Turkey is one of Europe's largest furniture producers; manufacturers in İnegöl, Kayseri, Bursa and Istanbul offer Turkish families, interior designers and businesses in the UK a compelling alternative on quality and value. So how do you get the bedroom set, sofa or restaurant tables you chose and bought in Turkey to London? This guide covers the customs and tax side of shipping new furniture from Turkey to the UK, the invoicing and export formalities, the packing standards that ensure damage-free arrival, and the assembly support available after delivery.
New Furniture vs Used Household Goods
From UK customs' point of view there are two distinct situations:
- Used household goods (transfer of residence): enter duty-free with ToR1 approval. See our guide to moving household goods from Turkey to the UK for details.
- New furniture (purchased, packaged products): counts as a commercial import and attracts customs duty and 20% VAT. This is the case even if you bought the item for your own home.
A new-furniture shipment therefore needs different documents and a different customs flow from a household removal, but once the process is set up correctly it is highly predictable.
Taxes on Furniture Imports into the UK
Three items apply when new furniture enters the UK:
| Item | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Customs duty | Determined by the product's HS (tariff) code. For many furniture lines (chapters 9401 and 9403) the UK tariff rate ranges from 0% to 2.7%; some products are zero-rated. |
| Import VAT | 20%, calculated on the total of goods value + freight + insurance + customs duty. |
| Customs declaration fee | The customs broker's fee for preparing the import declaration. |
Thanks to the Free Trade Agreement between Turkey and the United Kingdom, furniture of Turkish origin can benefit from preferential (usually zero) customs duty with proof of origin (an origin statement on the invoice or an EUR.1 / certificate of origin). You need to request this document from the manufacturer or retailer; we can also obtain it on your behalf. VAT is payable in every case; if the import is made in the name of a UK VAT-registered business, the VAT can later be reclaimed on the VAT return.
Invoicing and Export Formalities
A new-furniture shipment requires an export declaration on the Turkish side. For this you need:
- Seller's invoice: the company you buy from can issue an export-registered (VAT-exempt) invoice. In that case you pay no 10%/20% Turkish VAT, and the invoice is attached to the shipment's export declaration.
- Private purchase: if you received an invoice with VAT included, the shipment still goes ahead, but a Turkish VAT refund may not be possible. It pays to ask the seller before buying whether they can issue an "export invoice".
- Packing list: the dimensions, weight and contents of every package.
- Proof of origin: for preferential duty.
- Exporter registration: for private senders, REG Transport or our partner customs broker acts as exporter of record; you do not need to set up a company.
Furniture Packing Standards
Furniture is among the cargo types most exposed to damage over a 3,000 km road journey and a ferry crossing. The standards we apply for damage-free delivery:
- Dismantled transport: large pieces such as beds, wardrobes and tables are dismantled wherever possible; each part is wrapped separately and fixings travel in labelled bags.
- Corner protection and heavy cardboard: all corners are protected with foam or cardboard corner guards; surfaces are wrapped in stretch film and blankets.
- Glass and marble: table tops, mirrors and marble slabs travel in wooden crates.
- Upholstered items: sofas and mattresses are covered in moisture- and dust-proof polythene with a cardboard outer layer.
- Palletising: commercial shipments are palletised and strapped, then secured against movement in the vehicle.
- Labelling: every piece is numbered and matched to the packing list, which speeds up customs inspection.
Shipping Options and Transit Times
Groupage (Part-Load)
The most economical method for a single sofa set, a bedroom suite or a few pieces; your goods join our weekly UK departures. Average delivery time is 7-14 days.
Dedicated Vehicle
For large shop, hotel, restaurant or project-based shipments the vehicle is allocated exclusively to your cargo, with delivery in 5-8 days. For project deliveries, dates are planned around the site or construction schedule.
Container
For very large volumes, a sea-freight alternative can be considered; transit is longer but the cost per cubic metre falls.
Door-to-Door Delivery and Assembly Support
Getting the furniture through UK customs is half the job; the other half is carrying it into your home or premises and assembling it. At REG Transport, delivery works like this:
- Delivery by our own crew in London and the surrounding area; a partner delivery network in other cities.
- Carrying and hoisting in multi-storey buildings, with an external furniture lift planned where needed.
- Assembly service: items shipped dismantled are assembled on site and packaging waste is removed.
- Delivery note and photographic proof of delivery.
For shop and project deliveries we offer pre-delivery storage at our London warehouse, phased deliveries and delivery within a fixed time window.
For Businesses: Exporting Furniture from Turkey to the UK
If you run a furniture shop, hotel, café or interior design practice in the UK, our weekly departures provide a solid logistics backbone for regular furniture sourcing from Turkey. Imports are made under your EORI number, postponed VAT accounting can be used, and customs duty is reduced to zero with an origin statement. For regular shipments, see our commercial freight service.
What Determines the Cost?
- Volume and number of pieces: a bedroom set occupies 3-5 m³ dismantled; a three-piece sofa set 4-6 m³.
- Packing standard: standard wrapping, or wooden crating for glass and marble.
- Delivery terms: kerbside, carried to the floor, or assembled.
- Customs and taxes: export declaration, proof of origin, UK import declaration, 20% VAT.
- Insurance: all-risk cover on the invoice value.
- London delivery conditions: parking permit, ULEZ zone, building access.
Pre-Purchase Checklist
A few small checks while choosing furniture in Turkey prevent big problems in the UK:
- Confirm dimensions: compare the piece with the door widths of your UK home (mostly 76-80 cm), stair turns and room sizes.
- Can it be dismantled? Large one-piece items (wide wardrobes, L-shaped sofas) cause problems both in transit and when getting them into the building.
- Electrical items: chandeliers, lit display units and similar products need a 3-pin plug and UKCA/CE compliance in the UK.
- Invoice: ask the seller upfront whether an export-registered invoice is possible.
- Fire safety: upholstered furniture in the UK requires a fire-safety label; mandatory if you will sell commercially, recommended for personal use.
Worked Example: Bedroom Set and Sofa from İnegöl to London
A family living in north London buys a bedroom set and a corner sofa from İnegöl. The manufacturer issues an export-registered invoice and delivers the goods to our Istanbul warehouse. There the items are checked in dismantled form, the glass doors are crated in wood and the total volume is measured at 9 m³. The goods leave on the weekly groupage departure; thanks to the invoice with its origin statement, UK customs duty comes to zero and 20% VAT is paid. On day nine the delivery is made by panel van from our London warehouse; our crew assembles the bedroom set and removes the packaging.
Why REG Transport?
- Over 12 years of hands-on experience: thousands of completed shipments for families and businesses on the Turkey–UK and Turkey–Europe routes.
- Our own fleet and warehouses: depots in Istanbul, Gaziantep, London and Frankfurt; regular weekly departures that do not depend on third-party hauliers.
- Licensed customs operation: export declarations in Turkey and import declarations in the destination country are handled by our partner customs brokers; we prepare all documents on your behalf.
- One point of contact: the same account manager from survey to delivery, with updates at loading, border crossing and delivery.
- Transparent quotation: freight, packing, customs, insurance and delivery are itemised separately in writing; no surprise costs.
- Insurance: CMR included; full-value cover on declared value available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much tax will I pay in the UK on furniture bought in Turkey?
With proof of origin, customs duty is zero on most products; 20% import VAT is paid on the goods value plus freight. Our quotation shows the estimated tax as a separate line.
Can the seller deliver the furniture to your warehouse?
Yes. Goods delivered to our Istanbul and Gaziantep warehouses are checked, packed and loaded for shipment. We also collect from manufacturing hubs such as İnegöl and Kayseri.
Can I ship new furniture together with my used household goods?
Yes. They travel in the same vehicle; on the declaration the used goods are shown duty-free under ToR1 and the new furniture separately as taxable.
What happens if something is damaged?
Shipments are covered by CMR insurance, and all-risk cover on the invoice value can be added. Any damage found at delivery is recorded on the delivery note and compensated.
Is assembly included?
Assembly is an optional service and is shown as a separate line in the quotation.
Get a Quote
Share your furniture invoice or packing list, or simply the product dimensions, and we will send a written quotation the same day covering freight, customs, estimated VAT and assembly options. Quote form — for more details, see our international furniture shipping page.
