UK hotel owners, operators and contractors can source guestroom furniture, beds, seating and joinery from Turkey with no customs duty on the main wooden furniture lines. Rovers reads the BOQ and drawings, prices every line with the Turkish partner factory that fits, issues shop drawings and samples for approval, follows production, inspects before packing, delivers to site and installs.
Duty and VAT on Turkish hotel furniture
| Commodity code | Goods | Third-country duty | Preference (Türkiye) | Import VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9403 50 00 00 | Wooden bedroom furniture | 0% | 0% | 20% |
| 9403 60 10 00 | Wooden dining and living-room furniture | 0% | 0% | 20% |
| 9403 60 90 00 | Other wooden furniture | 0% | 0% | 20% |
| 9401 61 00 00 | Upholstered seats with wooden frames | 0% | 0% | 20% |
Source: HMRC UK Trade Tariff, read 4 Oct 2026. With the general rate at 0% on these lines, duty does not depend on a proof of origin. Other lines (metal frames, lighting, mattresses, textiles) carry their own codes and are checked one by one on the quote.
Fire standards for UK hotel furniture
The UK splits furniture into domestic and contract. The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 cover upholstered furniture supplied for domestic use, which includes most holiday lets. Hotels are medium-hazard premises and buy to the contract standards.
| Item | Standard for a hotel (medium hazard) | Test behind it |
|---|---|---|
| Upholstered seating, upholstered headboards | BS 7176, medium hazard | BS 5852, including the crib 5 ignition source |
| Mattresses, bed bases, divans | BS 7177, medium hazard | Ignition tests set out in BS 7177 |
| Curtains and drapes | BS 5867 | Flammability of fabrics |
Source: VisitBritain Pink Book, read 4 Oct 2026. Cover fabric, interliner and foam are tested as the combination that will be built, so the fabric choice is fixed before the test is booked. Serviced apartments sit between the two regimes, and the operator’s fire risk assessment decides which applies.
UKCA marking does not cover furniture as a product area (GOV.UK). Parts that are their own regulated products keep their own marking: a headboard with sockets or reading lights uses certified electrical components, and a fire door set comes with its own test evidence.
Road or sea
| Road | Sea | |
|---|---|---|
| How | Truck across Europe or truck + RoRo, door to door | Container from a Turkish port to a UK port, then truck to site |
| Best for | Phased deliveries, one floor at a time, a fixed site date | Full packages in 40 ft containers |
| Handling | Loaded at the factory, unloaded at site | Port handling and a second truck leg |
Transit for each option is quoted per booking with its freight line. A hotel that opens floor by floor often mixes both: sea for the bulk, road for the last phase and any replacement items.
Documents and terms
- Commercial invoice and packing list, one line per item code, room type and floor.
- CMR consignment note by road, or bill of lading by sea.
- The UK importer’s EORI number and the customs declaration, filed by the importer’s broker.
- Incoterms 2020: DAP site is usual for a delivered price; FCA Turkey suits a buyer with a forwarder.
What to send us
Send the BOQ or the drawings, the operator’s brand standard and fire specification, the site postcode and the date rooms are needed. With no BOQ, the drawings or a room count are enough for a first priced schedule.
- UK Trade Tariff (HMRC): 9403 50 00 00, 9403 60 10 00, 9403 60 90 00, 9401 61 00 00 — third-country duty 0.00%, preferential (Türkiye) 0.00%, VAT 20% · accessed 2026-10-04
- VisitBritain Pink Book: fire safety of furniture and furnishings (hazard categories; BS 7176, BS 7177, BS 5867) · accessed 2026-10-04
- GOV.UK: Using the UKCA marking (product areas covered) · accessed 2026-10-04
- ICC: Incoterms 2020 · accessed 2026-10-04