Sourcing tufted upholstery fabric from China

Zero duty on tufted upholstery fabric

Heading 5802 covers terry towelling and similar woven terry fabrics, and tufted textile fabrics, excluding products of heading 5703. For this guide, the relevant line is 5802 30 00 00, tufted textile fabrics. The supplied tariff facts contain no separate upholstery subdivisions, so the table contains only this relevant line.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, tufted textile fabrics from China carried 0% duty. The supplied facts list no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, tariff suspension or attached import control for this line.

Confirm the construction from a fabric sample and the mill's specification before choosing the commodity code. A tufted appearance alone is insufficient for a buying decision. See the wider heading guide for related fabric families.

Specify the pile, backing and upholstery use

Specify pile and ground fibre composition, looped or cut pile, pile height and density, usable width, weight per square metre, backing material and finish. Agree colour, pile direction, pattern repeat, roll lengths and permitted defects. Approve a physical sample, including its reverse, and agree abrasion, tuft retention, seam strength and cleaning checks against the intended furniture use.

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 set flammability requirements for domestic upholstered furniture supplied in the UK. Tell the testing laboratory whether the fabric will cover a seat, back or other part, and identify the backing, filling and any interliner. Ask it to confirm the applicable tests and whether the supplier's reports cover the proposed materials. Arrange testing support before approving bulk production.

Fabric sold to consumers by the metre needs fibre composition labelling. Ask the mill for verified composition information for the supplied fabric and check the retail label against it.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 100 square metres of tufted upholstery fabric in rolls under 5802 30 00 00, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £400 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,400. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,400, so it is £480. 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

Pile and backing: compare pile height, density and handle with the approved sample. Check for missing tufts, shedding, exposed ground, backing cracks and separation after flexing.

Shade and direction: compare rolls under consistent lighting with the pile facing the same way. Check shading across the width and mark pile direction for cutting.

Dimensions and performance: measure usable width and sampled roll lengths against the packing list. Check weight, abrasion, seam behaviour and the agreed cleaning method against the purchase specification.

Identity and evidence: match roll references, colour lots, composition information and test samples to the delivered fabric. Retain labelled samples before cutting. Use the inspection guide to organise the checks.

What goes wrong

Opposing pile directions can make matching panels look different. Mixed dye lots create visible shade changes, weak tuft anchorage causes shedding, and stiff backing makes seams bulky or splits when stretched around corners. Trial the approved fabric on the intended furniture shape before ordering bulk.

A report for another backing or finish may not describe the fabric delivered. Keep the approved sample, specification and reports together, and agree that substitutions need your approval. Inspect rolls before cutting so defects can be traced to the original roll.

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.