How much does a container of furniture from Bali cost?

The 5 items that make up the final price

1. Making the furniture — the core of the spend, and where Bali changes everything: for the same quality (solid wood, made to measure), production often costs two to three times less than in Europe. The price depends on the pieces, the woods and the finishes you choose.
2. Packing and loading — every piece wrapped individually (kraft paper, foam, cardboard), the container wedged and strapped. Included in our quotes; you receive photos of the loading.
3. Sea freight — transport from the Indonesian port to your arrival port. It varies with the destination, the container size (20 or 40 ft) and current freight rates — it is the most volatile item, which is why our quotes are dated.
4. Customs and taxes on arrival — import duties and taxes depend on your country and on how the goods are classified: what to expect is explained here. They are paid at destination, and the amount is confirmed by your customs broker or freight forwarder — we help you anticipate them.
5. Final delivery — from the port to your door. Depending on the case: home delivery, or collection at the port to save on this item.

Container sizes, and what really fits inside

The answer to the question we hear most: a whole house fits in ONE container — a 20 ft in most cases, a 40 ft for a large villa. And since freight is paid per container, the fuller it is, the less each piece costs: our clients fill the empty spaces with décor, textiles and lighting.

The price ranges we see

Indicative estimates (freight rates vary with the season and the exact destination) — your quote, on the other hand, is firm and itemised.

As for timing: the crossing takes about 4 to 5 weeks to Europe and 8 to 10 weeks to North America, the United States, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and South America — on top of 6 to 8 weeks of production (10 to 12 for a piece designed specially for you). Lead times are detailed in the FAQ.

Example of an overall budget: to furnish a whole house (made-to-measure production + 20 ft container + delivery), our projects most often fall between €15,000 and €40,000 depending on the number of pieces and the woods chosen, with arrival duties and taxes depending on your country — that is, for the same solid-wood quality, roughly two to three times less than the same furnishings bought in Europe. Freight ends up being only 10 to 20% of the budget: it is production that sets the price, and that is where Bali is unbeatable.

"Cheap furniture from Bali": what's true, what's not

It is the phrase that comes up most in searches, and it deserves a straight answer rather than a sales pitch. Yes, Bali lets you pay much less for a solid-wood piece. No, that isn't true in every situation — and getting this wrong is expensive.

What's true

• The gap is in production, and it is real — labour, local woods and the skills available on the island make most of the difference. It is this item, not shipping, that explains the price.
• Made to measure costs nothing extra — your dimensions, your wood, your finish: it is how these workshops normally work, not an option charged extra as in Europe.
• The fuller the container, the less each piece costs — freight is paid per container, not per piece. That is why a complete project is proportionally better value than three isolated pieces.
• On a series, the gap widens further — forty identical chairs for a restaurant is where Bali is hardest to compete with.

What's false, or incomplete

• "Cheap" doesn't mean "small budget" — below a certain threshold, shipping wipes out the saving. Under a few cubic metres, the question is no longer the price of the furniture but the price of freight: that is where the shared container takes over, and below that, we will tell you frankly.
• The price you see in Bali is not the price delivered to your door — comparing an Indonesian workshop price with a European store tag means nothing until you add export packing, freight, arrival duties and taxes, and final delivery. That is the whole point of the items detailed above.
• The cheapest on site is almost always the most expensive on arrival — wood that hasn't been dried enough cracks within six months in your climate. It is the number-one defect of imported furniture, and the only way to avoid it is to check the wood before production, not after delivery.
• There is a visitor price and a local price — the same workshop doesn't quote a passing buyer the way it quotes a regular client ordering in Indonesian. That gap can't be closed by negotiating over email.
• Lead time is part of the price — 6 to 8 weeks of production, then the crossing. If your furniture has to be in place next month, buying locally will be cheaper in net terms, whatever the price tags say.

So the right question isn't "how much cheaper is it", but from what volume does it become worthwhile for you. It can be settled in two minutes with a list of furniture and a destination — and sometimes the answer is no.

Your exact figure: the firm quote

These ranges give the order of magnitude; your project has its own precise figure. Our quote gives it line by line — production, packing and freight — before any commitment, and arrival duties and taxes are anticipated with your customs broker. It is one of our working rules.