Sourcing table runners from China

Table runner duty depends on fabric construction

Heading 6302 covers bed, table, toilet and kitchen linen. This guide covers textile table runners within its table linen lines, including knitted or crocheted runners and other runners divided by fibre and construction. See restaurant tablecloths for the wider table linen range. For bed linen, see our fitted bed sheet sourcing guide. For pillowcases, see our cotton hotel pillowcase sourcing guide. For bathroom linen, see our hammam towel sourcing guide. For face flannels, see our cotton terry face flannel sourcing guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, nonwoven table linen of man-made fibres carried 6% duty for goods from China. The other table linen lines carried 12%. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual fibre composition and whether the runner is knitted, crocheted, woven or nonwoven. Describe the goods consistently in the specification and invoice rather than relying on a supplier's description such as linen-look.

Specify the runner's fit, fabric and finish

Specify fibre composition, fabric construction, finished length and width, intended table overhang, fabric weight, colour and pattern placement. Define whether measurements include tassels or fringe, and approve the hem, corner shape, backing and embroidery against a physical sample.

Textile labels must show fibre content. Consumer table runners supplied in Great Britain must meet general product safety requirements. Agree the intended use and check loose decorations and exposed sharp components when reviewing the sample.

For reusable runners, agree acceptable dimensional change, colour transfer and appearance after washing using the intended laundry process. For nonwoven runners, check tearing, creasing and colour transfer during handling. Keep the approved sample for comparison with production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 600 cotton table runners under 6302 51 00 90, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,900. Duty at 12% is £828. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,728, so it is £1,545.60. Import taxes total £2,373.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £828 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Dimensions: lay runners flat and check length, width, squareness and the agreed treatment of fringe against the approved specification.

Finish: inspect hems, corners, embroidery and tassel attachment for loose threads, puckering and exposed sharp components.

Colour and washing: compare runners from different cartons, check pattern alignment and assess shrinkage, colour bleeding and twisting after the agreed wash.

Labels and packing: compare fibre labels with the material specification; check quantities, dry fabric and protection against dirt and damp. Agree these checks in the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A runner can look straight on the sample table but twist after washing, leaving uneven overhangs. Dark prints can transfer colour to pale tablecloths, narrow hems can curl, and tassels can unravel. Check the finished runner after laundering rather than approving fabric alone.

A linen-look description can conceal a different fibre composition, while inconsistent cutting shifts a centred motif towards an edge. Tie the purchase specification to the approved construction, fibre label and pattern position, and compare across cartons on arrival.

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. For UK brands selling into China, see exporting home textiles to China.