Importing guide · China to UK
Importing wooden furniture from China to the UK
Wooden furniture is covered by the UK Timber Regulations: before you import it, you must check the timber was harvested legally.
Rates checked against the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026. Your exact product may fall under a different code: check it before you order.
What to watch
- Ask the supplier for the wood species and the country where it was harvested, with evidence, before you order.
- Say in the specification whether parts are solid wood or veneered board, and check a sample.
- Upholstered pieces also fall under the furniture fire safety rules.
The UK rules
General Product Safety Regulations 2005
General product safety
- Supply only products that are safe in normal and foreseeable use.
- Give users the warnings and instructions they need, in English.
- Act if a product turns out to be unsafe, including telling the authorities.
UK Timber Regulations (Timber and Timber Products (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2013)
Timber due diligence
- Don’t place illegally harvested timber on the market.
- Apply a due diligence system before you import: gather the species, quantity, supplier, country of harvest and evidence the timber was harvested legally, then assess and reduce the risk.
- Keep records; the Office for Product Safety and Standards enforces the rules.
Work it out for your order
- Landed-cost calculatorSet up for code 9403 60 10 00: add your price, quantity and freight.
- Price checkIs a quote too cheap? Compare it with what UK importers declare per kilo.
- Product rules checkerThe rules above, with a checklist to print and send to the supplier.
- Quote comparerCompare suppliers by landed cost.
- Spec sheet and AQLPut the quality standard in writing, with the inspection sample size.
Questions about importing wooden furniture
What is the import duty on wooden furniture from China?
Goods from China under commodity code 9403 60 10 00 pay 0% customs duty, with no anti-dumping duty, and 20% import VAT on top. Checked against the UK Trade Tariff on 26 September 2026.
What rules apply to wooden furniture imported into the UK?
General product safety, Timber due diligence. As the importer you are responsible for making sure the wooden furniture meet them before they go on sale.
How much does the UK import from China under this code?
£195.2m in the 12 months to July 2026, under the 8-digit code 94036010 (wooden furniture for dining rooms and living rooms), according to HMRC’s overseas trade statistics.
Importing wooden furniture?
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