Summary: every school procurement list contains six furniture groups — staff room, headmaster office, administration counter, meeting room, library, and counselling room — each with its own size and construction. This guide gives factory FOB prices, a unit-count formula per school level, and the three procurement routes used by foundations, contractors, and dealers.
Six furniture groups every school needs
All units below come from our staff desk and filing cabinet lines, plus meeting tables and library shelving.
- Staff room: single teacher desks 1200×600 mm, task chairs, and lockers for bags and paperwork.
- Headmaster office: a 1600×800 mm desk or a 1600×1200 mm L-shape with return, plus a side cabinet and two visitor chairs.
- Administration (TU) counter: a 1400×600 mm counter with a 1100 mm front panel so student files are not visible from the waiting area.
- Meeting room: an 8–12 seat oval or boat table so every participant can see the board during curriculum meetings.
- Library: 2000 mm bookcases with 300–400 mm depth and 4–6 seat reading tables.
- Counselling / first-aid room: a 1200×600 mm desk, a lockable filing cabinet for student records, and a rest bed.
Specifications and 2026 FOB prices
Prices below are factory FOB Foshan benchmarks for direct orders. They exclude freight, insurance, and taxes; the final quote depends on specification, colour, and volume.
| Item | Size (mm) | Material | MOQ | FOB price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single teacher desk | 1200×600×750 | 18 mm MDF, HPL, steel legs | 5 pcs | 38–55 |
| Teacher desk with 3 drawers | 1200×700×750 | 18 mm MDF, steel runners | 5 pcs | 48–65 |
| Administration counter | 1400×600×1100 | HPL, full front panel | 5 pcs | 60–95 |
| Headmaster desk | 1600×800×750 | HPL, 25 mm top | 5 pcs | 90–130 |
| Headmaster L-shape set + cabinet | 1600×1200×750 | HPL or veneer, 800 mm cabinet | 5 sets | 150–210 |
| 2-door filing cabinet | 800×400×2000 | 0.8 mm steel or MDF, lockable | 10 pcs | 60–90 |
| 8-seat meeting table | 2400×1100×750 | 25 mm HPL, knock-down | 2 pcs | 180–260 |
Equivalent desks in Indonesian retail stores or marketplaces typically cost 20–40% more because of distributor margin and warehousing. Category-by-category detail is in our 2026 office desk price guide.
Teacher, administration, and headmaster desk sizes
Teacher desk
The most common working size is 1200×600×750 mm — enough for a laptop, stacked books, and one document drawer without crowding a staff room shared by 15–30 teachers. A 750 mm height leaves at least 580 mm of knee clearance; 18 mm board is adequate, while 15 mm tops sag after two years of shared use.
Administration counter
The counter uses a 750 mm working height with a 1100 mm front panel that screens student files, registration folders, and printers from parents waiting at the desk. A 1400–1600 mm length lets two administrative staff work side by side.
Headmaster desk
A 1600×800 mm desk is the minimum size that looks proportional in a 3×3.5 m office. For 4×4 m rooms, a 1600×1200 mm L-shape with a 1200×400 mm return separates the signing area from the visitor area. An 800×400×750 mm side cabinet stores school records without adding a freestanding cabinet.
How many units does one school need?
Rule of thumb: teacher desks = number of teachers; administration desks = number of admin staff (minimum 3); filing cabinets = one per two administrative rooms plus one for student records; meeting tables = one per 40 teachers.
| Level | Classes | Teachers | Teacher desks | Admin desks | Filing cabinets | Total units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | 12 | 18 | 18 | 4 | 8 | 30 |
| Junior high | 18 | 30 | 30 | 6 | 10 | 46 |
| Senior high / vocational | 24 | 45 | 45 | 8 | 12 | 65 |
Add 5–10% spare for new teachers and damage, then round up to the 5 pcs per model MOQ. For a 24-class school, 65–72 units fill about half of a 20FT container, leaving room for library shelving and meeting tables.
Specifications to write into the tender document
- Board: minimum 18 mm for desk bodies, 25 mm for headmaster tops, HPL with 2 mm PVC edge banding — not 0.5 mm laminate that peels.
- Formaldehyde: E1 board (max 0.124 mg/m³) or E0 for poorly ventilated classrooms.
- Frame: 1.2–1.5 mm powder-coated steel with adjustable glides for uneven tiled floors.
- Safety and delivery: corners with a 5 mm radius, knock-down packing with full fittings, and a 12-month manufacturing warranty.
Three procurement routes
| Route | Advantage | Drawback | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local e-catalogue (SIPLah) | Compliant with public procurement rules, fast | Retail pricing, limited models | School operating funds, under 50 units |
| Local distributor or contractor | Fast installation and response | 20–40% above factory price | 10–100 units, urgent needs |
| Direct factory import (mixed container) | Factory pricing, custom spec and colour | 25–35 day lead time, import documents | 100+ unit projects, foundations, dealers |
Many foundations combine routes: desks imported directly, chairs and small accessories bought locally. The tender workflow is described in our office furniture tender guide.
Direct import: process and documents
- Request a quote: send unit list, sizes, colours, and destination city. FOB or CIF quotation within 1–2 working days.
- Order and deposit: 30% deposit confirms the PO, balance before shipment.
- Production: 25–35 working days including colour sample approval and pre-shipment inspection.
- Documents: Form E under ACFTA reduces import duty on HS 9403 to 0%, plus invoice, packing list, and bill of lading.
- Shipping and installation: 7–14 days to Tanjung Priok, Tanjung Perak, or Belawan; units are numbered by room to speed up assembly.
Mixing models in one container is explained in the mixed container guide, and duty calculation in the Form E ACFTA article.
Common mistakes
- Ordering 1200×600 mm desks for a narrow staff room without checking circulation — keep at least 900 mm between rows.
- Counting desks from classes instead of teachers; one class can be taught by two or three teachers.
- Choosing 15 mm board to save 8–10%, then replacing the tops within two years.
Quick FAQ
What does a teacher desk cost from the factory? About USD 38–55 per unit FOB for a 1200×600 mm desk without drawers, and USD 48–65 with three drawers, before freight and taxes.
How many teacher desks does a 24-class school need? Roughly 45 units for 45 teachers, plus 5–10% spare, so 48–50 units. Base the number on the teacher roster, not on class count.
Can teacher desks and filing cabinets ship in one container? Yes. MOQ is 5 pcs per model, and a mixed 20FT or 40HQ can combine teacher desks, administration counters, filing cabinets, and library shelving under one Form E.
Verifiable company facts
- Legal entity: Foshan BG Office Furniture Co., Ltd. — 佛山市毕戈家具有限公司 (USCC 91440606MA4UKCYD6A)
- Founded: 2015 — 10,000 m² ISO 9001 certified factory in Foshan, Guangdong, China
- Export experience: 50+ countries, including office, school, and branch office projects across Southeast Asia
- Services: OEM/ODM, mixed containers, Form E ACFTA, 25–35 day production lead time
Need a school furniture quotation? Send your unit list and room sizes through the contact form, email sales001@fsbige.com, or call/WeChat +86-18928562556. The full desk, cabinet, and meeting table range is on the product page.