How to Import Furniture from China: Rules, Permits & More

Billions of dollars in furniture is imported into the United States each year. Many of today’s furniture imports come from China, and demand for these dealers is growing thanks to the combination of good quality and affordable price points.

Key Takeaways

• China is a major exporter of furniture, with a significant portion being handcrafted and durable.
• Importing furniture from China involves understanding various regulatory requirements, such as the USDA's APHIS standards for wood furniture.
• Furniture is typically shipped from Asia via sea freight, either as full cargo load (FCL) or less cargo load (LCL), depending on the volume.
• Chinese goods imported to the USA are frequently subject to additional tariffs and duties due to trade disputes and political tension.

Read on to learn more about importing furniture from China, like how to deal with your supplier, how much it costs, and more.

What Types of Furniture Can I Import?

You can import furniture for every room in the home from Chinese suppliers. Common furniture imports include:

• Sofas and couches
• Bedroom furniture
• Dining room sets
• Wicker furniture

Regardless of the kind of furniture you buy, you might need to consider the wholesaler’s minimum order quantity (MOQ). Some furniture manufacturers have a high MOQ; requiring you to purchase dozens or hundreds of units. This isn’t an issue for resellers, but it could be if you’re strictly importing furniture for personal use.

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How Do I Import Wood Furniture?

You’ll need to follow a few special rules when importing wood furniture. These rules help deter illegal logging and protect the U.S. from invasive species of insects.

The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) oversees the import of timber and wood products. Its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) requires all wood entering the country to be inspected. Imported wood must also undergo sanitization procedures. Wood sanitizing processes can prevent non-native pests from entering the country.

APHIS suggests heat or chemical treatment to sanitize wood. Heat treatment involves treating the wood in a kiln or energy dryer. Chemical treatment involves treating wood with a surface pesticide.

Is your furniture made from an endangered species of wood? If so, you’ll need to follow rules related to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES rules require that:

• You acquire a permit issued by the USDA after filling out form PPQ 621.
• You have a certificate that indicates the country where the wood was harvested and that no laws were broken during harvest.
• The certificate was issued by a CITES representative.
• The shipment of imported furniture must arrive at a U.S. port approved to handle CITES-listed species.

Wooden bedroom furniture imported is also subject to anti-dumping duties. According to rules set in place by the Tariff Act of 1930, the U.S. government can place tariffs on goods sold at less than market value and “dumped” on U.S. markets. 

These duties can go as high as 198.08% of a shipment’s value, though certain companies have proven their activities aren’t controlled by the Chinese government, which qualifies them for lower rates between 5.07% and 16.7%.

Wood furniture imported is often subject to these extra duties. There are some exceptions, however. For example, wooden headboards and nightstands are subject to extra duties. Tables and mattresses are not.

Another commodity that can be subject to additional duties is aluminum. Read our guide on how to import aluminum from China to get the information you need.

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How is Furniture Shipped?

Like most goods shipped from Asia, your furniture will arrive via ocean freight. You will likely fit an entire home’s worth of furniture and then some in a 40-foot container. A full container load holds approximately 800 square feet or 2389 cubic feet. A 40-foot container payload capacity is 61,200 lbs.

If your furniture cargo takes up at least five pallets, a good option is to ship them through full cargo load (FCL). If your cargo is of a lesser volume, less-than-cargo load (LCL) will be a better choice. This means your cargo will share container space with other shipments. 

Many international ocean carriers have limited liability for cargo damage. Considering the high value of furniture shipments, you’ll probably want to have more comprehensive cargo insurance. Speak to one of our experts to learn how we can help with this.

After your imported furniture arrives at a seaport, it might be shipped by rail to a location closer to you. From there, it will usually be shipped on a truck to its final destination, depending on your shipping arrangements.

Do I Need a Permit to Import Furniture?

As stated above, certain wooden furniture requires a special permit if the wood comes from an endangered plant, such as form PPQ 621. 

Most other furniture does not require a permit. However, you will need to complete customs paperwork just as you would for any other import transaction. 

Are any of the goods you import manufactured in or sourced from the Xinjiang region? Any goods or materials produced in the region are prohibited from entry into the U.S. Read our article on the Xinjiang import ban to find out more and avoid having your shipment fined and detained.

How Much Does it Cost to Import Furniture?

If you are importing furniture, you will usually need to pay customs duties. Customs duty varies by item, but is generally between zero and 12.8% for those importing furniture to the U.S. 

Keep in mind that the USA/China trade relationship remains volatile at best, and anti-dumping duties apply to wooden bedroom furniture as of this writing. For this reason and more, it’s best to work with a customs broker when importing anything from China. They can help you avoid dealing with exporters who are subject to the most expensive of these duties.

This brings us to the cost of shipping itself. So many factors play into the price of ocean freight shipping that it fluctuates on a weekly or even daily basis. As such, I can only provide a range of general shipping prices based on 20 and 40-foot container FCL rates, which can be seen below.

Keep in mind, these rates can spike or drop at any given time due to demand, trade sanctions, and other unpredictable circumstances.

There are some other fees that might apply to furniture shipped by sea, such as:

• Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF): This is a fee assessed on imports that come into the country via ocean ports. It’s .125% of the overall shipment value.
• Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF). For formal entries with a value of $2,500 or more, the MPF will be assessed at a rate of .03464% of the total transaction value. Despite that value, the MPF will never be under $31.67 or over $614.35. These high-value entries will also require a customs bond.

Your licensed customs broker can help you calculate these fees. By working alongside carriers, they can also help you determine your shipment’s transit time.

How Long Does it Take Imports to Arrive?

When you import, you should think about the time it takes for the manufacturer or wholesaler to prepare your order and the transit time. 

Transit time between the U.S. and China usually takes 30 to 40 days, including customs clearance. This does not include delays due to weather and other unforeseen occurrences. With this in mind, you should estimate that your shipment of imported furniture will arrive in approximately three to five weeks.

If you are shipping small amounts of furniture, you might use air freight. Air freight is more expensive, but much faster. 

No matter how you decide to ship your furniture, customs brokers can help simplify this complicated process and ensure compliance with all relevant government regulations.

Start Importing Furniture From China With USA Customs Clearance

Importing Chinese furniture isn’t as simple as you might assume. Make it easy on yourself and contact USA Customs Clearance today. Our licensed customs brokers handle your furniture importing needs.

Our value-added customs brokerage services work seamlessly to provide you with a stress-free importing process. These services include the following.

• Customized consulting sessions
• Secure customs bonds
• Customs brokerage
• And more

Have questions? Give us a call at (855) 912-0406 or contact us online.  We can answer your questions right now!