Guide · 5 min read

Wooden train price bands and landed cost

The cost structure behind wholesale wooden train sets: FOB bands by category, what moves the unit cost, and how freight and duty change the landed number.

No supplier publishes a real price list for wooden trains, because the price depends on the model, the quantity, the packaging and the destination. What can be explained is the cost structure, which is what a buyer actually needs to compare quotes.

What moves the FOB price

**Piece count and material**: beech engines cost more than pine scenery; a 100-piece set costs more than a 40-piece set, but not linearly.
**Carton quantity**: the packaging and the carton are a large share of a low-unit-price toy.
**Personalisation**: engraving and printed boxes add a step and a sample round.
**Payment and Incoterm**: FOB Ningbo/Shenzhen is the usual basis; EXW and CIF are quoted on request.

FOB bands by category (indicative)

Category	FOB band	Main cost driver
Track add-on pack	Low	Carton volume, wood grade
Engine / carriage	Low to mid	Beech, magnets, paint
Complete set	Mid	Piece count, box
Station / table	Mid to high	Size, flat-pack design
Custom / OEM	Mid plus tooling	Personalisation step, tooling

Bands are indicative and confirmed per model; this site does not publish prices.

Landed cost

Landed cost = FOB + freight + insurance + duty + import VAT + port/clearance + inland. For wooden toys the HS heading is 9503.00; duty rates depend on the market and the origin. Freight is usually charged per CBM, which is why carton data matters more than unit weight for large sets.

Comparing quotes

Compare quotes on the same basis: same model, same quantity, same Incoterm, same packaging, same report status. A quote that is 10% cheaper because it excludes the box, the report or the carton is not cheaper.

The number that decides

The unit cost at the shelf is the number that matters, and it depends on the carton quantity and the mix. A slightly higher FOB with a better carton can be the cheaper order. Ask for the carton maths with the price, not after it.