Sourcing Lighting from China: What Buyers Check First
Most lighting problems on imported projects are specification problems, not quality problems: a driver that will not dim on the client’s switch, two batches that do not match in colour, or a certificate the local inspector does not accept. Before price, check four things — voltage and dimming compatibility, colour consistency across the whole batch, packing labelled by room or unit, and test documents for your market. George Group Home has 20 years’ industry experience, 10,000+ projects delivered and 50+ countries served, with lighting supplied from our own 100,000 m² factory and 30,000 m² showroom in Foshan.
Send your lighting schedule or BOQ on WhatsApp (+86 133 0284 3989) — a coordinator replies within one working day.
What We Make
Lighting rarely ships alone on a project. It travels with the cabinetry, bathroom, stone and furniture, so most of our lighting volume goes into whole-project and mixed-container orders rather than single-product sales. These are the families we build for villas, apartments, hotels and distributors.
- Decorative fixtures — crystal and glass chandeliers, brass and steel pendants, wall sconces, arc floor lamps.
- Downlights — recessed and surface-mounted, fixed and adjustable heads, IP44 and IP65 versions.
- Linear and strip lighting — COB and SMD strip in aluminium profiles for coves, wardrobes, stairs and facades.
- Magnetic track systems — spot, flood and pendant modules on low-voltage track.
- Mirror and vanity lights — matched to our bathroom vanity ranges for hotel and residential packages.
- Outdoor and landscape — bollards, wall lights, in-ground and flood fixtures, IP65–IP66.
| Family | Housing and finish | Light source | Typical use | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recessed and surface downlights | Die-cast aluminium, powder-coated | Integrated LED (COB/SMD) | Corridors, bathrooms, hotel guestrooms | $ |
| LED strip and linear profiles | Extruded aluminium, opal diffuser | COB strip, linear modules | Cove lighting, wardrobes, stairs, facades | $ |
| Magnetic track systems | Aluminium track, die-cast heads | Integrated LED modules | Apartments, retail, living areas | $$ |
| Wall and mirror lights | Brass, steel, aluminium, glass | E14/E27 or integrated LED | Bathrooms, bedrooms, corridors | $$ |
| Pendant and chandelier | Brass, steel, glass, crystal | E27/E14 or integrated | Villa stairwells, dining rooms, hotel lobbies | $$$–$$$$ |
| Outdoor and landscape | Die-cast aluminium, stainless details | Integrated LED | Gardens, facades, pathways | $$–$$$ |
| Floor and table lamps | Metal, wood, marble, fabric | E27/E26 | Bedrooms, lounges, hotel suites | $$ |
Relative cost compares families within our own range; it is not a price. Prices are quoted per project — see Price Ranges below.
Configurations
Each fixture is built to a configuration you approve in writing before production starts. These are the options we work with most often.
| Specification | Options we build |
|---|---|
| Voltage and frequency | 220–240V 50/60Hz; 100–120V 60Hz; dual-range drivers on request |
| Connection | UK / EU / US / AU plugs, or hard-wired with project-standard terminal blocks |
| Materials | Aluminium, steel, brass, glass, crystal, wood, marble, fabric |
| Colour temperature | 2700K, 3000K, 3500K, 4000K; switchable CCT on selected models |
| CRI | 80+ standard; 90+ for hospitality, retail and colour-critical areas |
| Dimming | Non-dim, TRIAC/phase-cut, 0–10V, 1–10V or DALI — matched to your switch or protocol |
| Driver and control gear | Integrated or remote drivers; standard, dimmable or emergency versions |
| IP rating | IP20 indoor; IP44 for bathroom zones; IP65/IP66 outdoor |
| Finish | Matte black, white, brushed brass, gold, nickel, bronze; custom RAL by agreement |
| Dimensions | Downlight cut-outs, pendant drops, track runs and profile lengths built to your schedule |
| Certificates | CE/UKCA, ETL/cUL, SAA, SASO and similar marks; ISO9001 factory documentation — certificates shared on request per category |
Send your fixture schedule or BOQ on WhatsApp (+86 133 0284 3989) — a coordinator replies within one working day.
How to Choose by Project Type
The right lighting mix comes from the project type and the installation sequence, not from the catalogue.
Villas and private residences
Layer the light: statement pieces where owners and guests see them (stairwell, dining, entrance), downlights for corridors and bathrooms, and strip for coves, wardrobes and steps. Agree one colour temperature for the whole house unless the design says otherwise. Decorative pieces carry the longest lead time, so confirm them first.
Apartment and build-to-rent projects
Repeat models matter more than variety. Use one downlight, one strip and one track system across every unit, in a single CCT and dimming protocol, so site teams can install without instructions. Cartons labelled by unit number support phased handover.
Hotels and hospitality
Specify for maintenance: CRI 90+, 2700–3000K, dimmable drivers, IP44 in bathrooms, mirror lights at the vanity and reading lights at the bedhead. Quote spare units with the first order — replacing a failed fixture later is easier when the batch matches.
Distributors and wholesalers
Go narrow and deep: fewer models, deeper stock, standard CCT and finishes, ready for your own branding and packaging. Consolidating lighting with other categories in one container lowers the freight share on every unit.
Price Ranges
Lighting is quoted per unit against your schedule. The column below ranks each model type by relative cost, for project quantities.
| Model type | Relative cost |
|---|---|
| Recessed LED downlights | $ |
| LED strip with profile and driver | $ |
| Magnetic track systems | $$ |
| Wall and mirror lights | $$ |
| Pendant lights, metal and glass | $$$ |
| Crystal chandeliers | $$$$ |
| Outdoor and landscape fixtures | $$ |
| Floor and table lamps | $$$ |
Five factors move the price more than anything else:
- LED engine and driver grade — this is where reliability and flicker-free dimming come from.
- Housing material and finish — die-cast aluminium against steel; plating against powder coating.
- CRI and colour consistency — 90+ CRI and tight binning cost more and matter most in hotels and retail.
- Dimming and control protocol — a DALI driver, or dimmer-compatibility testing, adds to the unit price.
- Certification for your market — every certified model carries test and documentation costs.
Quantities affect freight more than unit price. When lighting ships inside a mixed container, the freight share per unit drops sharply.
Send your floor plan or lighting schedule on WhatsApp (+86 133 0284 3989) — a coordinator replies within one working day.
MOQ and Mixed Container
MOQ depends on the model. Standard downlights, strip and track ship from small quantities; decorative pieces, custom finishes and certified fixtures carry higher minimums. For most buyers the practical answer is mixed-container loading: one container combining lighting with cabinets, wardrobes, tiles, stone, sanitary ware and furniture under a single loading plan.
Every order, one category or ten, runs through the same six steps:
- Share Your Brief
- Design & Quotation
- Approve the Details
- Production & QC
- Packing & Shipping
- Delivery & Support
If you use our design service, the design fee is 100% credited back once your order reaches 20 times the fee. Lighting is usually the smallest volume in a whole-home container, but it is the category that generates the most site calls when it is packed badly — which is why labels and the packing list matter.
Quality Control
Lighting fails in predictable ways: flicker, colour mismatch between batches, drivers that fail early. Our quality control follows the same evidence chain as every other category, adapted to fixtures.
- Approved drawings and schedules first. CCT, CRI, wattage, dimming and markings are confirmed against your specification before production starts.
- Photos and video during production. Driver batches, module assembly, wiring and finish, sent while the order is running.
- Pre-shipment inspection. Light-up and dimming checks, label and marking checks, with photo records before cartons close.
- Packing list by room, unit and floor. Cartons are numbered the way your site installs them.
- Container loading photos. You see exactly what left Foshan.
Two points stated plainly. On-site installation is not included unless separately agreed — we support your electrician with layout drawings, wiring schedules and product documents. Colour and finish are approved against physical samples, because screens show colour differently and images alone are not the basis for final acceptance.
Send your fixture schedule on WhatsApp (+86 133 0284 3989) — a coordinator replies within one working day.
Lead Time and Shipping
Standard models run 25–35 days from approved drawings and samples. Custom finishes, OEM branding or certified variants usually need 40–50 days. Sample approval comes first, so add roughly one to two weeks when a physical sample has to travel.
Fixtures ship by sea from South China: LCL for smaller orders, FCL or a mixed container for project orders. Port-to-port transit typically runs 3–5 weeks to Gulf and Middle East ports, 4–6 weeks to Europe and the UK, and 3–4 weeks to the US West Coast. We can work with your forwarder or arrange shipping and export documents ourselves.
Packing is protective: foam and corner protection in cartons, reinforced boxes for glass and crystal, every carton numbered against the packing list.
FAQ
Can you supply both 110V and 220–240V lighting?
Yes. We build 100–120V 60Hz for North America and Japan, and 220–240V 50/60Hz for the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australia, plus dual-range drivers where a project needs both. Voltage, plugs and terminal connections are confirmed on the approved drawings before production.
How do we match dimming to the switches already specified?
Send the dimmer model or the dimming protocol — TRIAC/phase-cut, 0–10V, 1–10V or DALI. We match drivers to it and confirm in writing. If the dimming system is still open, we recommend one for the project type: most residential work is phase-cut, while hotels and larger commercial projects commonly use 0–10V or DALI.
Do you provide certificates for our market?
Certificates are shared on request per category. Depending on the fixture and destination, that may include CE/UKCA, ETL/cUL, SAA or SASO marking and test reports, along with ISO9001 factory documentation. Not every model carries every mark, so tell us the country of installation and we confirm what applies before quoting.
What is the MOQ for lighting on a single villa?
MOQ depends on the model and finish. Standard downlights, strip and track order from small quantities; decorative and custom ranges need more. For one villa the practical route is a mixed container — lighting loads with the rest of your materials and the freight share stays low.
How do we approve colour temperature and finish before production?
Against physical samples. We send the LED colour and finish on a sample, or a photometry report for critical areas, for written approval before production. Screens show colour differently, so images alone are not used for final acceptance.
Is installation included?
No. On-site installation is not included unless separately agreed. We deliver to site and support your electrician with layout drawings, wiring schedules and product documents, and your coordinator stays reachable while the fixtures go in.
How is lighting packed for phased handover?
Cartons are labelled by room, unit and floor and listed on the packing list, so a site team can issue fixtures apartment by apartment without unpacking the container. Loading photos are sent before the container leaves.
Can you produce to our own designs or branding?
Yes. Sizes, metal finishes, shade details, labels and packaging can follow your drawings, and OEM branding is confirmed at the sample stage. Where a branded model needs its own documentation, certificates are shared on request per category.
Start with Your Lighting Schedule
Send your lighting schedule, floor plan or BOQ and a coordinator replies within one working day. If the schedule does not exist yet, share your drawings and room list — our design team will prepare the layout, material selection and quotation, and the design fee is 100% credited back once your order reaches 20 times the fee.
Talk to Ivana, senior sales director — she worked in the UK for five years — or to your coordinator:
- WhatsApp: https://wa.me/message/4XCYEZDWS35AK1
- Phone: +86 133 0284 3989 (UK line +44 7719 795480)
- Email: ivana.li@george.cn
- Address: Tower One, No.46 Jihua 3rd Road, Chancheng District, Foshan, Guangdong, China
George Group Home is part of George Group, founded in Foshan in 2006. Showroom and factory visits are arranged by appointment with your coordinator.