Planning Your Childcare Fit-Out
Opening a childcare centre is a significant capital investment. Fit-out costs vary widely, but furniture typically represents 15–25% of the total project budget. Getting the furniture selection and timeline right is critical — delays in furniture delivery are one of the most common reasons childcare centres miss their planned opening date.
This guide walks through a typical 60-place centre fit-out.
Room-by-Room Furniture Requirements
Nursery Room (0–2 years, 8 places)
| Item | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Low shelving units (H400) | 4 | For sensory materials |
| Change table | 2 | With safety strap |
| Feeding chairs (adult) | 4 | For bottle feeding |
| Low table (H400) | 1 | For introduction to solids |
| Padded floor seats | 4 | For tummy time support |
| Cubby locker (individual) | 8 | One per enrolled child |
Toddler Room (1–3 years, 15 places)
| Item | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shelving units (H500–600) | 8 | Across room perimeter |
| Round tables (H460, Ø750) | 3 | For group activities |
| Chairs (H260 seat) | 18 | 15 children + 3 spare |
| Book display shelf | 2 | |
| Coat locker (4-bay) | 4 | = 16 individual cubbies |
| Mobile storage cart | 2 | For art supplies |
Preschool Room (3–5 years, 22 places)
| Item | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shelving units (H700) | 10 | |
| Rectangular tables (H520) | 4 | Seats 6 each |
| Chairs (H300 seat) | 28 | 22 children + 6 spare |
| Horseshoe teacher table | 1 | |
| Coat locker (6-bay) | 4 | = 24 cubbies |
| Book display shelf | 3 |
School Age Room (5–12 years, 15 places)
| Item | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shelving units (H900) | 4 | |
| Tables (H580, 1200×600) | 3 | |
| Chairs (H340 seat) | 20 | 15 children + 5 spare |
| Coat locker (5-bay) | 3 | = 15 cubbies |
Budget Benchmarks
For a 60-place centre purchasing quality, certified furniture direct from a Chinese manufacturer:
| Category | Approx. Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Shelving & Storage | $8,000 – $12,000 |
| Coat Lockers (all rooms) | $6,000 – $9,000 |
| Tables & Chairs | $12,000 – $18,000 |
| Miscellaneous (carts, displays) | $3,000 – $5,000 |
| Sea freight + customs | $3,000 – $4,500 |
| Total | $32,000 – $48,500 |
Purchasing through a local Australian retailer or hospitality fit-out company would typically double these figures.
Note: These are indicative benchmarks based on typical factory-direct pricing for full-room orders out of China. Your actual quote depends on quantity, configuration, finish complexity, and current freight rates — request a written quotation from any supplier you're seriously considering.
The Fit-Out Timeline
The single biggest mistake operators make is starting the furniture ordering process too late. Here's the timeline we recommend working backwards from your opening date:
| Milestone | Weeks Before Opening |
|---|---|
| Finalise room layouts and specifications | -16 weeks |
| Request quotes from suppliers | -14 weeks |
| Confirm purchase order and pay deposit | -12 weeks |
| Sample approval (if OEM) | -10 weeks |
| Production commences | -10 weeks |
| QC inspection | -6 weeks |
| Goods loaded and shipped | -5 weeks |
| Arrival at Australian port | -3 weeks |
| Customs clearance | -2.5 weeks |
| Delivery to centre | -2 weeks |
| Assembly and installation | -1 week |
| Soft opening | Day 0 |
For a standard centre with off-the-shelf products (no custom OEM), 12 weeks from purchase order to delivery is achievable. For custom OEM orders, allow 16–18 weeks minimum.
Tips for a Smooth Fit-Out
1. Order everything in one container Consolidating your full furniture order into a single shipment reduces your per-unit freight cost significantly. A 20ft container holds approximately the furniture for a 40–50 place centre; a 40ft container covers 60–80 places.
2. Specify all materials upfront Changes after the purchase order is confirmed add lead time and often cost. Finalise your colour selections, dimensions, and configurations before you confirm.
3. Build in 10% spare chairs Children's chairs break and go missing. Ordering 10% more than you need costs relatively little at source but saves a frustrating re-order process 6 months into operation.
4. Request assembly instructions in English If assembly is required on-site, ensure your supplier provides clear English-language instructions with photos. Save yourself the frustration of assembling furniture with a Chinese-only instruction sheet.
About MJK Furniture
MJK Furniture is a 3,000 m² children's furniture factory in Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China. We've been making children's furniture since 2015 — over 70,000 children's bookshelves shipped to the Chinese domestic market in that time — and in 2025 we built a dedicated supply chain for the Australian market.
For full-room or full-centre orders, what we offer is straightforward: a single point of contact (Evan), a detailed quotation broken down by room and item, the ability to consolidate everything into one container, and English-language documentation throughout. What we don't offer is on-site installation or a long Australian client list — we're a manufacturer, and we're upfront about being early in our AU market journey.
If you're putting together a fit-out budget and want a quotation against your room layouts, send a brief — Evan will get back to you with a detailed line-item quote within 24 hours.