Importing Salon Furniture From China: A Guide

Why salon owners and distributors import directly

Foshan in Guangdong province is one of China’s best-known furniture manufacturing centers, and many salon chairs, pedicure spas and stations are made there. Buying directly from the factory, rather than through several layers of importers and retailers, gives you control over upholstery colors, finishes and logos, and can lower unit cost on multi-station orders. It also makes you responsible for steps a retailer would normally handle: specifications, inspection, freight, customs and delivery.

This guide walks through those steps for a typical order of barber chairs, styling chairs, shampoo units, pedicure chairs and stations. It is general information, not legal or customs advice. Tariff rules in particular have changed many times since 2018, so confirm current treatment with a licensed customs broker before you place a deposit.

Step 1: Lock the specification and the quote

Most import problems start with a vague purchase order. For each model, write down:

• Model, quantity and color or finish for every component: upholstery, base, armrests, footrest.
• Pump type and rated capacity for hydraulic chairs; voltage (110 to 120V, 60Hz) and plug type for electrical items.
• Requested electrical listing status (UL or ETL) for pedicure chairs and electric beds, confirmed in writing per model.
• Upholstery compliance: TB117-2013 label and no added flame retardant chemicals. See our TB117-2013 and Prop 65 guide.
• Packaging: carton dimensions, gross weight, carton marks, and whether items ship on pallets.
• Incoterm, payment terms, production lead time and warranty terms per component.

Approve a sample or a swatch set for color-critical items before mass production. Samples and swatches carry their own cost and freight, so budget for them.

Step 2: Choose your Incoterm

Incoterms define where the seller’s responsibility ends and yours begins. The common choices for salon furniture:

Incoterm	Factory handles	You handle	Good fit when
EXW (Ex Works)	Goods ready at the factory	Pickup, export clearance, ocean freight, US import, delivery	You have a forwarder with strong China operations
FOB (named port of loading)	Inland transport, export clearance, loading at the China port	Ocean freight, insurance, US import, delivery	Most common for buyers with their own forwarder
CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight, US port)	Ocean freight and minimum insurance to the US port	US import clearance, port charges, delivery	You want the factory to book the ocean leg
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)	Everything to your door, including duties	Unloading and inspection on arrival	First orders or buyers without an import setup

With DDP, check who acts as importer of record and how duties are calculated, because the importer of record carries legal responsibility for the entry.

Step 3: Book freight, FCL or LCL

A full container load (FCL) means your goods fill a 20-foot or 40-foot container. Less than container load (LCL) means your cartons are consolidated with other shippers’ cargo and charged by volume. Salon furniture is bulky but not dense: a barber chair weighs roughly 180 to 200 lb and a pedicure spa chair about 270 lb, but both take up a lot of space. Ask the factory for the total cubic meters (CBM) of your packing list before you choose.

• LCL suits a few chairs or a single-salon order, but adds handling at consolidation and deconsolidation warehouses and more risk of carton damage.
• FCL suits multi-salon, distributor and franchise orders. Cargo stays sealed from the factory to your warehouse.
• Mixed-model loading lets you combine chairs, stations, reception desks and shampoo units in one container to reach a sensible volume.

Our factory in Foshan ships both FCL and consolidated LCL orders and accepts mixed-model orders; see shipping and minimum order details.

Step 4: Customs filings and the bond

Importer Security Filing (ISF, “10+2”)

For ocean cargo, CBP’s Importer Security Filing rule has applied since January 26, 2009, and CBP warns that noncompliance can bring monetary penalties, increased inspections and cargo delays. Under 19 CFR 149.2, core data elements such as seller, buyer, importer of record number and consignee number must be submitted no later than 24 hours before the cargo is laden aboard the vessel at the foreign port. In practice your broker files it using the commercial invoice and packing list from the factory, so send those early.

Customs bond

Formal entries need a customs bond. CBP’s guide to bond amounts explains two options. A continuous bond is generally 10% of the duties, taxes and fees paid in the previous 12 months, or $50,000, whichever is greater. A single transaction bond is generally not less than the total entered value plus all duties, taxes and fees for that shipment. Regular importers usually choose a continuous bond.

Entry, classification and payment

Your broker files the entry and entry summary, classifies each item under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, declares value and country of origin, and pays duties and fees on your behalf. Accurate classification is your responsibility as importer of record, even when a broker files.

Step 5: Understand duties on salon furniture

Duty depends on the classification of each item and on any additional duties that apply to Chinese-origin goods at the time of entry. As a starting point, the US International Trade Commission’s tariff database lists these general (column 1) rates:

HTS heading	Description	General rate	Likely salon items
9402.10.00	Dentists’, barbers’ or similar chairs and parts thereof	0% (no general duty)	Barber chairs, possibly some styling and shampoo chairs
9401.71.00	Seats with metal frames, upholstered	0% (no general duty)	Upholstered metal-frame seating
9401.61	Seats with wooden frames, upholstered	Varies by subheading	Waiting sofas, lounge chairs with wood frames

A 0% general rate is not the full picture. Chinese-origin goods can be subject to additional duties under Chapter 99 of the tariff schedule, including the Section 301 China tariff actions administered by USTR, and other measures introduced since 2025. Rates and exclusions change, so get a written duty estimate from your broker for each HTS line before you confirm the order.

Wooden upholstered seating is a special case. Proclamation 10976 imposed a 25% Section 232 tariff on certain upholstered wooden products from October 14, 2025, and Proclamation 11000 delayed the scheduled increase to 30% until January 1, 2027. If your order includes wood-framed sofas or lounge chairs for a waiting area, ask whether they fall under this measure; metal-based barber and styling chairs are classified differently.

Beyond duties, expect the merchandise processing fee and harbor maintenance fee on ocean entries, the broker’s fees, and port and terminal charges.

Step 6: Packaging, inspection and delivery

If your cargo uses wood pallets or crates, the wood must be treated and marked under ISPM 15, according to USDA APHIS. Illegible, unbordered or missing marks make the packaging noncompliant, and signs of pests are a problem regardless of marking. Plastic pallets, plywood and metal frames are not regulated as wood packaging, which is one reason many factories use plywood crates for heavy chairs.

Before the container leaves China, arrange a pre-shipment inspection: count cartons, check colors against approved swatches, test pumps and recline, power up electrical units, and photograph labels. On arrival, deliveries to salons usually go by LTL truck. Request liftgate service if there is no dock, inspect every carton before signing, and note damage on the delivery receipt. Carriers and sellers often set short claim windows, sometimes 24 to 48 hours.

Sample landed cost worksheet

1. Factory price (per your Incoterm) for all items.
2. Samples or swatches and their freight.
3. Inland China freight and export charges, if buying EXW or FOB.
4. Ocean freight and cargo insurance.
5. US port, terminal and drayage charges.
6. Duties at the general rate plus any Chapter 99 additional duties.
7. Merchandise processing fee, harbor maintenance fee and broker fees.
8. Bond premium (continuous or single transaction).
9. Warehousing, LTL delivery, liftgate and installation.
10. Contingency for delays, storage and damaged cartons.

See how we work for the steps from quote to delivery, and browse the full salon furniture catalog to build a mixed order.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a customs broker to import salon furniture?

You are not legally required to use one, but most importers do. A licensed broker files the ISF, entry and entry summary, classifies goods, calculates duties and fees, and arranges the bond. Because the importer of record remains responsible for accuracy, choose a broker experienced with furniture and Chinese-origin goods and review their classification of each model.

What duty rate applies to barber chairs from China?

Barber chairs are generally classified under HTS 9402.10.00, which shows a general duty rate of 0%. Chinese-origin goods may still face additional duties under Chapter 99, such as Section 301 actions, and these have changed often. Ask your customs broker for a written estimate based on the exact model and the date your goods will enter.

When must the ISF be filed?

For ocean shipments, the ISF elements such as seller, buyer, importer of record number and consignee number must be submitted no later than 24 hours before the cargo is loaded onto the vessel at the foreign port, under 19 CFR 149.2. Send your broker the commercial invoice and packing list as soon as the booking is confirmed.

Is FCL or LCL better for a single salon order?

For a handful of chairs, LCL usually costs less because you pay only for the space you use. For a full salon fit-out, compare both: once your packing list approaches half a container, a dedicated container often costs about the same and reduces handling, damage risk and delivery delays at consolidation warehouses.

Sources

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Importer Security Filing 10+2
• eCFR — 19 CFR 149.2, Importer Security Filing requirements
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection — How CBP Sets Bond Amounts
• Office of the U.S. Trade Representative — Section 301 tariff actions
• Federal Register — Proclamation 11000, timber, lumber and derivative products
• USDA APHIS — Wood packaging material

Send us your item list and delivery address and we will prepare a factory-direct quote with packing volumes for your forwarder and broker.

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