Key facts
- India exported US$4,622 million of cotton made-ups / bed linen / home textiles in FY2024-25 (texprocil.org).
- Largest destinations by value: USA 55.65% (~2,572 mn derived)
- 1 production cluster mapped, in UP; Haryana; Rajasthan; TN.
- Market guides for 23 countries, each with destination requirements and transit times.
- Certifications available from the supply base: ISO 9001, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, Sedex SMETA audit.
- Typical minimum order: 300-500 pcs per item; mixed room packages per 20'/40' (typical).
Product overview
Hotel linen is a specification business. Hotels and commercial laundries need fabrics that survive hundreds of industrial wash cycles, keep their dimensions and stay white. Indian mills and made-up units in Panipat, Karur, Erode, Solapur and Gujarat supply complete room packages: bed linen, towels, bathrobes, duvet inserts, pillows, table cloths and napkins.
Typical choices are 100% cotton percale (T-200 to T-400) for luxury properties and 50/50 or 60/40 poly-cotton for durability and faster drying in laundries.
Large hotel pipelines in the GCC, plus Africa, Europe and the Americas, make this a good fit for a trading house that can consolidate many SKUs into one container.
HS note: Subheadings: bed linen 6302.21-6302.39; table linen 6302.51-6302.59; terry toilet linen 6302.60. Pillows and duvets (filled) are 9404.
Specifications
| Sheeting | T-200 to T-400 100% cotton percale or 50/50, 60/40 poly-cotton (typical) |
|---|---|
| Towels | White 500-650 GSM, dobby border (typical) |
| Table linen | Cotton or polyester (spun/textured), 200-260 GSM (typical) |
| Shrinkage | ≤ 3% after industrial wash (typical buyer spec) |
| Wash durability | Tested for 50-100+ industrial cycles (typical buyer spec) |
| Hemming | Double-stitched hems, colour-coded size tags (typical) |
Typical commercial values. Final specifications are fixed per contract and verified by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Grades & variants
Luxury
T-300/T-400 cotton sateen or percale, 600+ GSM towels.
Mid-scale
T-200/T-250 cotton or poly-cotton, 500 GSM towels.
Healthcare / institutional
Poly-cotton sheeting, coloured towels, high durability.
F&B linen
Table cloths, napkins, runners, aprons.
Packaging, MOQ & container loading
| Packing | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk | 10-25 pcs per polybag, size-labelled cartons by room type | — |
Container load (estimate): 20' GP ~25-30 cbm · 40' HC ~60-68 cbm (volume-limited; ~8-11 MT). Mixed-SKU consolidation common
Customisation: Hotel logo embroidery, jacquard borders, colour coding, custom sizes
Where we source in India
Producing regions and manufacturing clusters our supplier network draws from.
Haryana
Panipat
Tamil Nadu
Karur, Erode
Table and kitchen linen
Maharashtra
Solapur
Terry towels
Gujarat
Ahmedabad
Market requirements by region
European Union
EU textiles need fibre-content labelling (Reg. 1007/2011) and must meet REACH Annex XVII limits (azo amines, Cr VI, APEO). ESPR digital product passport rules for textiles are expected around 2027 and the Forced Labour Regulation from Dec 2027. India lost EU GSP preferences for 2026-2028 (Implementing Reg. (EU) 2025/1909), so MFN duty applies; the EU-India FTA concluded on 27 Jan 2026 is not yet in force.
United States & Canada
US labelling: FTC fibre content, country of origin and care labels; flammability rules (16 CFR 1610 for apparel). US duty on Indian goods as of 22 Oct 2026 (per our compliance research, secondary legal analysis): MFN rate plus a 10% Section 301 tariff in force since 24 Jul 2026; Section 232 goods (steel, aluminium, copper, autos/parts) pay the 232 rate instead. Re-verify before quoting landed cost.
Gulf (GCC)
Strong demand from hotel openings in Saudi Arabia and the UAE; hospitality procurement companies buy room packages. India-UAE CEPA (in force 1 May 2022) gives preferential duty against a CEPA certificate of origin.
Africa
Hotel and hospital demand in East and West Africa; Kenya PVoC applies to textiles.
General guidance, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your customs broker or the regulator.
Quality control
- • Wash-durability and shrinkage test before bulk
- • Whiteness and GSM checks
- • AQL 2.5 final inspection
Certifications available
- • ISO 9001
- • OEKO-TEX Standard 100
- • Sedex SMETA audit
Held by the producing supplier for the specific lot; copies shared with the quote.
Shipping documents
- • Commercial invoice
- • Packing list
- • Bill of lading / airway bill
- • Certificate of origin (preferential where an FTA applies)
- • Inspection certificate
- • Lab test reports
- • OEKO-TEX certificate where requested
Trade data
| Period | Flow | Value (USD mn) | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024-25 | India exportsLine: Cotton made-ups / bed linen / home textiles | 4,622 | verified | texprocil.org |
Top destinations: USA 55.65% (~2,572 mn derived)
Export markets
Frequently asked questions
Cotton or poly-cotton for hotels?
Cotton feels better. Poly-cotton (50/50 or 60/40) lasts longer, wrinkles less and dries faster in commercial laundries.
Can you supply a full room package?
Yes: sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases, towels, bathrobes, bath mats and table linen consolidated in one container.
How do you prove laundry durability?
Through wash tests on pre-production samples, measuring shrinkage, whiteness and strength after repeated cycles.
Can you embroider the hotel logo?
Yes, on towels, bathrobes and pillowcases.
What sizes do you make?
Any size. Hotel sheets are usually cut oversize to allow tuck-in on deep mattresses.
Request a quote for Hotel Linen (Bed, Bath & Table Linen for Hospitality)
Tell us grade, quantity and destination. We reply with options, packaging and pricing on your Incoterm.
