Export Furniture from South Africa — UK, USA, Europe
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.
Where We Ship
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 |
How Furniture Export Works
- Collection from your supplier: our in-house team collects directly from the maker (leading Cape Town galleries and designer furniture makers, independent workshop, restoration studio) with blanket-wrap (condition report on request).
- White-glove crating in Woodstock: bespoke plywood crates are built in our Woodstock crating workshop — foam-lined and edge-protected for long-haul freight.
- Customs documentation: we prepare the SARS SAD 500 export declaration, the commercial invoice, the packing list, and we advise on preferential origin certificates (EUR.1 for the EU — the exporter applies for and lodges with SARS; SADC certificate for African destinations).
- Freight booking: direct FedEx and DHL accounts for air; consolidator partnerships for LCL and FCL sea freight.
- Destination clearance & delivery: we arrange a clearing agent at destination and (where requested) inland delivery and white-glove placement.
Designer Furniture Export
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 build custom, foam-lined plywood crates, 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.
Costs & Documentation
Furniture export costs depend on volume, weight, destination, and freight mode (air vs sea). Quotes cover freight to the destination port or airport, with optional door-to-door uplift to the buyer’s address.
Documentation we prepare
- SAD 500 — SARS export declaration (mandatory for all SA exports above R50,000).
- Commercial invoice — with HS code, value, Incoterms, and exporter details.
- Packing list — per-crate dimensions, weight, and contents.
- EUR.1 movement certificate — for preferential entry into the EU under the SACU–EU agreement.
- Certificate of origin — SADC, AGOA (USA), or generic COO depending on destination.
- ISPM 15 — mandatory for solid-wood packaging; our plywood crates are exempt.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does furniture export cost?
Air shipments, such as a single dining-chair crate to the UK or a dining table to London, are quoted per job, all-in (crate + freight + customs). As a rough guide, 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.
How long does it take to ship furniture from SA to UK?
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.
Do you handle the customs paperwork at both ends?
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.
What’s the maximum furniture size you can ship?
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.
Can you crate a designer dining table for export?
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. Plywood is exempt from ISPM 15, so it’s ready for export without fumigation.
Related JLog Services
- Crating & Packing — bespoke plywood crates and fine art packing.
- Export from South Africa — full SARS export service across all categories.
- Customs Clearance Guide — complete walk-through of South African customs.
- Furniture Delivery Cape Town — local and national white-glove delivery.
Get a furniture export quote
Send us the piece (photos + dimensions), the supplier address, and the destination postcode. We will quote crate + freight + customs in one reply.
Email: info@jlog.co.za
Call: +27 21 300 6099
Workshop: Unit 12C, Nearby Industrial Park, 10 Railway Street, Woodstock, Cape Town
Frequently asked questions
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), 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 wrapped and crated in plywood (exempt from ISPM-15) with foam blocking so the piece cannot shift, and handled door to door with tracking. Condition reports are available on request. Goods-in-transit insurance is in place; details on request.