How to Source Custom Wooden Products from China in 2026: MOQ, Lead Times, FBA Prep & QC
Share
Sourcing custom wooden products from China — storage boxes, trays, display stands, kitchenware, pet furniture or gift packaging — is mostly about choosing the right factory and controlling five things: material, MOQ, sampling, lead time and quality. This guide walks through each step from the perspective of a factory that has exported wooden products since 2008.
1. Where wooden products are made in China
Wooden crafts production in China is concentrated in a few industrial clusters. Cao County (Caoxian) in Heze, Shandong is one of the largest, known in particular for paulownia wood products, wooden boxes and home organization items. Working with a factory inside a cluster usually means shorter material lead times and easier access to sub-processes such as painting, laser engraving and packaging.
2. Factory or trading company?
Ask for the business license, factory address and a live video tour of the workshop. A manufacturer can show production lines, a painting shop and raw-material storage; a trading company typically cannot. Third-party audits (for example Intertek, SGS or BV factory reports) and FSC Chain of Custody certificates can be checked against the issuing body's public database.
3. Choosing the wood
| Material | Typical uses | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Paulownia | Gift and storage boxes, lightweight crates | Very light, cost-effective, takes stain and burning well |
| Pine | Crates, shelves, garden and pet products | Widely available, easy to paint |
| Acacia | Serving boards, trays, kitchenware | Hard, attractive grain, popular for food-contact items |
| Bamboo | Kitchen and bath organizers, trays | Fast-renewing, stable, eco positioning |
| Rubberwood | Furniture parts, kitchen tools | Dense and durable at moderate cost |
4. MOQ and pricing
Most wooden product factories set MOQ per item, commonly in the low hundreds of pieces for catalog designs and higher for new tooling or special finishes. Unit price usually drops at volume tiers, so always ask for a tiered quote (for example at 300, 1,000 and 5,000 pieces) and confirm whether logo, inner packaging and carton marks are included.
5. Samples
Expect around 7–10 days for a sample of an existing design and longer for a new structure. Approve a "golden sample" and keep one signed copy each at your office and at the factory — it becomes the reference for bulk inspection.
6. Production lead time
Bulk production for wooden products commonly takes 25–45 days after sample approval, depending on quantity, drying and finishing. Painted or lacquered items need extra curing time. Plan around Chinese New Year, when many factories close for 2–4 weeks.
7. Amazon FBA requirements
If you sell on Amazon, ask the factory to apply FNSKU labels, bag or box items to FBA packaging rules, add suffocation warnings where required, and print carton labels. Some factories, including Searunwood, can ship DDP directly to Amazon fulfillment centers.
8. Quality control checklist
- Moisture content of the wood (cracking and mould risk in transit)
- Dimensions and tolerances against the golden sample
- Finish: color consistency, no drips, no rough edges or splinters
- Hardware and joints: hinges, magnets and screws secure
- Logo position and quality, packaging and carton drop test
Book a third-party pre-shipment inspection for first orders.
9. Shipping and payment
Common terms are FOB (Qingdao, Shanghai or Ningbo for northern and eastern China), CIF or DDP. Payment is usually T/T with a deposit and balance before shipment; Alibaba Trade Assurance and L/C add buyer protection.
About Searunwood
Searunwood (Searun Wooden Crafts Co., Ltd) is an OEM/ODM wooden products manufacturer in Cao County, Shandong, founded in 2008: 19,184 m² factory, FSC CoC certified, Intertek-verified, 97.7% on-time delivery, samples in 7–10 days and bulk production in 25–35 days, with Amazon FBA labeling and DDP service and a US office in Oregon. See our Wholesale & OEM FAQ or request a quote.