What to Include in a Custom Chair RFQ: A Furniture Buyer’s Checklist
A strong RFQ, or request for quotation, helps a furniture manufacturer understand exactly what you need. It also makes supplier quotations easier to compare because everyone is pricing the same project requirements.
For custom chairs, the best RFQs combine visual direction, technical details, commercial information, and a clear approval process.
1. Describe the Project and Intended Use
Start with a short description of the project. Is the chair for a hotel lobby, restaurant, guest room, villa, apartment, or other commercial interior?
Explain how the chair will be used and where it will be placed. This gives the manufacturer useful context when reviewing size, comfort, materials, and construction.
2. Include Dimensions and Drawings
Provide dimensions whenever possible, including overall width, depth, height, seat height, and arm height. If you have CAD files, technical drawings, or marked-up reference images, include them.
If some dimensions are still under review, clearly label them as provisional. A supplier can then identify which details need confirmation before sampling or production.
3. Specify Materials, Colours, and Finishes
List the required upholstery, wood species, metal finish, colour, and any special details such as piping, buttons, nailheads, stitching, or contrasting materials.
If a specific fabric is required, provide its name, code, supplier information, or a physical swatch. Reference photos are useful, but they should support—not replace—written specifications.
4. State Quantity and Delivery Requirements
Include the estimated quantity for each model, the delivery city or port, and the required completion date. If the project will be delivered in phases, explain the expected quantities and schedule for each phase.
This information helps the manufacturer assess production planning, packaging, and shipping requirements from the beginning.
5. Explain Your Sample and Approval Process
State whether you need a pre-production sample and who will approve it. Confirm how feedback will be shared and whether any revisions are expected before the final order.
A clear approval process prevents confusion later and gives both the buyer and supplier a better record of the agreed specification.
A Simple Custom Chair RFQ Template
Include these points in your next RFQ:
- Project name and location
- Chair type and intended use
- Drawings, dimensions, and reference images
- Upholstery, wood, metal, and finish requirements
- Quantity per model
- Sample requirements
- Delivery destination and target date
- Required quotation currency and trade terms
- Main contact person for technical approval
A complete RFQ saves time, produces more accurate quotations, and creates a stronger foundation for custom furniture production.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my chair dimensions are not final?
Send all available information and mark unfinished details clearly. The manufacturer can identify which points must be confirmed before sampling.
Should I send CAD files to a furniture manufacturer?
Yes, if available. CAD files and dimensioned drawings help reduce ambiguity and improve quotation accuracy.
Why do quotes vary between custom chair suppliers?
Differences often come from materials, construction, sample scope, packaging, quantity, and what each supplier has included or excluded.