Quick answer: To get an accurate quote from a Chinese lighting factory, send six things in your first message: the product and key specs, the quantity per model, your destination market and the certificates it needs, packaging, the trade term together with the port or address it refers to, and your timeline. “FOB” or “CIF” on its own is not a price. It only tells the factory where its responsibility ends, so it needs a port name and the size of your shipment before anyone can calculate it.
By Seam Xiao, Export Sales Manager, SFY Smart Lighting · Updated October 2026
Every week we receive inquiries such as “Please send your FOB price for 100W floodlights” or “What is your best CIF price?”. We understand why buyers write this way: it is short, and the terms sound like they should be enough. However, a factory cannot calculate either price from one line, so the reply is usually a list of questions. Several emails later, both sides are frustrated and the buyer still has no price.
This guide explains what you need to send to get a reliable quote from a Chinese lighting factory, what FOB, CIF, EXW and DDP each require from you, and how to compare quotes fairly. At the end there is a template you can copy into your next inquiry.
Why a quote from a Chinese lighting factory starts with questions
Sourcing guides and importer forums report the same problems from both sides.
What buyers complain about:
- Suppliers reply slowly, or not at all.
- Quotes from different factories cannot be compared, because each one assumed different specs, packaging or trade terms.
- A “cheap” CIF price turns out to exclude destination charges, so the final landed cost is much higher.
- Samples cost more than expected once courier fees are added.
What factories see in the inquiries they receive:
- “Send me your price list” or “best price?” with no product, quantity or market.
- A trade term (FOB, CIF) but no port, no quantity and no shipping method.
- Quantities far below the minimum order, or requests for free samples and free shipping.
- Specifications that change after the quote, so the work starts again.
Most of these problems disappear when the first message contains the right information. Busy factories, in fact, tend to answer complete inquiries first, because they can quote them right away.
What actually changes the price
| Factor | Why it changes the quote | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Specifications | LED count, housing weight, driver and sensor all change material cost | A PIR sensor version costs more than the same floodlight without a sensor |
| Quantity per model | Set-up, materials and freight are shared across the order | 100 pcs and 3,000 pcs of the same light have different unit prices |
| Market and certificates | Voltage, plug, labels and certification differ by country | Australia needs SAA approval; Europe needs CE marking |
| Packaging | Printed boxes and inserts add cost and lead time | Neutral brown box vs printed color box |
| Trade term and location | Decides who pays trucking, freight, insurance and duty | FOB Shenzhen vs CIF Melbourne vs DDP to your warehouse |
| Timing | Factory capacity and freight rates change through the year | Orders placed just before Chinese New Year often wait until after the holiday |
FOB, CIF, EXW and DDP: what each one needs from you
These trade terms are defined by the International Chamber of Commerce in the Incoterms® rules. Each term moves the point where the factory’s responsibility ends, so each one needs different information from you.
| Term | Factory’s responsibility ends | What you need to tell the factory | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXW (Ex Works) | At the factory gate | Quantity, and who your forwarder is | Your forwarder must handle pickup and Chinese export clearance |
| FOB (Free on Board) + Chinese port | When goods are loaded on the ship at the port of loading | Quantity per model and your preferred loading port (or ask the factory for the nearest one) | You book and pay the ocean freight, so you need a forwarder |
| CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) + your port | At your destination port, with freight and insurance paid | The destination port (not just the country), quantity, and LCL or full container | Destination handling charges, import duty and local delivery are usually not included |
| DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) + your address | At your door, with import duty and taxes paid | Full delivery address, importer details and any tax ID | Costs more, and not every factory offers it for every country |
The key point: FOB needs a Chinese port name and CIF needs your port name. Both also need a quantity, because freight depends on carton volume. Lighting factories in Guangdong usually quote FOB Shenzhen or FOB Guangzhou, and confirm the loading port in each quotation.
Not sure which term to choose? If you already work with a freight forwarder, ask for FOB. If you are importing for the first time and do not have a forwarder, ask for CIF to your port and get a separate estimate of destination charges. Alternatively, ask whether the factory can quote DDP to your address.
The 6 things to include when you ask for a quote
1. Product and model
Give the model number from the supplier’s website or a photo or link to what you want. “LED floodlight” covers hundreds of products; “SF-FL02-100 PIR sensor floodlight” covers one.
2. Key specifications
For lighting, list wattage, color temperature (for example 4000K), beam angle if it matters, IP rating, input voltage, plug type or no plug, and any sensor or dimming function. If you are not sure, say what the light is for and where it will be installed, and ask the factory to recommend a model.
3. Quantity per model
State how many pieces of each model you want. If you are not sure yet, ask for prices at two or three quantities, for example 500, 1,000 and 3,000 pieces. A single total such as “10,000 pcs mixed” is hard to quote without a breakdown.
4. Destination market and certificates
Name the country and the certificates you need, for example SAA for Australia or CE for Europe. This also tells the factory which voltage, plug and labels to use.
5. Packaging
Say whether a neutral export carton is fine or whether you need printed boxes, barcodes or special labels.
6. Trade term, location and timeline
Write the term together with its location, for example “FOB Shenzhen” or “CIF Jebel Ali, LCL”. Then add when you need samples and when you plan to order.
Copy-and-paste inquiry template
Product / model: SF-FL02-100 PIR sensor floodlight (or link / photo)
Key specs: 100W, 4000K, IP66, AC220–240V, no plug
Quantity: 500 pcs (please also quote 1,000 pcs)
Market and certificates: Australia, SAA required
Packaging: neutral brown box, our label on the carton
Trade term: CIF Melbourne, LCL (or FOB Shenzhen)
Timeline: 2 samples this month, order next month
Vague inquiry vs complete inquiry
| Vague inquiry | Complete inquiry |
|---|---|
| “Send me your price list.” | “Please quote SF-FL01-50 and SF-FL01-100, 1,000 pcs each.” |
| “FOB price for floodlights?” | “FOB Shenzhen, 6500K, IP66, AC85–265V, neutral box.” |
| “Best CIF price?” | “CIF Dammam, about 5 CBM LCL, please list what is not included.” |
| “Free sample?” | “Please quote 2 samples with courier cost to Sydney.” |
Samples, MOQ and payment: what to ask
- Samples: ask for the sample price, the courier cost to your city and how long samples take. Many factories charge for samples; some deduct the sample cost from a later order.
- MOQ: ask whether the minimum order applies per model or to the whole order, and whether standard models can be mixed.
- Payment: Chinese factories commonly use bank transfer (T/T) with a deposit before production and the balance before shipment. Confirm the terms in the proforma invoice before you pay.
- Holidays: most factories close for about two weeks around Chinese New Year (6 February in 2027), so place orders well before then.
How to compare quotes from different factories
Before you accept any quote from a Chinese lighting factory, check that the quotes you compare use the same specs, quantity, packaging and trade term with the same port. Then check what each quote leaves out, such as plugs, destination charges or certificates. Finally, compare lumens and housing weight, not just watts; our tablet floodlight buyer’s guide shows how to check samples, and our quality checks before export explain what to inspect before shipment.
Checklist before you ask for a quote from a Chinese lighting factory
- Product, model or photo
- Wattage, CCT, IP rating, voltage, plug, sensor or dimming
- Quantity per model (or two or three quantity options)
- Destination country and required certificates
- Packaging and labels
- Trade term with its port or address
- When you need samples and when you plan to order
FAQ
Can you just send me a price list?
For export lighting, a single price list is rarely accurate. A useful quote from a Chinese lighting factory depends on quantity, certificates, packaging and trade term. Send the details above and we will quote the exact models you need.
Why does an FOB price need a quantity?
FOB includes trucking to the port and export clearance. These costs are shared across the shipment, so the unit price changes with quantity and carton volume.
Is CIF cheaper than FOB?
Not always. A CIF price includes ocean freight and insurance to your port, but destination handling charges, import duty and local delivery are usually extra. Compare the total landed cost, not just the quoted price.
Which port do you ship from?
Factories in Guangdong usually ship from Shenzhen or Guangzhou. We confirm the loading port in each quotation.
I am a small buyer. Can I still get a quote?
Yes. Tell us your real quantity and market, and we will tell you honestly whether it fits our minimum order or which standard models are the best match.
Ready to ask for a quote? Copy the template above into our inquiry form or WhatsApp, or browse our products and LED floodlights first.