Importing Furniture into the USA

Furniture is one of the largest import categories on AGF's lanes, and the first decision is where to buy. China still leads on range and price; Vietnam and Malaysia have taken a large share of US case goods; India and Brazil compete on solid wood and craftsmanship; Italy, France and Germany sell design, lighting, antiques and kitchens. The freight, the tariffs and the paperwork change with the origin — the rules at the US border mostly do not.

This page compares the origins we ship from and sets out the US requirements that apply whichever country your furniture comes from. Each row links to a detailed origin guide.

Compare origins for furniture

Origin	Transit	Duty exposure	Typical load
Furniture from China	About 3–4 weeks door to door to Southern California (FCL)	Section 301 on many lines; Section 232 on upholstered wooden seating; AD orders on wooden bedroom furniture and mattresses	40HC: roughly 250–300 stacking chairs
Restaurant Furniture from China	About 3–4 weeks door to door to Southern California (FCL)	Section 232 on upholstered wooden seating; Section 301 on many lines	40HC: nested chairs and knock-down tables; booths in sections
Outdoor Furniture from China	About 3–4 weeks door to door to Southern California (FCL)	Section 301 on many lines; aluminum-extrusion AD/CVD scope on loose parts	40HC: knock-down and nesting sets
Furniture & Handicrafts from India	Several weeks via Suez or the Cape, confirmed per booking	Current surcharges for India checked at quoting; Section 232 on upholstered wooden seating	40HC: roughly 40–80 solid-wood case-good pieces
Wood Products & Furniture from Brazil	About 2–3 weeks on the water to the East Coast	Current surcharges for Brazil checked at quoting; CITES permits for ipê	20ft often optimal — dense hardwood hits weight limits
Kitchen Cabinets & Furniture from Germany	About 4–6 weeks door to door	Section 232 on cabinets capped at 15% all-in for EU goods	Project-packed kitchens of 15–30 CBM; a dedicated 40ft for large residences
Furniture from Vietnam	About 21–23 days from Cai Mep–Thi Vai to Los Angeles/Long Beach; roughly 4–5 weeks door to door	Section 232 on upholstered wooden seating, cabinets and vanities; 12.5% Section 301 layer on most other furniture; China AD/CVD on cabinets made with Chinese components	40HC: knock-down case goods; roughly 250–300 stacking chairs
Furniture from Malaysia	About 18–24 days to Los Angeles/Long Beach direct; New York 30–38 days	10% Section 301 layer on non-upholstered wood furniture; Section 232 on upholstered seating, cabinets and vanities; AD order on Malaysian mattresses	40HC: knock-down rubberwood dining and bedroom sets
Furniture & Lighting from Italy	9–22 days Genoa/La Spezia to New York; about 35 days to Los Angeles via Panama	Section 232 on upholstered wooden seating and cabinets capped at 15% all-in for EU goods; other furniture and lighting at 10% all-in	40HC for full orders; consolidation across workshops for design-trade pieces
Antiques, Art & Furniture from France	9–16 days Le Havre–New York; about 15 days to Savannah; 28–36 days to Los Angeles	Antiques over 100 years and original art duty-free; newer furniture topped up to 10%; upholstered wooden seating Section 232 capped at 15% all-in	40HC dealer containers with fragile pieces crated; groupage for single pieces

Planning guidance only — rates, surcharges and transits change, and every shipment is quoted on its own facts.

US rules that apply whatever the origin

Frequently Asked Questions