What HS code are wooden dining chairs?

Wooden-frame, non-upholstered dining chairs typically classify under HS 9401.61, with other wooden-frame seats at 9401.69. The exact subheading depends on whether the seat is upholstered and on the frame construction, so confirm with a customs broker using the physical material rather than the product name.

Do dining chairs from China pay extra duty?

The base duty is your country's most-favoured-nation (MFN) rate for the HS code. In some markets, China-origin goods also carry additional trade-remedy tariffs on top of the base rate. The surcharge depends on destination and current trade policy, so verify the full applicable rate with a licensed broker before ordering.

Who pays the import duty, the factory or the importer?

The importer of record pays duty to customs regardless of Incoterms. Under EXW or FOB the buyer clears and pays; under DDP the seller arranges and may build the duty into the price, but the liability still attaches to the import. The HS code, and therefore the rate, is the same either way.

Dining Chair Import Duties & HS Codes: A China Importer's Customs Guide

Published by JIANGPIN · Dining chair manufacturer in Foshan, China

If you are sourcing seating for a restaurant, hotel or distribution business, the factory price is only half the landed cost. The other half is what customs charges to let the chairs into your country. As a Foshan dining chair manufacturer shipping worldwide, we see importers blindsided by duty bills they never budgeted for. This guide explains the HS codes that govern dining chairs and how to estimate the import duty before you commit to a container. For a broader walkthrough of the whole process, start with our importing dining chairs from China guide.

What an HS Code Is (and Why It Decides Your Duty)

A Harmonized System (HS) code is the six-digit number customs uses to identify what a product actually is. The first six digits are international (set by the WCO); most countries then add four or more digits for their own tariff line. The code — not the marketing name — determines the duty rate. A commercial restaurant chair and a home dining chair may look alike, but customs treats them by construction, not by where they end up. When you ask a factory for a quote, always share the intended HS classification so the paperwork matches the goods. Our solid wood chair range ships under a different code than our metal lines, so the quote and the declaration must agree.

The 9401 Family — Chairs Live in Heading 9401

Seats (other than medical, vehicle or aircraft seats) fall under HS heading 9401, which covers chairs, stools and similar seating whether or not convertible into beds. Subheadings then split by frame material and whether the seat is upholstered. Dining chairs almost always land in one of three sub-categories: wooden-frame, metal-frame, or “other” (plastic, rattan, or upholstered-over-other-frame). Knowing which bucket your iron-frame chair or stainless-steel chair sits in tells you the duty band before the container is loaded. Even our bar stools follow the same 9401 logic, just at a taller build height.

Wooden, Metal and “Other” — The Three Codes You'll Meet

For practical importing, three codes cover most dining chairs. Wooden-frame, non-upholstered seats typically classify as HS 9401.61 (or 9401.69 for other wooden-frame seats). Metal-frame, non-upholstered seats typically classify as HS 9401.71 (or 9401.79 for other metal-frame seats). Seats with frames of other materials — rattan, plastic, or upholstered frames not captured above — usually fall under HS 9401.80. These six-digit codes are consistent across WCO members; the dollar duty rate is set by your country on top of them. A leisure chair with a rattan wrap may move from 9401.61 to 9401.80 purely on the frame material, changing the rate. For open-air sites, confirm whether your outdoor chairs are “garden seats” (often a separate subheading) or general 9401.

Duty Rates, Trade Programs and the China Tariff Question

Once the HS code is fixed, your country applies its own ad valorem rate — a percentage of the customs value (usually the commercial invoice price plus freight and insurance to the port, i.e. on the Incoterms basis). Rates vary widely: some markets admit wooden dining chairs at a low most-favoured-nation rate, while others add higher tariffs on metal seating. Because China-origin goods can carry additional trade-remedy duties in certain markets, confirm the full applicable rate — base MFN plus any China-specific surcharge — with a licensed customs broker before quoting. Whether you buy EXW or DDP changes who pays the duty, but it does not change the code. Our commercial tables in the same shipment follow their own wood/metal logic and should be declared on separate lines. If you need help modeling landed cost, request a quote and we will itemize material and Incoterms.

Paperwork That Makes (or Breaks) Clearance

Correct classification is only useful if the documents back it up. Your commercial invoice should state the HS code, a clear product description (material of frame, upholstery yes/no, intended use), unit price and total. The packing list must match the carton count and weights, and a certificate of origin helps claim any preferential program. Keep the factory's material spec on file so a customs query about “wooden frame vs metal frame” can be answered in minutes, not days. Buyers who order a tatami or specialty chair should expect extra scrutiny on material composition, so over-document rather than under-document. A mismatch between the invoice description and the physical commercial chair is the fastest way to a hold at the border.

Customs Mistakes That Cost Importers Money

The first mistake is assuming one “chair” code fits every model — mixing wooden and metal lines under a single code invites reclassification and back-duty. The second is trusting the freight forwarder to guess the code; you, the importer, are liable for the declaration. The third is ignoring the China-specific surcharge until the shipment arrives, then paying storage while you dispute it. The fourth is forgetting that samples sent as gifts still need a declared value and code. Build the HS code into your RFQ and purchase order from day one, and reconcile it against the final invoice. If you are new to this, pair this guide with our wooden chair catalog and talk to our team about how we label cartons for smooth clearance.

Conclusion

HS codes decide what you pay at the border, and for dining chairs the three numbers that matter are 9401.61 (wooden frame), 9401.71 (metal frame) and 9401.80 (other frames). Fix the code before you quote, document the material honestly, and confirm any China-origin surcharge with a broker. As a SGS-verified Foshan manufacturer, JIANGPIN labels every carton with the correct description and HS reference to keep your clearance clean — request a quote and we will help you land your chairs without a customs surprise.