Importing windows and doors from China to Australia: a complete guide

Why Australian builders are importing windows and doors from China

Custom windows and doors are one of the most expensive line items in any Australian residential build. A full house set of aluminium double-glazed windows can run $40,000–$80,000 through Australian suppliers. The same specification, sourced direct from a Chinese factory, typically costs $12,000–$25,000 landed in Australia.

The difference is not a quality trade-off. It's a margin trade-off. Australian distributors are importing the same product, adding a 40–70% markup, and reselling it. When you go direct, you capture that margin yourself.

This guide covers everything you need to know to do it properly.

Do Chinese windows meet Australian Standards?

The key standard for windows and glazed doors in Australia is AS2047, which covers structural performance, weatherproofing, and safety glazing requirements.

Not all Chinese factories produce AS2047-compliant windows. But many do, particularly the larger, more sophisticated manufacturers who have been exporting to Australia, New Zealand, and the UK for years and have invested in the relevant testing and certification infrastructure.

What to ask for:

NATA-accredited test reports for the specific product series (not a generic certificate)
Wind load performance class matching your project's wind zone (AS4055)
Safety glazing compliance to AS1288 for glazed areas in high-risk locations
Thermal performance data if you're targeting NCC energy efficiency requirements

If a factory can't provide these documents, they don't belong on your shortlist.

The anti-dumping situation on Chinese aluminium

This is the issue most importers don't research until they receive an unexpected bill at the wharf.

Australia has active anti-dumping measures on certain Chinese aluminium extrusions under an ongoing investigation by the Anti-Dumping Commission. Whether these apply to your order depends on:

The tariff classification of the specific product (window frames fall under different HS codes depending on their form: assembled units vs. component extrusions)
The aluminium content and origin (measures typically target aluminium extrusions as a component, not finished window units, but the distinction matters)
The specific factory (named entities and cooperating exporters often have different duty rates under the investigation findings)

The practical approach: work with a customs broker who understands the current ADC investigation, and source from a factory that can provide a proper country of origin declaration and whose product has been assessed under the relevant tariff item.

We deal with this on every windows order and know which configurations are clean.

Quality control: what to check before shipping

Pre-shipment inspection is non-negotiable for windows and doors. Key checks:

Structural

Corner joint quality and weld integrity
Frame squareness (measure diagonals, should be within 2mm)
Hardware operation: handles, locks, hinges, restrictor cables
Glazing bead retention and gasket seating

Glazing

Spacer bar bond and seal integrity on double-glazed units
No fogging, chips, or inclusions in the glass
Safety glazing markings where specified

Finish

Powder coat adhesion and colour consistency
No scratches, gouges, or handling damage

Packaging

Individual unit wrapping
Corner protection
Crating for sea freight (not just shrink wrap)

Factory QC is never perfect. The inspection exists to catch problems before they're on a ship. We shoot a photo log on every window and door before sign-off.

Freight and lead times: what to plan for

Typical timelines for a full house set of custom windows and doors:

Stage	Duration
Factory sample approval (if required)	1–2 weeks
Production	30–50 days
Pre-shipment inspection	3–5 days
Sea freight (China to east coast Australia)	25–35 days
Customs clearance and delivery	5–10 days
Total from order to site	~12–16 weeks

Order windows and doors early. They're on the critical path for frame-in and lock-up, and delays here cascade through every subsequent trade.

What you'll pay: a realistic cost breakdown

For a typical 4-bedroom house set (30–40 windows and doors), a rough landed cost breakdown:

Factory price: $15,000–$22,000 AUD (depending on specification)
Sea freight: $2,000–$3,500 for a 20ft container share or FCL
Customs duty: 5% on windows (varies; check with your broker)
GST: 10% on CIF value
Customs clearance + delivery: $800–$1,500
Sourcing fee: included in factory price when working with Threadline

Total landed: typically $20,000–$32,000 for a full house set at a specification that retails in Australia for $45,000–$80,000.

Common mistakes builders make

Buying from a trading company, not a factory. Trading companies in China are middlemen. They source from the same factories you could access directly, add their margin, and often have less technical depth than going direct.

Not providing adequate shop drawings. "Standard sizing" doesn't exist in custom joinery. Factories need fully dimensioned drawings including rough opening sizes, sill details, and hardware schedules.

Skipping the pre-shipment inspection. The inspection fee is $300–$600. A re-order because windows arrived scratched or poorly fitted is $5,000+.

Not accounting for customs duty and GST. First-time importers consistently underestimate landed cost by omitting these. Budget for 15–18% on top of factory price + freight.

Ordering too late. 12–16 weeks sounds like plenty of time until you're three months into a build and realise you ordered at week five.