How to Import Bed Sheets From Bangladesh to Italy: Step-by-Step Guide
Bed sheets from Bangladesh to Italy through Genoa: Italian labels, EBA preference and origin proof, 22% import VAT, supplier checks, and a per-sheet-set landed cost example.
Short answer
To import bed sheets from Bangladesh to Italy, fix each sheet by size matrix, fitted depth, weave, thread count and fibre blend, classify it under the indicative heading 6302, and confirm the full tariff code and every duty line with your broker before ordering. Agree Italian fibre labels, a statement on origin from a REX-registered exporter, your EORI number and a Genoa broker, then approve a washed pre-production sample before bulk production.
On this page
Key takeaways
Bed sheets are classified under the indicative heading 6302, split by printed or unprinted and by cotton, man-made fibres or other textile materials; the tariff page opened for this guide shows 12.00 percent third-country duty for the bed linen lines, with 6.90 percent for nonwoven lines, and every duty line must be confirmed with your broker.
Europe has no single bedding size standard, so the purchase order must state width, length and fitted depth in centimetres for every sheet, including the pillowcase size for each set, and the approved sample must be measured after washing.
Percale is a plain weave with a thread count of 200 to 400 and sateen is a float weave with a thread count of 300 to 500; the weave, the thread count range and the counting method are buyer specification choices, not fibre choices.
The Everything But Arms scheme grants full duty-free and quota-free access to the EU Single Market for all products except arms and ammunition at scheme level, but a preference for your shipment depends on the origin rules and a statement on origin from a REX-registered exporter.
The standard VAT rate in Italy is 22 percent, separate from duty; confirm the import VAT base, when it is payable, and how it is recovered or deducted with your broker or tax adviser, and do not assume a deferment or reverse-charge treatment applies.
A bed sheet order for Italy is decided by measurements before it is decided by price. A fitted sheet that is 10 cm too short, or a flat sheet cut for a different bed convention, cannot be corrected at the port. Fix the size matrix, the weave and the fibre blend first, then classify each sheet type, confirm the duty line with your broker, and approve a washed sample before bulk production.
Ask your forwarder to quote Genoa and Livorno before you fix the delivery term. The Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority reports that the Ports of Genoa and Savona-Vado handled 2,999,486 TEUs in 2025, an all-time record, and the Port of Genova alone handled 2.4 million TEUs.1
Key points to take away
Bed sheets are classified under the indicative heading 6302, split by printed or unprinted, by cotton, man-made fibres or other textile materials, and in the European Union tariff by further subdivisions; the tariff page opened for this guide shows 12.00 percent third-country duty for the bed linen lines, with 6.90 percent for nonwoven lines.
Europe has no single bedding size standard, so the size matrix in the purchase order must state width, length and fitted depth in centimetres for every sheet.
Percale and sateen are weave choices, not fibre choices: percale is a plain weave with a thread count of 200 to 400, and sateen is a float weave with a thread count of 300 to 500.
The Everything But Arms scheme grants duty-free and quota-free access at scheme level, but a preference for a shipment depends on the origin rules and a statement on origin from a REX-registered exporter.
The standard VAT rate in Italy is 22 percent, separate from duty; confirm the import VAT base and recovery treatment with your broker or tax adviser before the first shipment.
Why source bed sheets from Bangladesh
Bangladesh has a long home-textile base built around cotton spinning, weaving, dyeing and finishing, and bed sheets sit in that chain rather than in garment production. A mill that weaves sheeting fabric, dyes or prints it, and cuts and hems the finished sheet under one roof can hold shade and size consistency across a colour range. Ask whether the mill already supplies bed sheets into the European Union, and for which retailers, hotels or brands it has made sheet sets. Do not source bed sheets from a garment factory that offers sheets as a side line, and do not buy a sheet programme from a trader who cannot name the weaving mill.
The practical case is the size and weave range. A sheet supplier must handle flat sheets, fitted sheets with elastic, and pillowcases as separate constructions, in the same fabric and colour, and must hold the finished measurements after washing. Judge a sheet mill on washed finished size, seam strength, colourfastness and hem finish, not on a catalogue photograph of a made bed.
Which sheet sizes must the brief fix for Italy?
Europe has no single bedding size standard, and the size guide opened for this guide states that what is considered standard is usually an established market convention, while individual retailers and brands may use additional sizes of their own.2 The same guide lists fitted sheets from 90 by 200 cm for a single bed, through 140 by 200 cm for a French bed and 160 by 200 cm for a queen-size bed, to 180 by 200 cm for a king-size bed, with 190, 210 and 220 cm lengths also in use, a 30 cm fitted depth for adult sizes, and a 254 by 294 cm flat sheet as the Italian matrimoniale double format.2 Put every size in the purchase order as width, length and fitted depth in centimetres, state whether the measurement is before or after washing, and name the pillowcase size for each set. Ask the mill to state its own size tolerance in writing, and measure the approved sample after washing.
Percale, sateen and thread count: what do they decide?
Percale and sateen describe how the fabric is woven, not which fibre it is made from. Percale sheets have a thread count of 200 to 400, a closely knit plain weave of one yarn over and one yarn under, a matte finish and a crisp feel.3 Sateen sheets have a thread count of 300 to 500, a weave of one yarn over and three or four under, and a silky smooth finish.3 Thread count refers to the amount of horizontal and vertical threads within a single square inch. Choose percale for hotel programmes laundered at high temperatures, and sateen for retail programmes sold on softness and drape.
Which fibre blends suit which sheet programme?
The fibre blend decides the hand, the wash behaviour and the classification. A 100 percent cotton sheet is the standard hotel and retail sheet, and cotton-polyester blends are common where easy care matters. State the blend as percentages by weight, and do not let a supplier substitute a blend after sampling: the label, the classification and the price all follow the blend.
Find and verify suppliers
Where do Italian buyers start the search for bed sheet suppliers in Bangladesh?
Start with a written sheet brief, not with supplier names. Fix the sheet before anyone quotes: flat or fitted construction, size matrix with fitted depth, weave and thread count, fibre blend, colour or print, hem and elastic specification, the Italian label set, care symbols, and packing by set or by piece. Then shortlist suppliers whose current ranges include bed sheets in that construction. Browse suppliers on Exportain before you send an inquiry.
Send every candidate the identical brief and ask for the same reply format: weave and thread count assumed, size matrix and fitted depth, fibre blend, price inclusions, validity, and the minimum per size and per colour. Ask early about Italy: has the supplier shipped bed sheets to Italy or another European Union member state, can it supply labels in Italian, and can it provide a statement on origin with its REX number? A supplier that has only shipped garments to Europe has not shown that it can hold sheet sizes after washing.
How do you verify a supplier before you pay?
Verification has three layers, each checked before payment. The first is company documents: trade licence, export registration and association membership, checked so that name, address and bank account name agree across every document. The second is capability: the weaving, dyeing and finishing route, the cutting and hemming line, capacity for the size matrix, and a finished sheet set from current production in your size, weave and colour.
The third layer is payment discipline. Keep payments to the company account named in the documents, never to a personal account, and verify any change of bank details through a separate channel. On Exportain, supplier profiles carry document and photo review badges. Exportain states that verification is a document and photo review, not a factory inspection, and that a badge is not a guarantee of capacity, quality or delivery.4 Exportain is not a party to the contract for goods, and it does not inspect goods, book freight or clear customs.4
MOQ, pricing and samples
What is the typical MOQ for bed sheets from Bangladesh?
There is no single typical minimum. It is set per size and usually per colour or print, because sheeting fabric is woven and dyed in batches. Ask how the minimum splits by size, colour and print.
Quality control and certifications needed
What do size, seam and shrinkage checks cover?
Size is the first check on a bed sheet, and it is measured after washing, not only off the loom. Check width, length and fitted depth on sheets drawn from different cartons, and check the elastic length and corner depth on fitted sheets. Seam checks cover the hem, the corner joins and the elastic casing: stitches even and unbroken, no skipped stitches at the corners, and no raw edges that will fray in the wash. Shrinkage is agreed as a limit in the purchase order, measured by the agreed method after the agreed number of washes, and the sample approved for bulk is the reference for that limit.
Agree the inspection method and defect limits before production, and set your own limits rather than adopting another buyer's figure. ISO 2859-1:2026 defines a system of acceptance sampling plans for inspection by attributes, and its summary states that AQL stands for acceptance quality limit, the maximum average percentage of defective items considered acceptable during random sampling, used to determine sample sizes and acceptance and rejection thresholds.5 Set the AQL level and sample size in the purchase order and draw the sample across sizes, colours and cartons.
Which label rules apply to bed sheets sold in Italy?
Settle fibre labelling at sampling stage, because the label wording is also the composition the classification is built on. For a multi-fibre sheet, Article 9 of Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 states that a textile product shall be labelled or marked with the name and percentage by weight of all constituent fibres in descending order.6
Article 16 of the same regulation requires fibre composition descriptions to be easily legible, visible and clear, and clearly visible to the consumer before purchase, including where the purchase is made by electronic means.7 It also states that labelling or marking shall be provided in the official language or languages of the member state where the products are made available to the consumer, unless that member state provides otherwise.7 For sheets sold in Italy, that means Italian fibre wording on the label and in the online listing. State the fibre names in Italian on the label artwork, and check the artwork against the approved composition before printing.
ISO 3758:2023 establishes a system of graphic symbols for marking textile articles, with five main symbols for washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and pressing, and professional textile care.8 Use the symbols in that order and set each one from test results on the actual sheet.
Which certifications do you actually need?
What you need follows your customer: a retailer, hotel group or brand may name a specific test or scheme in its supplier manual. Name any such requirement in the brief and check the matching certificate's scope, product, issuing body and date.
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 is the certification Italian sheet buyers ask about most often. Hohenstein states that the test criteria depend above all on intended use, and that the more direct the skin contact, the stricter the requirements.9 Bed linen falls in Product Class II, for textiles whose surface comes into direct contact with the skin, a class the Hohenstein page lists as including bed linen.9 A STANDARD 100 certificate is valid for 12 months and can be renewed annually.9 Check the certificate number, class, articles covered and expiry date. Bed linen for babies and young children falls in Product Class I on the same page, so a baby sheet programme needs the stricter class checked separately.9
Incoterms, shipping and transit time
Which delivery term should a first Italian order use?
Under Incoterms 2020, each rule tells you where delivery takes place, and the risk of loss or damage passes from seller to buyer at the same point and time as delivery.10 In only two rules, CIP and CIF, must the seller provide the buyer with insurance. In all rules but EXW the seller must carry out export formalities, while in all rules but DDP the buyer must carry out import formalities.10
For a container shipment from Chattogram to Genoa, weigh FCA at the named terminal against FOB at Chattogram. The four sea rules, FAS, FOB, CFR and CIF, are only intended for port-to-port bulk or break-bulk shipments and are not suitable for container shipments in their current form, because a container is handed to the carrier before it is loaded on board.10 For a first sheet order, FCA at the container terminal gives a cleaner handover point for a containerised load than FOB, and the term must name the terminal and the edition, Incoterms 2020, in the contract.
How long does shipping take from Chattogram to Genoa?
There is no single typical transit time for bed sheets from Bangladesh to Italy, and this guide states none. Sea freight is the standard route for bulk sheet orders and it takes weeks rather than days, varying by sailing schedule, routing, transshipment and season. Work backward from the date the sheets must be on sale, and confirm the shipment date only after sample approval. Sheets are bulky for their weight, so confirm the container load by volume and carton count, not only by weight.
Import duty, taxes and documents
How are bed sheets classified for Italian duty?
Duty follows the classification of each sheet type in the European Union tariff, not the supplier's product name. The Harmonised System is an international commodity classification of approximately 5,000 six-digit product categories, organized in a hierarchy of sections, chapters, headings and sub-headings, and countries subdivide the six-digit categories further for their own tariffs.11 The Combined Nomenclature of the European Union uses eight-digit codes built on that structure.11
The indicative heading for bed sheets is 6302, which covers bed linen, table linen, toilet linen and kitchen linen. The tariff heading page opened for this guide lists other bed linen, printed, of cotton under 6302 21, of man-made fibres under 6302 22 and of other textile materials under 6302 29, and other bed linen of cotton under 6302 31, of man-made fibres under 6302 32 and of other textile materials under 6302 39.12 Treat every heading here as indicative until your broker confirms it, and classify printed and unprinted sheets separately.
What import duty applies in Italy, and what must you confirm with your broker?
Confirm every duty line with your broker before you commit to a selling price. The tariff heading page opened for this guide shows third-country duty of 12.00 percent for the bed linen lines 6302 21, 6302 22 other than nonwovens, 6302 29, 6302 31, 6302 32 other than nonwovens and 6302 39, with 6.90 percent for the nonwoven lines under 6302 22 and 6302 32.12 Confirm the current rate for your exact code and entry date with your broker, and confirm whether any sheet in the programme is a nonwoven, since that changes the line. Confirm every duty line with your broker before you price at any rate.
The Everything But Arms scheme is a special arrangement for least developed countries, granting full duty-free and quota-free access to the EU Single Market for all products except arms and ammunition.13 A preference for your shipment depends on the origin rules and the proof of origin, so price without the preference until your broker confirms it in writing.
How does the statement on origin work for a sheet shipment?
Origin proof runs through the Registered Exporter system. The European Commission states that the REX system allows certification of origin based on self-certification, that an exporter must be a registered exporter in the database of its national competent authorities to make out a statement on origin, and that registration produces a REX number.14
Proof of origin certifies where a product was made, and it is essential for claiming preferential treatment such as reduced or zero tariffs.15 Under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences, exporters registered in REX make out a statement on origin on the invoice or another commercial document, and unregistered exporters may do so only for a consignment whose total value, based on the ex-works price, does not exceed EUR 6,000.15 Most commercial sheet orders exceed that value, so confirm REX registration at order stage.
What does a Genoa customs entry need from an Italian importer?
An Italian importer needs an EORI number for customs declarations. The EORI number is an operator identification number valid throughout the European Union, and since Regulation (EC) No 312/2009 came into force on 1 July 2009 it has been a prerequisite for customs clearance in the European Union.16 Hold the number before the first shipment and give it to your Genoa broker.
Import VAT is separate from duty, and its base and recovery must be confirmed before the first shipment. The standard VAT rate in Italy is 22 percent, with reduced rates of 10 percent and 5 percent and a super-reduced rate of 4 percent for other goods and services.17 Plan on 22 percent for sheets unless your tax adviser confirms a different treatment in writing.
The standard import set is the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and proof of origin where a preference is claimed. Name each sheet type plainly on its own invoice line, with size, weave, fibre blend and quantity. Quantities, weights and carton counts must agree across the invoice, packing list and bill of lading.
Landed cost example
A landed cost is the full cost of one sheet set, ready to sell from your Italian warehouse, excluding the VAT recovery treatment. Every number below is an example figure only, not a quote.
Example figures: 3,000 cotton percale sheet sets, each set one flat sheet, one fitted sheet and two pillowcases, FCA Chattogram, sea freight to Genoa, duty at the 12.00 percent schedule line shown for the bed linen lines. Confirm every duty line with your broker.
Cost element | Example figures (per sheet set) | How to obtain your figure |
|---|---|---|
Product price, FCA Chattogram | $9.60 | Confirmed pro forma invoice |
International freight to Genoa | $0.85 | Forwarder quote divided by sheet sets shipped |
Insurance | $0.07 | Policy or forwarder quote |
Customs value in this example | $10.52 | Product price plus freight and insurance; confirm the definition with your broker |
Duty at 12.00 percent | $1.26 | Broker calculation from confirmed codes and rates; confirm with broker |
Port, clearance and broker fees, Genoa | $0.38 | Broker invoices divided by sheet sets |
Inland delivery to Italian warehouse | $0.29 | Local carrier quote divided by sheet sets |
Total landed cost, excluding import VAT | $12.45 | Sum of all lines above |
Import VAT is shown separately. For this worked example only, applying 22 percent to the example customs value plus duty, $11.78 per sheet set, gives $2.59 per sheet set as an example figure, for a total cash cost at import of $15.04 per sheet set in this example.17 Confirm the VAT base with your broker or tax adviser before you use this example. If your broker confirms the EBA preference, the duty line falls to zero and the total excluding import VAT falls to $11.19 per sheet set. See landed cost for imports from Bangladesh for the full method.
Step-by-step import checklist for Genoa entry
Write the sheet brief: construction, size matrix with fitted depth, weave and thread count, fibre blend, colour or print, hem and elastic, Italian label set, care symbols and packing.
Classify every sheet type from heading 6302 and the printed or unprinted subheadings, and confirm each code and duty line with your broker.
Shortlist mills whose range includes bed sheets in your construction, and request quotes on the identical brief and delivery term.
Verify the supplier in three layers: company documents, sheet capacity and current production, and payment discipline.
Order samples in stages, wash and measure them, try the fitted sheet on a mattress, check the Italian label set, and approve a pre-production sample of each type and colour.
Confirm the origin position: origin rule, supplier REX number, statement on origin and the EUR 6,000 threshold.
Confirm the EORI number, appoint your Genoa broker, and confirm the VAT base and recovery treatment.
Confirm the order in writing: purchase order, pro forma invoice, delivery and payment terms, inspection plan, labelling, packing and shipment date.
Inspect during production and on packed goods against the approved samples, across sizes, colours and cartons.
Ship from Chattogram to Genoa, clear customs with the confirmed code and statement on origin, and reconcile the actual landed cost.
How Exportain helps
Exportain lets you post one RFQ with the full sheet brief, so mills quote against the same size matrix, weave and delivery term. Supplier profiles show which document and photo checks have been reviewed. Read how to import from Bangladesh for the full process before you post the RFQ.
What is the typical MOQ for bed sheets from Bangladesh?
There is no single typical minimum. The minimum is set per size and usually per colour or print, because sheeting fabric is woven and dyed in batches and a cutting plan is set up per size matrix. Ask each supplier how its minimum splits by size, colour and print, and whether it is counted in sheets, sets, dozens or cartons.
How long does shipping take?
Neither production time nor transit time has a single typical figure. Sea freight from Chattogram to Genoa takes weeks rather than days, and clearance and inland delivery add further time.
What import duty applies?
Confirm every duty line with your broker before you price or ship. The indicative heading is 6302, and the tariff page opened for this guide shows 12.00 percent for the bed linen lines, with 6.90 percent for nonwoven lines.12 An EBA preference depends on the origin rules and the proof of origin.13
How do I verify a supplier?
Check company documents first, then capability and payment discipline: a finished sheet set from current production, and payments only to the company account named in the documents. Treat any profile badge as a document and photo review, not a factory inspection or a guarantee.4
Next steps on Exportain
Read how to import from Bangladesh for the full process, then work through the landed cost method with your broker's confirmed duty line.
Post a free RFQ on Exportain and get quotes from Bangladeshi suppliers → https://exportain.com/rfqs
Sources
- Three million TEUs: Ports of Genoa hit a record high in container volumes in 2025. Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority (accessed )
- Bed Linen Sizes Across Europe & Your Custom Size. VON SCHÃœTZ (accessed )
- What Is Percale? A Guide to Percale Weave Sheets. MasterClass (accessed )
- About Exportain. Exportain (accessed )
- ISO 2859-1:2026 - Sampling procedures for inspection by attributes — Part 1: Sampling schemes indexed by acceptance quality limit (AQL) for lot-by-lot inspection. International Organization for Standardization (accessed )
- Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names and related labelling and marking of the fibre composition of textile products, Article 9: Multi-fibre textile products. legislation.gov.uk (accessed )
- Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names and related labelling and marking of the fibre composition of textile products, Article 16. European Union, (accessed )
- ISO 3758:2023 — Textiles — Care labelling code using symbols. International Organization for Standardization (accessed )
- OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 for textiles tested for harmful substances. Hohenstein (accessed )
- Insider thoughts: Bob Ronai on Incoterms 2020 Rules; What are they about?. International Chamber of Commerce (accessed )
- Harmonised System. European Commission (accessed )
- Bed linen, table linen, toilet linen and kitchen linen - Northern Ireland Online Tariff. UK Government (accessed )
- Trade arrangements. European Commission, Access2Markets (accessed )
- Registered Exporter (REX) system. European Commission, Taxation and Customs Union (accessed )
- Proof of origin. European Commission (accessed )
- EORI number. German Customs (Zoll) (accessed )
- Italian VAT rates and VAT compliance. Avalara (accessed )
- landed cost
- import duty
- quality control
- buyer guide
- Bangladesh sourcing
- Bed sheets
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100
- Italy
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