Sourcing garden furniture covers from China
Garden furniture covers from China carry 6% to 12% UK duty on the selected heading 6307 lines, depending on construction. Confirm the applicable consumer product safety requirements with Trading Standards before supplying covers in Great Britain. Confirm the finished cover's code and approve fit, seams and rain performance before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources garden furniture covers.
UK duty depends on the cover's construction
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 6307 covers other made-up textile articles. The selected lines carry 6% to 12% duty for goods from China. Woven garden furniture covers are candidates for 6307 90 98 99 at 6%; knitted or crocheted covers carry 12% under their selected line. These are candidate classifications: give your broker the textile construction, coating details and finished sample.
The selected lines show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Recorded suspensions on the nonwoven and residual other-articles lines cover specified textile face masks, not furniture covers. The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls; listed species materials require a permit check before importing from China. The nonwoven line also attaches a supplementary import unit. Ask your broker to confirm the declaration requirement.
The nonwoven and residual other-articles lines also attach a torture-goods import prohibition and export restriction. Listed prohibited torture goods cannot be imported; ask your broker to confirm whether the control descriptions apply to your cover. Confirm the commodity code before shipment. For the wider heading, see textile machinery dust covers.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woven textile garden furniture covers, candidate classification | 6307 90 98 99 | 6% | None |
| Hand-made textile garden furniture covers, neither knitted nor crocheted | 6307 90 98 91 | 6% | None |
| Nonwoven garden furniture covers, alternative construction | 6307 90 98 20 | 6% | None |
| Knitted or crocheted garden furniture covers, alternative construction | 6307 90 10 00 | 12% | None |
Specify fit, rain protection and fastening
Specify the furniture shape and its maximum external dimensions, including projecting arms and chair backs. Agree the cover's finished dimensions, fitting allowance, hem position and access for fitting. State fibre composition, woven or nonwoven construction, fabric weight, coating material and which side faces out. Include seam construction, sealing, vents, handles, straps, buckles and drawcord routing.
Approve a complete sample on the intended furniture. Agree rain-exposure and drying trials, including water pooling, seam leakage and moisture trapped beneath the cover. Check rubbing and colour transfer against the furniture finish. Textile labels must show fibre content. Confirm the applicable consumer product safety requirements with Trading Standards before supplying covers in Great Britain; review loose cords, detachable fittings and sharp edges alongside the intended use instructions.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 800 woven garden furniture covers in mixed sizes under 6307 90 98 99, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,800. Duty at 6% is £588. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,388, so it is £2,077.60. Import taxes total £2,665.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £588 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: measure finished covers against the approved drawing and fit them over the intended furniture; check hem clearance, access and fastening positions.
Fabric and seams: compare fabric and coating with the retained sample; check pinholes, missed stitches, seam sealing and leakage during the agreed rain trial.
Fastenings and vents: pull straps and handles using the agreed method, operate buckles and drawcords, and check that vent openings remain usable when fitted.
Labels and packing: compare fibre wording, size identification and care instructions with approved artwork; check for dampness, sticking coatings and carton mix-ups. Record findings through the inspection process.
What goes wrong
A cover can match the furniture's nominal size but fail to pass over projecting arms or a tall back. Excess fabric can collect rain, while short hems leave surfaces exposed. Fit the sample on the actual furniture arrangement rather than approving dimensions from a photograph.
Water-resistant fabric can still leak through needle holes and unsealed seams. Closed vents can trap moisture, and weak strap anchors can tear when the cover moves. Keep the approved complete sample and require fresh approval before changes to fabric, coating, seams or fittings.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on garden furniture covers from China?
The selected heading 6307 lines carry 6% to 12%. The woven other-articles candidate line carries 6%; knitted or crocheted covers carry 12%. Confirm classification. Recorded face-mask suspensions do not cover furniture covers.
Can I use the factory's commodity code for furniture covers?
Have your broker review the finished sample, fibre composition, fabric construction and coating details. A code used for another cover does not establish the classification of your product.
How do I check whether garden furniture covers keep rain out?
Test the complete cover on the intended furniture under agreed rain conditions. Inspect seams, pooling areas and the surface beneath it, then check drying and trapped moisture.
What measurements should I give a cover factory?
Provide the furniture's maximum external dimensions and shape, including arms and backs. Agree fitting allowance, finished cover dimensions, hem position, vents and fastening locations.