China
USA trade laneChina manufactures more furniture than any other country on earth, and furniture is one of the highest-volume commodities on the Trans-Pacific trade lane. Whether you are furnishing retail inventory, outfitting restaurants, or importing a container of dining sets for e-commerce, the economics are compelling — if the logistics are handled correctly. Furniture is bulky, damage-prone, and subject to US regulations that surprise first-time importers.
American Global Freights moves furniture from Chinese factories to US warehouses every week. With our own office in Foshan — the heart of China's furniture manufacturing belt in Guangdong Province — we inspect, consolidate, and load furniture at origin, then clear it through US customs with our in-house licensed brokers.
How Furniture Ships from China to USA
Furniture is a volume cargo: it fills a container long before it reaches any weight limit, which makes the 40ft High Cube (76 CBM) the standard equipment choice. Flat-packed (knock-down) furniture dramatically improves container utilization versus fully assembled pieces — often doubling how many units fit per container, which halves your freight cost per unit.
Typical loadability as a planning guide: a 40HC holds roughly 250–300 stacking chairs, 60–90 flat-packed dining tables, or 25–45 assembled sofas depending on size and packing. For orders below roughly 13–15 CBM, LCL (shared container) makes sense; above that, book your own container.
- Best equipment: 40ft High Cube for most furniture; LCL for small trial orders
- Flat-pack where possible — assembled furniture ships mostly air
- Carton strength matters: five-ply corrugated with corner protectors prevents transit damage
- Factory loading supervision at origin catches packing problems before the ocean leg
What Drives the Cost
- Volume in CBM — furniture pricing is driven by cubic meters, not weight
- Assembled vs flat-packed (utilization difference of 40–60%)
- FCL vs LCL — LCL per-CBM rates carry consolidation fees at both ends
- Section 301 tariff status of your specific HS code
- Destination: port-adjacent warehouse vs inland door delivery
- Season — Trans-Pacific rates peak ahead of Q4 retail
HS Codes and Duty Notes
Classification guidance only — duty rates change and depend on your exact product. Our licensed customs brokers verify every code before you commit to an order.
| HS Code | Products | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 9401 | Seats and chairs (including upholstered) | Most subheadings duty-free at MFN base rate; Section 301 China tariffs apply to many lines — verify your 10-digit code. |
| 9403 | Other furniture: tables, desks, cabinets, bedroom furniture | Base rates largely free; wooden bedroom furniture from China has been subject to a long-standing antidumping order — classification review is essential. |
| 9404 | Mattresses and bedding | Mattresses from China are subject to antidumping duties — rates can be very high. Talk to a broker before ordering. |
Regulations and Compliance
TSCA Title VI (formaldehyde)
Composite wood products — plywood, MDF, particleboard used in most modern furniture — must be certified compliant with EPA formaldehyde emission standards, with proper labeling and import certification at entry.
Lacey Act
Wood furniture may require a declaration of wood species and country of harvest. Your supplier must be able to document what the furniture is actually made of.
Flammability standards
Upholstered furniture sold in the US must meet federal flammability requirements (16 CFR Part 1640). Ask your factory for test documentation before production, not after arrival.
Antidumping / countervailing duties
Specific furniture categories from China — wooden bedroom furniture, mattresses — carry AD/CVD orders with rates that can exceed 100%. A pre-order scope check protects you from ruinous surprise duties.
Door-to-Door Import Service
Door-to-door means we handle every step: factory pickup anywhere in China, export clearance, ocean freight, US customs entry, duty payment, and final truck delivery to your warehouse, store, or job site. One quote, one invoice, one accountable partner.
From Foshan or Shenzhen to a Southern California warehouse, plan on roughly 3–4 weeks door to door for FCL; East Coast and inland destinations add 1–2 weeks. Our Foshan team supervises loading and photographs every container before it seals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to ship a container of furniture from China?
Can I import restaurant furniture from China door to door?
Do I need any license to import furniture into the USA?
How many chairs fit in a 40ft container?
Furniture is just one example. AGF ships whatever your business moves — on this lane and beyond. If your commodity isn't covered by one of our guides, tell us what you ship and we'll build the logistics around it.