Import Duty on Furniture: What Should Office Buyers Expect to Pay?

Office furniture budgets feel harder to lock in than they did a few years ago. Buyers often start with a clear number, only to find that final costs shift somewhere between planning and delivery.

The import duty on furniture is one reason those shifts happen. Tariffs can change during production or transit, and those changes do not always align with purchasing timelines. As a result, pricing that looks settled early on may move before furniture arrives.

Understanding how furniture import duties and tariffs work helps office buyers plan more realistically. When buyers know where costs tend to change and which categories carry more risk than others, budgeting becomes more predictable and easier to manage.

How Do Import Duties and Furniture Tariffs Work?

Import duties and furniture tariffs are applied at the federal level when products enter the United States. For office buyers, these costs often surface after pricing conversations have already happened, which is why they can feel disconnected from early budgets.

What Determines the Import Duty on Furniture?

The import duty on furniture depends primarily on product classification and country of origin. Furniture is classified under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), which assigns tariff codes based on materials, construction, and intended use.

For example:

• Metal office furniture is commonly classified under HTS code 9403.20

• Wood office furniture often falls under HTS code 9403.30

• Seats with metal frames may be classified under HTS code 9401.71

Small design or material differences can move a product from one code to another, which changes how much duty applies.

Why Timing Still Matters

Tariff rates can change while products are in production or transit. When that happens, the duty assessed at entry may differ from what was expected at the time of quoting, even if the order itself has not changed.

What Is the True Cost of Importing Furniture to the USA?

The cost of importing furniture rarely appears as a single line item. Expenses show up at different stages, which is why early pricing can feel incomplete even when quotes look straightforward.

Freight and Transportation

Shipping costs are often the first variable to shift. Ocean freight rates respond to capacity limits, port congestion, and global demand. Those changes can occur after an order is placed, which means transportation costs may look different by the time furniture is ready to ship.

Duties and Tariffs

The import duty on furniture is applied when products enter the United States, not when they are quoted. If tariff policy changes during production or transit, the furniture import tax assessed at entry may not match earlier expectations.

Customs and Processing Fees

Customs-related charges are finalized near arrival. These may include administrative handling, inspections, and classification reviews. While typically smaller than freight or duties, they still affect the final cost and are easy to miss during early budgeting.

Working With Furniture Importers in the USA

Furniture importers in the USA play a quiet but important role in how imported office furniture is handled once it enters the country. Their involvement affects when decisions are made and how visible potential cost changes become.

When an importer is involved early, classification and documentation are typically reviewed before products ship. Without that oversight, those details are often finalized at the port of entry, where corrections can introduce delays or added costs.

For office buyers, the difference is less about who files paperwork and more about when information becomes available. Earlier visibility makes planning easier, even when costs still shift.

When Does Imported Office Furniture Still Make Sense?

Importing furniture to the USA is typically considered when projects are planned well in advance and timelines allow for overseas production and transit. Buyers who are not working toward a fixed installation date have more flexibility to account for longer lead times and potential changes in furniture import tax.

Project scale can also influence the decision. Larger installations may support overseas manufacturing when designs are finalized early and remain consistent across locations. Stable specifications reduce the likelihood of reclassification, which can affect the final import duty on furniture.

Importing is more commonly part of the plan when:

• Timelines allow for extended production and shipping windows
• Order volumes support offshore manufacturing economics
• Furniture specifications are finalized early and remain consistent
• Unit cost carries more weight than speed or ongoing adjustment

These conditions tend to favor early sourcing decisions and longer planning cycles, which naturally leads buyers to evaluate how imported furniture compares with domestic alternatives.

When Domestic Alternatives Are the Smarter Choice

Domestic sourcing often comes into focus when office projects require tighter timelines or greater flexibility. Furniture produced in the United States typically involves shorter lead times and fewer variables tied to shipping, customs clearance, and import duty on furniture.

Changes during a project can also shift the balance toward domestic options. When layouts, quantities, or specifications are likely to evolve, domestic manufacturing allows buyers to adjust without reopening questions around furniture tariffs or classification.

Domestic alternatives are more commonly considered when:

• Installation dates are fixed or compressed
• Layouts may change as planning progresses
• Replacement or reconfiguration is expected after installation
• Speed and responsiveness outweigh unit cost

In these situations, avoiding furniture import tax and extended transit timelines can simplify coordination and reduce pressure on project schedules, setting up the context for understanding where more predictable categories fit into office planning.

Why Ergonomic Furniture Carries Less Tariff Risk

While furniture tariffs often apply to imported chairs, tables, and casegoods, many ergonomic accessories are classified differently under current trade policy. Products such as monitor arms, keyboard trays, and sit-stand accessories typically fall outside standard furniture categories, which affects how import duty on furniture is applied.

How Ergonomic Products Are Treated Differently

In many cases:

• Furniture tariffs apply to chairs, desks, and tables
• Ergonomic accessories are not subject to the same furniture import tax
• Pricing is less affected by changes tied to importing furniture to the USA

Because of this distinction, ergonomic upgrades can often be planned without the same exposure to tariff-related price movement.

For office buyers focused on improving existing workstations, this creates a category with fewer pricing variables and more stable planning assumptions.

Planning an Office Furniture Budget With Fewer Surprises

Office furniture budgets are easier to manage when pricing variables are identified early. While tariff policy and shipping conditions can change, buyers still have control over how much exposure they build into a project.

Questions to Resolve Early

Before specifications or pricing are finalized, it helps to clarify:

• Which items are subject to import duty on furniture
• How products are classified for customs purposes
• Whether furniture import tax is included in quoted pricing
• What assumptions apply if tariffs change before delivery

These questions surface cost exposure while adjustments are still possible.

Separating Variable and Stable Categories

Not all purchases carry the same level of pricing movement. Many buyers plan more effectively by treating categories differently during budgeting.

• Imported furniture often requires flexibility
• Ergonomic accessories tend to support firmer cost assumptions

That separation allows budgets to reflect how pricing behaves in practice rather than treating all furniture costs the same.

Import Duty on Furniture: How It Shapes Office Buying Decisions

The import duty on furniture influences more than final pricing. It shapes when buyers source overseas, when domestic options make more sense, and how much flexibility needs to be built into a project.

Imported furniture, domestic alternatives, and ergonomic accessories each behave differently from a cost and timing standpoint. Recognizing those differences early helps buyers choose products that align with both budget and schedule.

With a clearer view of furniture tariffs and import-related costs, office buying decisions become more deliberate and easier to manage.

Plan Smarter Office Upgrades With Ergonomic Equipment

Get practical guidance on choosing ergonomic equipment that supports your team and your budget in the Manager’s Ergo Equipment Guide.