USA Buyer & Distributor Guide
How to Import Furniture from Turkey
A USA Buyer & Distributor Guide
Sourcing furniture from Turkey is straightforward once you know the tariff basics, the incoterms and the process. This guide walks US distributors, importers, designers and hospitality buyers through it, then shows how to get a current quote direct from our Modoko, Istanbul factory.
Why US Buyers Source Furniture from Turkey
Turkey sits between European craftsmanship and competitive production, which is why more US distributors and hospitality buyers source here. Istanbul's Modoko district concentrates thousands of factories, material suppliers, hardware vendors and upholstery workshops in a tight radius, so custom work moves quickly and inputs are available within hours rather than weeks.
For buyers who need a specific look or an operator standard, made-to-order production is the advantage: you are not limited to a fixed catalogue. As a Turkish furniture manufacturer working direct from the factory, we produce to your drawings for B2B and contract programmes, hotel FF&E and custom residential and project furniture.
Tariff & HS Classification Basics
Furniture generally falls under HS tariff chapter 94. Seating, including chairs and upholstered seats, classifies under heading 9401, while other furniture such as tables, desks, cabinets and case goods falls under heading 9403. Lighting and prefabricated items have their own headings in the same chapter.
The exact duty rate depends on the specific product, its materials and the current US tariff schedule, which changes over time. Confirm the applicable rate, any trade-program treatment and documentation requirements with your licensed US customs broker before you commit volumes. We supply the commercial invoice, packing list and HS classification support your broker needs to clear the shipment cleanly.
As of 2026 the headline action is Section 232, and its furniture scope is narrower than the headlines suggest: it covers upholstered wooden-frame seating and kitchen cabinets, while stone-top tables, casegoods, beds and wardrobes sit outside it. We keep a dated, sourced breakdown on our 2026 US furniture tariff guide.
Incoterms: FOB, CIF and DDP Explained
FOB Istanbul
We deliver the goods, export-cleared, onto the vessel at Istanbul. You arrange and control the ocean freight, insurance and US-side clearance. Best when you have a freight forwarder and want maximum control of shipping cost.
CIF US Port
We arrange and pay ocean freight and insurance to your nominated US destination port. You handle US customs clearance and inland delivery. A balanced option when you want us to manage the sea leg.
DDP To Site
We coordinate door to door, including duties and delivery to your site. Simplest for buyers who want a single landed price and minimal logistics handling on their end.
We quote your project on each relevant incoterm so you can compare true landed cost against your own freight setup, instead of guessing from a single headline price.
The Sourcing Process, Step by Step
Request
You send the item list or drawings, target quantities and destination. We respond with a current quote and incoterm options.
Drawings
We return technical drawings and 3D renders so dimensions, finishes and materials are agreed before production.
Samples
We produce material, finish and product samples for approval, so you sign off on the real thing, not a swatch photo.
Production
We manufacture in Modoko, with QC through the build. Larger orders ship in full containers; smaller ones can consolidate.
Shipping
We export-pack, prepare documentation and load for ocean freight to your US port, then onward per your incoterm.
How to Get Pricing
Furniture pricing moves with materials, finishes, quantities and the incoterm you choose, so a fixed public price list goes stale fast and rarely matches your real landed cost. The accurate way to plan is to request a current quote against your actual specification.
Send your item list or drawings and target quantities, and we return a current quote with FOB, CIF and DDP options spelled out. That gives your team real numbers to model margin and landed cost on, rather than estimates pulled from an outdated catalogue. Start on the quote page or reach the team through the contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work with US distributors and importers?
Yes. We work directly with US distributors, importers, interior designers, hospitality procurement teams and project contractors. Production is made to order, so orders are specified to your drawings, finishes and quantities rather than a fixed stock catalogue. You deal directly with the Modoko production team, not a chain of agents.
What incoterms do you ship on to the United States?
We work on the incoterms US buyers already use: FOB Istanbul (you control the ocean freight and US-side clearance), CIF to your US destination port (we arrange freight and insurance to the port), or DDP to your site (we coordinate door-to-door, including duties and delivery). Each option is quoted clearly so you can compare landed cost against your own freight setup.
How does shipping furniture from Turkey to the USA work?
After samples are approved and production is complete, goods are export-packed, documented and loaded for ocean freight from Istanbul to a US port (East Coast, Gulf or West Coast depending on your location). For smaller programmes, consolidated (LCL) shipping is an option; for larger ones, full containers (FCL) are usually more economical. We prepare the export paperwork and coordinate with your freight forwarder or ours.
How is furniture from Turkey classified for US customs and duty?
Furniture generally falls under HS tariff chapter 94, with seating under heading 9401 and other furniture under heading 9403. Exact duty depends on the specific product, materials and current US tariff schedules, so confirm the applicable rate and any program requirements with your licensed US customs broker. We provide the commercial documentation and HS classification support your broker needs.
Which US tariffs apply to furniture from Turkey in 2026?
As of July 2026 the Section 232 furniture action covers a narrow list: upholstered wooden-frame seating and kitchen cabinets and vanities carry a 25 percent duty, while marble and stone-top tables, consoles, beds, wardrobes and most casegoods sit outside that action and import on the general duty layers, including the reciprocal-tariff baseline applied to Turkish goods. A scheduled rate increase was delayed to January 1, 2027. Our 2026 tariff guide keeps a dated, sourced product-by-product breakdown; final classification is always your customs broker's call.
Do I need a sourcing agent to buy furniture from Turkey?
Not necessarily. A sourcing agent adds value when you are scanning many unknown factories at once. When you buy directly from an established manufacturer, the agent layer mostly adds margin: you already get English-speaking project management, export documentation produced in-house, incoterm options through DDP, and production photo milestones. The practical middle path is a third-party pre-shipment inspection, which we welcome, giving you independent verification without an ongoing commission.
What is your minimum order quantity for US buyers?
We are project-based rather than MOQ-based: a single statement piece for a residence and a repeatable model across a hospitality program both fit made-to-order production. Volume factories typically enforce minimums in the hundreds of units; a custom manufacturer prices per piece list instead. For small first orders, consolidated LCL shipping keeps freight sensible, and many US buyers start with one test piece before committing a program.
How do I get pricing as a US buyer?
Request a current quote rather than relying on a stale price list. Furniture pricing moves with materials, finishes, quantities and incoterms, so we price each project to your actual specification. Send your item list or drawings and target quantities, and we return a current quote with the incoterm options spelled out. This keeps your landed-cost math accurate instead of guessing from outdated figures.
What is the lead time for a furniture order shipped to the USA?
Production lead time depends on the item count, finishes and whether the order is custom or repeat. Ocean transit to the US then adds the shipping window for your chosen route. We confirm a firm production schedule and a realistic delivery window in your quote once the specification and quantities are set, rather than promising a single fixed figure up front.
Can you produce custom designs for the US market?
Yes. We manufacture to your drawings, CAD files or a brief with reference images, and produce samples and 3D renders before production. This suits distributors building a branded range, designers delivering a specific look, and hospitality buyers matching an operator standard. Material test reports and compliant components are available on request for project specifications.
Get a Current Quote for the US Market
Send your item list or drawings, target quantities and destination port. We respond within one business day with a current quote, incoterm options and the documentation your customs broker needs.