What minimum order quantities really mean in furniture, and how to plan a mixed-SKU container.
Furniture is priced and shipped by volume, so factory minimums and container planning are really the same conversation. Buyers who understand how a load is built tend to get better answers on both.
MOQ is usually about the container
In furniture, minimums are often expressed per container rather than per unit. A "1 x 40ft container" MOQ means the factory wants to fill a container, which many will let you do with a mix of SKUs. Most factories add a per-SKU floor on top of that, often 50 to 200 pieces per model and finish, because each design carries its own setup, jig, and finishing costs. Expect the per-SKU minimum to rise for custom finishes, fabrics, or hardware that the factory does not stock. If you cannot reach a full container, ask about LCL (less than container load) shipping or whether the factory will consolidate your order with another buyer's; some will, particularly for repeat customers, though the per-unit price is usually higher.
Know your container numbers
A 20ft container holds roughly 28 to 30 usable cubic meters (CBM), a standard 40ft around 58 to 60, and a 40ft high cube around 66 to 68 once you allow for packing inefficiency. Ask the factory for carton dimensions and pieces per carton for each SKU, then multiply length by width by height in meters to get CBM per carton. Furniture almost always fills a container by volume before it reaches the weight limit, so CBM is the number to plan around; the exception is stone, marble, or solid hardwood pieces, where payload can become the constraint. Knock-down (flat-pack) items can cube at a fraction of their assembled volume, which is why a container of KD dining chairs might hold several times as many units as one of fully assembled chairs.
Planning a mixed load
Work with the factory on a loading plan that balances your assortment against container volume. Bulky outdoor items fill a container faster than flat-pack goods, so a mixed load of sofas and dining sets will often be dominated by the sofas. Most factories will produce a loading plan for free once quantities are near final; ask for it before you confirm, and expect a realistic fill rate of 85 to 90 percent rather than 100. Small, dense items such as stools, side tables, or cushions are useful for filling the gaps left by larger cartons. Finally, confirm which party is responsible for loading and securing the container at the factory, since damage from poor stuffing is one of the most common and least recoverable shipping claims.