# Furniture inspection checklist: defects, tests and marks > Our furniture inspection checklist: trial assembly, stability and load tests, wood moisture, finish and upholstery defects, dimensions, packing and labels. Source: https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/furniture/ Inspection checkpoints · Furniture # Furniture inspection: what we check. A furniture inspection checks construction, finish, stability and assembly on a random sample drawn to ANSI/ASQ Z1.4, including a trial assembly from the carton. Here is what our inspectors check on case goods, seating and flat-pack furniture. [Book an inspection](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/book-an-inspection/?product=Furniture) [Open the checklist](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/inspection-checklist/?cat=furniture) 16 defects we look for 6 on-site tests 0 / 2.5 / 4.0 typical AQL Furniture **Critical** Storage unit that tips over, or is missing required anti-tip hardware or warnings **Major** Loose joint or wobble on a flat floor **Minor** Small sanding mark on a hidden surface Case goods and storage, tables, dining and upholstered seating, office chairs, outdoor furniture and flat-pack. Defects by class ## Critical, major, minor: how we class them. Each defect in the sample is photographed and counted in its class. Your AQL plan sets how many are allowed; for critical defects the answer is none. AQL 0 ### Critical defects Likely to injure the user or breaks a mandatory rule of the destination market. One critical defect in the sample means the lot is not accepted. * Storage unit that tips over, or is missing required anti-tip hardware or warnings * Structural crack or joint failure under load * Protruding screw, staple or sharp edge * Finger trap in a folding, reclining or moving mechanism * Live insect activity in wood (fresh frass or bore dust) AQL 2.5 typical ### Major defects Likely to cause a failure, reduce usability or make the product unsaleable, so a customer would return it. * Loose joint or wobble on a flat floor * Finish defect in view: runs, orange peel, sanding marks or colour mismatch * Crack or split in solid wood * Wrong or missing hardware; trial assembly fails * Drawers or doors misaligned, sticking or not closing flush * Upholstery stain, tear or crooked seam * Dimension outside tolerance AQL 4.0 typical ### Minor defects A departure from the specification that does not affect use and is unlikely on its own to cause a return. * Small sanding mark on a hidden surface * Slight colour variation within the approved range * Small glue residue on a hidden joint * Light scuff on the underside Your specification and approved sample decide the final class. Where a buyer defines zones (for example, zone A for the most visible surfaces), a defect in zone A is usually classed higher than the same defect in a hidden area. On-site tests ## Tests we run at the factory. 1. 01 **Trial assembly** Assembled from the packed carton using only the manual and hardware bag. 2. 02 **Moisture content** Pin meter on solid wood (commonly 8–12% for indoor furniture; follow your specification). 3. 03 **Load test** Seats, shelves and tops loaded at the value in your specification. 4. 04 **Stability and tip-over** Storage units checked to your market’s requirement, for example the US STURDY Act for clothing storage units. 5. 05 **Finish adhesion** Cross-hatch test on painted or lacquered surfaces. 6. 06 **Drawer and door cycles** Opened and closed repeatedly; runners and hinges checked. Measurements ## Points we measure. Measurement points for furniture Point| How we measure ---|--- Width, depth, height| Overall, against the drawing Seat or top height| From the floor Diagonals| Squareness of frames and carcasses Drawer inner size| Width, depth and height Level| All feet touch a flat floor Unit: mm unless stated. We measure at least five units per size or version against your specification and tolerances, and report every reading. Packing and labelling ## Packed right, labelled right. * Corner and edge protectors; foam or pulp where parts touch * Hardware bag sealed, counted and fixed in the carton * Assembly instructions inside, in the destination languages * Flat-pack parts labelled to match the instructions * Carton board grade suits the weight; weight label on heavy cartons * Carton drop test on one packed unit for flat-pack * Shipping marks, carton count, gross weight and dimensions agree with the packing list Market marks ## What your market expects. US STURDY Act stability and warning label for clothing storage units; TSCA Title VI label for composite wood; TB 117-2013 label for upholstered furniture sold in California. UK Display and permanent labels for upholstered furniture under the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. EU Wood furniture falls under the EUDR, which applies from 30 December 2026 for large and medium operators. Standards Test reports to the standards in your specification, for example EN 12520, EN 14749 or BIFMA. We check marks and documents against your specification. Your compliance team or test lab confirms which rules apply to your exact product. How we inspect it ## On the floor, step by step. We open cartons from different pallets, run a full trial assembly with the packed hardware, and inspect every surface in good light. Moisture readings, load and stability checks run on assembled units, which we photograph from every side. Suggested planLevel II with AQL 0 / 2.5 / 4.0 is usual. For large items, many buyers use a special level to keep the sample practical. * [Sampling**AQL sampling planner** Sample size and accept numbers for AQL 0 / 2.5 / 4.0.](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/aql-sampling-planner/?lot=3500&level=II&crit=0&major=2.5&minor=4.0) * [Checklist**Furniture inspection checklist** A printable form with these checks, ready for your inspector.](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/inspection-checklist/?cat=furniture) * [Testing**Test advisor** Which lab tests your product needs before it ships.](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/test-advisor/) * [Report**See an example report** A full pre-shipment report, page by page.](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/sample-report/) Other categories * [Apparel and textiles](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/apparel-and-textiles/) * [Home textiles](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/home-textiles/) * [Metal hardgoods](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/metal-hardgoods/) * [Plastic products](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/plastic-products/) * [Electronics and electricals](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/electronics/) * [Leather goods and footwear](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/leather-goods-and-footwear/) * [Ceramics and glass](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/ceramics-and-glass/) * [Toys](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/toys/) * [Packaging](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/packaging/) Furniture inspection questions ## Straight answers. Anything else, ask us directly. A principal replies, not a bot. [anirudh@sourcesquid.co](mailto:anirudh@sourcesquid.co) ### What is on a furniture inspection checklist? Quantity and packing, a trial assembly from the carton, finish and construction, upholstery, measurements, stability and load checks, wood moisture content, labels and warnings, and the test reports for your market. ### Do you assemble furniture during the inspection? Yes. We assemble sampled units from the packed carton using only the manual and the hardware bag, exactly as your customer would. Missing hardware, misdrilled holes and unclear steps show up straight away. ### How do you check wood moisture content? With a calibrated pin meter on several points of each sampled unit. Indoor furniture is commonly 8–12%, but we test against the figure in your specification and report every reading. Book a check ## Your furniture, checked point by point. Tell us the product, the factory and the date. We confirm the inspector and the fixed price the same working day. [Book an inspection](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/book-an-inspection/?product=Furniture)[Talk to a principal](https://sourcesquid.co/contact/)