Is Thomasville Furniture Made in China? The Real Story Behind Your Sofa

Jun, 3 2025

Finding out where your sofa really comes from can be a wild goose chase. Especially when it comes to a household name like Thomasville. Now, the big question—a ton of folks want straight up—is Thomasville furniture made in China, or are you still getting that made-in-America build people have talked about for decades?

If you flip over a Thomasville sofa and check the tag, you might be surprised. In the past, Thomasville was famous for American craftsmanship, but things have changed. Like a lot of furniture brands, Thomasville has shifted a chunk of its manufacturing overseas, and yes, China’s a big part of that picture.

This isn’t just about cost. There are global supply chains now, so you might get a Thomasville sofa designed in High Point, North Carolina, but built—or partly built—on another continent. That means it’s smart to know how to spot what’s made where before you spend big on a living room upgrade.

• Thomasville’s History and Brand Reputation
• Shifts in Manufacturing: US to China
• How to Tell Where Your Thomasville Sofa Was Made
• Does Country of Origin Affect Quality?
• Shopping Advice for Smart Sofa Buyers

Thomasville’s History and Brand Reputation

If you ask your parents or even your grandparents about Thomasville furniture, you’ll probably get a big nod. This brand has been around since 1904, starting in Thomasville, North Carolina. Back then, they were known for solid wood craftsmanship—stuff you could pass down to your kids. Thomasville quickly grew from a little local factory to a key player in American furniture.

By the 1970s, Thomasville was making everything from sofas to entire bedroom sets for hotels and regular folks at home. You saw Thomasville in high-end department stores and even at the old Expo Design Centers. Folks basically saw it as a reliable symbol of quality.

But things changed when Thomasville (along with brands like Drexel and Henredon) was snapped up by Furniture Brands International in the late 1990s. In 2014, Heritage Home Group took over during a rocky period for U.S. furniture makers. Since then, the landscape’s shifted, especially with global competition heating up and price pressure mounting.

Here’s a quick glance at the brand’s key moments:

Year	Event
1904	Thomasville Furniture founded in North Carolina
1970s	Peak popularity, expansion into major retail and hotels
Late 1990s	Bought by Furniture Brands International
2014	Acquired by Heritage Home Group

As for the reputation today, people know Thomasville for being somewhere between luxury and mid-range. It’s not ultra-cheap, but it’s also not the priciest thing out there. You get style, some history, and usually pretty reliable durability, but the days of every single piece being made in the U.S. are behind us.

• When you see a Thomasville furniture tag, think “classic American brand with modern global roots.”
• If you’re looking for the old-school all-American build, make sure to check (or ask) where the sofa or sectional was actually made. A label or stamp will usually tell you.
• Don’t get fooled by ‘designed in USA’ if what you really want is ‘made in USA.’ There’s a difference, and it means a lot for people who care about domestic manufacturing.

Shifts in Manufacturing: US to China

If you bought a Thomasville sofa before the 2000s, chances are high it was built in North Carolina—Thomasville’s original home turf. But things took a sharp turn in the early 2000s. The American furniture scene got hit hard by rising labor costs and overseas competition, so companies started moving production abroad. Thomasville was part of that wave.

Tens of thousands of furniture jobs in High Point and nearby towns slowly disappeared between 2000 and 2010. Thomasville, owned back then by Furniture Brands International, sent large parts of its production to China and Vietnam to stay price-competitive. By 2014, the Thomasville plant in North Carolina had closed completely, ending over a century of local manufacturing.

These days, if you see a new Thomasville sofa at a big-box store, its journey probably started in Asia. Not all their stuff comes from China—Vietnam and a couple other countries pitch in—but China is a major player in their sourcing network. Sometimes sofas are assembled down in the US from imported parts, but the frames and fabric usually still say “Made in China.”

• Check tags before you buy. Country of origin isn’t always on the main brand label; look at the underside or back of the sofa.
• Even custom orders are often shipped from China, especially if you’re going through a national retailer.

Here’s a quick look at how production has changed:

Year	Main Production Location	Thomasville Fact
1995	North Carolina, USA	Most sofas proudly made locally
2005	China + Vietnam growing fast	First major manufacturing move overseas
2014	Asia (mostly China, Vietnam)	NC plant closes; all new builds offshore

It all means today’s Thomasville furniture is a global product. If “Made in America” is super important to you, double-check every detail, because what you assume may not match what the label actually says.

How to Tell Where Your Thomasville Sofa Was Made

If you want to know if your Thomasville furniture sofa is made in China or somewhere else, don’t just guess. The answer is usually hiding in plain sight, if you know where to look.

First, grab a flashlight and check underneath your sofa or inside the seat cushions. Most legit Thomasville sofas have a tag or sticker with basic info about where it was made. What you’re searching for is a small printed line: “Made in...”. This is not always loud and bold—sometimes, it’s tucked away or mixed with care instructions.

• Look for the law label (the one that says “Do not remove under penalty of law,” except by the consumer). Somewhere on that label, you’ll see the country of manufacture.
• If you spot “Made in China,” “Made in Vietnam,” or “Made in USA”—that’s your answer, right from the factory. Some newer Thomasville sofas are assembled in China and then finished in the U.S., but most of the build happens overseas these days.
• If the label is missing or faded, check for a production number or model code. Thomasville’s customer support can sometimes trace it back with these details, though be prepared for a wait.
• If you’re shopping online, always ask the seller directly about the sofa’s origin. Photo proof of the label helps cut through marketing fluff.

Here’s a quick reference showing what’s most common for Thomasville sofas made since 2015:

Year	Main Country of Manufacture	Common Locations on Label
Pre-2000	USA	Underneath frame, seat deck
2000–2015	China, Vietnam, USA (limited)	Seat cushion zip area, frame
2016–2024	China, Vietnam, occasionally USA	Law label under sofa, inside arms

Don’t fall for the “Designed in the USA” trick. That just means they drew up the blueprints here; it doesn’t say anything about where your actual sofa was built. Real proof is always in that little fabric label or sticker.

If you can’t find anything on the sofa or can’t get a straight answer, assume it’s imported—most Thomasville sofas post-2016 are. Not a bad thing, but you deserve to know what you’re getting. If Made in America is a must for you, double-check every step before buying.

Does Country of Origin Affect Quality?

This is the question that gets shoppers talking. For years, people believed American-made sofas—especially from brands like Thomasville furniture—meant top-notch build and lasting materials. But now that a lot of the production happens in China or other countries, does the place it’s made really change anything?

Here’s the real deal: country of origin can play a role, but it’s not the whole story. Back when every Thomasville sofa rolled off a line in North Carolina, workers usually used solid hardwood frames and kiln-dried lumber. There was strict quality control because the company had more eyes on every step.

When parts or whole sofas are made in China, things can still be good—or even just as sturdy—but there’s more variation. Some factories in China are absolutely capable of making high-end sofas. The issue is that brands often pick factories based on keeping prices low, and that can lead to corners getting cut. If a company is strict about quality control and sends people to check the work, you can get a sofa that holds up just fine. But if they go cheap, you might end up with particleboard frames and saggy cushions after a year.

What matters more than country? Pay attention to:

• The frame. Hardwood (not particleboard or softwood) means longer life.
• The cushions. High-density foam or spring-down holds shape better.
• The stitching. Even, tight stitching is a good sign, loose threads are not.
• The warranty. Brands that offer solid guarantees usually stand by what they make, regardless of where it’s built.

So, don’t get hung up only on the “Made in China” label. Instead, ask more questions: What materials did they use? How is the frame made? Are reviews about quality consistent? That’s where you find out if your sofa is really built to last.

Shopping Advice for Smart Sofa Buyers

Trying to get the best value on a new sofa? Don’t just trust the brand name or a flashy sales pitch. When it comes to Thomasville, or any big furniture line, you’ve got to dig deeper—especially if you care about where your couch is built and how solid it really is.

Here’s what you can actually do before buying:

• Always check the law tag or the manufacturer’s sticker. If it says “Made in China,” “Assembled in the USA,” or “Made in the USA,” believe the tag. Retailers can’t legally fudge this info.
• Ask the salesperson about the country of origin directly. If they dance around the answer, keep pushing. You’re spending hundreds—even thousands—so get a straight answer.
• Don’t get caught up in “designed in the USA.” That’s not the same as made in the USA.
• If quality is your top concern, try to look up specific models online. Forums and reviews from actual owners can tell you if a sofa holds up, no matter where it’s made.
• Price is a clue—but not the only clue. Imported Thomasville sofas usually cost less than the U.S.-built ones.

Here’s a handy breakdown for what you’ll probably see when shopping the big names:

Brand	Main Production Country	Typical Price Range (USD)	Warranty Length
Thomasville furniture	China / Vietnam / some USA	$900 - $2,500	1-5 years (model dependent)
Broyhill	Mostly China / Vietnam	$800 - $2,000	1-3 years
Flexsteel	USA / Mexico	$1,500 - $4,000	5 years (frame/lifetime options)
Ashley	Worldwide / mainly China	$500 - $1,700	1-5 years

Tips for extra peace of mind: Hang on to your receipt and warranty card. Snap a picture of the tag under the cushions. If shipping times are super long, odds are it’s coming from overseas. None of this means imported sofas are junk, but knowing what you’re getting sets your expectations in the right place.