Sourcing office chair armrests from China
Replacement office chair armrests from China carry 0% to 2% UK duty under the relevant seat-parts lines, depending on material and classification. Consumer-use replacements must be safe when fitted to the intended chair. Cambridge China Bridge sources replacement office chair armrests.
Duty on replacement armrests
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 29 September 2026, heading 9401 covers seats and their parts. For replacement office chair armrests classified as seat parts, non-wood parts under 9401 99 80 00 carry 0% duty and wooden parts under 9401 91 90 00 carry 2% for goods from China. The table shows product variants sharing a code, rather than separate tariff lines.
Neither relevant line records anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or a suspension. The tariff attaches an import control on cat and dog fur; confirm the declaration requirement with your customs broker, particularly for covered pads. It also records cat and dog fur export controls and a cultural-object export licence measure; ask your broker about these if re-exporting.
Confirm the commodity code using the material breakdown, photographs and intended chair application, especially for pads imported separately. See the office chairs and sit-stand desks guide for complete furniture and the duty and VAT guide for tax calculations.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-wood replacement office chair armrest assemblies | 9401 99 80 00 | 0% | None |
| Wooden replacement office chair armrest parts | 9401 91 90 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the mounting interface and fitted safety
Send the factory a reference chair or an approved mounting drawing. Specify hole spacing, slot dimensions, bracket offset, thread type, fastener length and left-hand or right-hand orientation. Record pad material, finish, adjustment travel and lock positions. Agree whether the order includes pads, brackets, complete assemblies or fitting hardware.
For armrests intended or reasonably likely to be used by consumers in Great Britain, general product safety rules apply. The importer must ensure the product is safe before placing it on that market. Assess the replacement fitted to its intended chair, including detachment, sharp edges, trapped fingers and lock release under load. Agree fitting instructions and test evidence for that combination.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 400 replacement armrest pairs under 9401 99 80 00, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £4,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £4,400, so it is £880. 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
Fit: mount production samples on the intended chair and check alignment, clearance and fastener engagement without forcing the brackets.
Adjustment: operate each movement and lock position; check unwanted play, sticking, accidental release and finger traps.
Strength and finish: test the fitted assembly against the agreed loading procedure; inspect inserts, welds, moulding cracks, pad attachment and sharp edges.
Packing: check matched left-hand and right-hand components, fitting hardware and instructions; compare pad colour and surface condition with the approved sample.
What goes wrong
A similar-looking armrest can have a different mounting offset or thread. Bolts may bottom out before clamping, inserts may pull out, and adjustment locks may slip when the user pushes down to stand. A pad-only sample does not show whether the bracket and chair mounting survive together.
Keep an approved fitted sample and a compatibility record for each chair model. Agree how material or tooling changes will be reviewed before shipment. Use quality inspection to check production against the drawing and fitted sample.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on replacement office chair armrests from China?
The supplied tariff reading shows 0% for non-wood seat parts under 9401 99 80 00 and 2% for wooden seat parts under 9401 91 90 00, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty.
Will replacement armrests fit any office chair?
Do not assume universal fit. Match mounting holes, bracket offset, threads, fastener engagement and clearance to each intended chair model.
Should I test the armrest separately or on the chair?
Check the component and the fitted assembly. The chair mounting, bracket, fasteners and adjustment lock work together, so a pad-only test leaves important failures unchecked.
Can I order replacement pads without the brackets?
Yes, specify the pad attachment, inserts, material and shape against the existing assembly. Confirm classification separately rather than assuming every loose pad has the complete armrest's code.