Sourcing sofa slipcovers from China

Sofa slipcover duty and classification

Heading 6304 covers other furnishing articles, excluding those of heading 9404. For sofa slipcovers, distinguish knitted or crocheted fabric from woven fabric, then identify the fibre composition. See the wider furnishing guide for throws, bedspreads and cushion covers.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, all listed lines carry 12% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspensions recorded. The selected table lines have no attached import controls. Some other heading lines have CITES import controls; the importer should confirm the requirement with their customs broker if those lines apply.

Confirm the commodity code using the finished cover's construction and material, rather than the supplier's product name. The import duty and VAT guide explains the calculation method.

Specify the sofa shape and cover construction

Provide a sofa drawing with overall width, seat depth, back height and arm shape. State whether the cover fits over the whole sofa or uses separate seat and back covers. For corner sofas, identify the chaise side and attachment arrangement. Specify fibre composition, fabric weight, stretch direction, seam positions, elastic hems and any zips.

Approve a fitted sample on the intended sofa shape, then wash it using the proposed care instructions and refit it. Agree acceptable shrinkage, stretch recovery, colour transfer and pilling. Confirm applicable furniture fire safety requirements for loose and stretch furniture covers, including any match test and labels, with the relevant product safety authority. Obtain test evidence for the proposed fabric and finish before approving bulk production. Fibre content must be labelled.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 800 cotton sofa slipcovers, illustrative order under 6304 92 00 90, invoiced at £9,000 free on board, with £800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £9,800. Duty at 12% is £1,176. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,976, so it is £2,195.20. Import taxes total £3,371.20; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,176 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: fit sampled covers to the agreed sofa shape, check arm and back coverage, and confirm seams remain aligned when someone sits down.

Fabric: compare shade across cartons, check rubbing and wash colour transfer, and assess shrinkage, pilling and stretch recovery against the approved sample.

Make-up: inspect seam openings, elastic attachment and zip operation; check that corner seams withstand fitting without tearing.

Evidence and labels: compare the supplied fabric and finish with the fire-test evidence, check applicable fire labels and fibre composition, and verify agreed care instructions during inspection.

What goes wrong

A cover can match the stated sofa width yet fail around deep seats, high backs or bulky arms. Stretch fabric can become translucent over corners, lose recovery or pull seams sideways. Woven covers can shrink until they no longer fit, while dark fabrics can transfer colour onto upholstery.

A fitted sample does not settle bulk consistency. Compare bulk fabric with the approved sample, repeat wash-and-refit checks and investigate any change in fabric or finish before accepting the fire-test evidence. Keep separate pack identification for different sofa shapes and chaise sides.

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.