What garden furniture wholesale from China actually means
Garden furniture wholesale from China means buying in container quantities from a factory or an export wholesaler instead of buying sets one at a time from a domestic distributor. The entry point for most buyers is 20 to 30 sets per model, so a first order normally combines three to five models to fill one 20ft or 40HQ container. Chinese garden furniture is produced in a handful of industrial clusters, with Foshan and Shunde in Guangdong carrying the largest share of aluminium and PE rattan output, followed by Ningbo and Taizhou for steel and folding ranges. Garden furniture importers in Europe and North America place most of these orders, alongside garden centre chains, online retailers, hotel and restaurant project buyers, and distributors who resell to landscapers and builders.
An outdoor garden furniture manufacturer that exports directly usually holds rattan garden furniture, aluminium dining ranges, bistro sets and shade products in one programme, which is what makes a single-source container possible. Placing them in one load also keeps one frame colour and one cushion fabric across the whole container.
The route you buy through changes the price, the control you have over materials and the speed of any problem that needs fixing. A factory quotes the lowest FOB and controls the bill of materials. An export wholesaler adds 15 to 25% and can hold mixed stock for smaller releases. A marketplace listing hides who builds the set, and the inspected party is rarely the party that ships.
| Supply route | Typical markup | MOQ reality | Where it goes wrong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garden furniture factory | Baseline FOB | 20-30 sets per model, negotiable on a full container | Small factories may lack capacity in peak season and tooling for custom frames |
| Export wholesaler or sourcing agent | 15-25% above factory | Lower per-model minimums, stock colourways only | Material substitutions pass through unnoticed, and claims take longer |
| Marketplace or trading listing | 25-45% above factory | A single set on paper, one container in practice | No audit trail on alloy, weave or foam, and no direct QC contact |
Whichever route you choose, request the bill of materials that names the aluminium alloy, wall thickness, weave specification and foam density. Suppliers who quote a garden furniture set without those four lines are not quoting the same product as the next email in your inbox, and comparing them is guesswork. Our supplier comparison guide walks through the shortlist and verification steps in full.
The garden furniture categories that sell at wholesale volume
Four categories carry most wholesale garden furniture volume: PE rattan dining sets, aluminium dining sets, rattan lounge sets with a sofa, and sun loungers. A 40HQ takes 70 to 90 four-piece PE rattan dining sets, 80 to 100 aluminium dining sets, or 30 to 45 rattan lounge groups, because lounge sets use bulkier cartons for the same seat count. Bistro sets and three-seat garden benches pack the most value per cubic metre and are the usual filler for the last 10 CBM of a mixed container. Shade products such as parasols travel separately because their poles dictate the carton length.
| Category | Carton set | 2026 FOB band | Typical 40HQ load |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE rattan dining set, table plus 4 chairs | 2 cartons, KD chairs | USD 180-350 per set | 70-90 sets |
| Aluminium dining set, table plus 4 chairs | 2 cartons, stackable chairs | USD 220-450 per set | 80-100 sets |
| Rattan lounge set, sofa, 2 armchairs, coffee table | 3-4 cartons | USD 330-780 per set | 30-45 sets |
| Bistro set, 2 chairs and a small table | 2 cartons | USD 95-190 per set | 200-300 sets |
| Sun lounger, aluminium or rattan | 1 carton, flat packed | USD 150-340 per unit | 180-280 units |
| Garden bench, 3 seat | 1 carton, KD legs | USD 130-330 per unit | 150-250 units |
| Grade A teak dining set, table plus 4 chairs | 2 cartons | USD 780-1,900 per set | 35-55 sets |
Ranges are wide because timber grade, weave thickness, foam density and finish move the price more than factory location does. Patio furniture China wholesale programmes draw on the same frames and cartons as garden ranges, which is why most importers buy both categories in one load rather than running two supplier relationships. The 2026 FOB price range guide explains how a quotation is built line by line, and the product collections show the frame and weave combinations we hold for wholesale programmes.
Matching the material to the climate the furniture will sit in
PE rattan over a powder-coated aluminium frame is the default for wholesale garden furniture because it handles rain, salt air and ultraviolet light without an annual maintenance budget. The frame is normally 6063-T5 aluminium with a 1.2 to 1.5 mm wall, the weave is HDPE with a UV stabiliser blended into the compound rather than coated on the surface, and cushions pair solution-dyed acrylic covers with quick-dry foam. Powder-coated frames from our line clear 1,500 hours of salt spray in quarterly SGS tests to ASTM B117, which is the number we hand to buyers who have to defend a specification in a tender.
| Material | Best climate fit | Annual upkeep | Service life in commercial use |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE rattan over aluminium | Coastal, humid, high UV, poolside | Rinse and wipe, occasional weave repair | 8-15 years |
| Powder-coated aluminium, unweaved | All climates, including frost and snow load | Rinse, touch-up paint on chips | 10-18 years on the frame |
| Grade A teak | Designer terraces, dry and temperate markets | Oil once a year if the golden tone is wanted | 15-25 years |
| Steel with a powder coat | Sheltered inland use only | Rust checks at welds and feet | 4-8 years before refinishing |
| HDPE board or sling fabric | Wet northern European gardens | Wash down, no refinishing | 10-15 years |
Cold and wet markets punish weak points that warm markets never expose. Water collecting inside a sealed frame leg freezes, expands and splits the tube, so aluminium ranges sold into northern Europe should have drain holes or vented caps. Frost also lifts powder coat from any edge that was sprayed thin, and salt spray hours tell you how the coating behaves before you see it on a garden centre floor. The UV resistant materials comparison covers stabiliser levels for markets with 2,000-plus sunshine hours, and the materials page lists the weave, frame and fabric options we hold.
MOQ, FOB bands and what moves a garden furniture quote
Garden furniture MOQ from a Chinese factory sits at 20 to 30 sets per model for a first order, and drops to 10 to 15 sets per model once a buyer has ordered twice with the same frame and colour. Price then moves with four variables: aluminium wall thickness, weave grade, foam density and packaging volume. Moving a dining chair frame from 1.2 mm to 1.5 mm wall adds roughly 12 to 18% to the frame cost and clears commercial contract loads. Swapping a standard foam for quick-dry foam adds 8 to 15% to the cushion, and it decides whether a set is usable after a wet week.
| Cost driver | Effect on FOB | Why buyers accept it |
|---|---|---|
| Wall thickness 1.2 mm to 1.5 mm | +12-18% on the frame | Stiffer frames, fewer transit dents, contract-grade rating |
| Weave: 8 mm to 10 mm round, UV stabilised | +6-12% on the set | Better UV and abrasion life, tighter weave tension |
| Quick-dry foam versus standard foam | +8-15% on the cushion | Water drains in hours instead of days |
| Solution-dyed acrylic versus polyester | +20-35% on the cushion | Colour holds for 5-8 years in strong sun |
| KD packing versus assembled packing | +2-5% on labour, up to 40% less volume | More sets per container, lower landed cost per unit |
| Private label cartons and labels | +USD 0.80-2.50 per carton | Retail-ready presentation and brand control |
Volume is the strongest lever you control. One full 40HQ of a single model usually prices 8 to 15% below the same quantity split across two containers, and a mixed container of four models gives most of the freight saving without carrying stock risk in one SKU. Buyers moving from retail sourcing into wholesale outdoor furniture usually hold the frame and colour palette fixed for the first three orders, which is what turns a 20-set trial into a 200-set reorder at a lower unit price. Our MOQ negotiation guide lists the five tactics that work when your first order has to stay small.
How many garden furniture sets fit in a 20ft and 40HQ container
A 40HQ container holds 76 CBM of usable space against 33 CBM in a 20ft, so the same garden furniture order costs about 30 to 44% more in freight on a per-unit basis when it ships in two 20ft boxes instead of one 40HQ. In practice a 20ft takes 35 to 45 PE rattan dining sets, a 40HQ takes 70 to 90, and a mixed 40HQ of 30 rattan sets, 20 aluminium dining sets and 40 bistro sets fills the box with 5 to 10 CBM of margin for cartons that measure larger than the quotation sheet assumed.
| Load plan | 20ft | 40HQ | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE rattan dining sets | 35-45 sets | 70-90 sets | Chairs KD packed inside the table cartons |
| Rattan lounge groups | 15-20 sets | 30-45 sets | Bulkier cartons per seat |
| Sun loungers | 90-130 units | 180-280 units | Flat packed, nested legs |
| Mixed wholesale load | 3 models | 3-5 models | Keep one frame colour and one fabric per load |
| 2026 ocean freight, China to Europe | USD 1,600-2,200 | USD 2,300-3,000 | Yantian or Nansha to Rotterdam, FCL |
| 2026 ocean freight, China to US West Coast | USD 1,800-2,400 | USD 2,600-3,400 | Rates move monthly, confirm before pricing landed cost |
Mixed loads are where most first-time importers lose money. Sets that use two different cushion fabrics or three frame colours still fill one container, but they split the factory into longer changeover runs and can add 3 to 7 days to production. Fix the palette for the whole container and negotiate the next colourway as a second order. The container capacity calculator converts these piece counts into cost per unit, and the shipping cost breakdown covers duty, insurance and inland legs.
The wholesale sourcing process, from enquiry to container
A wholesale garden furniture order from China runs through six stages, and the whole cycle takes 75 to 110 days from first enquiry to a loaded container. Enquiry and quotation take 2 to 5 days, sampling 7 to 20 working days, production 25 to 45 days after deposit, inspection 1 to 2 days, and inland transport to the port 2 to 4 days. Buyers who treat the stages as one continuous block lose two to three weeks to rework, mostly on specification gaps that only surface at the sample stage or at container loading.
- Shortlist three to five models that share a frame colour and cushion fabric, and send reference photos or drawings with millimetre dimensions and your target retail or project price.
- Collect written FOB quotes on an identical specification so the numbers are comparable, and separate product cost from packaging, branding and freight.
- Approve one pre-production sample per model or new colourway, checking seat height, weave tension, powder coat finish, foam density and carton protection.
- Sign the proforma invoice and pay the deposit, with quantity, packing, delivery term and loading week stated on the document rather than agreed in chat.
- Book a third-party pre-shipment inspection on a 10 to 20% sample, and approve the loading plan before the container arrives at the factory.
- Check documents against the proforma invoice, send them to your forwarder, and inspect 10% of cartons on arrival inside the claim window.
Stages three and five are where a wholesale order is won or lost. A sample that arrives with a 15 mm frame instead of 20 mm tells you the drawings were not read, and an inspection booked only after loading removes any chance to correct the cartons. The RFQ package guide shows the nine sections a factory needs to quote accurately the first time.
Samples, lead times and peak season scheduling
Sample lead time for an existing garden furniture model is 7 to 15 days, and a sample built to new drawings or new tooling takes 15 to 20 working days. Bulk production runs 25 to 45 days after deposit and sample approval, and stretches to 45 to 55 days between August and October when European and North American buyers place spring programmes at the same time. Ocean transit adds 25 to 40 days to Europe or the US, so an order confirmed in early October reaches a European warehouse between December and early January.
Two dates decide whether your delivery lands on time. The first is mid-January, the practical cut-off for production that must ship before the Lunar New Year factory break in February, when most Guangdong factories stop for two to three weeks and the workforce returns in stages. The second is your retail or project deadline, which has to allow for a pre-shipment inspection and one round of carton corrections. Working backwards from a March shelf date, the production deposit should be paid by mid-November.
Peak season affects materials as much as labour. Powder coat lines, weave extrusion and cushion sewing all queue behind the largest orders, and a small buyer who confirms in September gets a better slot than one who confirms in October for the same delivery week. Our factory page shows monthly capacity and the four-stage QC line, and the factory tour covers what a buyer sees on a visit or a live video walk-through.
Verifying a garden furniture supplier or factory in China
Verification for garden furniture runs on documents and one live look, and it costs less than a single rejected container. Ask for the business licence with an outdoor furniture manufacturing scope, the export licence, ISO 9001:2015 certification, a BSCI or equivalent social compliance report, and salt spray test reports to ASTM B117. Then take a live video call through the weaving, welding, powder coat and packing areas, and ask the same person to hold up a frame drawing and the matching production frame. A trading company cannot do that, and suppliers who claim to be factories usually cannot either.
- Business licence scope covers furniture manufacturing, not trading or consulting.
- ISO 9001:2015 certificate number checkable on the issuing body's register.
- Salt spray report naming the laboratory, the standard and the hours reached, with the finish described.
- Live video from the production floor showing the frame, weave and cushion lines that your order will use.
- Two references from buyers in your region, one of them recent, contacted directly by you.
- Willingness to accept a third-party pre-shipment inspection from SGS, TUV or Intertek.
Chinese garden furniture suppliers quote the same product at very different prices because the specification behind the quote differs. Alloy grade, wall thickness, weave stabiliser, foam density and carton grade account for most of the gap, and every one of them is checkable before money moves. The manufacturer comparison applies the same checks across ten factories, and the OEM/ODM pages explain how custom frames and colourways are handled once a supplier passes.
Packaging, private label and container loading for wholesale orders
Export packaging decides how many sets arrive undamaged, and the cost difference between adequate and weak cartons is about 1 to 2% of FOB. A wholesale garden furniture carton carries an outer five-layer corrugated board rated above 1,200 kPa burst strength, corner protection on table tops, foam or honeycomb pads between stacked frames, a moisture barrier for sea transit, and carton marks with your SKU code, barcode and loading sequence. Pallets and crates for timber parts need ISPM 15 heat treatment, stamped on the wood, or your container will be refused at destination.
Private label for garden furniture is a separate negotiation from the furniture itself. Printed cartons, woven labels on cushions, embossed frame plates, hang tags and language-specific assembly sheets are standard requests, and they usually need 50 to 100 units per model to justify a print run. Artwork approval takes three to five working days and the first branded production adds a day or two of packing time. Keep the approved artwork and carton dieline in the factory file, because a reorder with a slightly different red is a common and avoidable problem.
Loading is the last chance to protect the order. Tables go in first with tops protected, chairs KD packed inside table cartons where the design allows, loungers stacked flat with frames interlocked, and the remaining CBM filled with small items so the container ships full. Photograph the container before the doors close and again at the port if your forwarder offers it. The export packaging guide covers the five-layer specification and container blocking in detail.
Mistakes that cost wholesale garden furniture buyers money
Most first-order problems trace back to five decisions taken before production starts. A quotation built without a specification cannot be compared, so the cheapest reply usually wins and the frame arrives thinner than the roller set expects. Approving a sample from a different production run leaves the delivered goods unaccounted for. Leaving foam density out of the order lets a supplier downgrade the cushion. Booking inspection after loading removes the chance to correct cartons. Splitting one container into two 20ft boxes adds 30 to 44% to the freight on every unit.
- Comparing quotes without a named alloy, wall thickness, weave spec and foam density.
- Approving a sample that was made by hand rather than on the line that will run the order.
- Omitting foam density and fabric composition, then accepting a cheaper grade on delivery.
- Booking pre-shipment inspection after loading instead of before.
- Splitting a single order across two 20ft containers and losing the per-unit freight advantage.
Each of these is visible on paper before the deposit is paid. Put the specification in the proforma invoice, approve the sample from a production run, and inspect before loading. Our supplier comparison guide covers the same checks in sequence, with the cost and quality traps of each supply route.
Frequently asked questions about garden furniture wholesale
These five answers cover the questions that decide most garden furniture wholesale orders from China: minimum quantities, 2026 FOB bands, lead times, private label options and quality verification. Every answer stands on its own, so the numbers can go straight into a buying plan or a supplier email. The short version for a first container is 20 to 30 sets per model across three to five models, a 40HQ load plan agreed before production starts, and a pre-shipment inspection on a 10 to 20% sample.
What is the MOQ for garden furniture from China?
Most Chinese garden furniture factories start at 20 to 30 sets per model, and mixing three to five models in one container is the normal way to reach that quantity on a first order. A 40HQ holds 70 to 90 PE rattan dining sets, so a mixed load of 30 rattan sets, 20 aluminium dining sets and 40 bistro sets fills one container. Private label branding usually needs 50 to 100 units per model for a printed carton run, and single-model orders above one full container get the best unit price.
How much does garden furniture wholesale from China cost?
Wholesale FOB bands for 2026 sit at USD 180 to 350 for a four-piece PE rattan dining set, USD 220 to 450 for the aluminium equivalent, USD 95 to 190 for a bistro set, and USD 780 to 1,900 for a Grade A teak dining set. A rattan lounge set with a sofa, two armchairs and a coffee table lands at roughly 1.8 to 2.2 times the dining set price. On top of FOB, add ocean freight of USD 2,300 to 3,400 per 40HQ to Europe or the US West Coast in 2026, plus duty and inland delivery.
How long does a garden furniture order from China take?
A sample from an existing model takes 7 to 15 days, and a sample built to new drawings or new tooling takes 15 to 20 working days. Bulk production runs 25 to 45 days after deposit and sample approval, and stretches to 45 to 55 days in the August to October peak. Ocean transit adds 25 to 40 days to Europe or the US, so a first wholesale order placed in October realistically reaches a European warehouse in January. Book production slots before the Lunar New Year factory break in February.
Can I put my own brand on garden furniture bought from China?
Yes. Private label on garden furniture covers printed cartons, woven brand labels on cushions, laser-etched or embossed frame plates, hang tags and instruction sheets in your own language. Tooling changes to cushions and frames are also possible at 50 to 100 units per model. Expect three to five working days for a printed carton proof and a 10 to 15 day first production run for branding artwork, and keep your artwork in the factory file so repeat orders match the first delivery.
How do I check the quality of Chinese garden furniture before it ships?
Ask for the aluminium alloy and wall thickness on the drawing, the weave specification with the UV stabiliser percentage, the cushion fabric composition, and salt spray test reports. Then book a third-party pre-shipment inspection from SGS, TUV or Intertek on a 10 to 20 percent sample, checking frame welds, weave tension, powder coat adhesion, packing and carton marks. Our own quarterly SGS salt spray reports show powder-coated aluminium frames clearing 1,500 hours to ASTM B117, and the same test is the cheapest way to compare two suppliers.
Order garden furniture wholesale with SOLAIREVA
SOLAIREVA has manufactured commercial outdoor furniture in Shunde, Guangdong since 2004, with a 16,000 m² factory, 49 team members and 15,000-plus pieces of monthly production. We ship 15 or more high-cube containers a month, hold ISO 9001:2015 process discipline, BSCI social compliance and EN 581 testing habits, and run quarterly SGS salt spray testing on powder-coated frames. Our export defect rate runs at 0.47% across the four-stage QC line, which is why wholesale programmes repeat with us rather than move factory after the first container.
Standard wholesale terms: 20 to 30 sets per model, samples in 7 to 15 days from existing models and 15 to 20 working days for new tooling, production in 25 to 45 days, FOB Shenzhen or Nansha pricing, and carton dimensions and weights supplied for your forwarder. Send your model list, quantities and delivery port through the quote request form, or contact the project team if you are still comparing garden furniture ranges, materials or container plans before the first order.