Daily Life
Furniture Delivery and Assembly in China: An Apartment Guide for Foreigners
Plan furniture delivery and assembly in a China apartment with measurements, property access, elevator, floor protection, inspection, and damage records.
Rules and procedures can change. Check the linked official sources before acting on time-sensitive information.
Quick answer
What you need to know
Measure the full delivery path, coordinate compound access and elevator rules, protect the apartment, inspect packages before acceptance, and record damage or missing parts immediately.
- Measure doors, corridors, corners, lifts, stairs, and the final room—not only the furniture footprint.
- Confirm delivery vehicle, worker registration, elevator booking, deposits, quiet hours, and packaging-disposal rules with property management.
- Agree in writing on delivery floor, carrying fees, assembly scope, wall drilling, old-item removal, and damage responsibility.
- Photograph the route and item condition before and after delivery and keep the order and acceptance records.
A sofa can fit the room and still fail to pass a lift door or corridor corner. Delivery can also be delayed when a residential compound requires advance vehicle access, worker registration, or a freight-elevator booking.
Measure the complete route
Record the building entrance, lift-door and cabin dimensions, stair width, landings, corridor turns, apartment door, interior doors, ceiling clearance, and final placement area. Note door handles, railings, lights, fire equipment, and fixed cabinets that narrow the path.
Send the seller the limiting measurements and ask for packaged dimensions, weight, number of cartons, and whether components can be separated. Keep the reply with the order.
Coordinate property access
Ask property management about delivery hours, vehicle height or size, loading location, worker registration, identity requirements, freight-elevator booking, protective padding, deposits, and quiet hours. Provide only the personal information required through an official channel.
If the lift needs a booking, the moving-company and elevator guide offers a broader compound-access checklist.
Define the service scope
Confirm whether the price includes entry to the compound, carrying upstairs, long-distance carrying from the gate, room placement, unpacking, assembly, leveling, wall anchoring, packaging removal, and old-furniture removal. Ask what happens if nobody is home, access is denied, or a package is too large.
Do not assume installers can drill walls. In a rental, obtain written landlord consent and check for concealed electricity, water, gas, heating, or data lines. For wider furnishing decisions, see the apartment furnishing guide.
Prepare and supervise
Clear the route and protect floors, corners, doors, and lift surfaces as required. Move valuables and pets away. Keep fire doors, exits, alarms, and common corridors unobstructed. One adult should remain available to answer placement questions and document the work.
Do not help lift a heavy item unless the team agrees it is safe. Ask the delivery company for an appropriate crew or equipment instead.
Inspect before acceptance
Photograph sealed cartons, labels, dents, moisture, tears, and the surrounding area before opening. Check model, color, dimensions, quantity, hardware, stability, finish, and moving parts. Test doors, drawers, recliners, lights, or power features before the crew leaves when practical.
Record damage or missing parts in the delivery app or receipt and message the seller immediately. Preserve packaging until the remedy is agreed. The returns and refunds guide explains evidence and platform communication.
Delivery-day checklist
- Product and packaged dimensions confirmed.
- Entire route measured and photographed.
- Property and elevator approval obtained.
- Carrying, assembly, drilling, and removal scope written down.
- Landlord consent obtained where needed.
- Floors, corners, pets, and valuables protected.
- Item inspected and functions tested.
- Damage, missing parts, and follow-up deadline recorded.
Building and seller rules vary. Confirm the current written terms before delivery and use qualified help for electrical, structural, or wall-mounting work.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
Will a furniture seller deliver inside my apartment?
Services vary. Confirm whether the quoted price includes compound entry, lift or stair carrying, room placement, unpacking, assembly, packaging removal, and a second attempt if access fails.
Do I need to book the elevator?
Some compounds require an advance booking, protective lining, worker registration, a deposit, or specified hours. Ask property management before selecting a delivery slot.
Can installers drill into a rental wall?
Get the landlord's written approval and check building rules first. Confirm the drilling location, concealed utilities, restoration responsibility, and whether a qualified installer is required.
What should I do if furniture arrives damaged?
Photograph the packaging and item before assembly or disposal, note the issue in the delivery or platform record, preserve labels and messages, and request the seller's documented remedy process.
