Shipping Stone Restaurant Table Tops: Crating, Lead Times and Import to the US and Europe

Short answer: Stone restaurant table tops travel separately from their bases: tops are edge-protected and packed upright in ISPM 15 wooden crates, while bases ship boxed and knocked down with their fixings. Production is typically 30-45 days for standard designs and 45-60 days for custom sizes or finishes after drawing and sample approval, plus transit and customs. Most breakage happens at the corners and during unloading, not at sea, so specify the crate and plan the unpack.

Stone & Base (a line by EASEN Commercial Furniture) makes tops and bases in our own production base in Lecong, Foshan, a district surrounded by stone processors and metal shops. This guide covers the physical side of getting a table package to a US or European restaurant intact.

1. Why tops and bases ship apart

A stone top fixed to a base is a lever. Every bump in transit loads the mounting plate and the stone around the fixings. Shipping them separately removes that risk and shrinks volume.

Bases such as the Calder column system ship with the column, foot and top plate separated and labeled. Assembly on site takes a wrench, not a workshop.

2. How stone tops are crated

1. Pre-drilled or pre-inserted fixings. Threaded inserts are set at the factory, so nobody drills stone on site.
2. Edge channels. Foam or corrugated U-channels on all edges; corners get extra blocks.
3. Face protection. Film on solid wood and laminate; on porous stone, a protective sheet that does not leave adhesive residue.
4. Upright loading. Tops stand on edge in a crate, separated by foam or timber spacers. Stone lying flat with weight on top is how cracks start.
5. Crate build. Solid timber or plywood crate, braced, with ISPM 15 heat-treated and stamped timber for any solid wood parts. Required by US, UK and EU rules for wood packaging.
6. Marking. Crate labels: "fragile, this side up, do not lay flat", content list and order reference.

3. Weight: what it changes

Stone is heavy for its volume, which affects three decisions.

Weight also helps you. A heavier top on a correctly sized base is more stable. The right base spread depends on the top's size and use. Wobble at the venue is usually a floor issue, so we ship adjustable levelers on every base.

4. Lead time, stage by stage

Natural stone varies slab to slab. If vein direction matters, ask for photos of the actual slab before cutting; it may add a few days but avoids disappointment.

5. Choosing shipping terms

• FOB (port in South China): crating, export clearance and loading are ours; your forwarder handles freight, import and delivery.
• CIF (your port): we add ocean freight and insurance to your destination port.
• DDP (your site): delivered, customs-cleared and duty-paid.

All three on request. For stone, insure the cargo either way, and check whether the policy covers breakage and how a claim must be documented (usually photos at unpacking, noted on the delivery receipt).

LCL vs FCL. A small order of a few tables ships LCL, consolidated with other cargo. Stone crates in LCL get handled more, so crate quality matters even more. A full restaurant package usually justifies a 20ft or 40ft container, where tops, bases and chairs can share space.

6. Importing into the United States

• An ISF filing is required before loading in China; your forwarder or broker files it.
• Entry is filed by your licensed customs broker, backed by a customs bond.
• Tables and parts fall under the furniture chapter of the tariff schedule; on top of normal duty, goods of Chinese origin attract extra Section 301 tariffs whose scope has shifted over the years. Get the current position from your broker before budgeting.
• From South China, the shortest sailing is to the West Coast; East Coast deliveries may go all-water or via a West Coast port and rail. Compare door-to-door.

7. Importing into the UK and EU

• UK (post-Brexit): you need a GB EORI number to import. Imports from China are subject to UK customs duty where the tariff applies, and import VAT, which VAT-registered businesses can usually reclaim. A customs agent files the declaration. Timber packaging must meet ISPM 15.
• EU: you need an EU EORI number. Goods are declared on arrival in the EU, with customs duty under the common tariff and import VAT at the rate of the member state of import. Wood packaging must be ISPM 15 marked.

Check with your customs agent for the current tariff classification of your specific tops and bases. This is general information, not customs advice.

8. Payment and inspection

A deposit starts production; the balance is due before shipment. Before the balance, we send photos and video of every top, edge and base, then the closed crates. You are welcome to appoint a third-party inspection company to check at the factory.

9. Receiving checklist

1. Confirm unloading equipment and access before the truck arrives.
2. Inspect crates on arrival; photograph any damage before signing.
3. Open crates on site, near where tables will stand.
4. Lift tops vertically, two people per top at least, gloves on.
5. Assemble bases first, then fix tops using the supplied hardware.
6. Level each table with the base adjusters.
7. Keep a spare top or two for a large project; stone replacement is slow.

10. Common mistakes when shipping stone tables

• Tops fixed to bases for transit. Loads the stone at the fixings.
• Flat-stacked stone. Weight on weight cracks thin tops.
• No insurance or no photos. Without unpacking photos, a breakage claim is hard to make.
• Ignoring weight on mixed loads. A container can max out on weight before it is full.
• Dragging crates across floors. Use dollies or a jack.
• No spare. One chipped corner can hold up an opening.

See stone-top tables and the communal tables for packages that ship well together.

FAQ

Are stone table tops shipped attached to the base?

No. Tops ship crated on edge, bases ship boxed and knocked down, and they are assembled on site with the supplied hardware.

How long does a stone table order take?

Allow 30-45 days to produce standard designs and 45-60 days for custom work after drawing and sample approval; transit and customs follow. Confirmed in each quote.

Do wooden crates cause problems at customs?

Not if they meet ISPM 15. Our solid timber crating is heat-treated and stamped.

What if a top arrives broken?

Photograph the crate and the top before signing, note damage on the delivery receipt and contact us and your insurer immediately.