Sourcing slatted bed bases from China

2% duty on mattress supports

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 October 2026, mattress supports under 9404 10 00 00 carried 2% duty on goods from China. Heading 9404 also covers mattresses and filled bedding. The table includes companion mattresses; only the mattress-support line concerns slatted bed bases. The supplied tariff record shows no anti-dumping or countervailing measure and no suspension for that line.

The tariff attaches import and export controls on cat and dog fur: products containing such fur cannot be imported or exported. Exclude it from any covering or trim. The record also lists a DCMS export licence measure; ask your customs broker to confirm its relevance if exporting the goods.

Give your broker drawings, materials and photographs of the supplied assembly to confirm the commodity code, especially if buying loose replacement slats rather than a mattress support. See the mattresses and bedding guide for the wider heading. For bedding accessories, see our memory foam mattress topper sourcing guide.

Specify slats, holders and frame fit

State whether the base is a framed assembly or a roll of connected slats. Specify timber species, solid or laminated construction, slat width, thickness, curvature and spacing, holder material, frame dimensions and fixing positions. Agree the intended mattress, supporting bed frame, centre support and load performance with the factory. For pressure-relieving mattresses, see our pressure-relieving mattress sourcing guide.

Consumer products sold in Great Britain must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Agree testing of the assembled base in its intended frame, including slat retention, joint strength and repeated loading. Keep the approved sample and drawings available for comparison with production. Use testing and certification support to define the checks.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 400 slatted bed bases, illustrative order under 9404 10 00 00, invoiced at £22,000 free on board, with £3,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £25,500. Duty at 2% is £510. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £26,010, so it is £5,202. Import taxes total £5,712; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £510 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: assemble an arrival sample in the intended bed frame; check overall dimensions, fixing alignment and centre support contact.

Slats: compare thickness, curvature and spacing with the approved sample; reject splits, exposed splinters and separating laminate layers.

Holders and joints: check that slat ends remain seated under agreed loading and that fixings tighten without stripped threads or distorted brackets.

Packing: check for moisture, mould, bent frames and cracked holders; confirm all fittings and assembly instructions are present.

What goes wrong

A base can fit the advertised mattress size yet fail to fit the buyer's bed frame. Slats can pop out when holders are shallow or poorly matched, while weak centre support puts extra strain on the slats and joints. Agree the complete installation before approving a sample.

Production may use thinner slats, different holders or weaker laminate bonding than the sample. Compare incoming stock with the signed specification and test an assembled production unit. Include corner protection and restraint inside the carton to reduce transit damage.

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.