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Buying Furniture in JB vs Singapore: What It Really Costs (2026)
Last updated: 26 October 2026 · GST rules checked against Singapore Customs and IRAS on 26 October 2026
Furniture in JB often has a lower sticker price, but Singapore buyers pay 9% GST on goods brought in (above a small traveller’s relief), plus delivery and any documentation fees, and warranty repairs may have to cross the border. Compare the landed price in SGD and the after-sales terms before you decide.
Plenty of Singapore households shop at a JB furniture shop, and for some it works out well. This guide sets out what to add to the price and what to ask, so you can compare fairly.
Price · GST · Delivery · Warranty · Returns · Checklist · FAQ
| Buying in JB | Buying in Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Price shown | In ringgit; convert at the day’s exchange rate | In Singapore dollars |
| GST | 9% Singapore GST on goods brought in, above the traveller’s relief (S$500 if away 48 hours or more, S$100 if less; not for certain pass holders) | Included in the displayed price by GST-registered sellers, such as Wihardja |
| Extra fees | Delivery to Singapore and any documentation or customs fee, as listed by the shop | Local delivery fee; stair carry and other charges as listed |
| Delivery time | Depends on the shop and the customs paperwork | Depends on the shop; at Wihardja, ready stock typically 2–3 weeks, made to order typically 60–90 days |
| Warranty and repairs | Ask who carries out repairs in Singapore and who pays for the trip | Local seller; Wihardja’s product pages list a 6-month structural and framework warranty |
| Seeing it first | Many shops in one trip | Easy to go back to re-check and measure |
Is it cheaper to buy furniture in JB?
Often the sticker price is lower, partly because of the exchange rate and lower costs in Malaysia. But the sticker price isn’t what you pay in the end. Compare like with like:
- Buying in JB: the JB price converted to Singapore dollars, plus delivery to Singapore, plus any documentation or customs fee, plus 9% GST on the value above your relief, plus your own transport and time.
- Buying in Singapore: the Singapore price (with GST already included by GST-registered sellers), plus local delivery.
Example (hypothetical numbers): if a table is worth S$1,000 and none of your relief is left, 9% GST alone adds S$90, before any delivery or documentation fees.
GST when you bring furniture from JB into Singapore
- Singapore charges GST on goods brought into the country. The rate is 9% (IRAS), on the value of the goods including cost, insurance and freight.
- Travellers get GST relief on new goods for personal use: up to S$500 if you’ve been away for 48 hours or more, and up to S$100 if you’ve been away for less than 48 hours. You pay GST on the value above that.
- Holders of a work permit, employment pass, student pass, dependent pass or long-term pass issued by the Singapore Government don’t get the relief. Goods for commercial use aren’t covered.
- You can declare and pay GST in advance through the Customs@SG web application, or at the Customs Declaration Kiosks at the checkpoints.
Most furniture is too big to bring back in a car, so it’s usually delivered by the shop or a transport company. The traveller’s relief is described for goods you bring in yourself, so if your furniture is being shipped, ask the shop or transporter how GST will be declared and paid, and get it in writing. Full rules: Singapore Customs: duty-free concession and GST relief.
Delivery from JB to Singapore
JB shops that deliver to Singapore typically list GST, a documentation or customs fee and a delivery fee as separate charges, and fees vary from shop to shop. Before you pay, ask:
- Who handles the delivery and the customs paperwork?
- What’s the total fee in writing, including delivery, documentation and GST?
- How long will delivery to Singapore take?
- Will they carry items up stairs, and what happens if an item arrives damaged?
If you plan to transport furniture yourself, check the vehicle size and loading access, declare the goods at the land checkpoints, and think about insurance for the trip across the Causeway.
Warranty and after-sales across the border
A warranty is only as useful as the repair that comes with it. Whichever shop you buy from, ask how long the warranty lasts, what it covers, and who comes to fix the furniture in Singapore. Ask who pays for the cross-border trip if a repair is needed. Some JB shopping guides themselves list warranty and servicing as something to think about.
For comparison, Wihardja’s product pages list a 6-month structural and framework warranty, which doesn’t include damage from wear and tear.
Returns, exchanges and deposits
In either country, ask about deposits, cancellation and returns before you pay, and keep the receipt. Made-to-order and customised furniture is often not returnable. At Wihardja, for example, orders can’t be cancelled once paid and customised items can’t be returned; see our cancellation policy.
Seeing the furniture before you buy
A JB trip lets you see many shops in one day. Buying in Singapore makes it easier to go back, re-check the size with your measurements, and bring family to see a piece before deciding. Wihardja’s showroom at MacPherson is open from 11.30am to 7pm and closed on Wednesdays.
Delivery time
From JB, delivery time depends on the shop and the customs paperwork. In Singapore it depends on the shop too. At Wihardja, ready-stock furniture is typically delivered within 2 to 3 weeks. Made-to-order pieces take longer: typically 60 to 90 days, and up to 120 days depending on the time of year.
Where Wihardja fits
Wihardja has made solid teak and suar furniture in its own factory in Indonesia since 2001 and sells it at factory prices in Singapore, without a middleman. Wihardja is GST-registered, and all displayed prices are in Singapore dollars and include GST, so there’s no customs paperwork for you. Each product page shows its delivery fee, and a stair-carry fee of $20 per item per floor applies if your furniture can’t go in the lift. Most furniture is delivered fully assembled; bed frames and dining tables are not.
Any custom size is possible, with an extra cost that depends on the additional materials and complexity; see custom furniture. Before delivery, you can inspect your order at our Yishun warehouse by appointment (it isn’t a showroom and isn’t open to walk-ins). Live in Johor? We deliver there too; WhatsApp us for the cross-border transport cost.
To compare prices, see our listed prices or browse bed frames, dining tables, TV consoles and sideboards. Read why our furniture is affordable.
Checklist: before you buy furniture in JB or Singapore
- The landed price in Singapore dollars, with every fee included
- GST and any documentation fee, in writing
- The delivery date
- Whether delivery includes stairs and assembly
- Warranty length, what it covers, and who repairs it in Singapore
- Deposit, cancellation and return terms
- The wood species, and whether it’s solid wood or veneer
- Exact dimensions checked against your floor plan, doors and lift
- Payment method and an itemised receipt
- How to reach the seller after delivery
Visit our MacPherson showroom
Wihardja’s showroom is at 240 MacPherson Rd, Pines Building #05-05, Singapore 348574. It’s open from 11.30am to 7pm and closed on Wednesdays. Call or WhatsApp +65 6922 4588. More answers on delivery and warranty are in our FAQ, and directions are on our locations page.
JB vs Singapore furniture FAQs
Is it cheaper to buy furniture in JB than in Singapore?
Sometimes. The sticker price in Johor Bahru can be lower, but compare the landed price in Singapore dollars: the JB price plus delivery to Singapore, any documentation fee, and 9% GST on the value above your traveller’s relief. Then weigh the warranty and who will repair the furniture in Singapore if something goes wrong.
Do I have to pay GST on furniture bought in JB?
Yes, Singapore GST applies to goods brought into Singapore. It’s 9% of the value, including cost, insurance and freight. Travellers get relief on up to S$500 of new goods for personal use if they’ve been away 48 hours or more, and up to S$100 if less. If the shop delivers, ask how GST will be declared and paid. Source: Singapore Customs.
How much GST relief do I get when I come back from JB?
According to Singapore Customs, the relief covers new goods for personal use worth up to S$500 if you’ve been outside Singapore for 48 hours or more, and up to S$100 if you’ve been away for less than 48 hours. You pay GST on the value above the relief. Holders of certain passes, such as Work Permits and Employment Passes, don’t get it.
Can JB furniture shops deliver to Singapore?
Many do. Shops that deliver to Singapore typically list GST, a documentation or customs fee and a delivery fee as separate charges. Ask for all three in writing, along with the delivery date, whether they carry items up stairs, and what happens if something arrives damaged.
What happens if JB furniture needs repair under warranty?
It depends on the shop, so ask before you pay. Find out how long the warranty lasts, what it covers, who comes to fix the furniture in Singapore, and who pays for the cross-border trip. Get the answers in writing, with the receipt.
Where should I buy furniture in JB?
Compare several shops rather than buying at the first one. Read recent reviews, ask each shop the questions on our checklist, and get the full landed price in Singapore dollars, including GST and delivery, before you decide. Check the wood type and exact dimensions against your floor plan and lift.
Does Wihardja deliver to Johor?
Yes. Wihardja delivers to Johor as well as across Singapore. WhatsApp us on +65 6922 4588 with your address and the items you want, and we’ll tell you the cross-border transport cost.
Last updated: 26 October 2026. GST rate and relief amounts from Singapore Customs and IRAS, checked on 26 October 2026.