What is MOQ? And how to get a lower one

---

MOQ stands for minimum order quantity. It's the smallest number of units a factory will make for you in one order. It's often the first number that surprises a new founder or creator — and the one that decides whether your first run is realistic.

This guide explains why MOQs exist, what numbers to roughly expect, and how to get a lower one without getting burned.

Why factories set a minimum

A factory isn't being difficult when it sets an MOQ. Every order has costs that are the same whether you make 50 units or 5,000:

• Setup time. Machines have to be set up, patterns cut, colours matched and the line tested before the first good unit comes off.
• Material minimums. The factory's own suppliers have minimums too. A fabric mill may only dye a colour by the roll. A packaging printer may only run 1,000 boxes.
• Tooling. Moulded parts need a mould. That cost has to be spread over enough units to make sense.
• Line efficiency. Workers get faster after the first few hundred pieces. Short runs never reach that speed, so they cost the factory more per unit.

The MOQ is simply the point where the order becomes worth the factory's time.

Rough MOQ ranges by product type

Every factory is different, so treat these as rough starting points, not promises:

Printed or embroidered blanks (tees, hoodies, caps)	50–300 pcs
Custom cut-and-sew apparel	300–1,000 pcs per style
Bags, drinkware, simple home goods	500–2,000 pcs
Jewellery and small accessories	100–500 pcs per design
Consumer electronics	1,000–5,000+ pcs
Custom printed packaging	1,000–3,000 pcs

Newer or smaller factories are often more flexible. Big, busy factories usually are not.

Read the fine print: MOQ of what?

This is where first-timers get caught. "MOQ 500" can mean very different things:

• Per style — 500 units of each design.
• Per colour — 500 black and 500 white.
• Per size run — sometimes sizes are counted separately.
• Material MOQ — the product MOQ is 300, but the custom fabric has its own minimum.
• Packaging MOQ — your printed box may need 1,000 even if the product needs 300.

Always ask: "Is that per style, per colour, or total? And do any materials or packaging have their own minimum?"

7 ways to get a lower MOQ

1. Use the factory's existing materials. Choosing a fabric, colour or component the factory already stocks removes the material minimum — often the biggest barrier.

2. Start with fewer colours and sizes. One style in two colours is far easier to approve than four styles in six colours. Expand once you've sold through.

3. Customise a proven base. Adding your logo, trims or packaging to an existing product needs much less than a design built from scratch.

4. Pay a bit more per unit. Many factories will accept a smaller run for a small surcharge. Ask directly: "What would the price be at 300 instead of 1,000?"

5. Keep packaging simple for run one. A stock mailer with a printed sticker or insert can replace a custom box until volume justifies it.

6. Show a realistic plan. Factories take small orders when they believe more will follow. A clear reorder plan builds that trust.

7. Work with someone who has relationships. Factories are more flexible with partners who bring them steady work. This is a big part of what a sourcing partner does.

When a low MOQ is a trap

A low MOQ isn't always a win. Here's a simple example:

300 units at $12.00	$3,600
1,000 units at $8.50	$8,500

The small run needs less cash, but every unit earns you $3.50 less. That's fine for testing demand — just price your product so it still makes money at the smaller run.

Also watch for factories that accept any quantity with no questions asked. Sometimes that means they plan to subcontract your order, or cut corners on materials to make a tiny run pay.

Questions to ask before you agree an MOQ

• Is the MOQ per style, per colour, or total?
• Do the materials, trims or packaging have their own minimums?
• What's the unit price at the MOQ, and at 2× and 5× the MOQ?
• Can we use materials you already have in stock?
• What's the MOQ for a reorder?
• Will production happen in your own facility?

The bottom line

MOQ isn't a wall. It's a starting point for a conversation. Understand what's driving the number, simplify your first run, and ask the right questions — and a first order that felt impossible often becomes realistic.

← All articles