Sourcing pool tables from China

UK duty on pool tables

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, billiards articles and accessories under 9504 20 00 00 carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied data records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension for this line. Heading 9504 also covers other games; see the wider games guide. The table separates products sharing the same billiards code.

The tariff attaches an ivory import control requiring a valid registration or exemption certificate reference for ivory goods intended for dealing, and a CITES import control. Specify ivory-free balls, cue fittings and decorative inlays. For goods containing protected materials, confirm the applicable permits and ivory exemption with your customs broker before ordering. The supplied line also lists export controls, including a cultural-object export licence control.

Confirm the commodity code using the complete specification, especially for payment-operated tables or separately supplied components. Do not assume every product described by a supplier as a games table belongs to the billiards line.

Specify the bed, cushions and pockets

State whether the playing bed is slate or wood composite, its thickness, joint layout and support arrangement. Specify playing area, overall dimensions, cushion profile, pocket openings, ball size, cloth material and colour, levelling feet and included accessories. Agree measurable acceptance tolerances in the order rather than relying on catalogue photographs.

For consumer tables supplied in Great Britain, general product safety rules require safe products. Ask for safety assessment records addressing stability, heavy-bed support, sharp edges and folding-leg traps where relevant. Agree assembly instructions and handling arrangements. Approve an assembled sample and retain its specification as the production reference.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 24 slate-bed pool tables under 9504 20 00 00, invoiced at £58,000 free on board, with £6,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £64,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £64,500, so it is £12,900. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Bed and frame: assemble and level the table, check flatness and joint alignment, and inspect supports, fixings and slate edges for damage.

Play: roll balls across the bed, compare cushion rebound around the table, and check cloth tension, pocket openings and ball-return paths.

Assembly: check leg stability, levelling adjustment, fastener fit and access, and assemble from the supplied instructions.

Packing and arrival: inspect crates before unpacking, photograph damage, check bed protection and moisture marks, and count rails, legs, hardware and accessories against the packing list.

What goes wrong

A table can look correct but play poorly because the bed bows, slate joints sit unevenly, cushions rebound inconsistently or pocket openings differ. Loose leg fixings and inadequate supports can cause movement after installation. Test the assembled production table rather than approving only a finished cabinet.

Heavy beds can crack in transit when packing allows movement or leaves edges exposed. Agree bracing, lifting access and replacement-part identification before shipment. Use the inspection guide to define which checks happen at the factory and which are repeated on arrival.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.