Buying hardware from China
Hinges, runners, handles, pulls, robe hooks and door furniture. Small, light and easy to add to a container. The risk is copies of the brand you asked for.
What to spec
- Brand and model of every hinge, runner and lift system, written on the quote.
- Handle style, length, centres and finish code.
- Door furniture: levers, privacy sets, latches and stops, matched to the door schedule.
- Spares: hinges and runners for future repairs.
What it costs landed
Hardware is usually quoted inside the joinery price. On the house we fitted out, Blum soft-close hinges and drawer runners were included in the cabinet quote.
Elje estimate, October 2026. Not yet from a delivered job; replaced with real landed numbers as jobs land.
| Item | Factory gate | Landed estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet handles, per unit | A fraction of the local price | |
| Brand-name hinges and runners | Priced inside the joinery |
What to check
- Genuine branded hardware: ask for the factory's purchase source and check the markings.
- Finish samples matched to the tapware.
- Fire-rated door hardware needs Australian certification. Elje does not cover it.
Mistakes we have seen
- 'Equal to' hardware that is not.
- Handle centres that do not match pre-drilled doors.
- No spares, then a discontinued model.
Questions
Do I need certificates for handles?
No standard applies to most cabinet hardware. The check is that it is what the quote says it is.
Sources
- Elje job file: a five-bedroom Brisbane house and granny flat we fitted out, factory quotes and proforma invoices, March to May 2026 (held by Elje)