Importing a German kitchen to the United States

A kitchen made in Germany for a house in the United States crosses an ocean, a customs border and an electrical standard. None of this is complicated when it is planned from the start. Here is what happens, in order.

1. Drawings are approved

Production starts only when you and your architect have signed off plans and elevations. For US projects we provide drawings in inches with the metric production values alongside.

2. Production and crating

The kitchen is built in Germany, checked, and packed in crates designed for sea freight. Each crate is numbered against the installation drawings.

3. Shipping

Crates travel in a container to the port nearest to you. On the East Coast that is usually New York and New Jersey, Charleston or Savannah; on the West Coast, Los Angeles or Long Beach.

4. Customs

A licensed US customs broker files the entry. Kitchen cabinetry is classified under the furniture chapter of the tariff schedule, and the applicable duty is calculated and stated in our offer, based on the rules in force at the time.

5. Appliances

European appliances are built for 230 volts and 50 hertz. US homes run at 120 and 240 volts and 60 hertz. We therefore plan your kitchen around US-market appliances, which keeps warranties and service local. Many premium German brands sell US versions.

6. Delivery and installation

After clearance, a truck brings the crates to your home. Installation is led by a German master carpenter, with your local plumber and electrician making the connections.