10–23 days
China to Bishkek
from $150/m³
Volumetric cargo
Furniture is the clearest example of volumetric cargo. It is almost always charged by cubic metre rather than by weight, and that changes how a shipment should be planned. The way the goods are prepared moves the final bill by a third.
Why furniture is charged by volume
The rule is simple: you pay for whichever is greater, weight or volume. Furniture density rarely exceeds 150 kg/m³, while a truck balances at 310 kg/m³. The trailer fills up on space long before it runs out of payload. So with furniture you fight for cubic metres, not kilograms.
| Type | Density | How it is charged |
|---|
| Upholstered furniture | 40–70 kg/m³ | by volume, the most expensive case |
| Flat-packed cabinets | 200–400 kg/m³ | by weight, the best case |
| Assembled cabinets | 60–100 kg/m³ | by volume, two to three times more |
| Chairs and frames | 50–90 kg/m³ | by volume, stack poorly |
| Hardware and fittings | 300+ kg/m³ | by weight |
The takeaway from that table: buy furniture flat-packed. The same wardrobe takes three times the volume assembled, and the freight bill follows.
A worked example
A bedroom set: wardrobe, bed, two nightstands, chest of drawers. Flat-packed that is 14 cartons, 2.8 m³ and 620 kg. Density 221 kg/m³, so it is charged by weight: 620 × $1.8 = $1,116.
Assembled, the same set would take about 8 m³ at the same weight, charged by volume: 8 × $150 = $1,200 — plus the risk of damage during handling.
When a full truck pays off
Furniture is the category where a dedicated truck pays off earlier than usual, and not only on price. In a consolidated load your furniture travels next to other people's cargo and can be moved in transit. A dedicated truck is loaded once and unloaded once. On volume the crossover comes at about 40–45 m³, half a trailer.
Packing: what saves and what costs
- Corners and edges — the most vulnerable points. Foam or cardboard corner protectors cost almost nothing and prevent most damage
- Stretch film and bubble wrap for polished and glass elements
- Pallets — above 2 m³ palletising is close to mandatory: palletised furniture is not handled piece by piece
- "This way up" marking and fragile labels — the warehouse takes them into account
- Photo report before departure — we record the condition of the packaging
Where furniture comes from
The main hub is Foshan, next to Guangzhou and the largest furniture cluster in China: kilometres of showrooms and factories. Our road-freight warehouse is there too, so the leg from factory to warehouse is short. Home textiles and décor are usually bought in Yiwu, and mixed purchases are consolidated into one shipment.
Shipping cost calculator
Enter the weight and volume of your cargo — we will show an indicative shipping cost.
Frequently asked questions
How much does furniture shipping from China cost?
Flat-packed furniture is charged by weight, from $1.8 per kg from Guangzhou. Assembled furniture goes by volume, from $150 per m³. A full truck of 90 m³ starts at $6,500.
Can you collect from a factory in Foshan?
Yes, from the factory or the showroom. Inland delivery to our warehouse is included in the quote.
Do you ship oversized furniture?
Yes. If an item does not fit a curtainsider we arrange a flatbed or lowboy and the route permits.
Send us the weight, volume and pickup city on WhatsApp +996 700 11 1688 — we reply with a quote within an hour.
