Short answer: Ship samples and small orders by express, 1–15 cbm by LCL sea freight, and 15+ cbm by FCL. Standard terms are FOB Shenzhen or Guangzhou; DDP is possible but requires an importer of record and adds US duty of roughly 37.5%–50% on Chinese office furniture in 2026. A 40HQ container holds roughly 300–340 office chairs, and freight adds about US$10–25 per chair at full-container volume.
Freight is where furniture margins quietly disappear, because the product is bulky and light: you pay for volume, not weight. This guide covers the decisions that move the number most.
Which shipping mode fits your order?
| Mode | Best for | Typical transit | Cost basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express courier (DHL/FedEx/UPS) | Samples, spare parts, < 30 kg | 3–7 days | Chargeable weight (volumetric ÷ 5000) |
| Air freight | 50–300 kg urgent orders | 5–10 days | Chargeable weight (÷ 6000) |
| LCL sea freight | 1–15 cbm | 22–40 days door to door | Per cbm + destination charges |
| FCL sea freight | 15+ cbm / 20GP / 40HQ | 18–35 days port to port | Per container |
| Rail (China–Europe) | EU inland, time-sensitive | 20–30 days | Per container |
A single office chair carton is roughly 0.19–0.21 cbm and 18–22 kg. Under express volumetric rules (L×W×H ÷ 5000) that becomes about 38 kg of chargeable weight — which is why a sample chair can cost US$250–400 to ship while the same chair in a full container costs US$10–25 in freight. Never use sample freight rates to budget a container order.
How many pieces fit in a container?
Container capacity is limited by carton volume, not by weight. A 40HQ has about 68 cbm of nominal space; plan on 90–95% usable after pallets and loading gaps.
| Product | Typical carton / unit | Approx. units per 40HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Task / ergonomic chair | 0.19–0.22 cbm, 18–22 kg | 300–340 pcs |
| Executive chair | 0.25–0.35 cbm, 22–28 kg | 190–260 pcs |
| Height-adjustable desk (frame + top) | 0.25–0.40 cbm per set | 160–250 sets |
| Workstation / cubicle set | 0.5–1.2 cbm per set | 55–120 sets |
| Conference table (2–3 m) | 0.6–1.5 cbm | 40–100 pcs |
| Filing cabinet | 0.15–0.25 cbm | 270–430 pcs |
These are planning estimates. Always ask the factory for the packing list with carton dimensions, gross weight and CBM per SKU before you book freight — the difference between 0.19 and 0.22 cbm per chair is 45 chairs in a 40HQ.
FOB, CIF, DAP or DDP — who pays what?
| Cost | FOB | CIF | DAP | DDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Export clearance | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller |
| Ocean / air freight | Buyer | Seller | Seller | Seller |
| Insurance | Buyer | Seller | Seller | Seller |
| Import clearance | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Seller |
| Duties and taxes | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Seller |
| Delivery to door | Buyer | Buyer | Seller | Seller |
FOB is the default for B2B furniture: the supplier delivers to the port and clears export; you control freight and see the real cost. CIF bundles freight and insurance but often at a markup. DAP delivers to your address with import clearance left to you. DDP is the simplest for the buyer but the riskiest for the supplier — and increasingly expensive in the US.
Why DDP got harder in the US
Two changes matter for 2026 planning:
- Duty exposure is high. Chinese wood office furniture carries a most-favoured-nation rate of 0% but layers of additional tariffs apply. Depending on the HTS classification, wood office furniture (HTS 9403.30.80) has been landing at roughly 37.5% and upholstered wood-frame chairs (HTS 9401.61.40.31) at roughly 50% when Section 301 and Section 232 measures are combined. Classify with your customs broker before quoting DDP.
- De minimis is gone. The US suspended the long-standing US$800 low-value exemption, so even small direct-to-consumer shipments must be entered and taxed. The old “ship small parcels duty-free” model no longer applies.
DDP also requires someone to act as Importer of Record (IOR) and post a customs bond. A Chinese factory usually cannot do that without a US entity or a forwarder offering a compliant DDP service. If a supplier quotes DDP without explaining the IOR arrangement, ask how the entry will be filed — the answer matters if customs later audits the shipment.
Worked example: landed cost of 300 chairs
Assume 300 task chairs at US$600 FOB Shenzhen, packed 0.20 cbm each (60 cbm total), one 40HQ to the US West Coast.
| Line | Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FOB goods | US$180,000 | 300 × US$600 |
| Ocean freight | US$4,000–5,500 | 40HQ, China → USWC |
| Insurance | US$900–1,300 | ~0.5–0.7% of goods value |
| Duty (37.5%) | US$67,500 | On customs value; classification dependent |
| MPF / HMF | US$900–1,500 | 0.3464% MPF (capped), 0.125% HMF |
| Destination delivery | US$1,500–4,000 | Port to warehouse, LTL/white glove extra |
| Landed total | ≈ US$255,000–260,000 | ≈ US$850–870 per chair |
That is roughly 40% above the FOB price before you add local delivery, installation or storage. Any DDP quote that ignores duty at this level is either using a different classification, a different origin, or is going to surprise you later.
Packaging and damage
Furniture damage usually happens at transfer points, not on the ocean. Standard export packaging should include:
- Cartons rated for the product weight, with corner protection and foam for edges.
- Pallets for orders over ~100 kg per unit or where LTL delivery is used; stretch-wrap and edge boards.
- “This side up” and fragile markings, plus a packing list inside carton one.
- Photos of the loaded container and the seal number before departure.
Buy cargo insurance for the full journey; carrier liability is limited by weight, not by the value of the furniture. For high-value projects, add a pre-shipment inspection and a loading supervision photo set.
FAQ
Is LCL or FCL cheaper for 10 cbm?
At 10 cbm, LCL is usually cheaper because you avoid paying for a whole container. The break-even is typically around 12–15 cbm, depending on destination charges — LCL has fixed per-shipment fees that make it expensive at the top of its range.
What Incoterm should a first-time buyer use?
FOB if you have a freight forwarder; DDP if you do not and the supplier can prove a compliant IOR arrangement. Avoid CIF unless you are confident the freight markup is reasonable and you still control the insurance claim process.
How much does a sample chair cost to ship?
Expect roughly US$250–400 per chair by express, depending on destination and whether the carton is volumetric. Sample freight is not representative of container economics.
Can I mix chairs, desks and storage in one container?
Yes — this is normal for office projects. Give the factory your full BOQ and ask for a loading plan by cbm. A mixed 40HQ often beats three LCL shipments on cost and damage risk.
Who pays the tariffs under FOB?
The buyer, because the buyer is the importer of record under FOB. The supplier’s invoice shows the FOB value; duty is assessed at import. Make sure the commercial invoice, packing list and HTS codes are consistent, and keep the entry documents for audit.
How long does DDP delivery take?
Door-to-door DDP from China to the US typically runs 30–45 days: production 25–45 days, ocean 18–30 days, customs and delivery 3–7 days. Add buffer around Chinese New Year and peak season (August–October).
Next step
Send your quantities, destination port and target delivery date through our quote form and we will return an FOB price plus a DDP door-to-door option within one business day. Product-level packing data is available on our seating and desks and workspaces pages, and compliance documents are listed on the certifications page.
Sources: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov); Federal Register notices on Section 301/232; HTS 9403.30.80 and 9401.61.40.31 tariff data (2026); public 2026 forwarder rate reports; FreightUtils volumetric-weight rules (÷5000 express, ÷6000 air). All figures are planning estimates — confirm with your forwarder and customs broker.
Last updated: November 2026
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Wenyi Editorial Team
The in-house content and engineering team at Wenyi Office Furniture (Dongguan Guanzhi Furniture Co., Ltd.). We write about office ergonomics, furniture standards, sourcing and workplace design based on 20 years of manufacturing experience in Dongguan, China.