How to import office furniture from China: MOQ, lead times, and Incoterms
A step-by-step guide to importing contract office furniture from China: minimum order quantities, production and shipping lead times, Incoterms, and what to ask a manufacturer before you order.
The three numbers that decide your deal
Every furniture import deal comes down to three numbers: minimum order quantity, production lead time, and landed cost. Get clarity on these three before you ask for anything else, and the rest of the negotiation is detail.
Most importers who get stuck do so because they ask about price before they understand how the other two numbers constrain it.
- MOQ decides how small you can start and how much inventory you commit to.
- Lead time decides whether you hit your fit-out or opening date.
- Landed cost (FOB plus freight, insurance, and duties) is the number that actually hits your margin.
Minimum order quantities, explained
MOQs exist because every run needs tooling setup, material ordering, and machine time. A factory that quotes no MOQ at all is usually a trading company passing the risk to you.
At LIGNOVA, minimums vary by line because the setup cost does: 10 units for executive desks, 50 units for task chairs, 20 bays for workstation systems, and 10 modules for modular sofas.
Lead times: what is realistic
Production for standard lines runs 20 to 35 days; fully custom tooling runs 35 to 50. A first sample ships in 5 days, and revisions take 48 hours. Sea freight from Foshan to Northern Europe or the US East Coast adds roughly 35 to 45 days.
The total you should plan for is production plus transit plus customs clearance, not production alone.
Choosing an Incoterm
FOB, CIF, and DDP shift cost and risk between you and the factory at different points of the journey. A first-time importer usually prefers DDP, where the factory handles freight, duties, and clearance and delivers to your port. Repeat buyers often switch to FOB once they have their own freight agent.
We quote all three. You can read the details in our comparison of FOB vs CIF vs DDP.
What to ask before you order
Use this checklist on your first call with any manufacturer.
- Do you run your own production lines, or do you buy from other factories?
- What is the MOQ for the specific line I am buying?
- Can I see the BIFMA or ISO test reports before I order?
- What does the KD packaging look like, and is it sea-freight tested?
- Who issues the export paperwork: commercial invoice, packing list, and certificate of origin?
Have a specific line in mind? Send quantities and get landed costs within one business day.
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