When to Order Commercial Patio Furniture: Lead Times and Shipping Before Patio Season
Plan commercial patio furniture for restaurants backwards from opening day: factory lead times, outdoor packing, container shipping, US, UK and EU import.
Short answer: Order commercial patio furniture in the off-season, months before you want guests outside. Building the furniture usually takes 30-45 days for standard designs and 45-60 days for custom work after drawing and sample approval, then ocean transit, customs and delivery. If your patio opens with the first warm weekend, your drawings should be approved while it is still cold.
Alfresco Seat (a line by EASEN Commercial Furniture) builds aluminum, rope, resin and outdoor booth seating in our own production base in Lecong, Foshan, and ships it direct to restaurants, hotels and rooftop bars. Every spring, factories and shipping lines fill up with the same patio orders. Here is how to beat the rush.
Why does patio season squeeze the calendar?
Outdoor furniture is a seasonal purchase in the Northern Hemisphere. Most operators decide in late winter and want delivery for spring. That creates three bottlenecks at once:
- Fabric mills and coating lines are busiest with outdoor orders.
- Ocean freight demand rises ahead of the season.
- Your own installers and permit offices are busy with other patios and streeteries.
The fix is simple: move your decisions earlier. The factory part is predictable; the queue around it is not.
Work backwards from the first sunny weekend
| Milestone | What needs to be done |
|---|---|
| Opening day | Furniture placed, anchored where required, umbrellas up |
| Delivery and setup | Receive, unpack, assemble, check every chair and table |
| Import clearance | Customs entry, duties paid, container released |
| Ocean transit | Port in South China to your port; time depends on route |
| Booking and loading | Freight booked after you approve inspection photos |
| Production | Usually 30-45 days standard or 45-60 days custom, per quote |
| Sample approval | Fabric, color, frame finish, chair sample if ordered |
| Drawings and quote | Layout, quantities, finishes, terms |
Start at the top, work down, and put real dates against each line. Your exact production time is confirmed in the quote.
A practical rhythm for Northern Hemisphere operators: decide on the layout and the look in autumn, approve samples in early winter, and let production run while your patio is closed. The furniture then lands with time to spare for setup, staff training on stacking and storage, and a soft-open weekend before the crowds.
How is outdoor furniture packed for a sea voyage?
Outdoor pieces are built for weather but not for being dropped off a forklift. Packing differs by material:
| Material | How we pack it | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Powder-coated aluminum chairs | Stacked where the design stacks, foam between, film-wrapped, cartoned | Coating scuffs at contact points |
| Rope and woven chairs | Individually bagged, corner guards, cartoned | Crushed weave if overloaded |
| Teak-look slat and composite | Film, corner guards, cartoned | Slat edges |
| Outdoor cushions | Bagged separately, compressed lightly, cartoned | Moisture inside bags |
| Table bases | KD, boxed, hardware bagged | Plates bending |
| Tops (stone, compact laminate, slats) | Upright in crates or edge-guarded cartons | Corners |
| Outdoor booths | Sections sized to gates and stairs, crated | Volume |
Stackable aluminum chairs such as the Graphite Slat Stacking Armchair pack densely, which keeps freight volume low. Outdoor booths and planter booths take more space, so we split them into sections that pass through your gate or rooftop stair.
Cushions travel bagged and separate from frames so they can be fitted, or stored, as you need. Any timber crates or pallets used are ISPM 15 treated and marked.
Container options for a patio package
- LCL (shared container): fine for a sample, a top-up of chairs or a small terrace.
- 20ft: a modest patio of chairs and tables.
- 40ft or 40ft high cube: a full patio, rooftop or streetery package, especially with booths.
Mixed loads work well: chairs, tables, umbrella bases and booths can share one container. We send the packing list with carton sizes and volumes before booking.
FOB, CIF or DDP for outdoor furniture?
| Term | You get | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| FOB (China port) | Goods loaded; you run freight and import | Groups with a forwarder |
| CIF (your port) | We pay freight and insurance to your port | Simple freight, own broker |
| DDP (your venue) | Delivered, duties and clearance included | One number, minimal admin |
We quote all three on request.
Importing into the US
- Your forwarder or broker files the ISF before loading in China.
- Your licensed customs broker lodges the entry and arranges the customs bond.
- Outdoor seating and tables are classified under the furniture chapter of the tariff schedule. Patio pieces made in China also attract additional Section 301 tariffs that have been revised repeatedly; your broker can give the current picture before you budget.
- Sailings from South China reach West Coast ports most directly. For East Coast patios, compare an all-water sailing with a West Coast landing plus rail.
Importing into the UK or EU
- UK: importers need a GB EORI number. Customs duty may apply depending on classification, plus import VAT, usually recoverable for VAT-registered businesses. A customs agent lodges the declaration.
- EU: importers need an EU EORI number. Duty follows the EU common customs tariff, and import VAT is charged at the rate of the member state where goods are cleared.
- Wood packaging must meet ISPM 15 in both.
This is general guidance, not customs advice; your broker or agent has the final word.
Payment and inspection
Production starts on a deposit; the balance is paid before shipment. Before that, we send photos and video of finished pieces: coating color, weave tension, cushion fit, stacking, and packed cartons. A third-party inspector of your choice is welcome at the factory.
Patio order checklist
- Measure the patio and confirm permitted seating area and aisle widths with your local authority.
- Decide stacking needs: do chairs come in every night?
- Choose frame finish and fabric on physical samples.
- Confirm wind exposure for rooftops: heavier bases, anchoring points.
- Approve drawings and quantities, including spare chairs.
- Agree Incoterm and appoint a broker.
- Approve pre-shipment photos, then book freight.
- Plan delivery: truck access, rooftop lift, storage space.
- Book setup crew and check every piece on arrival.
Patio ordering mistakes we see every spring
- Ordering when the weather turns. By then the season is half gone.
- Choosing fabric from a screen. Outdoor colors look different in sunlight.
- Forgetting storage. Winter storage space affects whether you choose stackable chairs.
- Underestimating rooftop wind. Light chairs and big umbrellas need a plan.
- No spares. Outdoor chairs get knocked over; order a few extra.
- Booking freight too early. Wait for inspection approval.
See the aluminum dining chairs and outdoor booths collections to plan a package.
FAQ
When should a restaurant order patio furniture?
Ideally in the off-season. Allow for drawings, typically 30-45 days of production for standard designs or 45-60 days for custom work, plus transit, customs and delivery before opening day.
Do outdoor cushions ship with the chairs?
They ship bagged in separate cartons so they stay clean and dry and can be stored indoors when needed.
Can I ship a small patio order?
Yes, by LCL in a shared container. A full patio usually fills a 20ft or 40ft container.
Do you ship outdoor furniture to Europe?
Yes, on FOB, CIF or DDP terms on request. You or your agent will need an EU or GB EORI number for import.
Send us your patio, rooftop or curb-lane plan with rough dimensions and seat count. We reply with layout suggestions, specification options and a quote.
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