MDF Specification Checklist Before Ordering

A clear schedule turns “18 mm MDF” into the board or component your production team can use. You can start an inquiry with the information you already have; our factory team helps complete the specification and replies within 12 hours. Use this checklist to make the written quotation and the goods you receive easier to compare.

Start with a short MDF specification checklist

Put the essentials on one schedule, with one line for each distinct construction, thickness, size or finish. The table below gives you a practical starting point for full sheets and processed components.

Download the blank MDF RFQ specification workbook. Version 2026-10-06 contains labelled fields with empty buyer-input and factory-reply columns. Fill what you know, identify the decisions you want help with, and copy the product-line section for each additional specification. You can email the completed schedule or your existing drawings to sales@cuzimdf.com using the same name or company as your inquiry.

The workbook is optional. Request an MDF specification quote with the product or component, dimensions, quantity and destination to begin.

Specify the stage our factory will supply

Price the goods at the stage you expect to receive them. Full raw sheets, double-faced decorative sheets, cut blanks and drilled or routed parts each include different work. State which operations our factory will complete and which your workshop will carry out.

For raw sheets, identify the board grade, thickness, format and surface condition needed for your next process. For faced sheets, add the core, principal face, reverse construction, decor reference and finished thickness. For cut blanks, name the finished dimensions, direction, edges, quantities and labels.

For machined components, the drawing should show holes, profiles, groove positions and depths, internal radii, critical remaining material and hardware interfaces. Give every part an ID and revision so the quotation, machining file and packing list refer to the same item. Our Cut-to-Size MDF and CNC MDF Processing pages explain the supplied options in more detail.

A simple responsibility note helps: “Factory supplies cut and drilled panels; our workshop applies edge bands and assembles the cabinet.” Add any edge-preparation or dimensional allowances needed for that division of work. The written quote can then repeat the actual supplied stage beside its price.

The same sheet dimensions can need different specifications

The following examples use the same nominal 1220 × 2440 mm panel format and an 18 mm MDF core. They illustrate three purchasing requests, with the actual grade, construction, format and supply arrangement confirmed in the quotation.

The 18 mm figure identifies the core in these examples. Faced-panel quotations also need the complete finished thickness. As a nominal build-up example, an 18.0 mm core with 0.8 mm HPL on each face gives 19.6 mm before adhesive-layer thickness and manufacturing tolerances are included. Confirm the measured completed panel and the quantity basis for your order.

Choose Raw MDF, Melamine MDF or HPL MDF around your supplied stage and next production step. Specify an MR core where the protected-interior exposure calls for it, using our MR vs standard MDF guide to prepare that decision. A sample with the intended finish and edge detail makes the comparison more useful.

Confirm product-specific dimensions and tolerances

Our standard Raw MDF range covers 2–35 mm. Its current full-sheet formats include 1220 × 2440 mm, 2100 × 2800 mm, 1830 × 2440 mm, 1830 × 3660 mm, 2440 × 3660 mm and 1830 × 4200 mm. Select the actual product, thickness and format combination in the quotation.

Use the specification for each product category. For example, our Flexible MDF is supplied as 3–6 mm continuous thin board for longitudinal bending, while Hardboard follows its own 1.5–5 mm thickness range and order-specific full-sheet formats. Decorative boards and machined parts add their construction and drawing requirements.

Record the thickness basis: input core, faced panel, cut blank or completed component. The current Raw MDF nominal thickness tolerance is ±0.1 mm at its stated supplied stage. Agree the measuring equipment, positions, sample condition and acceptance method; finished components use the dimensions and tolerances confirmed for their supplied stage. EN 324-1 describes measurement of board thickness, width and length; the quoted product or drawing provides the particular dimensional requirement.

For US drawings, record whether inches or millimetres control the job and identify the exact final dimension. Our MDF sheet-size and inch-thickness guide helps align the drawing units with the sheet format. Core size, parent-sheet format, cut-part size and completed size each deserve their own field when they differ.

Convert sheets and pieces to m³ on a stated basis

For a rectangular bare board, nominal volume is length × width × thickness with all three dimensions in metres. Multiply that volume by the number of boards. The following examples use nominal geometry and exclude facing, coating, machining removals, packing materials and space between sheets.

For machined parts, this rectangular-blank calculation helps describe an input basis; the quoted part price also reflects the parent-sheet requirement, cutting yield and included processing. Agree whether a faced-panel m³ price uses core volume or complete panel volume. A price per sheet or finished piece gives another clear basis when repeated in the quotation.

If the request starts with a volume target, agree the deliverable whole-sheet count and resulting nominal volume. As an example, 10 m³ divided by 0.0535824 m³ per sheet is about 186.628 sheets. Supplying 186 whole sheets gives 9.9663264 m³; 187 gives 10.0199088 m³. These calculated quantities illustrate why rounding and any permitted quantity variation should be agreed before the order.

Bare-board volume and packed shipping volume describe different things. Shipping uses confirmed bundle dimensions, supports, wrapping, clearances and gross weight. Use our sheet weight and CBM calculator with the confirmed board dimensions and density, then use the actual pack information for shipment planning.

Describe the complete face, reverse, edge and machining scope

For a decorative construction, record the principal face, reverse face or balancing layer, surface manufacturer or collection, reference code, colour, texture, gloss and any grain or pattern direction. Name the physical sample or controlled reference that your purchasing and production teams will use.

Record the core grade and density schedule separately from the surface. For example, our Raw and MR MDF at 12–18 mm currently follow a 680–750 kg/m³ density range. Density describes an input for weight and processing review. Moisture, fire and emission requirements each follow their applicable product or assembly data.

For components, define each edge by its position on the drawing. Include the edge material, thickness, colour, profile, preparation and any allowance in finished dimensions. Specify visible faces and an orientation reference for holes or routing. A representative corner or machined part can show the face, reverse, edge and hardware relationship together.

Attach the current drawing and cut list using matching part IDs and quantities. List the file revision and controlling units; include drilling coordinates, named datums, routing depth, remaining sections and critical tolerances where relevant. The international MDF RFQ guide covers the wider file and quotation workflow.

Request documents for the actual product and destination

Give each requested document a purpose and link it to the relevant order line. A company certificate, a panel test report, a fire classification and shipment paperwork answer different purchasing questions. The table below is a document-request checklist; the actual list follows your product, intended use and destination.

For US purchases, use the applicable TSCA Title VI documentation for the regulated product. EPA's importer guidance provides the official purchasing context. Our US MDF document checklist helps prepare the product, certification, label and shipment questions.

For EU orders, follow our EU MDF import-document guide with your actual product and intended use. State E0, E0.5 or E1 alongside the named method and applicable requirement where that terminology is used in your specification. Market documents and measured limits follow their own identified standards and product scope. For a closer report review, use our certificate and test-report guide.

Align the sample, inspection and packaging references

Define what you want to check: the bare-board face and cut edge, colour and texture, a complete corner, a drilled part, a routed profile or the finished component. Keep its sample ID, orientation, drawing revision and finishing materials with the order specification. Apply performance checks using the relevant product or component method and conditions.

Samples are free across our product range and usually available from stock. You pay the courier charge, which can be credited against the formal order amount. For custom machined samples, we also confirm preparation. Dispatch timing and estimated transit time are confirmed for the requested sample and delivery address. Request MDF specification samples with the thickness, finish or component you want to evaluate.

Agree the inspection scope, sample plan and checks against the same specification. We support buyer-arranged third-party inspection, with the scope and timing confirmed for the order. Our pre-shipment inspection checklist helps connect product checks with order and pack identification.

Group packs by the product, finish or component sequence you will receive. Tell us the face sensitivity, unloading method, forklift access, storage supports and any bundle-size or handling constraints. Pack labels, sheet or part quantities, bundle dimensions and gross weights give your receiving team a practical reference. The packaging and shipping page explains our order discussion.

Confirm the written quotation and order revision

Our quotation includes the specification, quantity, price and currency, packaging, delivery term and named place, production lead time, payment conditions and validity. We offer FOB Qingdao or FOB Lianyungang, with T/T or L/C payment. We ship from Lianyungang or Qingdao, with the port and transport scope confirmed in the quotation.

Normal MOQ is 1 × 20'GP per specification. List mixed product, thickness, size and decor requirements by line for an order-specific packing and production review. Normal lead time is 3–10 days after the technical and commercial requirements are confirmed. Agree the order's production, cargo-ready and transport milestones separately.

Before confirming the order, compare the quote with the latest specification, drawing and sample references. Record the offered product and supplied work, agreed alternatives, completed decisions and relevant documents. If a revision changes a face, size, grade or machining detail, update the corresponding order line and the files used for production and inspection.

Send your MDF specification for a quotation or request the documents for your specification. CUZI MDF manufactures and supplies boards and machined parts from our factory in Shuyang, Jiangsu, China. Our team helps connect your specification with the product and supplied work in the written quote.

Questions buyers ask

What is the minimum information needed to start an MDF inquiry?

Send the board or component you need, thickness or dimensions if known, quantity and destination. Add the finish or application. Our team can help you complete the specification; the optional RFQ workbook gives the later order details a clear structure.

Should I specify core thickness or finished thickness?

Record both when facing or further processing changes the panel. Identify the supplied stage and which dimension controls the furniture drawing. Confirm the final panel thickness and tolerance in the quotation.

Can one specification row cover several colours or thicknesses?

Use separate product lines for different constructions, thicknesses, sizes, decors or required grades. Group compatible packing or delivery needs at the order level, with each line remaining identifiable for quotation and production.

Is an MDF density value enough to confirm moisture or emission performance?

Density supports material, weight and processing review. Specify the moisture grade and named emission or fire requirement separately, then request the applicable product-specific documents and results.

Should quantities be written in sheets, m³ or pieces?

Use the unit in which you want to receive and compare the goods. State the dimensions and conversion basis when an offer uses another unit. Agree whole-sheet rounding and the quantity variation for a volume-based order.

Is the blank RFQ workbook required to request a quotation?

You can use our short inquiry form, email your existing schedule or use the workbook. Its buyer-input cells are empty. Start with the details you know and identify the specification decisions you want help completing.

Can I request samples and documents before confirming the order?

Yes. Identify the board, thickness, finish, component and destination. Samples help check the appearance, fit and production process; the applicable documents support the specified product requirements.

Which documents should I request for a US or EU order?

Identify the actual board or faced construction, thickness, intended use and destination. Request the applicable product and market documents for that order, with the named test method, product scope and relevant results. Our US and EU guides help prepare the detailed request.

What should stay the same on a repeat order?

Keep the agreed product line, sample or decor reference, drawing revision, supplied stage, required documents, packaging and quantity basis together. Review any change in use, destination, finish or processing before repeating that specification.