South African designer and bespoke furniture is in demand worldwide. JLog handles white-glove crating, customs documentation, and direct FedEx + DHL freight from our Woodstock workshop. Trusted by leading South African galleries and designer furniture makers.
South African furniture — especially Cape designer hardwood, contemporary pieces, and antique restorations — has become a real export category. Buyers in London, New York, Sydney, Lisbon, and Munich source directly from Cape Town makers and need a freight partner who can crate, document, and ship. JLog handles the full chain: collection from your supplier, white-glove crating in our Woodstock workshop, SARS export documentation (SAD 500, certificate of origin, commercial invoice) plus EUR.1 advisory (the exporter applies and lodges with SARS Customs), and direct freight via our FedEx and DHL accounts. We handle the customs entry as part of the job, and are an official Cape Town Art Fair carrier, and the chosen export partner for leading South African galleries and designer furniture makers.
Door-to-door furniture export from Cape Town to all major destinations.
| Destination | Air Freight ETA | Sea Freight ETA |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (London) | 3–5 days (FedEx/DHL) | 21–28 days (LCL) |
| United States (NY, LA) | 4–6 days | 28–35 days |
| Australia (Sydney) | 5–7 days | 30–40 days |
| Europe (Germany, France, NL) | 3–5 days | 21–28 days |
| UAE / Middle East | 3–4 days | 18–25 days |
There is a real moment for South African design overseas. Cape hardwoods (local oak and ash), contemporary local studios (Houtlander, Dokter and Misses), and the Cape Town design diaspora have created international demand. Buyers in London and New York are paying premium prices for SA-made dining tables, bespoke cabinetry, and restored heritage pieces.
JLog handles the freight problem — the part that stops most buyers from completing the purchase. We crate to museum standard, document to SARS specification, and book direct with the carriers. Our clients include international design buyers, expats furnishing homes overseas, and SA makers selling direct to international clientele.
Furniture export costs depend on volume, weight, destination, and freight mode (air vs sea). All quotes are CIF (cost, insurance, freight) to the destination port or airport, with optional door-to-door uplift to the buyer’s address.
As a rough guide: a single dining-chair crate to the UK by air starts around a quoted amount all-in (crate + freight + customs). A dining table by air to London is typically a quoted amount. A full lounge suite by sea (LCL) to the UK runs R28,000–R45,000. Quotes are exact — send dimensions, weight, value, and destination postcode.
Express courier via FedEx or DHL is 3–5 working days from Cape Town to a UK address, plus 1–2 days for our crating. (Larger consignments via airline air freight quoted separately.) Sea freight LCL is 21–28 days port to port plus 5–7 days for inland delivery. Most clients on tight timelines pick air; buyers furnishing a full home pick sea.
We prepare and lodge the SARS SAD 500 ourselves — SAD 500, commercial invoice, packing list. For EUR.1 or COO, we advise on eligibility and what SARS requires; the exporter applies for and lodges the certificate. At destination we appoint a clearing agent (UK, USA, AU, EU partners) who handles import clearance, duty/VAT payment, and inland delivery on your behalf.
By air: most carriers cap at around 300 cm on the longest side and 1,000 kg per piece. By sea LCL: up to roughly 600 cm long. By sea FCL (full container): a 20-foot container fits a typical 2-bed home; a 40-foot HC fits a full 4-bed home including outdoor furniture. We can quote any of those.
Yes — we have crated dozens of designer furniture pieces for international clients. Our standard build for a designer table is a foam-lined plywood crate with corner blocks, internal cleats, and a screwed lid for safe destination unpacking. ISPM 15 stamped, ready for any export market.
Send us the piece (photos + dimensions), the supplier address, and the destination postcode. We will quote crate + freight + customs in one reply.
Email: [email protected]
Call: +27 21 300 6099
Workshop: Unit 12C, Nearby Industrial Park, 10 Railway Street, Woodstock, Cape Town
What does it cost to ship designer furniture overseas?
Cost is driven by crate volume and weight, the freight mode (sea for large consignments, air or courier for single pieces), insurance on the declared value, and destination charges. Because volumetric size dominates, an exact quote needs the piece dimensions — JLog prices each shipment line by line.
How is designer furniture protected in transit?
Each piece is condition-checked, wrapped, and crated in ISPM-15 certified timber with closed-cell foam blocking so the piece cannot shift. High-value works ship with transit insurance and tracked, door-to-door handling.