. Source

  5. 5
    Choose a shared container (LCL) or your own

    $60 to $180 per CBM in a shared container, East Coast. Source

  6. 6
    Broker, bond, ISF, Lacey Act, TSCA

    Ask for entry, filing and bond charges in writing. Source

  7. 7
    Inspect before you pay the balance

    About $268 to $298 per inspector-day. Source

  8. 8
    Deliver to your door, and insure the cargo

    Quote required: confirm unloading, access and insurance. Quote required.

By the China Home Source editorial team · Updated · How we check numbers

Your order costs

Build the total from written quotes

Keep a cost sheet with the supplier, currency, quote date, expiry date and included services for each charge. Mark missing prices as “quote needed.” Check whether tax, customs clearance or delivery is already included before adding it again.

For LCL, ask about origin handling, ocean freight, destination warehouse and document charges. For delivery, confirm the address, unloading, stairs, room placement and installation. Compare the final scope with your local offer.

Calculate duty using your item prices, then confirm freight and other charges with the providers. The tariff tables below show duty per $1,000 of customs value as a calculation basis, not a sample order.

Before step 1

You are the importer of record

Unless the seller ships DDP, the US entry is in your name. Your broker files for you, but the liability stays with you.

What you are responsible for

If you buy FOB or ex-works, which is how most factories and Alibaba sellers quote, you answer for:

  • the duty in step 3, paid before the goods are released;
  • the declared value and HTS code being right;
  • the bond, the ISF and the Lacey Act and TSCA filings;
  • the final antidumping amount, which can rise after you paid the deposit (step 2).

"Duties included" (DDP) has to add up

With DDP the seller or its forwarder is the importer and pays the duty. Check the arithmetic: a wood-frame sofa with a $1,000 factory price owes $500 in duty alone; a wooden kitchen cabinet set at the same price owes $3,198.

If the delivered price is below factory price plus duty plus freight, something on the entry is wrong: a low value, a different product description, or a false country of origin. The goods can be held or seized, and a false declaration carries penalties. Ask who the importer of record is and for a copy of the entry summary (CBP Form 7501).

Step 1 · Free

Classify each item

Every item gets a 10-digit HTS code, and the code decides which duties apply. A wooden frame under the upholstery puts a sofa under Section 232; a metal frame does not. A wooden nightstand falls under the bedroom furniture antidumping order; a metal one does not.

Ask the factory for the frame material, the board type (solid wood, plywood, MDF, particleboard) and the fabric for each item. Look up the code yourself, then have your broker confirm it before you pay a deposit. For a large order you can ask CBP for a binding ruling.

HTS codes by furniture type The codes we use for each type, with lookup tools
  • Wooden kitchen cabinetsAssembled or flat-pack (RTA) boxes, doors, drawer fronts, panels
    9403.40.9060 Wooden kitchen cabinets designed for permanent installation9403.91.0080 Wooden cabinet parts (doors, drawers, frames, panels)
  • Quartz countertopsEngineered quartz slabs, cut countertops and vanity tops, shipped alone or with cabinets
    6810.99.0020 Agglomerated quartz slabs, rectangular, at least 3 m by 1.25 m6810.99.0040 Agglomerated quartz surfaces, other (cut tops)
  • Wooden bathroom vanitiesVanity cabinets, with or without the top
    9403.60.8093 Wooden vanities and other wooden furniture in this line
  • Upholstered sofas and chairs, wood frameSofas, sectionals, armchairs, upholstered dining chairs
    9401.61.6011 Upholstered seats with wooden frames, household9401.61.4011 Upholstered chairs with wooden frames, household
  • Upholstered sofas and chairs, metal frameMetal-frame sofas and lounge chairs
    9401.71.0011 Upholstered seats with metal frames, household
  • Wood dining tables and chairs (not upholstered)Dining tables, wooden dining chairs, side tables
    9403.60.8040 Wooden dining tables9401.69.6011 Wooden chairs, not upholstered, household
  • Wooden bedroom furnitureBeds, headboards, dressers, nightstands, wardrobes, bedroom vanities
    9403.50.9045 Wooden bedroom furniture9403.50.9080 Other wooden bedroom furniture
  • Metal household furnitureMetal tables, bed frames, outdoor tables (not steel shelving or racks)
    9403.20.0090 Other metal furniture, household
  • MattressesFoam, innerspring and hybrid mattresses
    9404.21.0013 Mattresses of cellular rubber or plastics

Step 2 · Free to check

Check for antidumping duty

Three antidumping orders cover furniture from China. If your item falls under one, the extra duty is far larger than everything else combined. These are the China-wide rates, charged to any exporter without its own rate.

Wooden kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities

+269.81%

Assembled and flat-pack (RTA) boxes, doors, drawers, frames and panels, in solid wood, plywood, MDF, particleboard or bamboo.

Wooden bedroom furniture

+216.01%

Beds, headboards, nightstands, dressers, chests, wardrobes, armoires and bedroom vanities. Not seating, dining tables or kitchen cabinets.

Mattresses

+1,829.53%

Foam, innerspring and hybrid mattresses.

An exporter with its own rate pays less. Some cabinet exporters have company rates, for example 10.02% antidumping and 9.51% countervailing duty instead of 251.64% and 18.17%. The rate belongs to a named exporter and producer, not to the product. Ask the seller in writing for its case number and rate, then find its name in the Federal Register notices below.

It is a deposit, not a final bill. Commerce sets the final amount in a later review, and the importer of record pays any increase, sometimes years after the furniture arrives.

Rates and case numbers for each order Antidumping and countervailing rates, with the Federal Register notices

Wooden kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities

Wooden bedroom furniture

Mattresses

Step 3 · 37.5% to 50% for most furniture

Stack the duty

Each duty is a percentage of the price you paid the factory, and they add up. Here is the total by type, as of November 9, 2026.

Furniture typeTotal dutyOn $1,000
  • Wooden kitchen cabinets Going to 50% Section 232 on January 1, 2027
    319.81% $3,198
  • Quartz countertops Going to 23% Section 201 on August 15, 2027
    433.97% $4,340
  • Wooden bathroom vanities Going to 50% Section 232 on January 1, 2027
    319.81% $3,198
  • Upholstered sofas and chairs, wood frame Going to 30% Section 232 on January 1, 2027
    50% $500
  • Upholstered sofas and chairs, metal frame
    37.5% $375
  • Wood dining tables and chairs (not upholstered)
    37.5% $375
  • Wooden bedroom furniture
    253.51% $2,535
  • Metal household furniture
    37.5% $375
  • Mattresses
    1,870.03% $18,700
How each total is built Base rate, Section 301, Section 232 and antidumping, layer by layer

US duties on furniture from China stack: the base rate, Section 301, Section 232 on some wood products, and antidumping where it applies.

  • Wooden kitchen cabinets: 319.81% Section 301 25% + Section 232 25% + Antidumping 251.64% + Countervailing 18.17% · antidumping source, countervailing source
  • Quartz countertops: 433.97% Section 301 25% + Section 301 (2026) 12.5% + Section 201 25% + Antidumping 326.15% + Countervailing 45.32% · antidumping source, countervailing source
  • Wooden bathroom vanities: 319.81% Section 301 25% + Section 232 25% + Antidumping 251.64% + Countervailing 18.17% · antidumping source, countervailing source
  • Upholstered sofas and chairs, wood frame: 50% Section 301 25% + Section 232 25%
  • Upholstered sofas and chairs, metal frame: 37.5% Section 301 25% + Section 301 (2026) 12.5%
  • Wood dining tables and chairs (not upholstered): 37.5% Section 301 25% + Section 301 (2026) 12.5%
  • Wooden bedroom furniture: 253.51% Section 301 25% + Section 301 (2026) 12.5% + Antidumping 216.01% · antidumping source
  • Metal household furniture: 37.5% Section 301 25% + Section 301 (2026) 12.5%
  • Mattresses: 1,870.03% Base rate 3% + Section 301 25% + Section 301 (2026) 12.5% + Antidumping 1,731.75% + Countervailing 97.78% · antidumping source, countervailing source

Each layer, its legal source and its next scheduled change are on the US tariff tracker. Wooden cabinets have their own page: kitchen cabinet tariffs.

Step 4 · No fee, but the date matters

Set the timeline

The rate on the entry date applies, not the order date

Section 232 on upholstered wood-frame seats is scheduled to rise from 25% to 30% for goods entered from January 1, 2027. Ask the factory and forwarder for dates, then have your broker check the rate for the expected entry date. Wooden cabinets and vanities are scheduled to go from 25% to 50% on January 1, 2027.

Which notices set this date The proclamations and the entry-date rule

Proclamation 10976 first scheduled this increase for 2026-01-01; Proclamation 11000 delayed it to 2027-01-01. The rate that applies is the one on the day the goods enter the US.

Production

Ask the factory for a written production completion date in the purchase order, and what happens if it slips. Custom fabrics and finishes add time; stock pieces ship sooner.

Chinese New Year

Next falls on February 6, 2027. Many factories stop around it. Ask for the factory's holiday dates in writing before you pay the deposit.

Ocean transit

Ask your forwarder for the sailing schedule and the transit days to your port. A shared container waits to fill, so it can take longer than a full one.

Step 5 · Ocean freight

Shared container (LCL) or your own

Get LCL and full-container quotes using the factory's packed dimensions and gross weight. Compare the same origin and delivery address, including handling, warehouse charges and unloading. A port-to-port rate alone does not show which option costs less at your door.

Shared container (LCL), per cubic meter

East Coast
$60 to $180
West Coast
$45 to $165

Ocean only. Ranges across forwarders' published rates, not an index. Destination warehouse (CFS) fees, documents and delivery are extra.

40 ft container (67.7 CBM nominal), port to port

  • $10,075 Drewry WCI, Shanghai to New York, assessed October 15, 2026
  • $9,713 Freightos FBX03, China to North America East Coast, shown October 18, 2026
  • $7,884 Drewry WCI, Shanghai to Los Angeles, assessed October 15, 2026
  • $8,126 Freightos FBX01, China to North America West Coast, shown October 18, 2026

Spot index rates. Your quote will differ.

Ask the factory for the crated volume in CBM, not the furniture's size, and ask the forwarder for an all-in LCL quote: origin charges, ocean freight, US warehouse fees and documents.

Published freight references Check the lane, date and included charges

These published rates are references for the lanes and dates shown. Request a quote for your packed shipment; destination handling and delivery can change the comparison.

Step 6 · Broker quote plus federal fees

Broker, bond, ISF, Lacey Act and TSCA

Nearly every furniture shipment from China needs a formal entry and a customs bond, which in practice means a licensed customs broker. Hire one before the goods leave China, because the ISF is due before loading.

Broker, ISF and bond

Ask a licensed broker to itemize entry preparation, ISF filing, bond, Lacey Act and TSCA work. Confirm which services and government fees the quote includes.

Federal fees

Merchandise processing fee: 0.3464% of value, minimum $34.58, maximum $670.86. Harbor maintenance fee: 0.125% on ocean cargo.

Importer Security Filing (ISF)

Due 24 hours before the container is loaded in China. A late or wrong filing can cost $5,000 per violation under your bond. Your broker files it; the factory and forwarder must send the data in time.

Lacey Act declaration

Wood furniture needs a declaration of the wood species and country of harvest, filed electronically since January 1, 2026. Get the species list from the factory before shipping; "mixed hardwood" is not enough.

TSCA Title VI (formaldehyde)

Plywood, MDF and particleboard in furniture must be certified and labeled "TSCA Title VI compliant", and the importer certifies compliance at entry. A CARB-only label is not enough.

Product safety rules you own

Upholstered furniture must meet the TB 117-2013 smolder standard. Dressers and chests must meet the federal tip-over rule. Ask the factory for test reports before production.

How to choose a customs broker

  • Licensed by CBP, and has filed furniture entries from China this year.
  • Quotes one all-in price: entry, ISF, bond, Lacey and any antidumping lines.
  • Tells you the HTS code they will use and why, in writing, before shipping.
  • Explains the bond amount if an antidumping order could apply.
Why a formal entry is required The informal-entry limit and the Chapter 99 exception

Informal entry covers shipments up to $2,500, except goods over $250 that owe Chapter 99 duties, and Section 301 and Section 232 sit in Chapter 99, subchapter III (19 CFR 143.21(a)). So nearly every furniture shipment from China over $250 needs a formal entry and a customs bond.

Step 7 · $268 to $298 per inspector-day

Inspect before you pay the balance

Pay the balance only after a third-party inspector has checked the finished, packed goods against your written spec. One large inspection firm publishes $268 to $298 per inspector-day in China, all-inclusive. Lab tests (formaldehyde, flammability) cost extra.

Write these into the purchase order so the inspector has something to check:

  • Dimensions with tolerances, in centimeters and inches.
  • Frame and board material, fabric code, foam density, finish color sample.
  • Hardware and function: drawers, recliners, legs, assembly.
  • Packing: carton strength, corner protection, crate or not, carton marks.
  • The TSCA label and any test reports.

Step 8 · Delivery quote required

Deliver to your door, and insure the cargo

Shared-container cargo is unloaded at a US warehouse near the port, then trucked to you. A full container is trucked to your address on a chassis, and you have a few hours to unload it. Get a delivery quote for your address, packed volume and weight. Confirm unloading, liftgate, access restrictions, storage and installation separately.

Before you sign the delivery receipt, count the pieces and note any damaged crate on the receipt. Photograph it. Claims without a note at delivery are hard to win.

Insurance and damage. Ask your forwarder for a cargo insurance quote on the full value (factory price plus freight), and decide before the goods sail. We have no checked rate to show you.

Where to buy

Four ways to buy, and what can go wrong with each

Alibaba

The widest choice and photos of everything. Many listings are trading companies, not factories. Trade Assurance holds your payment in escrow and covers non-shipment, late delivery and quality problems, but only when you pay through Alibaba.com. A seller who asks you to wire money to another account is asking you to give that up.

Check an Alibaba supplier before you pay.

Factory direct

The best control over materials and the lowest price, often with a minimum order. There is no escrow: you wire a deposit and the balance before shipping. Check the business license, see the factory floor on a live video call, order a sample, and tie the balance to an inspection report.

Foshan furniture malls

You see and sit on the furniture and negotiate in person. Shops deliver inside China only, so you still need a consolidation warehouse, a forwarder and everything in steps 4 to 8. The US duty is the same as for an online order.

Foshan furniture market guide: which mall for which budget, and how to get there.

A sourcing agent

Useful when an order spans several suppliers or you cannot travel. The risk is commission from the factory on top of your fee, which turns the agent into the seller's agent. Ask in writing how they are paid, and ask for the factory's real name on every invoice.

Questions to ask an agent.

Questions

Buying furniture from China: questions

Can I buy furniture directly from China as a private buyer?

Yes. You become the importer of record. Informal entry covers shipments up to $2,500, except goods over $250 that owe Chapter 99 duties such as Section 301 and Section 232 (19 CFR 143.21(a)). Furniture from China does, so it needs a formal entry and a customs bond, so you hire a licensed customs broker, who files under your name and importer number. An individual without a business tax number uses a Social Security number.

Source: 19 CFR 143.21(a), informal entry limits · 19 CFR 24.5, importer identification number (CBP Form 5106)

Is it worth buying furniture from China?

Compare your factory quote plus duty, freight, customs charges, inspection, insurance and delivery with a local quote for the same specification. Ask for any missing charge before deciding. Cabinets, wooden bedroom furniture and mattresses need an antidumping scope and exporter-rate check as well.

How much does it cost to import a container of furniture from China?

Ocean freight for a 40 ft container, port to port: $7,884 (Drewry WCI, Shanghai to Los Angeles, assessed October 15, 2026); $8,126 (Freightos FBX01, China to North America West Coast, shown October 18, 2026); $10,075 (Drewry WCI, Shanghai to New York, assessed October 15, 2026); $9,713 (Freightos FBX03, China to North America East Coast, shown October 18, 2026). A 40 ft standard box holds 67.7 CBM nominal. Duty on the furniture inside is usually the bigger number: 50% of the factory price for wood-frame sofas.

Source: Drewry World Container Index · Freightos FBX01 · Drewry World Container Index · Freightos FBX03 · SeaCube Containers: 40 ft standard dry specifications (2,391 cu ft, 67.7 m³)

Who pays the duty if the seller ships DDP?

Whoever is the importer of record on the US entry. With DDP, that should be the seller or its forwarder. If the delivered price is lower than the factory price plus the duty in step 3, the value or the product description on the entry is probably wrong, and the goods can be held or seized.

Source: 19 U.S.C. 1592, penalties for false statements and lost duties

Check your own order