How to send furniture products to the United States for large-sized and oversized items
Foshan is the furniture center of the world, and many buyers want to know about the transportation issues after purchasing it. How to send oversized furniture to the United States requires comprehensive consideration of transportation methods, costs, customs clearance, packaging, and other factors.
- Choose transportation method
Sea freight (suitable for large and heavy goods)
FCL (Full Container Load)
Suitable for situations with large cargo volumes (such as entire containers, 20 foot containers/40 foot containers).
Fixed cost, high safety, no need for LCL.
Less than Container Load (LCL) transportation
Suitable for single or small pieces of furniture, sharing containers with other goods.
Charged by volume (cubic meter), waiting for LCL, slow delivery time.
Air freight (suitable for emergency, small volume)
High cost (charged by volume and weight), suitable for small items or high-value furniture.
Fast delivery time (3-7 days), but oversized items may require special handling.
International express delivery (DHL/FedEx/UPS)
Only suitable for small furniture items such as chairs and tables, with extremely high costs.
- Cost estimation
Shipping cost:
From China to the West Coast of the United States: $1500- $4000 per container (FCL); LCL is approximately $200- $500/cubic meter.
The east coast needs to pass through the Panama Canal, which increases the cost by 30% -50%. For more discounted prices, please contact us
Additional fees:
Customs declaration fees, tariffs, port charges, inland transportation fees, etc.
Tariffs:
The US furniture tariffs are usually between 0% and 6% (depending on material and category), and an HS code query is required.
- Key steps of customs clearance
Prepare documents:
Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading (B/L), certificate of origin (if tariff preferences are required).
US import requirements:
Wooden furniture requires fumigation certification (IPPC logo) or non solid wood declaration.
Compliant with EPA (Environmental Protection) and CPSC (Safety) standards.
- Packaging requirements
Shock and moisture resistance:
Fix with thick foam, wooden frame or wooden box, and wrap the fragile part separately.
Size restrictions:
If a single item is too long (such as>3 meters) or too heavy (such as>2000kg), please inform us in advance, and special equipment may be required for loading and unloading.
Clear label:
Label “Fragile”, “This Side Up” and recipient information.
- Recommended logistics companies
Qinghui International Logistics Company provides a dedicated furniture line from China to the United States, including one-stop services such as sea freight, customs clearance, and delivery. - Precautions
Timeframe: Shipping by sea usually takes 25-40 days (LCL takes longer), so plan ahead.
Insurance: It is recommended to purchase full coverage insurance (with a coverage of 1% of the value of the goods).
Delivery method:
Port pickup (low cost) or door-to-door delivery (additional cost required).
- Simplified solution (suitable for procedures that do not require additional operations such as customs clearance, paying tariffs, picking up goods from the port, etc., and waiting at home for the goods to arrive)
QHGJ56 provides one-stop services including packaging, sea freight, customs clearance, and delivery. The company operates regular weekly flights to load containers into ports in the western and central regions of the United States, and then delivers them to your doorstep via truck
If there are special needs (such as antique furniture, electric devices), additional consultation is required. Suggest preparing 2-3 months in advance to avoid delays!