If you’re looking for furniture made in India, one name keeps coming up: Moradabad. But here’s the twist - Moradabad isn’t known for wooden chairs or sofas. It’s the metal furniture capital of India. The real heart of traditional Indian wooden furniture? That’s Amritsar and the surrounding areas in Punjab, especially around Jalandhar and Kapurthala. But if you want the biggest, most diverse furniture manufacturing cluster in the country, you head to Surat in Gujarat - and then to Kannur in Kerala, and Rajasthan’s desert towns.
Why Surat Is the Unofficial Furniture Capital of India
Surat doesn’t have the historic charm of Jaipur’s carved teak tables, but it’s where over 60% of India’s ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture gets made. The city’s furniture industry grew out of its textile trade. Factories that once made silk and polyester for sarees switched to making particleboard, MDF, and laminated panels for flat-pack furniture. Today, Surat has more than 1,200 furniture units, many exporting to the U.S., U.K., and the Middle East.
What makes Surat special? Speed and cost. A standard bookshelf can be cut, glued, laminated, and packed in under 48 hours. Labor is cheap, and the supply chain is tight - plywood mills, glue suppliers, and packaging units all sit within 10 kilometers of each other. Most of these factories work with global brands like IKEA and Wayfair under private labels. You might not see the Surat name on the box, but if it’s a modern, affordable, flat-pack piece, it likely came from here.
Punjab: Where Craftsmanship Meets Wood
If Surat is about volume, Punjab is about detail. Jalandhar and Kapurthala are home to generations of woodworkers who still hand-carve teak, sheesham, and mango wood. These aren’t mass-produced items. Each table, cabinet, or bed frame is built to last decades. Many families have been in this business since the 1950s. You’ll find workshops tucked into narrow alleys, with sawdust piled high and the smell of fresh-cut wood in the air.
What sets Punjab apart is the finish. They use natural oils, not synthetic varnishes. Their joints are mortise-and-tenon, not screws. A well-made sheesham dining set from Jalandhar can cost ₹40,000-₹1,00,000 - and still sell out months in advance. Buyers from Dubai, Singapore, and even Germany fly in just to pick out pieces. These aren’t just furniture; they’re heirlooms.
Kerala’s Hidden Furniture Powerhouse: Kannur
Most people don’t know Kannur makes more than 30% of India’s coastal-style furniture. The region specializes in reclaimed teak from old fishing boats and coconut wood. Artisans here build low-slung sofas, woven rattan chairs, and beachy side tables that look like they came from a Bali resort. The wood is treated with saltwater-resistant oils - perfect for humid climates.
Kannur’s furniture is popular in resorts, boutique hotels, and luxury homes in Kerala, Goa, and Mumbai. The industry is small but growing fast. Local cooperatives now export directly to Australia and the U.S., cutting out middlemen. One factory in Payyanur started with three workers in 2010. Today, it employs 140 and ships 2,000 pieces a month.
Rajasthan: Carved Elegance from the Desert
Jaipur and Jodhpur are famous for marble inlay and blue pottery, but their furniture is just as impressive. Rajasthani furniture is all about carving. Thick sheesham wood is turned into beds with floral patterns, cabinets with jali work, and stools shaped like elephants. The style blends Mughal, Rajput, and tribal influences.
These pieces are expensive - a single carved bed can cost ₹2 lakh or more. But they’re not just decorative. The wood is dense, the joints are reinforced with iron dowels, and the finish is hand-polished with beeswax. Many workshops still use foot-powered lathes. You won’t find CNC machines here. This is craftsmanship preserved by tradition.
Other Notable Clusters
Not every furniture maker is in these big cities. Smaller hubs matter too:
- Chennai - Makes high-end office furniture with teak and rosewood, often exported to Southeast Asia.
- Delhi-NCR - More of a distribution hub, but has growing custom furniture studios targeting urban millennials.
- Varanasi - Known for brass and copper furniture accents, often paired with wood.
- Bangalore - Leading in modern, minimalist designs and smart furniture with hidden storage.
Each of these places has a niche. Chennai focuses on durability for humid weather. Bangalore designs for small apartments. Varanasi adds luxury metal details. They don’t compete - they complement.
What’s Driving India’s Furniture Boom?
India’s furniture market hit ₹1.8 trillion ($22 billion) in 2024. That’s up 12% from 2023. Why? Three reasons:
- Rising urbanization - More young people moving into apartments need affordable, stylish furniture.
- Government push - The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for furniture offers up to 15% subsidy on exports.
- E-commerce growth - Amazon, Flipkart, and Urban Ladder now account for 30% of furniture sales - up from 8% in 2020.
Export numbers are climbing too. India shipped ₹62,000 crore ($7.5 billion) worth of furniture in 2024. The U.S. is the top buyer, followed by the U.K., Germany, and Australia. That’s why factories in Surat and Punjab are adding night shifts and hiring more welders and finishers.
What Should You Buy - and Where?
Not all Indian furniture is made equal. Here’s a quick guide:
- Want durability and tradition? Go for Punjab - sheesham or teak, hand-carved, oil-finished.
- Need modern, affordable, flat-pack? Surat is your best bet. Look for E1-grade MDF and water-resistant lamination.
- Love beachy, rustic style? Kannur’s coconut wood and rattan pieces are unique and eco-friendly.
- Want luxury and art? Rajasthan’s carved furniture is unmatched. But expect to pay a premium.
- Need office furniture? Chennai and Bangalore lead in ergonomic, space-saving designs.
Pro tip: Always ask for the wood type, glue standard (E1 or E0), and warranty. A good manufacturer will give you a certificate. If they say ‘premium wood’ without naming the species, walk away.
How to Find a Reliable Supplier
Buying directly from India isn’t hard - but it’s easy to get burned. Here’s how to avoid scams:
- Check factory certifications - ISO 9001 for quality, FSC for sustainable wood.
- Ask for video tours. Reputable factories will send you a live walkthrough.
- Order a sample first. Don’t pay 50% upfront.
- Use Alibaba or IndiaMART, but verify the company’s GST number and export history.
- Look for suppliers who’ve been on Amazon India for over 3 years - their reviews are real.
Many small workshops don’t have websites. If you’re serious, fly in. Spend a day in Jalandhar’s furniture market. Talk to the owners. You’ll find people who’ve been making the same chair design for 40 years - and they’re proud of it.
Which city in India is best for buying wooden furniture?
Jalandhar and Kapurthala in Punjab are the best for traditional, hand-carved wooden furniture made from sheesham and teak. These pieces are built to last, use natural finishes, and are often passed down through generations. For modern wooden furniture, Bangalore and Chennai offer sleek, minimalist designs with better ergonomics.
Is Indian furniture good quality?
Yes - but it depends on where it’s made. Furniture from Punjab and Rajasthan uses solid wood and traditional joinery, making it extremely durable. Surat’s flat-pack furniture is cheaper and uses engineered wood, which is fine for apartments but won’t last 30 years. Always check the wood type, glue standard (E1 is best), and warranty. Avoid pieces labeled only as "premium wood" without specifics.
Where is the largest furniture market in India?
The largest furniture market in India is in Surat, Gujarat. It’s not a single market but a network of over 1,200 factories and workshops producing ready-to-assemble furniture for global brands. For traditional wooden furniture, the Jalandhar Furniture Market in Punjab is the biggest hub for handcrafted pieces.
Which Indian state exports the most furniture?
Gujarat exports the most furniture from India, led by Surat’s manufacturing base. Punjab follows closely, especially for high-value handcrafted pieces. Together, these two states account for nearly 70% of India’s $7.5 billion in annual furniture exports, with the U.S. and U.K. as top buyers.
Are Indian furniture makers eco-friendly?
Many are. Factories in Kannur use reclaimed wood from old boats. Punjab artisans use sustainably harvested sheesham and teak. Some Surat manufacturers now use E0-grade glue (low formaldehyde) and recycle sawdust into briquettes. Look for FSC certification or mention of "reclaimed wood" or "natural oil finish" - these are signs of responsible production.
Final Thoughts: It’s Not One Place - It’s Many
There’s no single answer to "Which place in India is famous for furniture?" Because India doesn’t make furniture the way China or Vietnam does. It’s a patchwork of regional specialties. Surat makes it fast and cheap. Punjab makes it last. Kannur makes it feel like the beach. Rajasthan makes it look like art.
What’s impressive is how each region preserved its identity. No factory in Jalandhar uses CNC machines to copy a Surat design. No Kannur artisan switches to MDF because it’s cheaper. They know their craft, their customers, and their value.
If you’re buying furniture from India, don’t just look for the cheapest. Look for the story. Ask where it’s made. Ask how it’s made. You’re not just buying a chair - you’re buying decades of skill, culture, and quiet pride.