What china outdoor seating covers in a B2B order
China outdoor seating covers every seat that ships as a set: two-seat sofas, three-seat sofas, corner and L-shaped sectionals, armchairs, ottomans and the coffee tables packed with them. A first order from a Chinese factory runs 20 to 30 sets per model, packs 0.5 to 3.8 CBM per set, and prices from USD 90 to USD 2,100 FOB in 2026. Importers plan by seat count and by packed volume, because a modular sectional seating six takes two and a half times the container space of a three-piece wicker set and the freight gap per seat reaches USD 40.
The category splits by configuration, and style comes second. Patio programmes for hotels, restaurants and retailers are built from five shapes, and each shape carries its own packing factor, load count and price floor. The table below is the planning sheet we use on first enquiries, and the numbers are the bands we quote in 2026 for commercial grade builds.
| Set | Seats | Packed volume | 40HQ load | 2026 FOB band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-piece wicker set, 2-seat sofa, 1 armchair, coffee table | 3 | 0.9-1.2 CBM | 55-75 sets | USD 220-420 |
| 4-piece lounge group, 3-seat sofa, 2 armchairs, coffee table | 5 | 1.6-2.2 CBM | 32-45 sets | USD 330-780 |
| Modular corner sectional, knocked down | 5 | 2.4-3.0 CBM | 24-30 sets | USD 620-1,200 |
| Deep-seat modular sectional with ottoman | 6-7 | 3.0-3.8 CBM | 19-25 sets | USD 850-1,700 |
| Rope weave or teak lounge group | 5 | 1.8-2.6 CBM | 28-40 sets | USD 900-2,100 |
| Dining set, table plus 4 chairs | 4 | 0.5-0.8 CBM | 70-100 sets | USD 250-620 |
Two rows in that table decide most budgets. The 4-piece lounge group is the volume product for hotels and garden retail, while the modular sectional carries the highest price per set and the lowest load count, so it needs a client who values flexibility over freight. The commercial outdoor sofa sets guide compares the same configurations from the specification side.
Sofa set configurations and how they change the freight bill
Configuration moves a sofa set's packed volume more than seat count does. Six seats ship at 2.4 CBM as a low modular sectional and at 3.6 CBM as a fixed corner group with thick arms, a difference of roughly USD 25 to 40 per seat in ocean freight at 2026 rates. Chinese factories build four shapes that cover almost every order: straight sofas with loose cushions, corner and L-shaped sectionals, modular sets that break into single-seat units, and garden groups that pair a two-seat sofa with two armchairs.
Repair matters more than shape to a hospitality buyer. A hotel that orders a modular set can replace one seat unit after a fire, a stain or a stolen cushion, while a welded corner sofa has to be re-upholstered on site or scrapped. Ask for the unit list with weights before you approve a drawing, and confirm three points in writing: whether the arms detach, whether the seat units stack, and whether the corner unit can be ordered on its own as a spare.
- Seat unit count and orientation, left or right corner, straight or curved run.
- Cushion thickness in mm, and whether covers are removable and washable.
- Knock-down capability by piece, which is what lifts a 40HQ from 19 sets to 30 sets on the same model.
- Spare part availability for at least three years, with the price agreed at order stage.
Frame construction and the specification lines that matter
A commercial seating frame uses 6063-T5 aluminium at 1.5 to 2.0 mm wall thickness, welded at the load-bearing joints, passivated and finished with two powder coats at 60 to 80 microns. Seat frames are tested to EN 581-1, EN 581-2 and EN 581-3, and contract seating to EN 16139, which cycles a seat under load for 200,000 cycles. Buyers who omit wall thickness from the specification are the same buyers who receive a 1.0 mm frame, and a light tube flexes at the arm joints inside one season of daily use.
Weave and frame have to be specified together. PE rattan over aluminium suits resort and garden seating because the weave hides frame marks and the aluminium cannot rust, while rope weave gives a denser look at a higher labour cost. Stainless steel 304 handles coastal air within about 5 km of salt water, and 316 suits beachfront decks. Every load-bearing joint should carry stainless steel bolts and inserts, since zinc-plated hardware is the first thing to fail in sea air. The PE rattan versus aluminium comparison runs the frame decision through cost and service life, and the materials page lists the alloys, weaves and finishes we hold.
Cushions and fabric: where most warranty claims start
Cushions drive most outdoor furniture warranty claims, and three figures decide how they behave. Commercial seating uses foam at 30 to 35 kg/m3 against roughly 25 kg/m3 for residential, covers use 280 to 320 g/m2 solution-dyed acrylic against 180 to 220 g/m2 dyed polyester, and the core is quick-dry reticulated foam so a seat drains after rain instead of holding water. Add a mesh panel under each seat cushion and a water-repellent finish on the cover, and a set left out through a wet week dries without smell or mildew. Those three upgrades add USD 25 to 70 per seat.
Which of the two matters more depends on the climate. A desert or Mediterranean hotel can accept olefin at 240 to 280 g/m2 and save USD 8 to 18 per seat, because fading matters there more than drying. A beachfront or monsoon project should carry solution-dyed acrylic and a quick-dry core at the higher end, since a damp cushion in a humid climate turns into a mould complaint within a month. Replacement covers are ordered at 30 to 60 pieces per model, which is the volume at which a custom colourway also starts to make sense.
2026 FOB price bands for china outdoor sofa sets
Outdoor sofa sets from China run USD 220 to 2,600 FOB per set in 2026, and the band follows the frame material, the cushion specification and the number of separate pieces, with the factory's city counting for very little. A 4-piece powder-coated aluminium group with olefin cushions sits at USD 280 to 560, a PE rattan group with acrylic cushions at USD 330 to 780, a rope weave group at USD 420 to 950, and a grade A teak group at USD 900 to 2,100. A china outdoor sofa set quoted far below the band is usually a different article, with a 1.0 to 1.2 mm frame or 25 kg/m3 foam.
| Frame and cushion build | 4-piece lounge group | Modular sectional, 5-6 seats |
|---|---|---|
| Powder-coated aluminium, olefin cushions | USD 280-560 | USD 620-1,150 |
| PE rattan on aluminium, acrylic cushions | USD 330-780 | USD 700-1,300 |
| Rope weave on aluminium, acrylic cushions | USD 420-950 | USD 850-1,550 |
| Grade A teak, acrylic cushions | USD 900-2,100 | USD 1,300-2,600 |
These are FOB Shenzhen or Nansha figures for commercial grade builds at 1.5 to 2.0 mm wall and 60 to 80 micron powder coat. Add ocean freight of USD 2,300 to 3,400 per 40HQ, duty by destination, port charges and inland delivery, and landed cost lands at 1.9 to 2.4 times FOB. The 2026 price range guide breaks the same bands down by product category, and the import guide walks through the landed cost line by line.
MOQ, model mix and how to fill a first container
MOQ for outdoor seating from a Chinese factory sits at 20 to 30 sets per model on a first order and drops to 10 to 15 sets once the same frame and colour has been ordered twice. Cushion covers, private label cartons and a new frame profile need 50 to 100 units per model, because the weaving and sewing lines have to change over. A first container usually runs three to five seating models at 20 to 30 sets each in one frame colour and one fabric, which keeps freight efficient without betting the whole order on a single design.
Model mix changes the economics of a first container more than most buyers expect. Three models at 25 sets each fills a 40HQ while leaving room to test which one sells, and the reorder then concentrates on the winner at 40 to 60 sets with an 8 to 15% full-container discount. Mixing two frame colours in one box adds three to seven days of changeover at the coating and assembly lines, so keep the palette to one colour per container until volume justifies a second. The RFQ package guide lists what to send with the quantity table so the quotes come back comparable.
Container loading maths for seating
A 40HQ holds about 76 CBM of usable volume and a 20ft about 33 CBM, so seating orders are planned in packed cubic metres, with pieces counted per model inside each set. Knocked-down 3-piece sets pack at 0.9 to 1.2 CBM, 4-piece lounge groups at 1.6 to 2.2 CBM, modular sectionals at 2.4 to 3.8 CBM, and loose dining chairs at 0.06 to 0.1 CBM each. That gives 55 to 75 three-piece sets or 19 to 30 modular sets in a single 40HQ. Two 20ft boxes instead of one 40HQ costs 30 to 44% more in freight for about 57 CBM less space.
Most first containers lose money in the last 10 CBM. Bar stools, stackable dining chairs and side tables pack densely and can be added as filler once the seating is loaded, and asking for carton dimensions with the quotation is what makes that possible. A load plan built from real carton sizes has reached 94 to 97% fill on seating orders we ship, against 80 to 85% on orders planned from a price list. The container capacity calculator converts each category into pieces and cost per unit for both box sizes.
Lead times and the ordering calendar for outdoor seating
Plan 60 to 110 days from enquiry to a delivered container for outdoor seating. Quotation takes 2 to 5 days, a sample 7 to 15 days from an existing frame or 15 to 20 working days for new tooling, production 25 to 45 days after deposit, and ocean transit 25 to 40 days to Europe or North America. Guangdong factories close for two to three weeks around Chinese New Year in February and the workforce returns in stages, so a spring patio opening needs production running by December and sample approval in October.
| Stage | Working days | What delays it |
|---|---|---|
| Quotation and specification | 2-5 | Quotes returned without alloy, wall thickness, coat thickness or foam density |
| Sample | 7-15 existing, 15-20 new tooling | Colour rounds, new frame profiles, cushion cover approval |
| Production | 25-45 after deposit, 45-55 in the August to October peak | Queues at the extrusion, powder coat and sewing lines |
| Inspection and loading | 1-2 inspection, 2-4 to port | Inspection booked after loading, which leaves no room to correct cartons |
| Ocean transit | 25-40 to Europe or North America | Peak season booking rolls and port congestion |
Two dates set the whole schedule. A spring opening means production starts by December so the goods arrive before the terrace reopens, and a winter-sun destination such as the Gulf or the Caribbean has to be loaded before the pre-holiday freight peak in November. The factory page shows the capacity and the four-stage QC line a production slot is booked against.
How to verify a china outdoor seating manufacturer
Verification takes about a week and costs less than one rejected container. Ask for the business licence with a furniture manufacturing scope, the export licence, ISO 9001:2015 certification, a BSCI or equivalent social compliance report, and seating test reports to EN 581 and EN 16139 that name the laboratory and the cycles reached. Then take a live video walk through the cutting, welding, weaving, sewing and packing lines, and have the same person hold a frame drawing beside the matching production frame. A supplier quoting the lowest seating price without a test report or a production floor is not quoting the same article.
- Licence scope covering furniture manufacturing, not trading or consulting alone.
- ISO 9001:2015 certificate number checkable on the issuing body register.
- Seat load and cycle test reports to EN 581-1/-2/-3 and EN 16139, with the laboratory named.
- Salt spray report to ASTM B117 naming the hours reached on the exact powder coat used.
- Live video from the lines your order will run on, with cushion density shown on a scale.
- Written acceptance of a third-party pre-shipment inspection from SGS, TUV or Intertek.
A trading company usually cannot show a production floor and a frame drawing that agree, which separates the two fastest. The supplier comparison guide sets out the markup and control each route carries, and the OEM/ODM pages explain custom frames, colours and private label once a supplier passes.
Frequently asked questions about china outdoor seating
These five answers cover the questions that decide most seating orders: minimum quantities, cost, container capacity, timeline and factory checks. Each answer stands on its own with the numbers a buyer can put straight into a budget or a supplier email. The short version for a first container is 20 to 30 sets per model across three to five models, a commercial frame at 1.5 to 2.0 mm, cushions at 30 to 35 kg/m3 foam with solution-dyed acrylic covers, FOB terms with your own forwarder, and a pre-shipment inspection on a 10 to 20% carton sample before the balance payment.
What is the MOQ for china outdoor sofa sets?
Most Chinese factories start at 20 to 30 sets per model on a first order, then drop to 10 to 15 sets once you have ordered twice on the same frame and colour. Cushion covers, private label cartons and a new frame profile need 50 to 100 units per model. Three to five models at 20 to 30 sets each fills most of a 40HQ, which spreads the changeover cost across the container.
How much does an outdoor sofa set cost from China in 2026?
A 4-piece lounge group runs USD 280 to 560 FOB in powder-coated aluminium with olefin cushions, USD 330 to 780 in PE rattan with acrylic cushions and USD 900 to 2,100 in grade A teak. A modular sectional seating five to six runs USD 620 to 1,700 depending on the frame and the cushion specification. Landed cost lands at 1.9 to 2.4 times FOB once freight, duty, port charges and inland delivery are added.
How many sofa sets fit in a 40HQ container?
A 40HQ holds about 76 CBM, so it takes 55 to 75 three-piece sets at 0.9 to 1.2 CBM each, 32 to 45 four-piece lounge groups at 1.6 to 2.2 CBM, or 19 to 30 modular sectionals at 2.4 to 3.8 CBM with the larger pieces knocked down. Stackable chairs and side tables as filler lift the fill rate to 94 to 97% on a load plan built from real carton dimensions.
What is the lead time for outdoor seating from China?
Allow 60 to 110 days from enquiry to a delivered container. Quotation takes 2 to 5 days, sampling 7 to 15 days from an existing frame or 15 to 20 working days for new tooling, production 25 to 45 days after deposit and 45 to 55 days in the August to October peak, then 25 to 40 days of ocean transit. Guangdong factories close for two to three weeks around Chinese New Year.
How do I check that a china outdoor seating supplier is a real factory?
Ask for the business licence with a furniture manufacturing scope, ISO 9001:2015, export licence, a social compliance report and seat test reports to EN 581 and EN 16139 naming the laboratory. Then take a live video walk through the cutting, welding, weaving, sewing and packing lines and have one person hold your frame drawing beside the matching production frame. Book a third-party inspection on a 10 to 20% carton sample before the balance payment.
China outdoor seating with SOLAIREVA
SOLAIREVA has manufactured outdoor furniture in Shunde, Guangdong since 2004, with a 16,000 m2 factory, 49 team members and more than 15,000 pieces of monthly production across seating, dining and lounging. We ship 15 or more high-cube containers a month and hold ISO 9001:2015 process discipline, BSCI social compliance and EN 581 testing habits, with quarterly SGS salt spray testing on powder-coated frames clearing 1,500 hours to ASTM B117. Our export defect rate runs at 0.47% across the four-stage QC line, which is the number hotel and retail buyers reorder against.
Standard terms for a seating order: 20 to 30 sets per model, samples in 7 to 15 days from existing frames 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. We build powder-coated aluminium, PE rattan, rope weave, stainless steel and teak seating for patios from 10 to 300 seats. Send your set list, seat counts and delivery port through the quote request form, or contact the project team if you are still comparing a china outdoor seating manufacturer against a domestic distributor. The commercial patio furniture guide covers the same order maths for table and chair programmes.