The dining chair is the highest-volume, lowest-risk line in a furniture programme — and the one most often bought badly. Two things decide whether it makes money: the duty lane you declare it in, and whether the foam survives year two in a restaurant. This page gives you the numbers to check both.
Why this category is the easy lane into the EU
An upholstered chair on a metal frame is classified HS 9401 71 and enters the EU at 0% MFN duty. There are no EU anti-dumping duties on finished Chinese furniture. And because there is no wood in the product, it sits outside the scope of EUDR — no due-diligence statement, no plot-level geolocation, no species file. It is also outside the US Lacey Act's wood declaration requirement, which matters if the same SKU goes to both regions.
That combination is rare. Wood-frame seating pays 6.5% and drags you into EUDR documentation from 30 December 2026. Solid-wood case goods pay 0% but need plot-level traceability. Metal-frame upholstery pays nothing and needs no origin file beyond the commercial documents.
Two classification traps still catch importers. Invoicing the chair as "seat parts" or "frames" invites reclassification into HS 9401 61/69 at 6.5%. Shipping it knock-down as flat panels invites a plywood classification under HS 4412, where anti-dumping duties can exceed 60%. Both traps are explained in the duty guide →
Indicative specification
| Parameter | Standard build | Contract build |
|---|---|---|
| Frame | Ø19–22 mm powder-coated steel tube, 1.2 mm wall | 1.5 mm wall, reinforced weld at seat rail, 200 kg static load test |
| Seat foam | Moulded PU, 32–35 kg/m³ | Moulded PU, 38–45 kg/m³, high-resilience |
| Fabric | 100% polyester, 30,000 Martindale | Contract polyester, bouclé or velvet, 40,000–50,000 Martindale |
| Fire performance | Optional | EN 1021-1/-2 and UK 1988 Schedule 4 Part 1 available |
| HS code | 9401 71 — upholstered seats with metal frames · 0% EU duty | |
| EUDR | Out of scope — no wood components (written no-wood declaration supplied per SKU) | |
| MOQ | 100 pcs per SKU / fabric colourway · sample order 1–2 pcs at sample price | |
| FOB price band | $19–42 per chair depending on frame gauge, foam density, fabric and fire build | |
| Lead time | 35–45 days after deposit and signed PP sample | |
| Loading | 20GP ≈ 320–520 pcs · 40HQ ≈ 700–1,100 pcs · stackable models +35–50% | |
What buyers actually order
1. Steel-leg upholstered dining chair
The volume model. Four tapered or hairpin legs, moulded shell, 40 mm seat pad. Retail programmes and restaurant chains order these in the 500–3,000 piece range per season. Lowest unit cost, best container utilisation.
2. Armchair and carver version
Same frame family with arms — used as the head-of-table chair in hospitality and as the accent piece in retail collections. Costs 12–18% more than the armless version and loads about 20% fewer per container.
3. Stackable banquet chair
For hotels, event venues and cafés with changing layouts. Stackable 4–6 high, denser foam, wipe-clean vinyl or contract polyester. The stacking gate adds cost; the container utilisation usually pays it back.
4. Counter and bar-height version
Seat height 620–660 mm or 740–760 mm. Full bar stool range and loading data →
Compliance notes that change the price
Fire standards. EN 1021-1/-2 (cigarette and match) is what most EU hospitality buyers specify; the UK asks for UK 1988 Schedule 4 Part 1, and higher-risk projects for BS 5852 crib 5. Each step changes the foam chemistry and fabric backing — typically +6% to +14% on FOB. Decide before you compare quotes, or you will be comparing two different products.
Fabric continuity. Dye lots are the number-one complaint in repeat orders. We book the full fabric run for the programme against your annual forecast and hold the batch reference on file, so season two matches season one.
Reach and formaldehyde. Foam and fabric suppliers provide REACH SVHC statements and, where the fabric is coated, formaldehyde-free confirmation. If your compliance team needs these attached to the shipment file rather than on request, say so at RFQ stage.
Questions buyers ask before the first order
"Can I see a sample before committing?" Yes — 1–2 pieces at sample price plus freight, credited back against the first production order above MOQ.
"Can you match my existing chair?" Send a photo, the seat height and the frame diameter. If it is a standard shell we usually have the mould; if not, a new mould is $1,800–4,000 one-off, amortised over the order.
"China or Vietnam?" Same specification quoted from both, side by side, on one sheet. Vietnam costs 8–15% more at FOB but changes the duty outcome if the goods also go to the US. Compare landed cost per unit →
Send one photo or one spec sheet — get a dual-origin quote in 72 hours
Tell us seat height, quantity, fabric direction and the fire standard you need. You get FOB China and FOB Vietnam on the same sheet, plus the landed cost into your port and the exact container loading quantity.
Request a quote → Build the numbers yourself →